Castle Hill, near the West Coast road, about twenty miles west of Springfield, rises to a considerable height from the deep valley traversed by the Porter river, and presents somewhat the appearance of a castle; hence Castle Hill. The surrounding country is, for many miles, taken up by large stations, and sheep grazing is carried on extensively. Castle Hill itself is justly renowned as a health and holiday resort. The scenery is romantic, and the climate invigorating in a high degree. To the scientific observer, the neighbouring fossil beds and caves are objects of unusual interest; and for the sportsman the adjacent rivers teem with trout, and the country abounds in hares and rabbits. There is a comfortable hotel near at hand, where first-class accommodation can be obtained, and where there is a post and telegraph office. A bi-weekly coach service connects Castle Hill with Springfield and the Bealey, and affords regular mail communication with Christchurch and the West Coast.

The Castle Hill Hotel, Castle Hill. The older portion of this hotel, a one-storey stone building, was built in 1871, as an accommodation house, by Mr. Fred Harris. It was afterwards sold to Mr. Tom Douglas, and in 1881 was bought by Mr. Cloudesley, who added the present two-storied building to the older portion. Fourteen years later Mr. Cloudesley let the hotel to Mr. Charles Morton, the predecessor of the present proprietor. The hotel is built of Castle Hill white stone, and possesses about twenty rooms, comprising about a dozen bedrooms, the kitchen and the bar. The domestic arrangements are supervised by Mrs McLachlan, and the table would do credit to any city hotel. As it is situated on the West Coast road, twenty miles from Springfield, the hotel receives a large amount of patronage. It possesses a post and telegraph office, and is a stopping place for the coaches on their way to the Bealey. The Castle Hill Hotel is, however, noted chiefly as a holiday and health resort. The scenery surrounding it is picturesquely mountainous, and the climate is invigorating to a salutary degree. There are fossil beds and caves, near at hand, and these, with their varied relies and quaint specimens, are a source of endless interest, and the rivers and neighbouring country offer inducements to anglers and sportsmen. A pond, two chains by three chains in area, is in course of construction, and will be used for skating in the winter. Visitors have the use of a carriage and pair of horses, and every convenience is afforded for their enjoyment.

Mr. Colin Campbell McLachlan, Proprietor of the Castle Hill Hotel, was born in 1877 at the Cust, and educated there at the public school. He then served some years at the butchering trade in the district, and afterwards opened a shop at Springfield, where he carried on business for four years, but sold out in August, 1902, to take over the Castle Hill Hotel. Mr. McLachlan was married, in 1898, to Miss Middleton, of Leithfield, and has one son.

Mr. C. C. McLachlan.