Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1905, Christchurch

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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Blackstone Hill , which is also known as Hill's Creek, is a small settlement lying at the extreme north end of the Blackstone Hill Range, in the Maniototo county. Being about 2,000 feet above sea level, it is one of the highest settled districts in New Zealand. The village is four miles distant from Rough Ridge—on the Otago Central railway—and is on the main road to St. Bathans, which has a daily coach service that connects with the trains at Rough Ridge. In the early days Blackstone Hill was the scene of a gold “rush,” and thirteen hotels divided a large business between them. Now there is no licensed house, but the township has a post and telegraph office and a general store. The district is devoted to farming and coal mining. Church services are held in the public school. The popular winter pastime at Black-stone Hill is curling on the frozen dams.