Southland Province

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

The Southland Province was a province of New Zealand from the March 1861 until the province rejoined with Otago Province in 1870.

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

[edit] Area

The capital and largest settlement of Southland Province was Invercargill.

[edit] Railways

The Southland Province began a number of railway projects. The branch to Bluff (Campbelltown until 1917) opened on 5 February 1867. It was built to international standard gauge of 1,435 mm (4 feet 8.5 inches), wider than the national gauge of 1,067 mm (3 feet 6 inches) gauge. It was converted to the new gauge in a single day, 18 December 1875. The railway later became part of the New Zealand Railways Department

[edit] Anniversary Day

Founded: 1861-04-01 [1]

New Zealand law provides an anniversary day for each province.

[edit] Superintendents

• 1861 James Alexander Robertson Menzies
• 1865 John Parkin Taylor
• 1869 William Wood

[edit] Legislation

• 1861 Breaks away from Otago Province
• 1870 Reunited with Otago

[edit] Source

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