INVERCARGILL, the chief town of Southland county, South Island, New Zealand, 139 m. by rail S.W. by W. from Dunedin. Pop. (1936) 25,772. It lies on a deep estuary of the south coast named New River Harbour, which receives several streams famous for trout-fishing. It is the centre of the large grazing and farming district of Southland ; and has a number of factories, including breweries, foundries, woollen mills and tim ber-works. The plan of the town is rectangular, with wide streets; and there is a fine open reserve. The harbour is deep and well
sheltered, but the greater part of the trade passes through the neighbouring Bluff Harbour, the port of call and departure for steamers for Melbourne and Hobart. Southland was a separate province between 186o and 187o, but, failing financially as such, rejoined the parent province of Otago. The town is the regular starting-point of a journey to the famous lakes Wakatipu and Te Anau, which are approached by rail.