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years there was a hotel at Clifton, but in consequence of the reduction at the licensing poll of 1902, the license was withdrawn in 1903.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.

The Clifton Primitive Methodist Church was erected in 1901. The building is of wood and has seating accommodation for 150 persons. The Sunday school, which is attended by sixty-five children, in charge of five teachers, is held in the church, where services are conducted every Sunday afternoon by the minister resident at South Invercargill, the Rev. A. Pybus.