Otago Province

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(For the current top-level subdivision of Otago in New Zealand, see Otago)

The Otago Province was a province of New Zealand until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.

Contents 1 Area 2 Anniversary Day 3 Superintendents 4 Railways 5 Legislation 6 Source

[edit] Area

The capital of the province was Dunedin. Southland Province split from Otago in 1861, but became part of the province again in 1870.

[edit] Anniversary Day

New Zealand law provides an anniversary day for each province.

[edit] Superintendents

• 1853 William Cargill
• 1860 James Macandrew (1st time)
• 1861 John Larkins Cheese Richardson
• 1863 John Hyde Harris
• 1865 Thomas Dick
• 1867 James Macandrew (2nd time)

[edit] Railways

The Province built the Port Chalmers Branch under the auspices of the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway Company Limited, and was built to the recently adopted national gauge of 1067 mm (3 feet 6 inches), and it was the first line in the country with that gauge to open, on 1 January 1873. The first locomotive to run on the line was the E class Josephine, a double Fairlie steam locomotive, whose local popularity ensured she was retained beyond her retirement from service on the railways in 1917 and is preserved today in the Otago Settlers Museum in Dunedin.

When the Southland province amalgamated with Otago in 1870, the latter acquired the former province's railways - which were built to the standard gauge of 1,435 mm (4 feet 8.5 inches).

[edit] Legislation

• Otago Harbour Trust Leasing Ordinance 1862
• Education Reserves Ordinance 1864
• Education Reserves Ordinance 1865
• Harbour Reclaimed Lands Sale and Leasing Ordinance 1868
• University of Otago Ordinance 1869
• Dunedin Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute Ordinance 1870
• Oamaru Racecourse Reserve Management Ordinance 1870
• University of Otago Endowment Ordinance 1870
• Blueskin Market Reserve Ordinance 1871
• Invercargill Athenaeum Reserve Management Ordinance 1871
• Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Reserve Management Ordinance 1871
• Lawrence Athenaeum and Mining Institute Ordinance 1872
• Lawrence Athenaeum and Mining Institute Reserves Management Ordinance 1872
• Oamaru Town Reserves Management Ordinance 1872
• Cromwell Athenaeum Ordinance 1873
• Dempsey Trust Ordinance 1873
• Invercargill Athenaeum Reserves Management Ordinance 1873
• Riverton Athenaeum Ordinance 1873
• Winton Racecourse Reserve Management Ordinance 1873
• Caledonian Society of Otago Incorporation Ordinance 1874
• Roslyn Institute Ordinance 1874
• Arrowtown Athenaeum Ordinance 1875
• Invercargill Athenaeum Reserve Management Ordinance 1875
• Riverton Athenaeum Reserves Management Ordinance 1875
• University of Otago Lands Trust Ordinance 1875

[edit] Source

• A page containing a map of the old provincial boundaries is available here.
• List at Rulers site with provincial superintendents