Limehills had a population of ninety-six at the census of 1901, and there were ninety-two persons in the immediate vicinity. The railway line from Invercargill to Kingston passes through the district, whose flag station is twenty-three miles from Invercargill, and four miles from Winton, and stands at an elevation of 210 feet above sea level. The Oreti river and Winton stream run through the district, which has a post office and a public school. An excellent metalled road from Winton towards the Lake passes through the settlement, which takes its name from the lime-burning works, which have long been in active operation with the excellent limestone found in the locality. There is a telephone bureau at the local store. The township contains two stores, a butchery, a saddlery, two blacksmith's shops, a restaurant, and an accommodation house. There is also a very pretty Presbyterian church, and the local Lodge of Good Templars has a public hall. The settlement is in the Awarua electorate, and in the Winton riding of the county of Southland.

The Limehills Restaurant And Boarding House (Mrs E. Hammond, proprietress). Visitors to the district are able to obtain comfortable accommodation and good meals at this house.

Mrs Elizabeth Hammond , the Proprietress, was born at Colkirk, in the county of Norfolk, England, and is a daughter of the late Mr Peter Marshall, bootmaker, of that county. She married Mr Henry Hammond, a page 1003 bootmaker, before coming to New Zealand by the ship “Wellington, about thirty years ago. On settling in Southland Mr Hammond became a gardener, and, later, opened the Lime-hills Hotel, which is now closed. Mrs Hammond, who has carried on her present business since 1894, has five sons and one daughter.

McDonald, William Shepherd , Blacksmith, Limehills. Mr McDonald established his business in 1892, and has two forges and a complete plant. A general smithing and horshoeing business is carried on, and two assistants are employed. Mr McDonald was born in 1861, at the Water of Leith, Dunedin, and, on leaving school, was apprenticed to the blacksmithing trade. He afterwards worked as a journeyman for a short time, and then started a smith's shop about two miles from his present premises. Mr McDonald is a member of the Lime-hills Rifle Club. He was married, in 1894, to a daughter of Mrs Rodgers, postmistress, Limehills, and has one daughter.

Mr. And Mrs W. S. McDonald And Child.
Gerstenkorn, photo.

McLean Brothers (Hugh Henry McLean and John McLean), General Merchants, Limehills. This is a general country business, and the resident partner employs two assistants in the store, and two men are also employed in the delivery of goods. McLean Brothers are the local agents for McKenzie and Roach's bicycles, Invercargill.

Mr. John Mclean was born in 1875, at Waimatuku, was brought up on his father's property, and followed farming until joining his brother as a member of the firm of McLean Brothers.

The Limehills Lime Burning Works. These works stand upon a Government reserve of seventy acres, and have a complete plant for the treatment of the stone, including a furnace kiln, which burns coal. There is a forty-foot face of lime extending over about twenty acres, and the works turn out from 100 to 150 tons weekly. A railway siding connects the works with the Government siding at Limehills. About eight persons are employed at the works. Messrs J. G. Ward and Co. are agents at Invercargill.

Mr. Robert Mcdonald , Manager of the Lime Burning Works at Limehills, was born in 1862, in Dunedin, where he was educated, and entered the boot factory of Sargood, Son and Ewen, with whom he remained for six months. He then went to farm work, at which he remained for some years. After working with Mr Proud-foot, the well-known contractor, for about four years, Mr McDonald went to the Milburn Lime and Cement Works, where he remained for sixteen years, gaining a knowledge of lime-burning in all its branches; and in 1902 he received his present appointment at Limehills. He has taken part in running, wrestling, stone-putting and caber-throwing events, and still competes in quoiting. During his residence at Milburn, Mr McDonald was a member of the local school committee. He was married, in 1889, to a daughter of Mr George Carson, of Millburn, and has one son and one daughter.