Oreti Plains district is in the Winton riding of the county of Southland, and in the electorate of Awarua. It extends from the western bank of the Oreti river towards Drummond and Heddon Bush; from the former of which it is six miles distant, and from the latter, ten miles. The main road from Winton, five miles distant, branches off at the local hotel to the north and south towards the Drummond and Heddon Bush districts. Near the hotel, there is a blacksmith's shop, and, about half a mile towards Drummond, stands the local public school. The post office for the district is situated at the Farmers' Rest Hotel, and three mails are received, and despatched, weekly. At the census of 1901, the population of Oreti Plains was recorded as 278, with thirty-two additional at Oreti Flat. These plains are well known to be rich agricultural land. The countryside is well cultivated and is dotted with homesteads. There is no church in the district, but Drummond and Winton are within easy reach of the settlers.

The Oreti Plains Public School was founded in 1892, and occupies a site of two acres in a central position at the junction of four cross roads. The building is of wood and iron, and contains two classrooms and a porch, with accommodation for seventy scholars. In 1904, the number on the roll was fifty-nine, and the average attendance forty-eight. The playground contains two shelter-sheds, and there is also a school residence on the property. The head teacher is assisted by a mistress.

Mr. James Donald , Headmaster of the Oreti Plains school, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1870, and arrived at Port Chalmers with his parents by the ship “Canterbury,” when he was ten years of age. He was educated in Dunedin, where he studied for his profession for two years at the Normal Training College, and afterwards served as an assistant for two years at Winton. Mr Donald then had charge of the school at Opio for two years, and was appointed headmaster at Oreti Plains in 1898.

The Farmers' Rest Hotel (James Smart, proprietor), Oreti Plains. This hotel was erected in 1886. The building is constructed of wood and iron, and contains twelve rooms, five of which are visitors' bed-rooms. There are comfortable sitting rooms, and a dining-room, which will accommodate fourteen persons. There is also good stabling, and a large grazing paddock. Mr Smart was born in 1863, in Oamaru, where he was educated and brought up as a butcher. He afterwards went to Australia, where he was in business as a butcher for some years, four of which were spent in Melbourne. Subsequently he returned to New Zealand, and went into the hotel business in 1901. He was lessee of the Gap Road Hotel till 1903, when he acquired the “Farmer's Rest.” Mr Smart was married, in November, 1883, to a daughter of Mr George Humphrey, of Kaitangata, and has one son and one daughter.

Mr. J. Smart.

Baird, Robert , Junior, Farmer, “Wainfleet,” Oreti Plains; postal address, Drummond. “Wainfleet” is a property of 545 acres of freehold, on which the owner conducts mixed farming. Mr Baird was born in 1865 at Riverton, and was educated there and at Limestone Plains, where he was brought up on his father's farm. In 1893, he commenced farming on his own account at Drummond, but removed to Oreti Plains in 1901. He was chairman of the Drummond school committee in 1903; and, as an Oddfellow, he is a member of Lodge Royal Oak, Drummond. Mr Baird was married, in 1894, to a daughter of Mr David Lyon, of Waimatuku Flat, and has four sons and two daughters.