Lauriston is a fine agricultural and sheepfarming district in the Ashburton county, on the Rakaia-Methven line about twelve miles from Rakaia. It has a good school, a post office, and a blacksmith's shop. The district is divided into comparatively extensive farms, on which sheep are fattened and crops are raised with great success. The district was named after Mr. Laurie, one of the early settlers. As elsewhere throughout central Canterbury, the farms are served by a thorough system of water races. Large belts of well grown plantations give partial protection from the fierce page 794 nor'-westers, and add interest to the otherwise monotonous plains.