1857 - First South Canterbury Electoral Roll

The first electoral roll for South Canturbury appeared in the Provincial Gazette of 1857. Before that any elector who chose to register appeared on the Christchurch Country Roll. The electoral boundry for what was originally known as the 'Timary Electoral District' extended from the southernmost branch of the Ashburton River to the Waitangi (Waitaki) River. The earlist northern boundary of what was originally known as the Southern Pastoral District was the Rakaia River.

Several electors who did not live in the district were entitled to vote because they held property there.