GLENLEDI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 26 August 1908, Page 39

GLENLEDI.

August 17.— After eight days, during which several frosty nights -ft ere more than compensated for by the exquisite sunshiny weather, we are again treated to a bitter east wind. Coughs and colds are very prevalent. Turnips.— The turnip crops, except in a very few cases, have not been an unqualified success, rotten turnips being so numerous that there proved to be much less feed than appeared at first Farm Work.— Ploughing i» well advanced, and a fairly large area •is under cultivation. The careful housewives are beginning to pre-parc for kitchen gardening; while, in the flower gardens, spring flowering plant** aro making a brave show of foliage and bud. Violets are to be had in profusion. Amusements.— The district has been fairly quiet this winter as regards entertainment, only the Akatore-Glenledi bachelors' ball having taken place as yet. However, the Akatore Coast bachelors intend following suit shortly, aJid a school concert is spoken of at Akatore Hill. A short time since, the youth of the district were much interested in a suggestion to procure c hall for public purposes—principally dancing. Many schemes were suggested, and promises -were made — too readily, perhaps,— to subscribe a part of the amount necessary for timber and erection. It was said that the hall, when complete, could be used for political meetings, etc., and tl-at the floor might be made suitable for skating, thus helping to defray such debt as might remain. It i» refreshing to think of man or maid, efter a hard day's work with the team, or the multifarious household duties, travelling miles, two or three times a week in order to spend naif the night in skating. For many years now the schoolrooms at Akatore and Glenledi respectively have admirably served the purposes of halls for itinerant lectures and political combatants. They have ako held many a merry band of dancers. They have the merit of being central in each district, and thus arc convenient, on Sundays, for the fortnightly services. That the acoustic properties aye good, and the space sufficient for a goodsized audience lias been often proved by the successful concerts of the pa^t. Thus to me, it seems unnecessary to build a hail for one bachelors', and perhaps one spinsters' ball in the year. Of course, if the district were much more closely settled than at present, it might be advisable.

Telephone. — A topic of much greater interest to all, locally, is the long-wished-for telephonic communication between Glenledi and the outer world. Mr Jas. Allen, M.P. has again brought the matter before the minister's notice, receiving the reply that, as the nearest bureau — Akatore Coast,— does not pay sufficiently to relieve 1 its guarantors, it is unlikely that Glenledi, three mites distant, would do any J better. Of the interest on the cost of extension, £105, the sum of £8 would have to be guaranteed by local residents. It is more than probable that in the summer alone the guarantors- would be relieved, for the bureau would very probably be placed near the post office, and the many holiday-makers who frequent our beach, when at the post office on the biweekly mail days, would find telephonic communication with their friends a tempting possibility. Then the farmer would find it a boon when requiring to communicate with agents, and the busy housewife would turn to it when something necessary has run short between mail day and " grocer's day." There are a few who. instead of being helpful supporters, have been trying to block the Akatore-Glen-ledi extension movement. They wish the I extension to be from Milton to Glenledi, a distance of 10 miles, but I have not heard that they are- prepared to guarantee any J deficiency of revenue, which, on such a i line, would be between £60 and £60. 1