Tuesday 1st It was a very showery day. The “Orewa” went round to Big Omaha early this morning towing a raft of timber from
C. Wyatt to D. Darroch. She returned her about 9 am and then left for Auckland.
Ernest & I were digging the far side of the orchard, we cut away the pine tree that had broken off and was learning into the top Jargonelle Pear tree, also cut several of the pine branches that were overhanging the outside row of fruit trees.
We all went up to Miss Niccols in the evening to a card party, Jane, Mr Sheppard, Robt Meiklejohn and the two Torkingtons were there.
Wednesday 2nd It rained heavy last night and it was dull this morning, but it turned out a fine day, but the wind was blowing strong. Ernest & I were digging the far side of the orchard.
The white hen that was sitting in the Store on 14 Brown Leghorn eggs that we got from Kempts brought out 12 chickens.
Thursday 3rd It was a fine day, but blowing hard from the W.
Willie Selwood came in the morning and brought a horse to graze which he put on the farm. Ernest and I were digging on the far side of the orchard.
Friday 4th It was a fine day but the wind was blowing stong from the W. It looked very dull in the evening and there was some dusty rain. Ernest and I were digging the far side of the orchard.
Killed a sheep in the afternoon.
Saturday 5th It was a fine day, but it was blowing strong from W.
I took the mutton down with the bullocks, I then went down to the Wharf for a load of black soil. In the afternoon I hauled up a load of firewood from the front. Ernest finished digging the far side of the orchard.
Minnie rode over to Ti Point to fish, but she only brought home one rock cod, Joe T. returned with her and Willie Selwood came in the evening and we had a game of cards.
Sunday 6th It was calm & dull in the morning, but the wind soon sprung up again. It came over misty in the afternoon and evening accompanied by misty rain. Ernest Wyatt and Jane rode up to Mauds, returning in the evening.
I read service in the Hall in the afternoon, there was a fair congregation. Joe T was here for tea.
Monday 7th It was a fine day, but wind still blowing strong from W.
Ernest Wyatt came in the morning and we went over to the farm orchard and commenced to dig there,
The “Orewa” arrived about 10 pm having left Auckland after 5 pm.
Mrs Harper & her baby & Mrs McDonald came up with her. I went down and got an empty eggbox.
Tuesday 8th There were one or two showers, but it was a hot day.
I took the bullocks down to the wharf in the morning with a box of Eggs & a bundle (9) Skins. Got a box of Groceries & empty Egg box also a bag of B & B Manure from Harpers. I also went down in the afternoon to see Mr Greenwood who is going to Auckland. The “Orewa” who had been round to Big Omaha called in here for passengers, she left here about 3 pm.
Ernest was digging in the farm orchard. Minnie rode to Matakana to get a pair of boots. Mrs Sim called in the afternoon.
Wednesday 9th It was fine in the morning and very hot, but there was a very heavy shower late in the afternoon which continued with slight intermission during the evening.
It is the Prince of Wales birthday and also Henrys 25 birthday. Willie went fishing to Ti Point, but he caught no fish and got wet.
Ernest & I were digging in the farm orchard, but we had to leave off earlier than usual.
Thursday 10th It was a very hot day. Wind blowing from the N.
Ernest, Willie and I were digging in the farm orchard. Minnie rode to Pakiri in the morning to Mrs Whitleys, dressmaking. Jane went to Mrs Gravatts & Ernest went home in the evening to get some clothes.
Friday 11th We went down to the E.R. in the morning, there are only 2 Wethers in now, we brought home one which we killed in the afternoon.
Ther “Rose Casey” left here at 5am and the “Kapanui” at 6 am both being excursion trips to the Auckland Show. It is the first trip the “Kapanui” has made here, she belongs to the Coastal Steamship Co and runs in opposition to McGregors steamers.
The “Rose Casey” took 8 passengers.
The “Kapanui” Do 4 Do
We were digging in the farm orchard. It came on to rain soon after 3 pm and rained steadily all evening.
Friday 12th It was a fine day. I took the mutton out in the morning and got the mail. We continued and finished digging in the farm orchard in the morning. The rain we had last night has softened the ground wonderfully and it digs much easier this morning. In the afternoon we commenced digging under the large Vicar tree. Willie Selwood came in the afternoon and took his horse out of the farm as he is going to TeArai this evening. Miss Niccol and Miss Mitchell were here for tea, and Mabel Wyatt came in the evening.
Sunday 13th It was a fine day. Walter Wyatt and his wife came here for dinner. I read service in the Hall in the pm there was only a small congregation. Jane went over to the Pa with Mabel in the afternoon & staid for tea. Joe T was here for tea.
Monday 14th It was a fine day. Ernest & I were digging in this orchard in the morning. I Killed the calf and we buried it in the orchard. In the afternoon we went down to the E.R. and dug some Potatoes and packed them in 3 Cases. In all about 1½ Cwt.
In the evening I took the bullocks round the road and hauled them down to the wharf, the “Orewa“arrived at about 8.30 pm . The excursionists to the Show returned by her.
I was expecting 2 Sacks of Maize and 2 Woolpacks, but they did not come, but I hauled up a case of Kerosene and the empty Egg Box from Dumpers.
Tuesday 15th It was a fine day with the exception of a few slight showers.
Maud was here and staid dinner. We went down to the E.R. in the morning and planted out 3 rows Cabbage, sowed 1 Row of Presidential Garfield Peas, 1 Row Lettuce, 1 Red Top Turnip and
1 White Stone Turnip.
In the afternoon we were digging in this orchard.
The SS “Kapanui” arrived here on her first cargo trip about noon, she then went round to Big Omaha.
I heard that my Maize & Woolpacks came by the “Orewa” after all so I took the bullocks down to the wharf in the morning and hauled up 1 Sack of Maize & 2 Woolpacks.
Wednesday 16th It was a very hot day. Ernest took the bullocks down to the wharf first thing after breakfast and hauled up the other sack of Maize. We continued digging near the beehive, but the bees drove us away, so we went & commenced digging down at the bottom near Henry’s garden.
I sowed in boxes seeds of the following. Golden Trophy Tomato, Mayflower Tomato, & Egg Plant.
Mrs George Wyatt was here for dinner. There was a dance in the Hall in the evening, Ernest & Jane went.
Willie brought home a Wether from Frearsons who are shearing.
Thursday 17th It was a very hot day. Ernest sheared the Wether that Willie brought home yesterday and then went over to Frearsons to see if there were any more of our sheep there, but there were not.
We were digging in orchard all day.
Friday 18th It was a very fine day. Charlie & Walter Wyatt came to shear the sheep. Ernest opened out for them & I folded up the fleeces. They worked until late and finished them viz 88.
Minnie returned from Pakiri in the evening.
Saturday 19th It was fine first thing in the morning, but it poured with rain in the middle of the morning.
Walter Wyatt borrowed my bullocks to go to Pakiri to haul his wool over. Ernest sheared the lame hogget on the hill, also a skin, and we packed the Wool in a bale and a dump.
We Killed a Sheep in the afternoon.
Sunday 20th It was a very fine day. I took the mutton out in the morning. I read service in the Hall in the afternoon. After the church I walked up to Jos Greenwoods place and had tea there, and then had a look round his orchard, his trees are loaded with fruit and look remarkably healthy.
It looked very black and threatening so I did not stay the evening, but came home before dark.
Jane went to tea to Jos Wyatts.
Monday 21st Ernest & I were digging in this orchard all day.
The “Orewa” did not arrive until after 10 pm. I went down to the village to meet her. It was a fine day.
Tuesday 22nd It was very misty and rained a little in the morning, but it turned out a hot day. We got the bullocks up in the morning and hauled the 1½ bales Wool and box of Eggs down to the wharf, the “Orewa” was lying alongside taking in cargo. We then hauled a load of firewood and then continued digging. The “Kapanui” came in about 12 noon and then went round to Big Omaha.
Ernest & Jane went to Matakana in the evening to an entertainment in aid of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs Kempt and a Miss Powell came here in the afternoon and staid tea, Revd J. Worboys held service in the Hall in the evening, and Miss Powell delivered a Temperance address. Miss P. returned here to sleep.
Wednesday 23rd It was a fine day, but slight showers in the afternoon. We had breakfast early, and Miss Powell went down to meet the “Kapanui” to proceed to Auckland, Charlie Wyatt also went up by her.
We finished digging the orchard near the land slips in the morning. In the afternoon we went down to the E.R. re sowed 1 row of Stone Turnips that did not come up, 2 rows of Early Horn Carrot, 4 hills of Long Green Marrow and 21 hills of Water Melons.
Minnie was sewing up at Miss Niccol.
Thursday 24th It was a hot day. Minnie rode over to Hadwicks in the morning to sew.
Ernest & I continued sowing water melons in the E.R. we had not enough soaked seed to plant all the hills that we made, so we left them. We sowed 4 hills of Rock Melon (Banquet) and then commenced to dig up the piece of ground that is enclosed but not dug.
There was a meeting of the confirmation class in the Hall in the evening.
Friday 25th It was a hot day. We finished digging the piece of ground in the E.R. in the morning. Commenced digging near the closet in the afternoon. Mrs Jas Torkington came to register her baby & staid tea. Killed a Sheep in the afternoon.
Saturday 26th It was a fine day. I took the mutton out in the morning. Ernest planted water melons in the ground that we finished digging yesterday. We have now planted 93 hills of water melons in the E.R. After that we weeded Onions.
Ernest had a holiday in the pm and went to play cricket at the Domain.
There was a meeting of the Road Board in the pm & a meeting of the Farmers Association in the evening. Minnie returned from Hadwicks in the evening.
There was a practise of the orchestra at Mr Gravatts in the evening, Jane went and Miss Mitchell returned with her & staid all night.
Sunday 27th It was a fine day. I read service in the Hall in the afternoon. J. T. was here for tea. It rained in the evening.
Monday 28th It was a fine day. Ernest came again to work. Sowed a row of Skinless Peas and 112 sets of Kumeras that I got from Martha.
I stuck the row of Presidential Garfield Peas.
Took a box of Eggs down to the “Orewa” in the evening with the bullocks and brought up a box of Groceries from Dumpers.
Tuesday 29th It was a very hot day. We dug up the ground where the Turnips were and planted 7 hills mixed Water Melon & 1 hill Arkansaur Traveller Water Mellon.
We dug up the piece of ground next to them ready for sowing parsnips.
Minnie returned from Hadwicks.
Hettie Wyatt came in the evening.
Wednesday 30th It was a very hot day. We sowed 1 row Lettuce and 9 rows Parsnips. Also 2 hills Cucumber (Japanese Climbing). We continued digging the piece of ground between the tree onions and the grape vines.
Minnie was sewing at Jos Wyatts.
Jane & Ernest went to Mrs Gravatts in the evening to practice singing for the concert.
Memo’
The Fowls laid 628 Eggs = 52 Doz & 4. Valued at £1 . 8 . 8