Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1905, Christchurch

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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Dipton , as a settlement, is divided into two parts, which stand, respectively, on the eastern and western banks of the Oreti river. The original township was founded before the extension of the railway to the Lakes district, and stands on the Dipton Flat, on the western bank of the river. In the early sixties, Messrs Morrison, Law and Squires became proprietors of the Dipton station, which was worked for many years as a sheep run, and in 1877, the site of the township was sold by auction at the Land Office, Invercargill. At one time during its history there were two hotels and a blacksmith's shop in the township. The main road leading towards the Lake district passes through the settlement. In 1904, the township, apart from dwelling-houses, consisted of a store, Presbyterian and English churches, a public library and a dairy factory. The new township took its rise at the opening of the railway, and consists of private and business premises on both sides of the line; it is stated that, properly, it should be called Oreti. The business premises consist of a store, bakery and butchery combined, an hotel, a blacksmith's shop, a public hall, and a Roman Catholic church. The two townships are connected by a good road, and a fine bridge over the river. The old bridge was erected in 1876, and did duty till the 17th of October, 1902, when the present bridge was completed. Quarterly stock sales are held in Dipton, at the yards of the local Sale Yards Company. The station is a post and telephone office combined; it stands at an altitude of 423 feet above sea level, and is thirty-seven miles from Invercargill. Dipton proper is in the Winton riding of the county of Southland, and, at the census of 1901, had a population of sixty-eight, while on the Dipton Flat, surrounding the township, there were 204 additional inhabitants. East Dipton is in the Oreti riding of the county of Southland, and at the census of 1901, had a population of ninety-three, with forty-six extra in the vicinity. The public school of Dipton was attended by seventy children, on an average, in 1904. Near the school stands the commodious manse of the Presbyterian minister of the Dipton-Fernhills charge.