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parrakeets, and native robins, and many other birds never seen near the settlements to-day were then abundant. There were no sparrows, blackbirds, thrushes, or starlings, these being introduced, no rabbits in the open ground, no trout in the streams, only eels and crayfish; gorse, broom, and elderberry, and other plants now classed as noxious weeds were unknown outside of hedges and gardens. The roads were few and primitive. Where they crossed swampy ground or where the traffic was at all heavy they were metalled. Elsewhere they were mostly unmade, and except in the main streets they were frequently all but impassable for many months of the year. The houses of the settlers were mostly two and four-roomed, and of a very plain style. Few people had kitchen ranges or grates, or even cold water laid on. The water came from the roof to a barrel, or from a near-by creek or well, and the cooking was done over the open wood fire, and the baking in camp-ovens.
Communication with the outside world was mostly by sailing ships, and answers to letters could not be expected in much less than six months, and, the rate of postage per letter was sixpence! Communication by land was equally slow, it was largely on foot or on horseback, for there were very few roads.
It was amid hard and trying circumstances such as these that our fathers and grandfathers lived and worked, and brought up large families and educated them under difficulties exceeding great.
What a difference fifty years have made in the lives and habits of most of the people! In those days railways. tramways, electric light, telephones, bicycles, motor-cars, asphalt roads, and many other things considered essential or "up to date ", were unknown, many of them had not even been thought of. In those good hard old, days men and women were perforce of circumstances more self-dependent and reliant than is the case to-day, when a paternal Government does so much to relieve excessive distress or disaster and compensation for many a loss.
To gain entrance to Roslyn in those times it was necessary for horse and vehicle traffic to call a halt at the corner of City Road, where once stood the old toll-bar and the Public House. Here the toll fees were collected for the upkeep of the roads. The City Saleyards were situated at the back of Laurenson's present shop, but with residential settlement were later moved out to Burnside. The present row of shops, from Laurenson's down to Mrs. White's present shop, were at one time all upon