The Mataura Valley District

has the town of Gore for its centre. It extends through the Waimea Plains to Lumsden, up the Mataura and Waikaia Valleys to the Umbrella Range, and southwards along the Mataura River to the sea.

Starting from the sea at Fortrose, following up the valley of the Mataura to its junction with the Waikaia River, and thence to the Umbrella Range, is a distance of 70 miles, the whole of which for an average breadth of 25 miles is chiefly agricultural country, interspersed occasionally with low, rolling ridges. A considerable portion of this area is cultivated for grain, a still larger portion is laid down in grass after cultivation, but probably one-half of this large area is yet in its virgin state. The cultivated land yields good crops of wheat, oats, and barley, and grows splendid grass and turnips. None of the highest ridges in this country are over 1,000 feet above the sea level. It is backed up by the Umbrella Range, which is good pastoral country, and rises to a height of 7,000 feet.

The lowlands produce splendid cattle. All the best English and Scotch herds are represented in this valley. The Polled Angus on the estate of the N.Z. and A.L. Co. at Edendale; the Hereford on the Glenham Estate, on the property of Mr. Rich, and on that of Mr. J. Holms, of Waimataka; and the shorthorn cattle on the property of Mr. Carswell, of Pinebush. The best breeds of long-woolled sheep are also well represented, and thrive exceedingly well. On the higher country merinos and their crosses are the predominating breeds.

Some very large blocks of land are in private hands, some of the largest being those of the N.Z. Agricultural Co., Mr. G. M. Bell, the Edendale Estate of the N.Z. and A.L. Co., and the property of the trustees of A. McNab.

In the lower portion of the Mataura Valley dairying is one of the chief industries. The Edendale factory, the first one established in the district, by the industry and perseverance of Mr. Thomas Brydone, the general manager of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, is now receiving 3,500 gallons of milk per day, for which the producers receive 3½d. per gallon. About four miles distant is the Wyndham factory, receiving about the same quantity of milk. Altogether there are eleven or twelve dairy factories in Southland, the produce of which is sent to Port Chalmers for shipment to England. Seven of these are in the Mataura Valley. The whole of the valley is especially well adapted for this industry. Nearly all the milk is made into cheese. As a rule the factory companies sell their whey to some one who makes a business of buying it and rearing pigs. The valley as a

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whole furnishes every advantage for carrying on mixed farming and dairying, and there is room for an immense increase of population. Anyone with a capital of £300 to £500 could at once start, stock and cultivate a 200 to 300 acre farm with as reasonable an opportunity for success as anywhere in the world.

The pastures are exceedingly rich, and large quantities of sheep and cattle are fattened every year for export to London by the freezing process.

No manure is used in cultivation, except about two cwt. guano per acre when turnips are sown, to give the young plants strength to resist the attacks of the fly to which they are liable.

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Snow lies occasionally, but as a rule not for more than two or three days at a time. Once during the past twenty-five years (the winter of 1878) it lay for a fortnight to a depth of six or seven inches. West of Invercargill lies the