Friday 1st It was a fine day. After breakfast I went down to the Post Office to post my monthly returns. Willie took the catamaran down and we hauled up some sandstone from the wharf hill. Mr Handby hauled up the timber for the Library.
In the afternoon Willie and I were working at the path near the house.
Saturday 2nd It was a fine day. Willie and I were working at the path. Jane & Tille went down to Tennis in the afternoon, Willie & I also went down later on to have a look at them.
Sunday 3rd It was a fine day. Jane, Tilley & Willie went over to Ti Point to spend the day. I staid at home to rest myself and to finish an interesting book “The Old Dominion”
Mrs Archie Dunning, Mrs Findlayson of Waipu and her little boy called in the afternoon and I got them some tea.
Monday 4th It was a fine day.Willie and I were picking fruit. We picked 7 Cases Autumn Compote Plums and 3 Cases Greenwoods Pears. We were all down at the village in the evening, the “Kawau” came in while I was down there, Willie Harper and Roddie McKinnon came up in her, the party in the Huia having returned to Auckland the diver they took down proving incompetent.
I received letters from my brother Henry & sister Fanny telling me of the death of my sister Annie (Mrs Dr Fox) of Rochester.
Tuesday 5th The wind was blowing very strong from the E, only a slight shower of rain. Willie went to help Duncan Matheson get the yacht into the water and put the ballast back into her.
The girls went a pic nic to the pa beach. I took 8 Cases Fruit down to the wharf and hauled up some timber, the remainder of the empty cases &c.
The “Kawau” returned from Mangawai, it was so rough that she staid here all night , she had some sheep on board that were so knocked about with the rough weather that she put them ashore here awaiting a finer day.
Wednesday 6th It rained last night. It was blowing today from E and there is a big sea outside. The “Kawau” proceeded to Auckland this morning.
Thursday 7th It was a fine day. In the morning I went down to the village to post some letters, one of them (a long one) to my brother Henry.
In the afternoon Willie and I were picking Marachal du Cour Pears.
Jessie Neeley and Miss Rollinson called in the afternoon, had tea here and then went down to tennis with Jane and Tillie.
I also went down to the Library.
Friday 8th It was a fine day. Charlie Wyatt came here to work, he put new floor boards on to the back verandah, also commenced to put new ground plates under the store. Willie hauled 6 Cases Pears down to the wharf to go by the “Kawau“, but she did not come in. Mrs Simpson came over from Ti Point to go by her, but as she did not come, Mrs S came up here, Mr Torkington came with her and Mabel was also here for tea.
Saturday 9th It rained last night, but it was fine today. Charlie came again to work here today, he finished putting the new ground plate under the store also a few weather boards.
There was a Tennis match on this court in the afternoon between this Club and Dacres Club, Leigh won all the events. The “Kawau” called in about 4.30 pm, Mrs Simpson went back to Auckland in her, we all went down to the wharf to see her off. The Tennis Club gave afternoon tea in the Hall and a dance and also supper. We were all there and enjoyed ourselves.
Sunday 10th It was a fine day, but the wind is blowing strong
from E. Revd E. G. Evans held service in the morning, Jane, Tillie & I went, after service I walked over to Ti Point to spend the day with Joe and Minnie, Willie was also there, Jane & Tillie rode over later on. We all came home together, arriving home after nine.
Monday 11th It rained last night, but it was fine today.
Charlie Wyatt came again to day to work, he put in new house blocks and ground plates under the bay windows in the dining room, later in the afternoon he commenced to take down the counter and shelves in the store preparatary to partition it off and break a door through into the kitchen to form a scullery. When Charlie and I were having tea it rained very heavy and the girls who were down at the Tennis had to take shelter and come home after it had cleared up.
Tuesday 12th It rained early in the morning, but it turned out a tolerably fine day, the wind was blowing strong from NE.
Charlie Wyatt came again to day to work, partitioning the store off for a skullery. Willie and I were picking Greenwood Pears in the afternoon. I went down to the store in the pm, the “Kawau” came in from Auckland. The girls went down to Tennis in the evening and got the mail.
Wednesday 13th It was a fine day. Willie and I finished picking Greenwood Pears, we have now taken 24½ Cases off it. We also picked 1 Case of Cruickshank Pears, and a Case of Lord Wollesley Apples, and a Case of mixed Pears for Mrs Wallace. Charlie came to day and finished the scullery, he took his tools away and I paid him.
Willie hauled the Fruit and a box of Eggs down to the wharf.
Thursday 14th It was a fine day. I went to Auckland in the “Kawau” leaving here about 9 am, there was a swell outside and we had rather a rough trip, we arrived in Auckland about 2.30, I went to see Noel Wallace at the Bank and then took the tram up to Ponsonby and staid at Mrs Simpsons where I received a hearty welcome.
Friday 15th I was down town in the morning, it came on to rain while I was out and I got wet. I did not go out anywhere in the afternoon.
Saturday 16th It was a fine day. I was down town in the morning, met Walter Frearson and went with him to the various Auctions.
In the afternoon I walked out to the Domain to see the Cricket Matches, met Noel and Alan Wallace, Noel took me in to have afternoon tea. We left the ground together & I returned to Ponsonby, Noel leaving me at Crummer Road.
Sunday 17th It was a fine day. Grace & I went to 8 am Commmmunion at All Saints, I also went to 11 am Service at the same Church.
In the afternoon Fred & I went over to the North Shore to spend the afternoon at Mr Wallaces, we met Mr & Mrs Tom Harris there. Fred & I returned to Auckland after tea and went to St Matthews for evening service.
Monday 18th It was a fine day. I was down town all the morning. In the evening Mrs Simpson, Grace, Victor & I went to a Lecture in All Saints School Room by Captain Sinker of the Southern Cross the subject being the Milenesian Mission, it was illustrated with lantern views and it was very interesting.
Tuesday 19th It was a fine day. I was down town in the morning.
Wednesday 20th I was down town in the morning, I sent a lot of goods down by the “Kawau“, also a few odd things in a bag I sent to Jane.
In the afternoon I left Mrs Simpsons and went over to Devonport to stay at Mr Wallaces.
Thursday 21st It was a fine day. I went over to Auckland in the afternoon.
Friday 21st [Actually the 22nd] I was over at Auckland all day. I attended the Auctions and saw my fruit sold. When I returned to Devonport I called on Mrs McKenzie in Domain St, an old Omaha resident.
Saturday 22nd [Actually the 23rd] It was a fine day. In the morning I went to call on Mr Sep Meiklejohn on Lake Road, there was nobody at home, but I found Mr Meiklejohn working on a piece of ground he owns the opposite side of the road. In the afternoon there was a Cricket match in the Devonport Domain between Shore & Parnell. Mr Torkington & Miss Slater were there to witness it and all the Wallace family. Mr T. & Miss S. and a young Paine returned to Wallaces for tea.
Sunday 23rd [Actually the 24th] It was a fine day. In the morning Mr Wallace & I went over to Auckland to see if the “Haupiri” had arrived as I expected Jack up in here, but we could hear no tidings of her. In the afternoon Mr Wallace and I went over to Auckland again and went in a tram up to the Domain to hear the massed Bands play, there must have been nearly 10,000 people there.
In the evening Mr & Mrs W. & Alma and I went to Trinity Church.
Monday 24th [Actually the 25th] It was a fine day. I was over at Auckland all day looking out for the “Haupiri“, but she did not arrive.
When I got back to Wallaces I received a telegram from Jane saying that Jack was leaving Te Araroa to day.
Tuesday 25th [Actually the 26th] It was a fine day, but the wind was blowing from E.
I was over at Auckland all day, no appearance of the “Haupiri“.
Wednesday 26th [Actually the 27th] It was a fine day. I went over to Auckland in the morning, the “Kawau” had not returned from Mangawai, she should have left for Omaha at 10 am, and a lot of Omaha people were on the wharf waiting for her. The “Kawau” is now going to leave for Omaha this evening at 9 oclock.
This evening’s Star says that the “Haupiri” will arrive this evening.
Thursday 27th [Actually the 28th] It was a fine day. Noel came into my bedroom to tell me that according to the Herald the “Haupiri” arrived in Auckland last night at 9 pm and that Jack was a passenger, so I got up and dressed & packed my bag and went over to Auckland with Noel in the 8 am boat. I left my bag at the Settlers Office and went to the “Haupiri” and found that all the passengers had left last night , I then made my way up to the Warkworth Boarding House, but met Jack and Mr Torkington talking under the verandah opposite Rushbrookes shop, I was with Jack all the morning shopping, we went to lunch at Mrs Simpsons.
In the afternoon Jack & I were busy shopping and we had not time to go across to the Shore again to wish them good bye. The “Kawau” was to start for Omaha and Mangawai at 7 pm, but she had so much cargo to put in that it was after 8 pm when she started, the Cricketers were all going down to Omaha. Noel & Ken Wallace & Miss Slater went down with Jack & I. There were so many passengers that there was scarcely room to sit down, we had a very rough passage and a great many were sick, but I escaped.
Friday 28th [Actually the 29th] Good Friday. The “Kawau” arrived at Omaha at about 3 am this morning and we were all glad to get ashore. Harry Ellis came up and stopped the night here , Jane and Willie were on the wharf to meet us. The “Kawau” proceeded on her way to Mangawai, but when she got as far as Goat Island she turned back here on account of the heavy sea and she went out again in the afternoon. We lent Empress to Harry Ellis and he rode over to Matakana.
It rained a bit and made every thing very damp so there was no Pic nic. We all went down to the Hall for tea, and the Auckland Cricketers gave the usual Concert in the Hall in the evening.
Noel, Blanche & I returned home after the Concert, but the others staid for the dance.
Saturday 29th [Actually the 30th] It was a fine day. There was a Cricket Match in Charlie Wyatts paddock between the Aucklanders and Omaha. Aucklanders beat.
There was a smoke concert in the Hall in the evening, Jack went.
We had a concert on our own at home.
Sunday 30th [Actually the 31st] It was a fine day. Noel, Blanche, Ken & Willie & Jack went over to Ti Point to spend the day, Jane and I staid at home. The Miss Cruickshanks rode over to spend the day. I took a walk down to the wharf in the afternoon, I had asked three Leicester fellows who are with the Cricketers up to tea, but they did not come.