Mr. Samuel Hill, Government Valuer for the districts of Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, and part of Wellington, and for the boroughs of New Plymouth, Hawera, Patea, Stratford, and Waitara, was born in Corfu, in 1854, and is a son of the late Mr. James Hill, Hospital Sergeant of the 58th Regiment, who came to New Plymouth in 1861, died in 1897, aged seventy five, and was buried with military honours. Mr. Hill came with his parents to New Plymouth, was educated there, and afterwards engaged in farming. He filled many responsible positions, acting as clerk to several of the local bodies in the Egmont district. About 1895, he retired from farming, and entered into business as a commission agent. This business he conducted for three years, and had a large and influential connection; but in 1897 he accepted his present Government appointments. Mr. Hill has always taken a prominent part in all local matters; he was for seven years a member of the Taranaki Education Board, and for a considerable period property-tax assessor. He takes a keen interest in the iron sand industry, is secretary to Mr. E. M. Smith's Iron Sand Mission, and also one of the lessees of the foreshore from Tapuae to Waiwakaiho. Mr. Hill became secretary to the Moturoa Lodge of Druids when the Order opened in New Plymouth, and has filled the chair in the Egmont Lodge of Oddfellows.