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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Sawmilling And Agriculture
Sawmilling And Agriculture are the principal industries at Gorge Road, and the local mill, which is known by the name of Oteramika Gorge, is one of the largest and best equipped sawmills in Southland. The settlement is in the Waihopai riding of the county of Southland, and is nineteen miles from Invercargill, on the railway line to Waimahaka. It is in the electoral district of Mataura. The population at the census of 1901 was recorded as thirty-four, for the township, but there were 115 persons at Oteramika Gorge, fortyfour at the Oteramika Bush, and forty-two at Oteramika. These places are in the immediate neighbourhood of Gorge Road. There is a timber yard belonging to the New Zealand Pine Company at the local railway station, and it is connected with the Oteramika Gorge. There is also another mill belonging to Mr. Niederer, in the district, as well as a flaxmill. The settlement of Kapuka is fourteen miles distant from Gorge Road by rail, but only four by road. Titiroa is three miles by rail, but twenty by road owing to the Mataura river having to be crossed and to there being no traffic bridge in the immediate neighbourhood, apart from the railway bridge. The local public school was established in 1888, and, in 1904, was attended by about forty children. The settlers carry on agriculture and dairy farming, and the land is being gradually won from the bush.