Thursday 7th It was a fine day. Willie finished digging in this orchard in the morning.
Archdeacon Calder called here in the morning, he was proceeding to Mangawai in the “Daphne” that called in here and got stuck at the wharf.
In the afternoon Willie took the bullock down to the wharf and hauled up 100 lbs Flour and 1 Sack of Potatoes that came from Dumpers on the “Kawau” yesterday.
Friday 8th It was a fine day. Willie started clearing the piece of ground below the house for digging.
Saturday 9th The King’s & Henry’s birthday. It was raining last night and this morning, but cleared up towards noon. The Kia Ora Tennis Club came over to play a match with Leigh Club. It was almost 1.30 when the match started and before it could be finished it came on to rain again and they had to know, [possibly should be ‘knock off’] as far as it was played Leigh was ahead. They gave tea in the Hall, but as Kia Ora would not stay the evening, there was no dance.
Mr Torkington brought Arthur over to see the match and they came over here and staid the night.
Sunday 10th It was a fine day. Mr Torkington & Arthur returned to Ti Point in the morning, Willie went with them to spend the day there returning home in the evening. Jane and the girls went down to Mrs Archie Dunnings in the afternoon and staid tea there.
I went up to Mr Handbys and staid tea. Jim Greenwood was there.
Monday 11th It was a fine day. Willie was digging below the house.
Tuesday 12th It was a fine day. Willie was digging below the house.
In the afternoon I took the presents we are going to give to Mr & Mrs Jos Greenwood down to the store, afterwards I went down to the wharf to see the “Kawau” off. I bought some fish off Archie Morley which I brought home.
Wednesday 13th It was a fine day. Willie commenced to pull up the pea sticks and cut the rubbish round the peach trees preparitary to digging. In the afternoon I took some Maize up to Mr Handbys to crush it for my chickens, Mr Neeley was there shoeing horses for Johny Salt, I made arrangements for he and Gus to come and shear my sheep next week.
Thursday 14th It was a fine day. After breakfast Willie and I went up to Mr Neeleys, they had their sheep in and were finishing shearing, there were two of ours in which Willie sheared, a ewe hogget which we put in to the E. R. and a long tailed ram hogget which we killed up there and gave Mr N half of the meat. Willie and I had dinner up there and then we returned home and immediately went down to meet the “Kawau“, Willie carried down a box of Eggs for Dumper, and I packed the presents for Mr & Mrs Jos Greenwood at Harpers store and carried them down to the wharf and sent them by the Steamer to Auckland. Joe Torkington was on board going up to Auckland. I came down again in the evening to look after the Library.
Friday 15th It was a beautiful day. Willie and I were all day cleaning out the shed, fixing up the pen, and mending the fences, preparing for shearing.
The Bible Class Picnic was held this afternoon and evening. Jane and the girls went to it, Willie and I staid at home.
Saturday 16th It was a beautiful day. Albert Wyatt was helping us get the Sheep in from the farm, we cleaned some of dirty lambs which were maggoty, we put kerosene on them. Willie sheared one sheep, in the evening we put all of the sheep into the barley paddock to be ready for shearing on Monday.
There was a Tennis Match at the Claim between that club and Leigh Club, Jane went over. The girls went down to spend the afternoon with Ivey & Iney Dunning.
Sunday 17th It was a beautiful day. Revd Jas Mackie (Presbyterian) held service in the Hall in the morning, Jane, the girls and I went. Mr & Mrs D. Matheson & children & Johanna Kempt were here for dinner, Hetty Wyatt called in the afternoon.
Monday 18th It was a fine day. In the afternoon it looked cloudy but it did not rain.
We got all the sheep in from the Barley paddock, and Mr & Gus Neeley came here to shear for us. They sheared about 50 for us and Willie sheared 2 on the farm. After they had finished they tailed & altered the lambs, the sexes were as follows.
Wethers 15
Ewes 12
Total 27
There are about 3 more Lambs out on the farm that we know of.
Mr Neeley also altered
3 Bull Calves for us.
Tuesday 19th There were a few slight showers during the day.
Willie & I went on to the farm to pick up any unshorn sheep that may be out.
We caught and sheard 2. One was a Wether and one a Ewe with a Lamb, the Lamb was a Ram which we altered and the Lambs now stand as follows
Wethers 16
Ewes 12
Total 28
In the afternoon we packed the wool in 1 Bale putting 58 Fleeces in, and there is 1 left over that is covered with biddies.
Wednesday 20th It was fine in the morning tho’ dull.
Willie & I took the Bale of Wool and a box of Eggs down to the wharf with the bullock and we had just got the wool into the shed when it came on to rain and it rained very heavily for about 2 hours. I went home over to John Wyatts to fill up their Old Age Pension Claims , afterwards went across to the Store and waited until the “Kawau” cam in. Joe Torkington was on board having just returned from Auckland, he reports that Minnie is now quite well.
Mr Elliot came up to our place for tea and spent the evening. I think he is a very nice fellow.
Thursday 21st It was a fine day. Willie and I were digging between the Peach trees below the house. In the evening I went for the mail and attended the Library. I received a letter from Joe Greenwood thanking us for the presents we sent him.
Friday 22nd It was a fine day. Willie and I were digging between the Peach trees below the house. In the evening I went down to meet the “Kawau”, Revd McWilliam came up in her, he had a game of Tennis on the Court and then came up here with Jane & I to stay.
Saturday 23rd It was a fine day. Willie & I finished digging between the Peach trees below the house in the morning. In the afternoon Willie went to Ti Point to try and get some fish. Jane and the Parson went down to play Tennis, returned here for tea and the Parson took Empress and rode up to John Greenwoods.
Mr Torkington came here in the morning, dined here and in the pm he took Alma & Agnes home with him.
In the afternoon I burnt up all the rubbish on the piece of ground below the bay window.
A few young fellows were playing cricket on Charlies ground.
Sunday 24th It was a fine day. Joe Torkington brought Alma over in the afternoon, he staid tea and returned to Ti Point in the afternoon evening. Revd McWilliam held service in the Hall in the evening, he returned with us to stay here.
Monday 25th It was a fine day. In the morning Mr McWilliam took John Greenwoods horse back and brought Empress home arriving here in time for dinner. Willie and I were sowing vegetables below the house, we sowed 2 rows of Stratagem Pease & 3 rows of Dun Beans.
After an early tea Jane and Mr McWilliam went down to play Tennis and Albert, Emma, Mabel and Mrs & Mr Archie Dunning came up to play cards.
Tuesday 26th It was a fine day, it tried to rain once or twice, but the showers were so slight that they did no appreciable good. Joe Torkington came here and staid for dinner, Mr Ashworth was also here, after dinner I went down to the wharf to see Mr McWilliam and Joe off in the “Kawau“. John Greenwood came here to register the birth of his twin babies. In the afternoon Willie commenced to dig round the Orleans in the farm orchard commencing at the hedge.
I posted a letter to Jack.
Wednesday 27th It was a fine day. Alma walked over to Ti Point and brought Agnes round in the Steamer. Willie was digging in the farm orchard all day.
In the afternoon I took the bullock down to the wharf and hauled up a box of groceries & an empty egg box. After I came back I went over to the farm orchard and helped Willie with the digging.
Thursday 28th There were a few showers of rain during the day, but not enough to soften the hard lumps.
In the morning Willie and I put the sheep from the Barley paddock out on to the farm, after that I was digging in the farm orchard.
In the afternoon I went with Willie down to the wharf to see him off.
Both the “Daphne” & the “Kawau” left Mangawai at 1 pm for Auckland calling in here , being excursion trips up to the show. The former charging 4/- return & she took 5 from here, and the latter charging 2/- and she took 9 passengers from here. I came down to the Village again in the evening for the mail and to attend to the Library.
Friday 29th It was a fine day. I was digging in the farm orchard all day
Saturday 30th It was a fine day although it looked dull several times and inclined to rain.
In the morning I went over to the farm orchard and did a little digging, but had to knock off because I was not feeling very well.
Mr Torkington called in the afternoon with Jane and they went down to the wharf to meet the “Daphne” coming from Auckland, Joe & Minnie came up her to stay, Minnie has quite recovered her health.