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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

[introduction]

The township of Belfast is situated seven miles to the north of Christchurch, with which it is connected by a coach service and also by rail, the distance by the railway being nine miles. Belfast is surrounded by a rich agricultural district, occupied by farmers holding an average of about forty acres each, and growing chiefly oats, potatoes, and onions. Messrs Bealey Bros, were about the first to purchase land in the district, but they long ago sold their property, which is now cultivated in small holdings. The Church Property Trustees still hold a considerable area of the land, which is rented to farmers. Local industries, of great importance to Canterbuy, have helped Belfast ahead; such as the Belfast freezing works, the New Zealand Provision and Produce Company's soap and manure works, the Kaputone wool works, the oleo works, and Messrs Oppenheimer's works. There is also a butter factory and a creamery belonging to the Central Dairy Factory in the township. The local public schoool has accommodation for 320 scholars. The railway station is well situated between the township and the freezing works; and there is a branch line between the large brick buildings, with platforms at the different departments, for the purpose of facilitating the loading and unloading of sheep and cattle, and the various by-products of the works.