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

Local Government

Local Government.

The Otago land district is divided into fifteen counties—Lake, Vineent, Waitaki, Maniototo, Waihemo, Waikouaiti, Taieri, Peninsula, Bruce, Tuapeka, Clutha, Southland, Wallace, Fiord, and Stewart Island; the last four being included in the old provincial district of Southland.

The local administration in towns is carried on by municipal councils; and the following is a list of the boroughs and towns: Oamaru, Hampden, Palmerston South, Hawksbury, Port Chalmers, North East Valley, Maori Hill, West Harbour, Dunedin, Roslyn, Mornington, Caversham, St. Kilda, South Dunedin, Green Island (the last ten forming the city and suburbs of Dunedin), Mosgiel, Milton, Kaitangata, Balclutha, Lawrence, Roxburgh, Tapanui, Naseby, Cromwell, Alexandra, Arrow-town, Queenstown, Gore, Mataura, Winton, Invercargill, North Invercargill, South Invercargill, East Invercargill, Avenal, Gladstone, Campbelltown, Riverton (the last eleven being situated in Southland provincial district). The town districts are small rural centres of population, governed by town boards, with powers similar to those of the borough councils. These are Greytown (Allanton), Outram, Clinton, Wyndham, and Otautau.

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The road boards administer the affairs of such districts as are not included in towns, boroughs, and town districts, and do not come immediately under the authority of the county councils. In the following counties there are no road districts: Waihemo, Waitaki, Waikouaiti, Taieri, Clutha, Tuapeka, Maniototo, Vincent, Lake, Wallace, Fiord, and Stewart Island. In Peninsula county there are four road districts: Otago Heads, Peninsula, Portobello, and Tomahawk; in Bruce there are three; Balmoral, Inch-Clutha, and Mount Stuart; and in Southland there are three: Knapdale, Oteramika, Tuturan.

River boards in certain districts perform the important duty of providing against floods by constructing embankments and planting trees and willows, so as to withstand the aggressions of the rivers. In a country so well watered as Otago, especially as many of the streams are snow-fed, and are peculiarly liable to floods, such work is of extreme importance to the welfare of the rural districts. The most important river boards are: Clive, Clutha, Dipton, Henley, Inch-Clutha, Makarewa, Hedgehope, West Taieri, and Winton. These boards levy rates locally and expend their funds in protective works to save their districts from loss by floods.

Skipper's Road. Photo by Rev. W. A. Gunn.

Skipper's Road. Photo by Rev. W. A. Gunn.

The marine commerical interests of Otago are watched over by several harbour boards. The Otago Harbour Board (revenue £71,000) controls the shipping facilities of Dunedin and Port Chalmers. The Oamaru Harbour Board (revenue £15,000) looks after the shipping of the northern districts. Other harbour boards are: Fortrose (Southland County Council), New River, Riverton—all in Southland, and all helping to develop the great natural resources of the southern portion of the island.

Each electoral district in the province is a licensing district as provided by the Alcoholic Liquor Sale Control Act of 1893; by the Amendment Act of 1895 the Licensing poll is taken at the same time as the general election of members to the House of Representatives.