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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Mr. Christian Hille
Mr. Christian Hille , who was prominent as a pioneer of settlement in the Kurow district, was born at Hanover, Germany, in 1823. He was brought up to country life, and was engaged as a shepherd till coming out to Sydney in the year 1854. Shortly afterwards Mr. Hille removed to Otago, settled in the Oamaru district, and became one of the earliest settlers in Kurow, after being employed for some years as a shepherd at Otekaike station. Mr. Hille was proprietor of the first hotel in the Kurow district, known as the Western Hotel, which he managed for seven years. He owned and conducted the first ferry boat over the Upper Waitaki, and worked it for four years, when he sold it and returned to the Western Hotel, which he afterwards conducted till 1880. Soon after his arrival in the district he commenced to buy land, to which he kept adding, till, at one time, he worked a very large area. Mr. Hille took a keen interest in the welfare of his district. He was married, in 1860, to a daughter of the late Mr. Fredrick Schluter, of Boundary Creek, near Oamaru, and at his death, in 1895, left five sons and five daughters. One daughter has since died.
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The late Mr. C. Hille.