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

The Picturesquely-Situated Settlement

The Picturesquely-Situated Settlement on the cliffs overlooking the ocean at Tewaewae Bay is known by the name of Orepuki. It is connected with Invercargill, via Riverton, and Thornbury and Makarewa Junctions, and is forty-three miles from the capital of Southland. The township in the neighbourhood of the railway station is 157 feet above the level of the sea. One of the ridings of the county of Wal-llace, which bears the same name, had a total population of 2,464, at the census of 1901. The principal township of Orepuki is known by the name of Hirstfield, and its population at the same census was fifty-two; but in the neighbourhood there were 747 persons. Another township, known as Garfield, had a population of forty-two, with 199 in its vicinity. To this must be added eighteen, who were returned as in Orepuki, which presumably means the old mining township, and twenty-three at Orepuki creek, A traveller visiting Orepuki has to pass through the settlements of Colac, Ruahine, and Pahia. Hirstfield is the modern town of Orepuki; it is at the railway station, and has totally cclipsed the old mining township, which is about a mile away. The industries of the district, apart from sheep, cattle, and dairy-farming, are principally sawmilling and mining. Gold was discovered at Orepuki, in 1865, and numberous “beachcombers” still find steady employment on the shores of the bay. The gold on the beach is said to be practically inexhaustible, as every storm brings up fresh deposits, and some families, who have worked their claims for many years, consider that their children, grandchildren, and even their greatgrandchildren may find a living in the same way. A large sum of money has been spent, during recent years in an unsuccessful attempt to establish shale and oil works. The development of this industry was taken in hand by a company in 1879, and the site of the mine is a mile and a-half from the railway station, to which it is connected by a substantial railway. A shaft was put down 200 feet or more, and shale and coal were discovered. The industry, however, did not prove payable, and some years later a large company was floated in London with a capital of £180,000, known as the New Zealand Coal and Oil Company, Limited. The works were then prosecuted with great vigour, and about £140,000 was spent in developing the mine, and in the erection of large, complete, and extensive works on the surface, for treating the crude material. It was hoped that such quantities of refined oil, paraffin-wax, tar and sulphites of ammonia would be found as would result in a successful industry. When in full operation, about £800 a month was paid in wages. Unfortunately for the development of Orepuki, the efforts of the company's officers were unavailing, and in 1902 the mine was shut down, and afterwards dismantled. In the early days of mining at Orepuki, there were two public houses and two stores at the old township. The new township of Hirstfield has three commodious hotels, several stores and bakeries, a public school, and Anglican, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic churches, two public halls, a small library, and public offices, including the railway station and post office combined, and Magistrate's Court. The officers of the Bank of New Zealand and the National Bank stationed at Riverton, visit the township one day in each week, and the district supports a newspaper, the “Orepuki Advocate.”