SOUTHLAND.
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SOUTHLAND.
SOUTHLAND is the youngest of the new provinces of New Zealand. Its native name was Murihiku, which is said to mean that it is the "Land's End" of the Middle, or Southern Island. It was till lately part of the Province of Otago, which, by the separation of Southland, has lost the most valuable agricultural and pastoral land she possessed. Otago's gold fields, however, have supplied her with compensation, and Southland is both indirectly and directly benefiting from the overflowing of the "rush" which has taken place to Otago from Australia and from every province of New Zealand in consequence of the gold discoveries. The present area of Southland is about 2,700,000 acres. The land is almost without exception of excellent quality; the general surface is very level; the natural roads are superior to those of any other part of New Zealand, partly from the level character of the country, but more from the abundance of fine gravel to be found in every part of the Province; and she has the inestimable advantage of the Bluff and New River harbours within a few hours sail of each other, and both available for vessels of the largest tonnage-from 1000 to 1200 tons.
The principal Towns of Southland are Invercargill, which is situated on fine terrace-land on the banks of the Waiopai (a branch of the New River), and Riverton, which is situated on the banks or shores of a beautiful lagoon of Jacob's River, on the Aparima.
Sheep Farming and Cattle Breeding are the chief pursuits at present, of the settlers, and the export of wool is advancing at a rapid rate each year. But Southland will eventually be a farming province, for which its land and the "lay" of the country eminently qualify it. It will also be a coal country. The coal already found, and in use by the settlers "up-country," being quite equal to the best "brown coal" of New Zealand. Gold is also spread all over the Province, and so is the steel sand, which is now creating so much sensation among the metallurgists of Great Britain. Southland is well wooded and watered. Its red and
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white Pine, Totara, Rata, and other woods, are of excellent quality, requiring nothing but seasoning to make them take equal rank with the timber of Auckland. The population of the Province is now, we believe, over 3000, of whom about 1000 reside in or within a short distance of Invercargill.
SOUTHLAND DIRECTORY.
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT.
Superintendent, J. A. R. Menzies; Clerk to ditto (pro tem.) N. Chalmers.
Executive, H. M'Culloch, W. H. Pearson, J. C. M'Kay (one seat vacant).
Members of Provincial Council.
Invercargill: R. Stuart, W. H. Calder, W. F. Tarlton.
Waiopai: J. C. M'Kay, J. Wilson, W. H. Pearson.
Mataura: (vacant, through Dr. Menzies' election as Superintendent).
The Bluff: A. M'Nab.
New River: F. A. Jackson, M. Scott.
Riverton: H. M'Culloch.
Waste Lands Department: Chief Commissioner, W. H. Pearson. Land Board, (with Chief Commissioner) J. A. R. Menzies, A. J. Elies, and J. Blacklock; Clerk, C. H. Howard; Receiver of Waste Lands Revenue, A. J. Elles.
Survey Department: Chief Surveyor, T. Heale; Sub-Assistant, -- Richardson; Draughtsman, -- Stevens. Authorised Surveyors, Mueller and Geisow.
Resident Magistrate, M. Price.
Collector of Customs, A. J. Elles; Clerk and Landing Waiter, P. Rough.
Registrar of Marriages, &c., M. Price.
Postmaster, A. J. Elies; Clerk (unsalaried) P. Rough.
Harbour Master (acting) Capt. A. J. Elles.
Inspector of Sheep, H. G. Fielder.
Inspector of Cattle (under Diseased Cattle Act, 1861), -- M'Hardy.
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Police: Chief Constable, W. Fraser.
Public Works: Overseer, -- Friskin. Wharfinger and Jetty Keeper: Invercargill, Cuthbert Spencer; Riverton, J. R. Mills.
Public School, Invercargill: Master, A. Bethune.
Invercargill Town Board: J. Blacklock, W. Garthwaite, J. Cheyne, L. K. Grant, D. Mitchell, J. E. Clarke, W. H. Calder, W. A. Lind, J. Grieve; Clerk to Board, H. B. Monkman.
Banks--Union Bank of Australia: Acting Manager, W. J. Green. Bank of New South Wales: Manager, T. Watson; Accountant, D. Milne.
Churches--Episcopal, Tay street: Lay Reader, T. J. White. Presbyterian, Tay street; Rev. A. Stobo.
Inns--Albion, A. M. Cameron; Royal, Wentworth and Hull; Robert Burns, W. Livesey; Commercial, J. J. Cuff.
Newspaper--The 'Southern News,' published every Saturday, by Smallfield and Bain.
Surgeons--Messrs. Martin, Grigor, M'Clure, M'Cristal.
