(8, p. 67.)

Some time after the company had got repossessed of the lands they formerly laid claim to, they commenced to open up the country by cutting lines of roads through the bush. They were only lines, but through the softness of the ground, and the closeness of the high bush on each side keeping the road from the influence of sun and air, and by the heavy rains which fell in winter, with also the treading of cattle to and fro, the roads soon became a complete puddle, insomuch one was scarce able to pass along dry-shod, even with waterproof boots. Such was the state of the road leading from the Hutt Bridge to the Taitai; and when one had to carry on his back any of his luggage or provisions from market, as horses and carts or even bullocks were rare, and the owners were loath to risk them upon such roads, it was certainly no easy task. Yet I have known several who located themselves about the Taitai, and had to receive their supplies, such as potatoes and flour, as payment for work done, and had to carry them home (a distance of three and a half miles) through such roads. Yet, strange to say, that bad although the roads were, no endeavours were ever made to improve them, or put them in any sort of repair, during the time of the reigning Government of that period.