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that if people would keep their roads open, the mail would be

more likely to make it on time. (Dail Examiner, April 2h, 1888) "How unreasonable it is for people to expect the mails to arrive on time if they put forth little or no effort to make the roads passable for the courier -- do not wait to be coaxed out by the

overseer." (Daily Examiner. February 1885)

In 1901, this method of clearing the roads was replaced by one by which the work was to contracted, inspected and overseen. to compensate for the freedom from responsibility in road clear- ance the citizen was now required to pay a tax of 75¢ on each person and 25¢ on each horse formerly used for the work (Qaily Examiner April 16, 1901). That this did not entirely solve the problem is attested to by two further complaints in the papers, that the contractcrs of this district (Earnescliffe in this case, no doubt Orwell was free of this kind of thing). were employing their relatives and friends to do the work of looking after the roads (Weekly Examiner July 5.1901), and that road contractors are paid $700 or $800 and that the roads are still bad". (Weekly Examiner August 9, 1901) With this sort of difficulty the roads were not an adequate means of getting produce out of Orwell. and

much trade was done from Brush Wharf at Orwell Cove.

"Late advices from Orwell report that the ice has disappear— ed completély from Orwell and Vernon River harbours, and the people are anxiously waiting for the steamer to commence work." (Daily Examiner April 8, 1896) When the ice went out in the :7

spring then the business of summer could begin. Goods and