"Where Every Prospect is Pleasing"

This is the cover of a booklet, promoting South Canterbury, issued by The South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, in 1926.

It makes for very interesting reading. The industries that existed in Timaru, and surrounding areas in those days is astounding, to say the least.

The booklet describes South Canterbury as "essentially a farming district, but is also a virile and live centre".

For example, there was, in 1926:
Seven flourmills
Two Freezing Works (described as 'meat-refrigerating works')
A woollen factory
A boot factory
'half a dozen' woodturning & sawmilling plants
Insulator works (at Temuka)
Three wool scouring works
A flax mill
Two brickworks
A biscuit factory
Seven engineering establishments
Ten carriage & motor factories (Ford cars were assembled at Timaru!)
A brewery
Two fur companies
Eight dairy factories

Phew!

Pretty much all of the above industries are now long gone. Either closed up shop, or moved to Auckland (or offshore) for cheaper production.

The main industries here now are farming, the port, and Tourism is a big industry here, as well as throughout New Zealand.


Well, that's today's history lesson boys and girls. I hope you took notes because there'll be a test on it tomorrow (just kidding! I'll give you til next week.).

Oh, and we had our first frost today. Weather-wise it's all down hill from here I'm afraid!