- Otago Province
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For the current top-level subdivision of Otago in New Zealand, see Otago Region.
Map showing the boundaries of the Otago Province
The Otago Province was a province of New Zealand until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.
Contents
Area
The capital of the province was Dunedin. Southland Province split from Otago in 1861, but became part of the province again in 1870.
Anniversary Day
New Zealand law provides an anniversary day for each province.
Superintendents
The Otago Province had five Superintendents:[1]
No. from to Superintendent 1 26 Dec 1853 Dec 1859 William Cargill 2 3 Jan 1860 6 Mar 1861 James Macandrew 3 17 May 1861 15 Apr 1863 John Larkins Cheese Richardson 4 16 Apr 1863 23 Jun 1865 John Hyde Harris 5 11 Aug 1865 26 Feb 1867 Thomas Dick 27 Feb 1867 1 Jan 1877 James Macandrew (2nd time) 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).
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
See also
External links
- A page containing a map of the old provincial boundaries is available.
References
- ^ "Provinces 1848-77". Rulers.org. http://rulers.org/newzprov.html. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
Provinces of New Zealand 1841–46 
1846–53 1853–76 Auckland | Canterbury | Hawke's Bay | Marlborough | Nelson | Otago | Southland | Taranaki | Wellington | WestlandCategories:- Provinces of New Zealand
- History of the Otago Region
- States and territories established in 1853
- 1876 disestablishments
- Otago Region geography stubs
- Southland Region geography stubs
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