CHAPTER III. TOWNS.
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CHAPTER III.
TOWNS.
A BRIEF description of the towns in the Province will afford a more accurate idea of the progress that has been effected than would a volume of unsupported assertions.
Dunedin is the chief town of Otago, and the seat of Government. It is finely situated on the Upper Harbour, standing on a narrow belt of flat land, backed by hills rising to an elevation of about 600 feet, and running at right angles to the Bay, viewed from which Dunedin presents the appearance of an ampitheatre, with the houses rising, tier above tier, to the very summit. The main arterial line is Princes Street, and its continuation, George street--extending from the southern to the northern boundary of the town. Running parallel to, and intersecting this line, are ten other streets, mainly devoted to business purposes. The remaining streets are many in number, and are all more or less occupied by private residences. Some of these surmount the verdant slopes that environ the south end of the town; others are interspersed amongst the timber which fringes the hills to the north.
The public edifices of Dunedin are many and various. Of these the most important, from an architectural point of view, are the Post Office, built of Oamaru sandstone; the Provincial Government building, a massive pile of brick-work; and the Hospital.
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The Gaol and Court House on the shores of the Bay, the High School and the Central District School on Bell Hill, and the Custom House, also claim special mention. Of buildings devoted to religious purposes the most substantial are the English Episcopal churches of St Paul's, which is built of blue-stone faced with Oamaru stone, and All-Saints', a brick building. The Congregational Chapel is built of brick, faced with sandstone. The Presbyterians have three churches, and are now erecting a handsome Cathedral at an outlay of £14,000. They are also rebuilding St Andrew's Church in stone-work. The Roman Catholics purpose commencing a Cathedral on the site of their present church, which is dedicated to St Joseph. The Baptists and the Wesleyans have commodious places of worship. There is also a Jewish Synagogue.
Five banking institutions have Head or District Offices in Dunedin, and most of these occupy buildings of considerable architectural pretensions. In particular may be specified the Bank of New Zealand, the Bank of New South Wales, and the Bank of Otago, all in Princes Street. The other banks are the Union Bank and the Bank of Australasia, both in High Street. Insurance Offices are numerous. There is an Athenaeum, well supplied with books, magazines, and papers. There is also a Theatre, capable of accommodating over 1000 persons, open nightly throughout the year; and there are Music Halls in various parts of the city. Many of the wholesale warehouses are large and handsome buildings, combining solidity of construction with much elegance of design. The retail shops will bear favourable comparison with those of most provincial towns in Britain. The hotels are numerous, and some are replete with every comfort; and there is a Club for those who desire greater privacy. The Masonic Hall accommodates eight "blue" Lodges, and other kindred associations of higher degree. A new Hall of larger dimensions is now in course of erection, at a cost of about £4,000.
At the south end of the city there is a well-kept Cricket Ground, with a permanent pavilion; and at the north end are the
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Caledonian Society's Grounds and Grand Stand. The latter is a handsome erection, semicircular in shape, and is adorned with the national emblems and with appropriate mottoes. It affords ample sitting space for 3,000 persons.
The northern limit of the city is in part defined by a small stream, called the Water of Leith, which rises in Flagstaff Hill, and (after supplying motive power for some flour-mills in its course) falls into Pelichet Bay, at the north-east corner of Dunedin Harbour. On its banks there is a Botanical Garden possessing great natural advantages. Another favorite resort is the ground of the Acclimatisation Society, on the banks of the same stream. A Reserve, comprising 530 acres, has judiciously been set aside for the purposes of health and recreation. This is known as the Town-Belt, and it encircles Dunedin, except on the water side. Its hanging woods and grassy uplands form a picturesque frame-work to the city; and the manifest advantages of such a beautiful public park are highly appreciated by the citizens. On the opposite side of the bay from Dunedin are the Vauxhall Gardens, a place much frequented by pleasure-seekers in the summer season.
Dunedin is lighted with gas, and is supplied with pure water from a large reservoir in the Flagstaff Hill, whence it is conveyed to the town through iron pipes.
Reference has already been made to Port Chalmers. The other sea-port towns are Waikouaiti, Moeraki, and Oamaru to the north, and Port Molyneux to the south. Both Oamaru and Waikouaiti are places of considerable trade. The former town is exceedingly well-built of a fine, hard, close-grained, white sandstone, obtained in the adjacent ranges. The Episcopal Church of St Luke and the Masonic Hall are edifices of great architectural excellence.
In the agricultural districts, the town of Milton is the largest and most important. It is healthily situated in the centre of the Tokomairiro Plains. It is surrounded by rich pastures and prolific corn-fields, and contains many fine buildings. Balclutha and Outram rank next. The first is on the south bank of the Clutha,
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and the latter is on the Taieri River. Both townships are rapidly growing in importance, as the commercial centres of their respective districts.
On the Gold-fields every district has its own township. The principal of these are Lawrence on the Tuapeka Gold-field, and Queenstown on Lake Wakatipu. Next in importance may be enumerated Waipori, on the river of that name; Roxburgh, at the junction of the Teviot and Clutha Rivers; Alexandra, at the confluence of the Clutha and Manuherikia; Clyde, at the entrance of the Dunstan Gorge; Cromwell, at the junction of the Kawarau and Clutha; Arrowtown, on the Arrow; and Naseby, at Mount Ida. Most of these townships have well-laid-out streets, with public and private buildings, commodious hotels, and well-filled stores.
In addition to the towns already named, there are others on available points of the coast, and suitable inland locations. To describe, or even to mention all, would far exceed the limits of this sketch. Sufficient has been stated to show that Otago is no longer in the preliminary stages of settlement, but has already made considerable and satisfactory progress therein.
