Beyond the Blue Mountains A Historyof the West Ota (by F W G Miller)

•  1978? edition, 186 pages incl. index
• Publisher: Capper Press, Christchurch
  (Originally Otago Centennial Publications 1948)
• Format: Hard cover, maroon boards with dust jacket
• Condtion: Very good. Some shelf wear, fading, bumping

NOTE: This book has a binding flaw. The first nine pages are from the book 'The Otago of our Mothers'. Beyond etc starts with Chapter One - Arrival of the squatters.

A descriptive and lively book, the settlement of West Otago has been followed in the histories of the first runholders, with each of the larger runs dealt with individually.

The wrangle between suatter and settler over land tenure is detailed; the lack of settled policy explained as due to legislators being swayed by popular clamour.

Of particular interest are the descriptions of importing fallow deer and hares for the sportsman; the beginnings of Tapanui because of the booming timber industry; full and thorough biographies of the pioneer families with anecdotes on the characters usually found in settlement towns.