town and suburban sides, many of the more successful citizens have built themselves picturesque and commodious villas that add to the beauty and attractiveness of the landscape.
Anterior to the stirring times of the goldfield days, the progress was slow, though none the less sure and of a permanent character. During this period little or no attention was given to the architectural appearance of the buildings; but this notice would be incomplete and lacking in a most essential part, without some reference to the buildings of the early settlement.
Some few framed houses were brought out with the early settlers. These were of the ordinary type of three or four roomed cottage architecture. Others of what the Australian would call the "wattle and daub" style, that is, the Ti-tree or Manuka scrub and puddle, were speedily improvised. While others again slightly more pretentious, had their walls constructed of fern trees, placed upright side by side, the inside being plastered with puddle-clay, which adhered firmly to the rough fern tree, and made comfortable and warm rooms, less draughty than many of the more modern and rough lined and papered houses. The writer lived in one of these earlier erections near Port Chalmers for a few years, and one of them still stands and can be seen in Roslyn at the "Half-Way-Bush," nestling in a grove of native bush, and forming one of the prettiest features in the district.
Another of these romantic-looking fern tree cottages stood at the corner of London and Pitt-streets, and was originally occupied for many years by Dr Purdie. Sir Francis Dillon Bell, at that time Mr Bell, afterwards became proprietor, and wishing to enlarge the residence, found the old structure in the way, and felt much disposed to raze it to the ground. But being imbued somewhat with archæological tendencies, at last decided to surround it with such accommodation as he required. The premises are now occupied by Dr Maunsell, and the old cottage still exists ensconced within a setting of more luxurious surroundings than the flax bushes and maori heads, which grew abundantly in George-street, during the earlier years of its occupation. Passing from these older associations and pleasing reminiscences of the past, which are tempting to dwell upon, to give some idea of the progress of architecture in Otago, it will be necessary to
