Frequent complaints about the main roads were again made, but an encouraging piece of engineering was completed when the road was taken down the lefthand side of the Tandaai valley, as recommended by Longden ten years previously and pressed for ever since, and the impossible section over Rutherfurd�s Hill was finally abandoned.
Nothing was done regarding the dreadful portion of road between Melsetter and Jansen�s Hill until the Chief Road Engineer had occasion to travel that road, whereupon a very small sum was granted for repair, and despite its smallness the road was greatly improved.

Bridle paths were used extensively by all Government officials and private travellers, and the Government granted �10 to repair the path over Pork Pie Hill (Nyamazure) which saved at least nine miles on the Melsetter-Umtali road. The F.A. fed the labourers and supervised the work, and the small sum and local subscriptions enabled the construction of an excellent path. There were other very saving short cuts, and horse-riders could effect considerable saving in distance by using the various paths that obtained; they were, however, in places very rough and even dangerous, and the CC. asked the Government to authorise the expenditure of about �10 annually on them, as this would be very advantageous.

The F.A. urged that an enquiry should be instituted into the spread of A.C.F. In 1924 the infected farms were: Lavina�s Rust, Admiral, Cambridge, Everglades, Commonage, Belmont, Welgelegen, Dunstan, Tilbury, Glencoe, Forest Glade, Bloemhof, Albany, Heathfield, Kingsley, Lemon Kop, Fairview, Willowgrove, Tarka and Rumble Rills.  Sheep farmers were, however, doing well, and the wool exported realised good prices. J. C. Kruger married Lizzie du Plessis, and they settled on Rookwood, farming with sheep and cattle. Kruger was experienced in sheep production and at the Government�s request he was available to advise local farmers when required.

For the Melsetter War Memorial Hall money was subscribed, contributions of building materials were made in kind, and the building was started. Progress was slow, but by 1924 the two back rooms were in use, shelving was installed, and a library started with books and periodicals given by private people, but application for a Government grant was turned down, and the Library did not flourish. A captured German machine gun was presented to the Hall, sent by the South African Minister of Labour and Defence as a token of esteem and in appreciation of the services rendered by Rhodesians who served in the Union Defence Force! many years later the Trustees felt that looking after a historic object such as this was beyond their powers, and the gun was handed over to Umtali Museum.

A market was established with F. E. Cronwright as Marketmaster and Abraham Olwage his deputy. The V:M.B. received 5% commission from Market sales for some years until one Chairman queried their right to this revenue and decided that the Board had no authority to accept it. The Saturday morning market was a cheerful rsocial occasion and an opportunity to everybody to meet. The produce was a joy. lamb, paraffin tins of honey and fruit of every description at incredibly low prices, chickens at 6d each, butter 6d a lb. vegetables ld a bunch.

After the market shopping had been done residents adjourned to the Melsetter Produce Exchange in Meikles� building for morning tea or coffee dispensed by Mrs. Longden, the gifted owner who had the knack of creating a party atmosphere anywhere. The M.P.E. took produce for goods and aimed at reducing prices at a time when money was so short, but there were already two stores in the village and it is doubtful whether Mrs. Longden made any profit. Her stock included imported dresses, materials, necklaces and other pretty things, and she was very generous with gifts to the children. Many memories are centred round the gay and cheerful atmosphere.

At the Police Camp the Station building consisted of an office, barrackroom, small bedroom and a diningroom: a short covered way led out to the kitchen. Sergeant E. A. Keogh was in charge, and lived with his family in separate quarters some 200 yards from the Station building, where Acting Corporal McGrane and Troopers Leon and Phillpots lived. Keogh was a most conscientious and efficient policeman, highly thought of by his superiors, and took an active part in village affairs. Leon liked long patrols and plenty of shooting when he could get it. Phillpots, only about five months out from England, arrived at the Station complete with a Red Indian motorbike, odds and ends of furniture, and a Great Dane. New stables and storesroom were erected at the Camp in 1929.

T. C. Fynn came as C.C. and Magistrate, and when he and Mrs. Fynn arrived with their five children aged between 12 and 4 they were entranced with the mountain beauty, the clear running water, the waterfalls and the maidenhair fern, but Mrs. Fynn�s heart sank when she saw the bare Residency with its primitive kitchen and water from a furrow; their furniture had come by wagon, and much ot it was broken. However, people were very kind and helpful and they soon got things straight and fitted in, and Fynn, who was a keen gardener, soon had the Residency and the Government offices surrounded with beds of flowers. They got to know people and gradually felt that they belonged and the children went to the School on the hill. There were climbing expeditions up Pork Pie, where Longden kept his horses, picnics up in the mountains with the sheep, and lots of riding and heavenly walks. A favourite picnic place was at the Fairy Falls just outside the village; a large tin bath was packed with lunch, they walked out, and the children paddled in the pool at the foot of the falls.

Life was very dull for the younger civil servants, so Fynn arranged dances in the Courtroom and sports and athletics. Good bridge was played in the evenings in different homes; George and Hildegarde Gordon were such an asset: she was a great bridge player, a superb hostess and cook, so distinguished, and with a fascinating husky voice and accent.

The Portuguese Commandant sent in a desperately ill prospector, for whom a prison cell was cleared. Dr. Rose found he was too ill to travel further, so Mrs. Fynn, with Mrs. Bredenkamp�s assistance, nursed him under the doctor�s supervision; he made slight progress and the doctor got him to Umtali, but he died soon afterwards.

The children had a soapstone factory at the stream at the foot of the school hill: the soapstone was soft and could be cut with knives, so they manufactured tombstones, boxes with lids, dolls� house furniture and other items. The girls spent hours reading their first romances in bound copies of The Girls� Own Paper in the Library. When the Fynns were transferred they took all their possessions with them and made the journey to Umtali by mule-wagon. The trip took a week, and was heaven for the children.

1924 was remarkable for the unusual number of visitors to this isolated but very beautiful district, and the C.C. said that many came for the scenery which was indicative of what might occur if only there were decent roads.