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THE
PROVINCE OF OTAGO,
IN
NEW ZEALAND
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THE
Province of Otago,
IN
NEW ZEALAND:
ITS
PROGRESS, PRESENT CONDITION,
RESOURCES, AND PROSPECTS.
Published by
Authority of
THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT.
DUNEDIN, OTAGO, NEW ZEALAND.
1868.
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Printed for the Provincial Government by W. J. HENNINGHAM, at the "Evening Star" Machine Printing Office, Stafford Street, Dunedin, Otago, N.Z.
[CONTENTS]
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CONTENTS.
PREFATORY..........iii.
CHAPTER I. --DESCRIPTIVE. --Geographical position of Otago--Area--Physical features--Mountains--Lakes--West Coast. . 1
CHAPTER II. --RIVERS AND HARBOURS. --The Waitaki--The Kakanui--The Waihemo--The Taieri--The Tokomairiro--The Clutha--The Mataura--The Waiau--Catlin's River and others--Port Chalmers--Other Harbours..........4
CHAPTER III. --TOWNS. --Dunedin--Port Chalmers--Waikouaiti and Oamaru--Milton--Lawrence--Queenstown, &c...........7
CHAPTER IV. --HISTORICAL SKETCH. --Retrospective Glance--Mr John Jones--The Otago Association--First immigrants--Dr Burns--Captain Cargill--Otago in 1860--Loss of Murihiku--Gold Discoveries--Otago in 1867-8...........10
CHAPTER V. --THE CLIMATE. --Temperature--Rainfall--Snow and frost--Annual death rate--Comparison with other countries...........13
CHAPTER VI. --THE LAND. --Agriculture--Soil--Pastoral capabilities-- Crops--Wheat, Oats, and Barley--Potatoes--Horticultural Produce--Fruit--Forest Trees--Flowering plants--English grasses..........17
CHAPTER VII. -- THE GOLD-FIELDS. -- Their extent--Discovery--Tuapeka--Dunstan--Nokomai--Cardrona--The Arrow --The Shotover--Lake Wakatipu--Mount Ida--Other "diggings"--New discoveries--Moeraki Beach--Total produce of Gold-fields--Quality of Gold--Otago miners--Mining operations...........21
CHAPTER VIII. --THE LAND LAWS. --Price of land--Hundreds--Agricultural Leaseholds--Commonages--Pastoral land--Town lands...........2S
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CHAPTER IX. --ANIMALS AND PRODUCTS, NATIVE AND ACCLIMATIZED. --Animals--Birds--The Kiwi and the Kakapo--Domestic fowls--Fish--Whale and seal fisheries--Native fruits--The Tutu--Timber--The flax plant--Native grasses--Coal--Building stone Limestone--Marble--Serpentine--Jade--Manganese--Scheelite--Copper--Silver--Cinnabar--Iron--Precious Stones...........30
CHAPTER X. --GOVERNMENT. --General and Provincial,--Municipal Corporations--Gold-fields--Police--Post Office--Electric telegraph--Roads and Bridges--Proposed Railway--District Road-boards...........41
CHAPTER XI. --PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.--Churches and Chapels--Hospitals--Lunatic Asylum--Benevolent Institute--Educational establishments--Public Libraries-- The Press-Volunteers--Friendly Societies--Savings Banks...........43
CHAPTER XII. --LABOUR AND THE COST OF LIVING. --Demand for labour--Farm servants--Domestic servants--Wages--Cost of provisions--Clothing...........48
Chapter XIII. --TRADES, MANUFACTURES, AND COMMERCE. --Flax mills--Breweries--Foundries--Docks--Brick-yards--Tanneries, Coach-factories, Soap works, &c.--Clock manufactory--Rewards offered for New Industries--Woollen cloth--Beet-sugar--European flax--Encouragement to Prospecting on Gold-fields--Imports and Exports...........50
CHAPTER XIV. --CONCLUSION. --What Otago has not--To whom the Province is suited--Who are suited for emigrants--Advantages to certain classes...........55
APPENDICES.
APPENDIX A. --Report of Select Committee on West Coast...........59
" " B. --Population...........63
" " C. --Temperature...........64
" " D. --Agricultural and Pastoral Statistics..........."
" " E. --Rates of Wages...........65
" " F. --Prices of Provisions...........68
" " G. --Hints to intending emigrants...........69
[LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS]
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ILLUSTRATIONS.
Earnslaw, Lake Wakatipu. Frontispiece............To face Title
Central Dunedin........... " " page 8
Blue Spur, Tuapeka........... " " " 22
Matai and Totara Trees........... " " " 34
North Dunedin........... " " " 44
Wiltshire Bay........... " " " 50
MAP OF OTAGO. ..........At end of Appendices
ERRATA.
Page 6, in line 10--for "40," read "50."
" " 8 " " 9--for "Cathedral" read "New First Church."
" " 17 " " 16--for "be," read "to."
" " 39 " " 12--for "roughness," read "toughness."
" " 48 " " 4 of Chapter xii. --for "remuneration," read "employment."
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[PREFACE]
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PREFATORY.
NEW ZEALAND has been termed "the Britain of the South." In many respects the phrase is peculiarly applicable. And no part of New Zealand is more justly entitled to the appellation than the Province of Otago. Its climate, its soil, its scenery, and its people are all so thoroughly British, that it is difficult for the newly arrived immigrant to realise the fact that he is sojourning at the very antipodes of the mother country; whilst its natural advantages are so manifest, and its resources are so varied and abundant, as to justify the most lively anticipations of its continued prosperity and future greatness. Its progress, up to the present time, has been unusually rapid. For although it is only twenty years since the first few settlers landed on its shores, Otago has now a population of nearly 50,000 souls, and possesses within itself all the elements of material wealth, and the essentials of high-class civilization.
To afford accurate and reliable information respecting this country is the aim of the present work. It is a compilation rather than an essay--every statement being supported by official and documentary evidence, and verified by personal observation and
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inquiry. Effect has, therefore, been uniformly subordinated to accuracy. Indeed, there is no necessity for exaggeration; for the simple facts are so far beyond the apprehension of the untravelled mind, as to need repression rather than extension.
To those who may be induced, by the inexorable logic of circumstances, to seek a new home, these pages are specially addressed. It is sought to guide the inquirer--no more; to depict Otago as it is, and to leave the reader to form his own conclusions.
June 10th, 1868.
