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The Official Record gives the year when steps were taken to secure the new school as 1869. That was prior to Roslyn being formed into a borough, which took place in the year 1877. Previous to that the districts were controlled as Roslyn, Kaikorai, and Halfway Bush Road Boards. These were eventually merged and formed into one borough, the main thoroughfares being then, as now, down the Valley to Green Island, and over Wakari to North Taieri.
The centre of the small hill population in those days was Upper Roslyn (Ross Street way); where lived the Kilgours (the first Mayor of Roslyn), the Beggs, Chisholms, Duncans, Gullies, and others, who contributed no little part, in the civic. And school. life of Roslyn. Settlement also centred round Halfway Bush, where settled the Hoods. and Hepburns (Mr. Geo. Hepburn being Chairman, of Wakari School Committee). The earliest house known in Wakari was that of the old fern-tree cottage built in 1849 by one John, Borton (70 years ago.), one year after the arrival of the emigrant ship "John Wycliffe." This later became "Hood Hall," being the home of the Hoods, who were associated with the founding of the Kaikorai Presbyterian Church in 1868. This old house renovated and with its new addition, is the home of Mrs. Alex. Thomson, and for old time sake the original, house is preserved. It was built from fern trees growing in the surrounding bush. In those days the bush covered the whole face of the land right down to the harbour's edge, as an evidence of which we have preserved for us that most beautiful 'Piece of landscape' the 600 acres of lovely native hush which encircles our beautiful city, and marks the dividing line between city and hill suburbs.
The first school (at Wakari), under the old Provincial Government, was held in the little building opposite Bunting's store, and opened in 1858. This building is now known as the Church of the Good Shepherd, (Here for many years Mr. Kelk has conducted a Sunday School for the Church of England.) As the district grew a new school was built, and known as Wakari School, whence came to the new Linden School our beloved "Dominie" McLauchlan, who had been head-master there. In the early days of school life at Linden there was bush almost everywhere. It was full of rare and delicate ferns and mosses tangled with supplejacks and grass-sticks (how the pupils sought after them for making canes and walking-sticks!) and vocal with the songs of tuis, kakas, and pigeons,