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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 11, Issue 12 (March 1, 1937)

The Lie Of The Land

The Lie Of The Land.

“All of them, sir, all of them. Let us begin with Stewart Island, the piece of the southland that escaped from the mainland before the arrival of the first Scots settler; otherwise it would never have escaped. It is separated from Southland by Fouveaux Strait and the fact that there is no free ferry. Its chief industry is oyster-trapping. This is effected by sticking forks in the sand, prong-end up, and strewing the vicinity with plates of vinegar; the oysters in attempting to spring into the vinegar are impaled on the forks. Mutton birds are also snared in meat-safes by hunters disguised in butchers' aprons. Apart from the cries of wounded oysters and the plaintive bleating of imprisoned mutton-birds the island is a veritable garden of eatin’. Next we have Otago, taking care, of course, that Otago doesn't have us first.

Oyster Trapping at Stewart Island.

Oyster Trapping at Stewart Island.

Otago is Scottish and the language spoken is Anglo-saxpence. Being the last bit of inhabited country in the world very little can get past it. But the people are noted for their hospitality and welcome the stranger with open cash-registers. The main industry is playing the bagpipes, and the chief recreation is business. Dunedin is a happy city where they toss the caber, and other liquids, in the Octagon, so named because of the prevalence of “Ochs.” The lassies are so bonnie that cosmetic travellers visit Dunedin to refresh their sales-talk.”