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

Ryal Bush

Ryal Bush is a rural district, ten miles from Invercargill by railway, and twelve miles by road. It is in the Wallacetown riding of the county of Southland, and in the electoral district of Awarua. The population, at the census of 1901, was 218. The whole countryside, in the early days of the settlement, was one dense bush, of which many pretty patches still remain, to remind the old pioneers what the country was like when they first saw it. The main road from Invercargill to Winton passes through Ryal Bush, and also the Invercargill-Kingston line of railway. Seven miles further on, is the borough town of Winton, which is also connected by an excellent cycling road, which passes through the fertile district of Forest Hill. The district is supposed to have taken its name from an early settler named Ryal. Ryal page 976 Bush has an English church, at which services are held by the vicar of Winton, who is assisted by lay readers. There is an excellent public school, and also a hall, in which Presbyterian church services are held once a fortnight. The district is devoted to agriculture, dairy-farming; and, in addition to moderate-sized farms, there are deferred-payment selections of from fifteen to twenty acres. The local railway station stands ninety-two feet above the level of the sea. It is within two miles of the station at Wilson's crossing; and Branxholme station, on the Invercargill Orepuki line, is also available for settlers in the district. The business of the post and telephone bureau is conducted at the schoolhouse.