✨ Geographical and Climatic Report
281
tolerable bridle-path to Tuturau, and onwards to Invercargill. The produce of the Taieri plains, and the wool from the eastern parts of the districts, are brought to Dunedin. That of the Tokomairiro and adjacent country is generally shipped in small coasters at the Waihola Lake; and that from Warepa, Inch Clutha, and other parts of the valley, at the Clutha river. A direct route from Dunedin to the northern parts would have to cross the deep ravines of the Taieri river and Deep Stream, and afterwards the greater part of the way would be at a height of between 3000 and 4000 feet, which will probably be impracticable in winter. An available route to these parts may perhaps be found up the Pomahaka, and over the low dividing ridge at the head of Bengerburn to the Clutha. The Mokoreta valleys might be made to communicate with the Wakawa harbour by cutting through a few miles of bush.
CLIMATE.
The climate of the eastern parts of these districts does not differ much from Dunedin, except that the north-east drizzling rains so common there seldom extend far into the Taieri plain, and scarcely ever reach the Tokomairiro at all. In the south-west parts the numerous creeks and springs, and the presence of mosses and peat at low levels, would seem to indicate either that the westerly winds deposit more rain in that quarter, or more probably that there is less evaporation. In the northern parts, the character of the vegetation at 3000 feet altitude, the general dryness of the ground, and the scarcity of creeks, indicate a comparatively much drier climate. The appearance of the ground, however, shows marks of hard frost in winter. The weather experienced during the survey can scarcely be taken as a fair sample, the season having been unusually backward. The months of October and November were little else than a succession of westerly gales, accompanied with rain and cloudy weather. The weather during the months of February and March, on the contrary, was generally fine. No thermometer having been used, the register of the weather is omitted, as it would not afford any accurate means of comparison with other places.
Dunedin, 15th July 1853.
APPENDIX (A).
ESTIMATED AREA OF THE NATURAL DIVISIONS OF THE SOUTH-EASTERN DISTRICTS.
FORESTS.
| Sq. Miles | |
|---|---|
| Tautuku | 543 |
| Oisru | 0½ |
| Warepa | 1½ |
| Kaihiku and Mos Hill | 0½ |
| Popotunoa and Wairuna | 1 |
| Clutha Valley and Island | 4 |
| Kaitangata and Misery | 2½ |
| Tokomairiro to Taieri | 6 |
| Taieri to Kaikorai | 2½ |
| Taieri Plain and Gullies | 1½ |
| Waipori | 4½ |
| Maungatua | 2½ |
| Carried forward | 566 |
| Brought forward | 566 |
| Taieri Gorge | 1½ |
| Toi Tois | 8½ |
| Tiroa | 2½ |
| Mokoreta | 3½ |
| Mihinau | 2½ |
| Slopedown Range | 5 |
| Tapanui Range | 16 |
| S.E. face of Umbrella Range | 2 |
| Tuturau | 1 |
| Total | 614 |
PASTURE
| Sq. Miles | |
|---|---|
| 4936 |
BARREN.
| On the Umbrella and East Dome Ranges | 220 |
SWAMPS.
| Sq. Miles | |
|---|---|
| Tai | 21 |
| Inch Clutha | 3 |
| Carried forward | 24 |
| Brought forward | 24 |
| Sundry Patches | 4 |
| Total | 28 |
LAKES.
| Sq. Miles | |
|---|---|
| Tuskitoto | 3 |
| Kaitangata | 0½ |
| Waipori | 3½ |
| Carried forward | 7¼ |
| Brought forward | 7¼ |
| | 2 |
| Total | 9¼ |
Total estimated area of Districts ... 5807¼
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Otago Provincial Gazette 1859, No 91
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏗️
Routes and Transportation in Otago
(continued from previous page)
🏗️ Infrastructure & Public WorksRoutes, Transportation, Clutha River, Otago, Drays, Horses
🎓 Climate of South-Eastern Districts
🎓 Education, Culture & Science15 July 1853
Climate, Weather, South-Eastern Districts, Otago, Taieri, Tokomairiro
🎓 Estimated Area of Natural Divisions of South-Eastern Districts
🎓 Education, Culture & ScienceArea, Natural Divisions, South-Eastern Districts, Forests, Pasture, Swamps, Lakes