Mataura’s first bridge a shortlived structure
The first bridge at Mataura was a footbridge opened in May 1859. It crossed the top of the falls in two spans totalling 30 metres. It was washed away in 1861 and for the next seven years travellers had to ford the Mataura a mile upstream.
In June 1868 this suspension bridge was built, costing £2782. It was replaced by the present bridge in 1939.
Mataura was known as ‘The Bridge’ in the early days when a river crossing point was often the reason for a settlement.
Other examples are ‘‘Longford’’ for Gore and ‘‘The Ferry’’ for Balclutha.
Strike one
Southland’s first known strike took place at Greenhills on February 4, 1864, when 200 workers on the Bluff to Invercargill railway struck when one of their number was dismissed.
Invercargill water
Invercargill’s first reticulated water was obtained from a well in the Doon St Reserve June 14, 1888.
The bore was 41m deep and had a diameter of 56cm. Water has been pumped from the Oreti River at Branxholme since December 22, 1958.
Penguin skins
Southland once had a thriving penguin skin industry. In addition to the two million penguins boiled up for oil by former Invercargill mayor Joseph Hatch, thousands more were killed for their skins.
The slaughter took place on The Snares and Antipodes Islands with 15,000 Crested penguins being obtained by trader Walter Henderson.
The skins were made into hats, muffs, cuffs and tippets.
There is an example of a penguin muff in Otago Museum made by Dunedin furrier J Constantine.