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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

[Otaio]

Otaio is the name of a small settlement, and also of a riding of the Waimate county; at the census of 1901 the riding had a population of 535. The settlement of Ecclestone is also about four miles from the Otaio railway station. Ecclestone estate consisted of 1245 acres, and was subdivided into four farms, varying in area from 215 to 444 acres. There are two other settlements, one known as Kohika, and another as Tavistock. The district has a public school, and the business of the post office is conducted at the local smithy. The flag station on the railway line stands eighteen feet above sea level, and is 114 miles distant from Christchurch, fourteen from Timaru, and four from St. Andrews. Otaio lies between the river of that name and the Makakihi river. The country generally is fertile and undulating, and is devoted chiefly to sheep-farming. Otaio is noted for the fineness of its climate.

Otaio Post Office was established about 1887. It is now conducted at the local smithy, but was for some years conducted at the railway station. Three mails are received and one mail despatched daily.

Mr. William George Irwin, Postmaster at Otaio, was born in Timaru, in 1868. He has been in business at Otaio since 1894, and has acted as postmaster all the time.

The Otaio Public School was established in the early seventies, and is one of the oldest schools in the district. It stands on a glebe of two acres, and has room for fifty children; the number on the roll is thirty-two, and the average attendance, twenty-eight. There is a good play-ground, with well grown shelter trees, and the teacher's residence is two stories in height, and has six rooms.

Miss Jessie Fyfe, Teacher in charge of Otaio Public School, was born in Timaru, and served her pupil-teachership at Waimataitai public school. She was at the Kapua school near Waimate, for four years and a half, and was appointed to Otaio in 1902.