The Valley of the Oreti

extends north and south from Invercargill to Five Rivers, in distance about 65 miles, and it has an average breadth of about 30 miles.

Fully three-fourths of this is low, flat agricultural land, a great portion of which is river bottom, and very good wheat-growing land.

Some of the terraces are inclined to be cold and damp, but a drain or mould plough recently introduced has worked wonders for this class of country, and has made all the difference between poverty and prosperity to the settlers.

Large tracts are laid down in grass, which is chiefly used for fattening stores. Close settlement extends all along the river up to Lumsden. Around Lumsden and higher up the land is chiefly held in large blocks—the Castle Rock Estate of Hon. Matthew Holmes and the Five Rivers Estate being the principal ones. There are two dairy factories in this district, one of which is a milk condensing factory on the Swiss plan, the product of which is now largely used in Australia and the intercolonial steamers. The arterial roads are in first-class order, well metalled and gravelled, and bridges wherever necessary.