AN INTRODUCTION TO SOUTH CANTERBURY

Abstract

Definition of the Area: South Canterbury is a well-defined region comprising the counties of Geraldine, Levels, Mackenzie and Waimate. It is bounded in the north by the Rangitata River, Forest Creek, and part of the Two Thumb Range, on the west by the crest of the Southern Alps, in the South by the Waitaki River, and on the east by the sea. Of the total area of 3$ million acres, 2,820,OOO acres or 86 per cent of the total area is occupied for farming. Of this occupied area 2,010,OOO acres are unimproved land, 651,000 acres are in sown grass, and 125,000 acres in crops, cereals, green feed, and root crops. In 1949-50 the occupied area carried 1,92?,000 sheep and 56,000 cattle, of which 6,100 were dairy cows in milk