Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1905, Christchurch

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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Clifton is a suburban settlement in the borough of South Invercargill, four miles from Invercargill railway station, and thirteen miles from the Bluff by rail. There is a flag station at Clifton, which has had telephonic connection since 1893, and a postal service since the early seventies. The Clifton public school, which was established in 1875, has a hundred names on its roll. Clifton, which is in the Invercargill electorate, stands on a terrace overlooking the flat country which extends to and beyond the New River estuary. It is a working-man's settlement, and the land is sub-divided into sections of from one acre to four acres. There is a good deal of bush land extending back from the terrace, some of which has been subdivided into five acre sections, which are let on leasehold in perpetuity, and a good deal of this bush has been partly worked by sawmills. For many years there was a hotel at Clifton, but in consequence of the reduction at the licensing poll of 1902, the license was withdrawn in 1903. There are two stores, a bootmaker, a butcher and a blacksmith, and the population of the settlement is estimated to be about 200. Services in connection with the Anglican and Methodist churches are held periodically in the local school. There is a fine recreation reserve of nine acres and a-half, on the flat near the railway station. The land has been prettily planted with ornamental trees, and is also used for local sports.