THE OAMARU PETITION.

North Otago Times, 3 August 1865, Page 2

THE O AMARU PETITION.

"We understand that nearly seven hundred signatures have been obtained to the above document. This forms a large proportion of the population of the district, and but further tends to show the unanimity of opinion entertained by all classes of the community on the matter of our public grievances. The following statistical information has been appended to the petition, and we publish it as matter of general interest : —

I. Ahea. The area of the district supplied from Oamaru may bo thus desciibed : — Miles. Sq. Miles. Acres. Oamaru to Otepopo ... 28 x 15 — 420 — 266,800 Waitaki, Ot*go side ... 80 x 20 — 1600 \ , A ? o iw\ Do., Canterbury do. 70 x 10 — 700 / 1 ' 4 '' i ' wu 2720 — 1,738^800 The land in the Oamaru and Otepopo Districts is twothirds arable ; the Waitaki consists chiefly of sheep and cattle pasture. Of the arable land — about 180,000 acres in all— about 60,000 acres have been sold, and about 20,000 acres of this is fenced, whilst the remainder is being rapidly fenced aud brought under cultivation.

II. Population. According to last Census Returns the population of Oamaru Town is ... ... ... 730 Oamaru Country ... ... ... 462 Otepopo . . .. ... 322 1514 To which add Waitaki Diitrict, estimated at 600 2114

III. Sheep and Wool, &a. The number of sheep in the district—on the Otago side of the Waitaki— is estimated at ... 402,000 On the Canterbury side of do. ... 150,000 552,000 The Export of "Wool, the produce of the district, last season amounted to 56i>0 bales, the value of which is estimated at £120,000. Of the Exports of Grain, Lime, and Building Stone, there are no returns. IV. Imports, Customs Revenue, &o. No complete returns — Impoits estimated for the year 1864, at about ... ... £150,000. The Tonnage of Vessels entered inwards at the Port of Oamaiu in 18G4 was ... 21,802 tons. The Customs Revenue for the year 1864 amounted to ... ... ...£1943 2 3 Do. do., for 1805, up to 30th June... 169J 0 0 N.B. — As most of the goods landed at present pay duty in Dunedin, this does not neaily repiesent the total Customs Revenue. The Revenue from Sheep Licenses in 1864 amounted to ... ... ...£986 4 9 Fi om 40 to CO bushels of wheat to the acre has been the crop for the past two years.