STRATH-TAIERI.

Otago Witness, Issue 1856, 17 June 1887, Page 17

STRATH-TAIERI.

June 13.—0f course the Strath-Taieri people must show that they are true and loyal subjects of her Gracious Majesty by celebrating the happy and glorious consummation of 50 years of her reign in some manner calculated to render the day famous, not only in the history of the nation, but also in the annals of Strath-Taieri. The way this is to be done is by holding a concert and dance on the 24th in aid of the Benevolent Institutioa. A large and influential committee has been formed, with Mr P. Crawford,,

of Gladbrook, at its head. Under his skilful guidance the concert cannot fail to be successful in every way; and as the refreshments for the worshippers at the Terpsichorean shrine are being provided gratuitously by various friends, the committee may look for a good amount to hand over to the institution; Road. —At last the road to Middlemaroh has been made passable. The gravel, which sets firmly and. quickly, has been laid, and now people can walk about without being afraid of getting bogged. The contractor, Mr Junge, has made a very good job of the road. Telephone.—Strath-Taieri is to have the telephone. It is greatly needed too, for we are quite isolated, only getting one mail a week, and in case of sickness or urgent business, a horseman has to gallop post haste to Outram, which is very inconvenient, and. a lot slower than the telephone too. The telephone will add considerably to the work of the postmaster, who has a great deal of trouble with the post office, for, I believe, a very nominal salary. The department ought to pay the postmasters in districts like this a little better, for the work must interfere greatly with the postmaster's own business. The postmaster here is very civil and obliging, and always ready to deliver letters in or out of office hours; and surely, these are qualities that are worthy of recompense. School,—For the last fortnight the school i has been closed on account of the whooping cough, which has been very prevalent lately, and which has caused, I am sorry to say, one death lin this district. The attendance has been, lam , informed, worse this year than it was last. So will the examination results be, I opine. , < ■ Weather. —We have had frosty weather . lately, but rather changeable. At, present it is mild.