Tuesday 1st The wind was blowing very strong from the NE. Fred & Noel started in the morning to go up to Tamahunga, but it came on to rain so they turned back and arrived home in the evening.
I went with Mr Latter down to the wharf in the morning as he was going up to Auckland in the “Gael“, but we found her alongside of the wharf and had not drive.google.combeen to Mangawhai on account of the weather, they started for Auckland in the afternoon in a heavy sea.
The “Kawau” arrived from Auckland at nearly 5 in the evening also encountering a very heavy sea.
Wednesday 2nd The wind was still blowing very strong and a heavy sea outside. On account of the weather the “Kawau” did not go round to Big Omaha last night, but early this morning, and she came out in the afternoon calling in here on her way to Auckland.
I was down at the village when she came in. The two Companies have amalgamated so that only one Steamer will trade here in future.
Thursday 3rd It was a fine day, there is still a roll outside, but the sea has gone down.
Fred, Noel and Willie went down to the Goat Island to spend the day.
Friday 4th It was a fine day. Willie went down to the Post Office before breakfast and brought up word that the “Kawau” had called in here early this morning on her way to Mangawai and that she was going to return here this afternoon, so Fred and Noel made up their minds to return to Auckland by her, Jane also decided to go up with them on a visit, so Willie and I went down to the wharf to see them off, the “Kawau” called in here about 1 pm, and there were about 14 passengers from here, Captain Meuett was in charge and Mr Avey, Engineer. Duncan Matheson was also on board to show them into Mangawai.
I heard down at the wharf that Henry Dunning was in a very low state and not expected to last long . Archie and Jim came up to see me about him in the pm. I went down to the P. O in the evening,
Mr Boyd was attending to the Library.
Saturday 5th It was a fine day. In the morning I was pruning trees in this orchard, Willie was digging in the orchard.
In the afternoon I went down to the village, I burned off some tea tree near the Hall that I cut a fortnight ago, went down to the wharf to get some shells for the fowls, called at Archie Dunning‘s to enquire after Henry.
Eddie Wyatt came here in the evening and told us that Henry Dunning died this afternoon.
Sunday 6th It was a beautiful day., the wind blowing from SW and a bit cold in the shade. Archie Dunning came up to ask me if I would read the funeral service over Henry. Willie went to Ti Point to spend the day.
I had dinner at Archie Dunning‘s. The funeral left Mrs Dunning’s house at 2.30, there was a large attendance. I read the service.
Monday 7th It was a beautiful day. Willie got the bullock up and hauled up 2 Sacks Maize & 1 Sack Sharps from the wharf which were landed from the “Kawau” yesterday morning. I was pruning Pear trees in this orchard.
Tuesday 8th It was a fine day. Willie was digging in the orchard.
I packed a box of Eggs and we took them down to the wharf in the pm, we were there when the “Kawau” came in. Willie and I went to tea at Charlie Wyatts, we were playing at Pit and Halma and we spent a very pleasant evening.
Wednesday 9th It was a fine day. There were some showers last night. I was not very well and did not get up very early. Willie went to the Goat Island beach to try and get a few fish, but was only able to catch two small rock cod.
I was burning prunings in the orchard, afterwards went to Mrs Dunning Senr to witness her signature.
Thursday 10th It was a fine day. Willie was digging all day in the orchard and I was pruning the big Vicar of Winkfield Pear tree.
Friday 11th It was a fine day. Willie was digging in the orchard.
I was pruning trees all day. Archie Dunning came in the evening to register Henry’s death.
In the evening I went down to the Post Office and Library, there was a public meeting in the Hall to consider the desirability of getting up something in aid of the Hall funds. It was decided to have both an Industrial Exhibition and a Christmas Tree.
Saturday 12th There was a frost this morning and very cold. It was a very fine day.
I set Two Hens with 13 Eggs each, our own eggs.
I was pruning in the morning, Dan Kempt called at dinner time and I went down with him to the village, there was a meeting in the Library of the Farmers Union.
Sunday 13th It was a beautiful day. Willie & I spent the day with Joe and Minnie at Ti Point.
Monday 14th It was a fine day, but the wind is blowing strong from the N. Willie was digging on the far side of the orchard , and I was pruning trees.
Tuesday 15th It was blowing a gale from the NE and it was raining.
I packed a box of Eggs (23½ Doz) and we took them down to the wharf in the afternoon, a lot of people were waiting for the Steamer, but I suppose on account of the boisterous weather she did not put in an appearance.
Wednesday 16th The wind has calmed down. The “Kawau” went into Big Omaha and then called here about 10 am. Willie went down to the wharf, he reports that she had a big cargo for here. Willie took the bullock down to the wharf and hauled up a bag of Seed Potatoes (1 Cwt Up to Date).
There was a heavy shower in the pm. I was busy baking bread. There was a Euchre party in the Hall in the evening, Willie went.
Thursday 17th In the morning we mended the wires of the fence Frearsons and our place. It was showery in the afternoon. I laid out the Seed Potatoes on a shelf in the store.
I wrote a long letter to Jack which will be posted tomorrow morning.
Friday 18th It was a dull day, but it did not rain. Willie went over to Ti Point in the morning, returning in the evening, bringing one schnapper and a few small rock cods. I was fixing up the fence to keep the fowls out of the garden, went down to the P. O in the evening, as Mr Boyd was over I did not stay.
Saturday 19th It was a dull day. Did odd jobs, went down to the wharf in the afternoon to get a parcel of books for the Library, they turned out to be three magazines. I took them to the Library to catalogue them, while I was there Revd Evans, the new Presbyterian Minister from Warkworth called in, he is going to hold service in the Hall for the first time tomorrow morning.
Sunday 20th It was a beautiful day. Willie went to Ti Point to spend the day. There was service in the Hall in the morning. Revd Evans officiated, I was present, there was a large congregation.
Offeratory £1 . 0 . 3.
I returned home for lunch and in the afternoon I went over to Joe Wyatts to have a yarn.
Monday 21st It was a fine day. Willie dug the piece of ground near the front gate that was in green Maize last season, it was thick with sorrel before the Maize was sown , but now it is quite clean. I was trimming the rose bushes in the flower garden.
Willie & I went down to Mr Archie Dunnings in the evening, Willie D was not at home as he is working up at Kempts, we played at Pit and Cribbage and spent a very pleasant evening.
Tuesday 22nd It was a fine day. Willie finished digging the piece of ground the top side of the house. I sowed seeds of Onion, Enfield Market Cabbage & Cauliflower in boxes. Willie and I went down to the “Kawau” in the pm. The Steward would only give 5d per doz for Eggs so I brought home what I took down.
Wednesday 23rd It was a fine day. In the morning got the bullock up and took down to the wharf 1 box of Eggs 23½ Doz. Also crate of Poultry, 8 Roosters, 2 White Hens & 2 Drakes. Hauled up 1 Sack (2 Cwt) Bonedust and Blood. 1 Box of Sundries and Empty Egg box and some gravel for the fowls.
In the afternoon we commenced planting ‘Up to Date’ Potatoes below the house commencing near the back gate, we planted 4 rows, we sowed B & B manure and ashes in the trenches.
Thursday 24th The Steamer “Kawau” called in at 9 am on her way to Mangawai, I went down to the wharf to see if Jane had come by her, but she had not so I got some gravel for the fowls and went home again, there were a few showers in the morning, but it was fine in the afternoon.
We continued planting Potatoes below the house, we planted 12 rows.
Friday 25th It was a fine day. We continued planting Potatoes, we finished planting below the house, planted 3½ rows to day. That makes 19½ rows.
Then in the afternoon we commenced planting Potatoes the top side of the house which Willie had dug up rough, we planted 5 rows.
Went down to the Post Office and Library in the evening, received a letter from Jane saying that she would return home in the “Kawau” tomorrow.
Saturday 26th There were a few showers last night, which made the ground wet, however it turned out a fine day. Finished planting the Potatoes top side of the house planted 4 rows in the morning which made 9 rows top side of house. In the afternoon we planted 3 rows of Potatoes between the Amsden June Peach trees.
This finishes Potatoe planting.
Afterards I went down to the wharf expecting Jane in the “Kawau“, but I heard down there that she only went up to Auckland this morning and is not going to leave Auckland until tomorrow morning.
Called in to see George Wyatt who is laid up with sciatica. Carried up some grit for the fowls.
Sunday 27th It was a fine day. Willie went over to Ti Point to spend the day. In the morning I was baking bread. In the afternoon I went down to the wharf to meet the “Kawau” which called in on her way to Mangawai. Jane came up by her.
Monday 28th It was a fine day. Willie went over to Ti Point to repair his boat. Joe Torkington called in about noon and had lunch here. I was pruning the Peach trees in the garden, afterwards I syringed them with bluestone water to kill the moss. ½ lb to 5 gallons.
I planted 3 sets of our own grown potatoes (Up to Date) the top side of the top Peach tree.
Tuesday 29th It was a fine day. Minnie walked over from Ti Point with the baby to go home by the “Kawau” this afternoon.
I planted 3 Large Brown Spanish Onions for seed that Minnie gave me. I packed a box of Eggs (23½ Doz) and took it down to the wharf with the bullock and hauled up a sack of Rxxx , box of groceries & empty egg box. The Steamer was very late in coming and it was getting dark when I got home.
Wednesday 30th It was a dull day. I planted out 21 Lettuce plants also planted 1 row of Stratagem Peas. The Calf died this evening.
Thursday 31st It was a showery day. I was not able to do much outside.
Messrs Morrison and N. Wilson, two of the Directors of the newly formed Settlers Steamship Co., held a meeting in the Hall in the evening to explain the objects and intentions of the new Co., it was a very dark misty evening and therefore very few settlers attended, Jane and I went.
Willie returned from Ti Point in the evening.