Friday 1st It was practically a fine day, a few showers of no importance. Willie was cutting tea tree all day.
I went down to the village in the pm to get the mail, carried up some gravel.
Mr Franklin came to get his Marriage Certificate for his marriage with Hettie Wyatt.
Grace returned from Ti Point in the pm.
Saturday 2nd A very wet day. In the morning Willie took the horse down to the wharf and hauled up two sacks of fowl food, he got very wet and had to change all his clothes.
Mrs Woodcock came in the morning about registration matters & Bertie Daper came in the afternoon for my signature.
Sunday 3rd It was a very fine day. Revd Blundell held service in the Hall in the morning, I attended. Afterwards by invitation I went to Mrs Dunnings Senr for lunch, the parson was also there, in the afternoon I called on Joe Wyatts, Mr Franklin & Hettie Wyatt were there, Mr Blundell is going to marry them tomorrow.
Willie & Grace went to Ti Point to spend the day with Harold & Flo’.
Monday 4th It was a fine day. Wind from NW & threatening for rain.
Hettie Wyatt was married to Mr Robert Franklin of Mangawai by Revd Osear Blundell (Presbyterian) and they left for their home this evening by the “Kawau”.
Willie planted some Rhubarb plants that Joe Torkington gave him.
I pruned the Crimson Ramble, a Cloth of Gold & finished all the other Roses & Bouvardias.
Got firewood, carried soil for the borders and clay to raise the path.
Tuesday 5th It was a beautiful day. After breakfast I went down to the village to post some letters & to get the mail, carried up some gravel. Willie was grafting & pruning peaches.
I carried soil & horse manure for the borders and dug a little the top side of the house. Agnes & Edith returned home in the morning.
Mrs G. Wyatt & Mary Young called in the afternoon.
Wednesday 6th It was a very fine day. Wind at S. Willie was pruning peaches. In the morning, in the pm he took a box of Eggs down to the wharf and hauled up some grocery goods. The “Kawau” had a difficulty in getting up to the wharf as it was deal low spring tide. Mrs Dale & Mrs Cranwell came in the morning and staid dinner. I went down to the village in the pm to take John Greenwood some Rose cuttings, carried up some sand. I went to spend the evening at Chas Wyatts. John Wyatt was there and we had a talk of old times.
Thursday 7th It was a very fine day, but cold, wind from S.
After breakfast I went down to the village to post some Rose cuttings to Mrs R. Williams, carried up some gravel, the remainder of the day I was getting firewood, carrying soil for the border & clay for the path.
The SS “Mania” brought the body of Miss Clara Fordham, she stood off the harbour & Alex & Duncan Matheson went out in this launch to bring the body ashore, Miss Emily Fordham , Syd & Herbert & other sisters accompanied, and they all staid at the Hotel waiting the funeral tomorrow. I called in in the evening to see them, also got the mail and attended the Library.
Willie was pruning & he & Grace went down to choir practice in the evening.
Friday 8th It was a fine day, ‘tho dull and cold, wind S. Willie was pruning.
The funeral of the late Miss Clara Fordham was at 2 pm, Revd Mcdonald officiated at the grave, the attendance was not large.
Saturday 9th It was a fine day. This is the 50th Anniversary or Jubilee of my arrival in Auckland on the ship “Queen of Beauty“, my old shipmates residing in Auckland and neighbourhood are holding a re-union in the form of a banquet and I had an invitation to attend, but declined.
In the morning Willie took the horse down to the wharf and hauled up some seed Potatoes &c. In the afternoon I went down to the wharf to see the Fordhams off who are returning to their homes.
I was getting firewood and working in the flower garden.
Sunday 10th It was a dull day, wind NE. Revd Sims (Methodist) conducted service in the Hall in the afternoon, I attended. It came on to rain when I was returning home.
Monday 11th A thoroughly wet day. Wind strong from NE. Willie was working in the farm orchard preparing the land for planting Potatoes, he got very wet.
Tuesday 12th The wind has changed round to the NW. It did not rain today, but I do not think it is all over. The Steamer left Auckland last night, but on account of the weather she took shelter at Wangapau and came on here this morning. I went down to the village after breakfast and got the mail after the Steamer came in.
Willie was calcimining the ceiling in the middle passage. I got a lot of wood on the hill.
Wednesday 13th It was fine in the morning. Willie was calcimining the middle passage. I cleaned out the summer house and commenced putting on the oil cloth on the insides.
Willie carried a box of eggs down to the wharf and I went down to the village. It came on heavy rain & both Willie and I got very wet.
Alma & Dorothy came over and staid all night.
Thursday 14th There was no rain today, but the wind is still in a rainy quarter NE.
I was fixing oilcloth on the summer house. Willie was calcimining the passage.
Alma & Dorothy went home in the afternoon. I went down for the mail & attended the Library in the evening. Grace only went to the choir practice.
Friday 15th My 70th birthday. Very wet in the morning. I finished fixing the oilcloth on the summer house. Willie was calcimining the middle passage. Mr & Mrs Glass came for tea & Eddie Wyatt came in the evening and we had a very pleasant evening. Mrs G played the mandoline and we played cards.
Saturday 16th Very showery in the morning, I was tacking the oilcloth in the summer house & getting some wood in the morning.
In the afternoon the weather cleared up a bit, but everything was very wet. Willie was clearing in the farm orchard . I went down to the cemetery, there was a working bee and about 8 turned up. We cut down all the furze and burned it up.
I went up to Willie Dunnings for tea and spent a very pleasant evening, we played bridge.
Sunday 17th It was a very fine day, but the wind has got round to the E again and most probably we shall have rain again shortly.
Revd Macdonald held service in the Hall in the afternoon, all of us attended there about 45 present, collection 13/3.
Grace walked over to Ti Point after church , Willie returned home to milk and to have his tea and then he went over also, to fetch Grace home.
Monday 18th It was a dull day, wind from E. After breakfast I went down to the village to the post, carried up some gravel. Willie was digging in the farm orchard. I commenced making the seats in the summer house.
Tuesday 19th It was a dull day, no rain in the afternoon, but the morning was wet, a strong wind blowing from the SE. the “Kawau” was unable to get out of Mangawai on account of the wind & sea.
Willie sharpened the planes in the morning and in the afternoon he was working over in the farm orchard. I was working at the seat in the summer house.
Wednesday 20th It rained nearly all day. Willie was working in the farm orchard in the morning, but he got very wet. I was working in the summer house, willie planed the boards of the seat in the afternoon. Johny Salt came for me to witness his signature.
Thursday 21st It was a very dull day, slight misty rain, wind still blowing strong from SE, heavy sea outside, “Kawau” still bar bound at Mangawai.
After breakfast I went down to the village. A poll was held in the Hall, Mr H. R. French Returning Officer, to decide about a loan of £2,000 to metal the main road. I recorded my two votes in favour of it. I was nailing the seat in the summer house.
Mr Torkington & Harold came in the pm, they had tea here and then they went down to the Library to change books. I went down for the mail and to change Library books.
Mr French waited at the Post Office to get the returns from Whangateau & Pakiri. The total returns were
For the Loan 73
Against the loan 11
62
Friday 22nd A dull misty day, sun came out once, but in the pm mist came over again and it rained.
I puttied the seat in the summer house and ripped down some pieces for legs for a table. Also got firewood. Will was digging in the farm orchard.
Saturday 23rd It rained heavily last night and it is very wet and muddy at the back and up the lane. It was in the morning and the sun came out bright, but in the afternoon there were several heavy showers.
After breakfast I went down to the village to get the mail.
I was making a table for the summer house, Willie planed the legs for me. Willie was digging in the farm orchard.
Sunday 24th It was a very wet day. As there was no service none of us went out anywhere.
Monday 25th It was a fine day with the exception of two slight showers. The wind is in the W and the ground is drying up nicely.
I finished making the table in the summer house. Willie was digging in the farm orchard.
Tuesday 26th It was a very fine day. I painted the seat & table in the summer house.
Willie was digging in the farm orchard.
Wednesday 27th It rained heavily at daybreak this morning, the forenoon was very fine and warm, but there was a heavy shower in the pm. I started to make a gate for the fence between the flower & vegetable garden. Willie was digging in the farm orchard & in the pm he took the horse down to the wharf with a box of eggs. I also went down to the village for the mail.
Thursday 28th It was a fine day. Mrs Handby came soon after breakfast to get me to witness her signature, she had a look round the garden. Mrs C. Wyatt called in the pm and she had a look at the garden. I was making the gate I started yesterday. Willie was fixing wheels in the front of the catamaran. Willie & Grace went down to the choir practice in the evening . Willie was going to look after the Library for me. I staid at home.
Friday 29th It was a fine day. I finished & hung the gate between the flower & vegetable garden. Willie was working at the catamaran.
I went down to the wharf to meet the “Kawau” at 1 pm from Auckland. Joe Torkington came up. Minnie was over to meet him,
I got the mail and carried up some gravel. I gave the table a second coat of paint.
Saturday 30th It was very fine in the morning, but towards noon it came over cloudy & it thundered and commenced raining, but it cleared off again and was a fine afternoon. I got firewood and painted the seat in the summer house second coat.
Willie was digging in the farm orchard in the morning and he was working at the catamaran in the afternoon.
Sunday 31st It was a very fine day. Revd Blundell held service in the morning, Willie & Grace attended. Mr & Mrs Glass came up
hor [sic: here for] lunch, they went to call on old Mrs Dunning in the afternoon.
I walked over to the Claim to see Jim & Jane, had dinner there and all of us attended Mr Blundell’s service in the afternoon, I walked home afterwards.