Boundaries and Area.

The Otago Land District lies between the 44th and 47th parallels of south latitude, and extends from 167° 20′ to 171° 10′ of east longitude. It is bounded on the north by the Canterbury Land District; on the south-east and south by the ocean; on the west and south by the Waikawa, Mokoreta, Slopedown, Waikaka, Chatton, Wendon Waikaia, Gap, Rockyside, and Kingston Survey Districts, the western and southern shores of Lake Wakatipu, the Mid-Wakatipu, Mavora, Swinton, Eglinton, Arran, and Doon Survey Districts, and a straight line from the north-east corner of the last-mentioned district to the nearest arm of George Sound, and by George Sound to the ocean; and on the north-west by the ocean to Big Bay.

The district measures about 160 miles from Milford Sound on the west coast to Waikouaiti Bay on the east coast, and the same distance from north to south. Its area is 9,004,800 acres.

Physical Description.

The country generally is mountainous, the highest land being to the north-west, and culminating in Mount Aspiring, 9,960 ft. above the level of the sea.

The west coast mountains are remarkably rugged and grand; and of the thirteen sounds that pierce this coast, three are within the limits of the Otago Land District, the remaining ten being on the west coast of the Southland District. These three are Milford Sound, Bligh Sound, and George Sound. Milford Sound, though only eight miles in length, contains some of the grandest scenery in the world; and fourteen miles inland from its head is the great Sutherland Waterfall, 1904 ft. high, possibly the highest waterfall known. Bligh Sound is smaller than Milford, and not nearly so interesting; but George Sound is larger, and very picturesque.

A tourist track has been opened from the head of Te Anau Lake to Milford found, and a practicable route has also been discovered, and a track formed, from the north-west arm of the middle fiord of Te Anau Lake to the head of George Sound.

Te Anan Track.—A guide works on this track from December to April. He carries a fortnightly mail between Lake Te Anau and Milford Sound, and also meets each trip of the "Tarawera." There is ample accommodation for tourists who wish to make the journey in short stages, as there are huts erected at six different places on the track.

For nearly one hundred miles inland from the west coast the country is very mountainous, but at a distance of sixty or seventy miles from the south-east coastline it begins to get gradually lower, taking the form of rolling hills and downs along the sea-shore.

Rivers and Lakes.

The largest rivers are the Clutha, Taieri, and Waitaki: the first-named drains Lakes Wakatipu, Wanaka, and Hawea; the last, Lakes Ohau, Pukaki, and Tekape, in the Canterbury District. Te Anau, the largest lake in the Middle Island, lies page 72 partly in the Otago and partly in the Southland District. The dimensions of these lakes are as follows:—

Lakes.	Length in Miles.	General Breadth in Miles.	Area in Square Miles.	Height above Sea-level in Feet.
Te Anau	38	1 to 6	332	694
Wakatipu	50	1 to 3½	114	1,069
Wanaka	29	1 to 3	75	928
Hawea	19	3	48	1,062
Ohau	11	1 to 3	23	1,720
Pukaki	11	2½ to 5	31	1,588
Tekapo	15	1 to 3½	32½	2,325

These lakes are situated in mountainous country; they are of glacial origin and all very deep.

The Clutha River is the largest in New Zealand, and is estimated to discharge over 1,000,000 cubic feet per minute. It has a rapid current, but is navigable for small steamers for a distance of forty miles from its mouth. The Waitaki is not a navigable river. For some seventeen miles from its mouth the Taieri River is affected by tides, which run up one branch into Waihola Lake, and up the other branch as far as Greytown.

There is a small steamer on Waihola Lake, and another on the Taieri River at Henley. During the summer season both run excursion trips to the mouth of the river when required, The distance in each case is about eight miles.

Plains.

There are some considerable areas of tolerably level land in the interior, the largest being the Maniototo Plains, the Idaburn, Manuherikia, and Upper Clutha Valleys. Their dimensions are approximately as follows: Maniototo Plains, length, twenty-eight miles; average breadth, ten miles; Idaburn valley, twenty-five miles by four miles; Manuherikia Valley, thirty-five miles by four miles; Upper Ciuths Valley, thirty-three miles by five miles.

The Taieri Plain, nearer the roast, is about the same size as the Idaburs Valley, and is very fertile. Other plains are the Waitaki in the north, the Toko, mairiro, the Strath-Taieri, the Tapanui, and the fertile Inch-Clutha, lying between the two branches of the Clutha River, and consisting entirely of alluvial deposit There is also a good deal of low country, chiefly rolling downs, on the south west side of the Clutha near the sea.

Forests.

The forest-land lies mostly along; the sea-coast, the largest area of bush being Tautuku Forest, about forty miles in length and fifteen miles in breadth. The western part of this forest is in the Southland District. The other principal forever areas are in the following localities, viz.: north of Dunedin, east of the Tapanui mountains, in the upper valley of the Waikaia River, and towards the north-west coast.

The forests of Otago contain a large variety of useful timber, both hard and soft wood; some being suitable for building purposes, while other varieties are highly ornamental, and much prized for cabinet work

Building Stones.

Building-stor.es of good quality are found in various places throughout Otage. The Port Chalmers quarries afford an inexhaustible supply of bluestone, a basaltic stone of great hardness and durability. A hard freestone of excellent quality is found at Waikawa. where there is a large hill of it close to the water's edge. Blocks of very great size can be obtained. A soft white building-stone—the well-knows page 73 Oamaru limestone—is found in large quantities along the railway-line near Oamaru, from whence a good deal is exported to other parts of New Zealand, and to the neighbouring colonies. A similar kind of stone is found at Otekaike, about two miles from the railway-station, and it may be interesting to note that during the years 1891-1891 about 3,000 tons of stone were sent from the Otekaike quarries to form the facings of the Melbourne Fish-market.

Coal.

No first-class coals have yet been discovered in Otago suitable for steamships making long voyages, but very excellent brown coal exists in various neighbourhoods, and is used on the railways in large quantities. There are seventy-two coalmines at work in Otago, in twenty-two different places, furnishing very good fuel for household and domestic purposes. The output for 1896 was 237,615 tons. Beds of lignite are also found in numerous localities, chiefly round the margins of the old lake-basins, and along the courses of the older river-valleys.

Limestone.

Limestone is found in the following places: Oamaru, Otekaike, Otepopo, Wai-hemo, Maniototo Plains, Waikouaiti, Lower Harbour, Peninsula, Waihola, Millburn, and Wakatipu.

The Millburn Lime and Cement Company burn large quantities of lime at their Millburn works, from whence it is sent to all parts of Otago, for building purposes, gasworks, &c. It is also largely used in farming, and the productiveness of the Tokomairiro Plain has been greatly increased of late years by its application to the soil. Large cement-works belonging to the same company have been open for some years on the reclaimed land in Otago Harbour, near Dunedin. The dement manufactured at these works is considered fully equal, if not superior, to the best imported, and is largely used in building and other constructive works.

Climate.

The climate of Otago varies greatly in different neighbourhoods, and sometimes a distance of a few miles only separates districts very dissimilar in this respect. A large area in the interior of Otago has what may be called a dry climate. This area includes the Maniototo Plains, the Idaburn and Manuherikia Valleys, and extends to Lakes Wakatipu, Wanaka, Hawea, and Ohau on the west and north, and to the Waitaki River on the north-east. From Oamaru the direction would be across country to the Lammerlaw Ranges, and thence to Mount Benger and the southern end of Lake Wakatipu. This part of the country is well adapted for sheep of all kinds, especially merinos. Some of the runs in the hilly country are capable of carrying 20,000 sheep.

West Coast.

In marked contrast to central Otago is the West Coast District, which may be described as having a wet climate. Not that the number of wet days in the year is very great, but it is subject to very heavy rains from the north-west, the fall generally exceeding 100 in. per annum. But, although wet, the climate is mild, and the vegetation is consequently luxuriant. The only settlers of this part of the country are Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland, who keep a house of accommodation for tourists at the head of Milford Sound. There are very few visitors to the Sounds during winter, but in summer the tourist traffic is considerable. Towards the south-east and south coasts of the district the climate is moist, being somewhat similar to that of Dunedin, where the average rainfall is 35 in., distributed over 163 days in the year.

Fruit.

There are some fine fruit-growing districts in the valley of the Clutha, from below Roxburgh right up to Lake Wanaka. The summers are dry and warm, and-the soil suitable. Apricots, peaches, &c., come to maturity fully a month before they do at Dunedin, and grapes ripen in the open air. There is a great future for this neighbourhood in the growing of those varieties of fruit which agree with and page 74 thrive in a dry climate. The grape might be cultivated either for wine-making or for the table, and some varieties could be made into good raisins. The hops grown at Alexandra are far superior to any grown in other parts of the colony, and quite equal to the best Californian. The dryness of the atmosphere is favourable for preserving all kinds of fruit, while the Otago Central Railway will bring the neighbourhood into direct communication with a market.

Crops.

Cereals of all kinds do very well over nearly the whole of the provincial district, which includes Southland. The following are the agricultural statistics:—

Total area under cultivation (Otago Provincial District) on 31st March, 1897: Land broken up but not planted, 31,313 acres; land under crop, 281,949 acres in corn, and 275,574 acres in green and other crops; land broken up and grassed 1,360,243 acres-, land grass-sown without being previously ploughed, 261,342 acres-land in garden, 3,982 acres; land in orchard, 2,003 acres; land in plantation, 4,674 acres: giving a total of 2,224,080 acres in cultivation.

Stock.

The total number of sheep in the Otago Provincial District, including Southland, on the 30th April, 1896, was 3,995,496, of which rather more than two-fifths were merinos. On an average, about one-third of the flocks consist of breeding-ewes. The shearing is mostly done by hand, but the Wolseley shearing-machines have been introduced on about ten stations, the number of machines in each wool, shed varying generally from ten to fifteen, though there is one shed at Benmore, near Lake Ohau, where there are twenty-eight machines driven by a turbine.

In November last there were 53,076 horses; 57 mules and asses; 185,109 cattle; and 28,048 pigs.

The rabbit-pest is still a severe tax on the stockowners; the number of skins exported last year for the whole colony being 10,828,612, nearly the whole of which came from Otago.

Freezing Establishments.

There are nine meat-freezing and preserving-works in Otago. The principal freezing establishments are at Oamaru, at Burnside, and at Port Chalmers. At Oamaru there are two Bell-Coleman machines. The capacity of the smaller one is 60,000 cubic feet of cold air per hour; and the larger one can supply 90,000 cubic feet per hour. The smaller machine is driven by water, obtained from the Oamaru town supply, the larger by steam. Together they can freeze 800 sheep a day, and there is storage-room for 20,000 carcases. At Burnside there are two Haslam machines, both driven by steam. One can supply 40,000 cubic feet of cold air per hour, and the other 60,000. The Burnside works can freeze 500 sheep a day, and have storage-room for 14,000 carcases. The Port Chalmers freezing-works, erected last year by the Ot ago Dock Trust, cost £4,500. They are used principally for the storage of butter prior to shipment, but the freezing-chambers have also been used for sheep, rabbits, and fish. The refrigerating machinery includes a 12-ton Hercules refrigerator. The capacity of the building is 30,000 cubic feet, and 50 tons of butter can be handled per week.

Woollen-mills.

There are four woollen-mills at work in Otago, employing some 780 hands. The amount paid in wages is about £50,000 per annum, and the machinery is 750, horse power. £64,000 worth of wool and other materials are used per annum, and page 75 the turn-out of manufactured goods exceeds £140,000 yearly. The woollen industry in Otago is of greater magnitude than in any other district of New Zealand.

Clothing-factories.

In clothing-factories, also, Otago takes a prominent place, having nine, employing 700 hands, whose wages amount to £28,000 per annum.

Dairy factories.

Otago takes also a good position as regards cheese-and butter-factories and creameries, whether in respect of the number of hands employed, wages paid, or the value of the annual output, which amounts to about £93,875. In April, 1896, there were forty-four factories, and new ones are being started from time to time. From Port Chalmers this year were shipped 1,627 tons of cheese, and 159 tons of butter.

Gold Production.

Otago produces about one-third of all the gold taken out in New Zealand. The Quantity of gold obtained last, year amounted to 88,362 oz., having a value of £359,991. Number of Europeans engaged, 3,885; and number of Chinese, 964.

Gold is found very generally distributed throughout Otago, except in the southern portion of the district. The principal localities are: Clutha Valley, Tuapeka, Shotover, Cardrona, Tinker's, St. Bathan's, Mount Ida, Nevis, Bannockburn, and Maerewhenuu.

Chief Towns.

The following are the chief towns of Otago, with their population as on the 12th April, 1896, including all having 1,000 inhabitants and upwards: Dunedin, and suburbs, 47,280; Oamaru, 5,225; Port Chalmers, 2,084, shipping included; Mosgiel, 1,382; Milton, 1,139; Kaitangata, 1,362; Lawrence, 996.

City of Dunedin.

Dunedin, the capital city of Otago, is situated at the head of Otago Harbour, which is divided into two parts—the upper and lower. The lower harbour is six miles long from Taiaroa Heads to Port Chalmers. The upper harbour, from Port Chalmers to Dunedin, is seven miles in length. Dunedin and Port Chalmers are also connected by railway.

Although the hills surrounding Dunedin are rather tame in character and outline, the city itself is picturesquely situated. The business part of it is on level land near the harbour, and the residences occupy the sloping hills which rise on the west side of the city. The city proper is about two miles and a half long by seven-eighths of a mile wide, and is bounded on the land side by what is called the Town Belt. Tins reserve averages one-fifth of a mile in width, and comprises 500 acres, a great part, of which is virgin bush. A pretty road, called the Queen's Drive, has been laid out through the Belt, from end to end, from which many fine views of the town and harbour can be obtained.

It is thirteen miles down the harbour to the Heads in a north-easterly direction, but the Ocean Beach, lying to the south-east, is only two miles from the centre of the city, and the favourite seaside resort—St. Clair—is about three miles. Trams run to" both these places at short intervals. The city is also connected with the suburban boroughs, lying on the hills overlooking the town, by excellent cable-tramways. The Botanical Gardens to the north of the city are well laid out, the native bush contrasting with the cultivated parts. The Reservoir also, which is within easy walking distance, and the drive to Blueskin Bay, have many beauties.

Dunedin is well supplied with elementary schools, there being six large schools in the city proper, and eight more in the suburbs.

There is also in Dunedin a training-college for teachers. The students in training number eight men and twenty-one women. They devote every fifth week during the session to practice in teaching and management of classes in the ten. associated schools of the city and suburbs.

The School of Art and Design is in the same building as the Normal School, and has a staff of four teachers.

The Otago Boys' High School stands on a commanding plateau 300 ft. above the business part of the city and the harbour. The school was opened on the 3rd August, 1863, in the building in Dowling Street now occupied as the Girls' High School. The new buildings were opened by Sir William Jervois, Governor, in February, 1885. The teaching staff, including the Rector, numbers ten; the attendance is 204.

The Otago Girls' High School was opened on the 6th February, 1871, with a roll of 78 pupils. The present attendance is 144, with a teaching staff of eleven. Otago holds the proud distinction of having established the first Girls' High School in the Australasian Colonies. Among the earnest band of workers who laboured to establish this first High School for girls the name of Miss Dalrymple stands preeminent, and will ever be held in grateful remembrance by the people of Otago.

The Otago University was founded in 1869, and opened in 1871. It is well housed in a handsome pile of buildings in the domestic Gothic style. There are four separate faculties in the University—viz., arts and science, law, medicine, and mining. The School of Medicine provides the full course for a medical degree of the University of New Zealand. There is a Medical Museum in the University buildings containing anatomical, pathological, and other preparations and models. The teaching staff numbers at present twenty-four professors and lecturers. Of undergraduates keeping terms there are 227—viz., 136 men and 91 women. The University Library contains over 5,000 specially selected volumes, and is open to the public under certain conditions for purposes of reference. The Chemical and Physical Laboratories are well fitted up, and furnished with all necessary instruments and appliances. There are six scholarships tenable at the University," ranging in value from £15 to £10 per annum.

The public Museum, of which the Professor of Biology is Curator, is under the control of the University Council. It is situated in Great King street, about five minutes' walk from the University. There is an art gallery attached, which contains some good works of art. Up to the present time only the central portion of the original design has been erected.

The Dunedin Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute possesses a fine library of over 16,000 volumes, and a membership of over 1,000 subscribers. Besides the Circulating Library there is a Reference Library, and two good reading-rooms, well supplied with newspapers and magazines.

There are some fine specimens of architecture in Dunedin, the buildings for the most part having an air of permanence and solidity. Some of the churches are very handsome, and St. Joseph's Cathedral (Roman Catholic) has a particularly imposing appearance, although only about one-third of the original design hag been completed. It is built of stone in the decorated Gothic style. The portion at present constructed will seat 1,000 persons, and has cost £23,000.

The First Church, in Moray Place, and Knox Church, in George street, belong to the Presbyterians, and are both handsome stone structures. The Cargill Monument, which was erected to the memory of the late Captain Cargill, the founder of the Otago settlement, stands in the Triangle, between the Customhouse and the Bank of New Zealand. It. is an ornate specimen of early decorated Gothic.

Towns and Surrounding Country.

Port Chalmers (eight miles from Dunedin) situate on Otago Harbour, midway between the Heads and Dunedin, has a population of nearly 2,000 inhabitants. It is the chief port of Otago, and possesses every accommodation for Home vessels, including dry dock, 80-ton sheer-legs, steam-hammer, and other appliances, besides several private foundries, cool-storage chamber, &c. The Port. Chalmers graving dock is described in the article on page 58.

Leaving Dunedin by the northern railway, winding in and out through the hills which surround the town, and skirting the precipitous cliffs of the coast-line, the first station of importance reached is Waitati, a favourite seaside resort in Blueskin Bay; distance, seventeen miles. Fifteen miles beyond is Waikouaiti; population page 77 760; pleasantly situated on the Hawksbury lagoon, the centre of a flourishing farming country. The next place of note is Palmerston, forty-one miles from Dunedin, with 775 inhabitants. A branch-line leaves Palmerston and runs nine miles up Shag Valley to Dunback. Six miles further on the main line there is a branch to Shag Point, a coalfield, with two pits being actively worked.

Oamaru (seventy-eight miles) is the second town in Otago, having a population of 5,225. It is the centre of a large farming district, and has a good harbour, formed by a concrete breakwater, for the reception of ocean-going ships. The chief exports are wool and grain. A branch-line runs from the junction near Oamaru up the Waiareka Valley to Ngapara, seventeen miles, and Tokaraki, twenty-six miles from Oamaru, and another seven miles by road brings us to Livingstone.

Starting from Oamaru, and proceeding to Central Otago, viâ the valley of the Waitaki River, the first part of the journey is accomplished by rail across the fertile Papakaio Plains to Awamoko (ninety six miles), and thence following up the Waitaki River past Duntroon to Kurow (120 miles). At Kurow the traveller leaves the railway and follows the course of the Waitaki through pastoral country to Rugged Ridges Station (133 miles); a little beyond Rugged Ridges the road leaves the Waitaki River, and crossing the Ahuriri Pass (141 miles), strikes the Ahuriri River, which it follows up past Omarama Station (158 miles) to the junction of Longslip Creek; it then ascends this creek until Lindis Pass saddle is reached (172 miles), at a height of 3,185 feet. Here begins the descent to the Clutha Valley viâ Morven Hills Station (181 miles) and Tarras Station (200 miles). From Tarras Station the road runs through settled farming country up the Clutha River, which is crossed by means of a punt at Newcastle (219 miles), and four miles more brings the traveller to Pembroke, on the southern shore of Lake Wanaka.

From Dunedin the main trunk railway runs southward to Invercargill, a distance of 130 miles. Passing through the Caversham Borough and tunnel the traveller reaches Burnside (five miles) and Abbotsford (six miles), industrial centres, with coal-mining, tanning, iron-smelting, and other works. Farther on is Wingatui, the junction of the Otago Central Railway; and ten miles from Dunedin is Mosgiel, a rising township with 1,382 inhabitants, noted for its woollen mills. The railway-line now skirts the Taieri Plain, an alluvial flat eighteen miles long by five miles broad; the most fertile portion of Otago. A branch-line from Mosgiel junction runs to Outram (nineteen miles), on the farther side of the Taieri Plain. Passing the smaller Townships of Grey town and Henley, and Lakes Waihola and Waipori, the line strikes Milton (thirty-six miles). Milton, in the middle of the Tokomairiro Plain, is a town of 1,139 inhabitants, with flour-mill, dairy-factories, flax-mill, pottery works, and tannery. The next place of importance is Balclutha (fifty-three miles), on the banks of the Clutha River, with flax-milIs, dairy-factories, and chicory works; population about. 950. Kaitangata, situated lower down the Clutha River, and connected by a branch-line, has extensive coalfields, and a population of 1,362. Leaving Balclutha, the main line runs through the Clutha downs, passing the small centres of Waitepeka, Warepa, Kaihiku, and Waiwera, and reaches Clinton (seventy-three miles), on the Waiwera stream, a favourite resort of anglers. The next station of note beyond Clinton is Waipahi Junction (eighty-three miles), on the Waipahi River, likewise a favourite fishing-ground. Further on is Gore (ninety-nine miles), on the Mataura River, in the Southland district. Gore is a fast-rising township of over 2,000 inhabitants, with paper-mill, flour-mill, freezing-works, dairy factory, coal-mines, &c.

A branch-line from Waipahi follows up and crosses the Pomahaka River and connects Tapanui (ninety-six miles), Kelso (ninety-eight miles), and Heriot (102 miles).

The Otago Central Railway starts from Wingatui, crosses the Taieri Plain, and then winds round to the Taieri River, which it follows up to the present terminus at Hyde. In its course along the river it runs for some distance through a rocky gorge, but after crossing the Sutton Stream enters Strath-Taieri—a comparatively flat, open country. Near Hindon Station (twenty-five miles), in the Taieri Gorge, and Barewood (thirty-six miles), there are quartz-reefs being worked. In traversing the Strath-Taieri the line passes the Blair-Taieri Village Settlement (forty-four miles), Middlemarch, a rising township (forty-eight miles), and reaches Hyde (sixty-four page 78 miles), the present limit, although the formation is well-advanced as far as Hamilton's. When this section is complete the Maniototo Plain will be tapped, and the extension of the line to Clyde presents no engineering difficulties. Central Otago has a great future before it, as in the opinion of experts it is naturally adapted for producing fruit of all kinds in perfection.

Another means of access to Central Otago is by the Clutha Valley.

Two miles beyond Milton the Lawrence branch leaves Clarkesville Junction, runs up the Tokomairiro River and the gorge of Manuka Creek, and down to Waitahuna (fifty-three miles), and Lawrence (sixty miles), goldmining centres, with an aggregate population of 1,500. Gold was first discovered here in 1861, and the mines are still yielding freely. From Lawrence a coach runs to Beaumont (seventy-two miles), on the Clutha River. Crossing the Beaumont Bridge the road follows the west bank of the Clutha, passing numerous dredging-claims. At eighty-nine miles is Ettrick, and seven miles further on is Roxburgh—the Teviot—(ninetv-six miles), a town of 433 inhabitants. Recrossing the Clutha River by the Roxburgh Bridge, and proceeding up the east bank, the traveller reaches Alexandrs South (124 miles), at the junction of the Manuherikia River with the Clutha, and Clyde—the Dunstan—(130 miles), the chief town of Vincent County. The next place of importance is Cromwell (143 miles), at the junction of the Kawarau River with the Clutha. Cromwell is a small town of 539 inhabitants, and has a good bridge over the Clutha River. If the traveller wishes to pursue his journey farther he can either follow the road up the Clutha to Newcastle and Pembroke, on Lake Wanaka, or take the Kawarau Gorge road by way of the Crown Terrace to Queenstown, on Lake Wakatipu.

Queenstown, a picturesque township situated on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, has a population of 781, and is the centre of a large gold-mining district The chief feature of Queenstown is the grand mountain and lake scenery in the neighbourhood, which attracts large numbers of tourists every year. There are two ways of reaching Queenstown—the one by the Clutha Valley and Kawarau Gorge, as above described, and the other by rail to Kingston, at the foot of Lake Wakatipu, and thence by steamer, which runs to suit the trains.

The Tautuku bush, in the south of Otago, has only lately been opened up, but already a large number of settlers are making their homes there. Starting from Balclutha the Catlin's River branch-line runs southwards to Romahapa (sixty miles) on the crossing of the main road to Port Molyneux, thence to Glenomaru (sixty-four miles), and Owaka (seventy miles from Dunedin), is nearly complete. The Catlin's Waikawa main road is formed the whole way through, as are also numerous district roads, and the adjacent lands are being taken up as fast as they are thrown open.

Railways.

The principal lines are as follows: (1.) The main trunk line from Dunedin to Christchurch, with branches from Oamaru to Hakataramea, forty-three miles; and Oamaru to Ngapara and Tokoraki, twenty-five miles; also, Palmerston to Dunback, nine miles. (2.) The main trunk line, Dunedin to Invercargill, with branches, Mosgiel to Outram, nine miles; Milton to Lawrence, twenty-four miles; Stirling to Kaitangata, five miles; Balclutha to Owaka, eighteen miles; and Waipahi to Heriot, twenty miles. (3.) The Otago Central, from Wingatui to Hyde, fifty-six miles. Rails are laid to Ryan's, seven miles beyond Hyde, and the line is in course of formation to Eweburn.

Statistical.

The total population of the Otago Provincial District at date of last census, 12th April, 1896, was 163,944.

Area of Otago Land District: Open land below 2,000 ft., 5,252 square miles; forest-land below 2,000ft., 1,919 square miles; open land above 2,000ft., 6,480 square miles; forest-land above 2,000 ft., 419 square miles; area of lakes, &c., 275 square miles: total, 14,345 square miles.

The following table shows the disposition of the land in the Otago District on 31st March, 1897:— page 79

	Holdings	Acres.
1. Crown lands alienated, comprising freehold land and vested reserves	2,674,073
2. Lands held on deferred payment	130	34,672
3. Lands held on perpetual lease	494	91,951
4. Lands held under occupation-with-right-of-purchase clause	100	17,788
5. Lands held on lease in perpetuity	480	132,855
6. Lands held under agricultural lease on goldfields	21	1,010
7. Lands held under Mining Districts Land Occupation Act	65	2,595
8. Lands held under village settlement, deferred payment	7	263
9. Lands held under village settlement, perpetual lease	42	934
10. Lands held under village settlement, lease in perpetuity	112	1,755
11. Lands held under village-homestead special settlement, perpetual lease	87	1,436
12. Lands held by special-settlement associations, lease in perpetuity	15	2,955
13. Lands held as improved-farm settlements	9	10,329
14. Lands held as small grazing-runs	247	489,371
15. Lands held Under pastoral license, not including bush	255	4,173,882
16. Lands held under lease and license for miscellaneous purposes, exclusive of gold-mining	335	81,731
17. Lands acquired and disposed of as lease in perpetuity under Land for Settlements Acts	242	23,455
18. Crown lands open for selection (including 2,467 acres under Land for Settlements Act)		83,961
19. Crown lands being prepared for selection		70,356
20. Land open for application under pastoral licenses	8	80,222
21. Lands held by aboriginal natives		16,140
22. Balance of Crown lauds, including mining reserves, public reserves not vested, bush-lands, roads, barren country, &c.		1,013,066
23. Lakes, and Clutha and Taieri Rivers		176,000
	Total area of district (14,345 square miles),	9,180,800

Item No. 1 includes 340,517 acres of vested reserves, of which about 26,470 acres hare been sold, leaving a balance of 314,047 acres, a portion of which will probably be open for sale at a future date.

Tenants of lands included in 2 and 4 have the right of acquiring the freehold, as have tenants of 3 up to twelve years from the date of issue of the lease, and of 6 in the case of leases issued prior to the Act of 1891. There is no right of acquiring the freehold for tenants of lands included in 5, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17 and in the case of No. 13 the right of acquiring freehold applies to portions only.

The Crown lands proper are: (18), open for selection (see Crown Lands Guide), 83,061 acres; and (19), being prepared for selection, 70,356 acres.

Local Industries.

There is not space to give in detail particulars of the various local industries throughout Otago and Southland, but amongst others may be noticed the following: There are four bone-mills and artificial-manure factories, where substances that might otherwise go to waste, or pollute the air and water, are turned to profitable account, and made to increase the fertility of the soil. The lime-and cement-works at Dunedin have already been mentioned. There are thirty brick-, tile-, and pottery-manufactories, the largest pottery-works being at Milton, where all kinds of useful household crockery ware are made. Twelve agricultural implement factories are in operation, and turn out annually a large supply. There are fourteen boot-and shoe-factories; six boat building, eighteen coach-building, twenty-eight fell-mongering, tanning, and wool-scouring establishments; twenty-two aerated-water and cordial manufactories, seventeen breweries, five coffee and spice works, three fruit-and jam-factories, one ink-making establishment, three paper-mills, six rope- page 80 and twine works, one soap-and candle-making establishment, six gasworks, and fifty-one sawmills and door-and sash-making factories. There are also twenty, four foundries, including brass-founders and coppersmiths, beside stove and range manufactories, iron-rolling works, and works for making every description of engineering and mining machinery and appliances; and there is a piano manufactory in Dunedin, which has been open for the last ten years. During that period 210 pianos have been made and about 180 sold. The types manufactured are cottage pianos and upright grands, at prices ranging from thirty to sixty guineas. The present output is from twenty-five to thirty per annum.

Besides the above there are eighteen bacon-curing establishments, eight fish-curing and preserving works, two rabbit preserving works, twenty-three grain-mills six sugar-boiling and confectionery works, six malt-houses, two colonial wine-making establishments, three sauce and pickle factories, one vinegar works, one glue factory, two boiling-down works, three cooperages, four wooden ware factories, six chaff-cutting establishments, one paper bag and box factory, one tobacco-pipe factory, six tinware factories, twenty-nine printing offices, four basket and perambulator factories, two brush and broom factories, one cutlery factory, four cycle factories two saddlery and harness factories, one portmanteau factory, eight sail and oilskin factories, thirteen furniture factories, four Venetian-blind works, two starch manufactories, four chemical works, one haematite paint factory, one sheep-dip factory, one match factory, two flock-mills, three cleaning-and dyeing-works, two waterproof factories, three hat and cap factories, three stocking-weaving factories, one bag and sack factory, seven flaxmills. Also the following, which have been more fully described in preceding paragraphs—namely, nine meat-freezing and preserving works, four woollen-mills, nine clothing factories, forty-four butter and cheese factories: making a total of 516 industrial establishments, employing 7,055 persons. Approximate value of manufactures yearly, £2,153,473.