Saturday 1st It was a beautiful day. Charlie came here to work today and finished the painting in the evening, and the outside of the house looks very nice now. He also finished a cement hearth for me in the kitchen.
Willie went fishing in the pm and brought home one large schnapper and a few small ones.
Sunday 2nd It was a very fine day. Revd E. G. Evans held service in the Hall in the morning. I attended and afterwards rode over to Ti Point to spend the day. Joe and Harold were just returning to Snell’s beach which was opened as a Gum Field last Saturday, Joe & Harold went in their yacht last Friday and yesterday in about 2 hours digging they got £2 worth of gum between them, there being no good anchorage for their yacht round there, they brought it home last night and were walking over to day.
Willie also walked to Ti Point & we both had dinner with Minnie and I returned home early so as to milk the cow & feed the fowls.
Monday 3rd It was a fine day. In the morning we turned the Ewes & Ram on to the farm. I gave the weatherboards near the bay window another coat of paint. In the afternoon we took up the Wrights Early Plum and planted it where the Champion Peach was which we took out.
Willie went fishing in the evening.
Tuesday 4th It was a fine day, very calm and dull. Willie found that Juno had calved, that the calf was dead out in the front, we milked her, but it is doubtful whether she will continue in milk.
Willie went fishing in his boat out on the reef, caught 5 bundles which he sent away by the “Kawau” this evening.
I painted the steps to the front verandah and other odd jobs . In the afternoon I went down to the village to take some eggs and get Mrs Harper to cash a Cheque for me.
In the evening I went down to Charlie Wyatts to pay Charlie for painting and Maggie for butter.
Wednesday 5th It was a fine day. In the morning Willie took the bullock down to the wharf and hauled up some gravel and he also got 100 lbs Flour from the Store. I did some concreting and also painted the front gate posts. In the evening I went down to spend the evening at Mr Archie Dunnings.
I received a letter from Will Dunning by this evenings mail.
Willie went out fishing in his boat this evening remaining out all night.
Thursday 6th There was a little rain early this morning, but it was a fine day. I did some concreting. In the afternoon I went down to the village to post some letters. I also went down in the evening to get the mail and attend the Library. Willie returned from fishing, he caught 3 bundles & 1 Hapuka.
Friday 7th It was a dull day, there was no rain to speak of, but the wind is blowing from the E and it looks as if we are going to have bad weather. In the middle of the day Willie went down to meet the “Kawau” to try and get some bread, but she did not put in an appearance. I did some concreting , and was stopping the front gate.
Saturday 8th It was a fine day. Willie was putting new boards on the front gate.
Sunday 9th It was a beautiful day. Willie went over to Ti Point to spend the day .
I rode up to John Greenwoods to spend the day, John and the children were down at Pakiri to service, Mr Roberts, Weslyan local preacher from Mangawai officiating, but Mrs John & Mrs Birdsall Senr were at home & I had dinner there. On my way home I called in to see old Mr Kempt who is not well.
Monday 10th It was a fine day, ‘tho dull, the wind is round to NE. In the morning I commenced to stop the front garden gate posts, when Alex Matheon called to tell me that he was going to make the cupboard at the Library to day, so I left my work and went down to the Library to clear away the papers at the top of the present cupboards to make room for the new one, it took me a long time and I did not get home till 4 pm.
Willie went out with Duncan to get bait intending fishing tonight for tomorrows Steamer, but they were unsuccessful so Willie came home.
Tuesday 11th It was a showery day. Willie was going to take the bullock down to the wharf to get some gravel, but on account of the slippery roads he had to give it up , but he went down to meet the Steamer to try and get some bread, but was unable to. I scrubbed out the front bedroom and passages & cleaned several windows.
Wednesday 12th It was a showery day. Willie got a lot of firewood & down to the Steamer to get some bread.
Thursday 13th A few showers. Willie put the hinges on to the front gate. I went down for the mail and attended to the Library in the evening. Alec Matheson had finished the new cupboard & I put some of the old magazines in it.
Friday 14th It did not rain, but it was a dull day. Willie finished hanging the front gate. I was cleaning the house. Jane & Revd McWilliam came up from Auckland in the “Kawau“, steamer arrived at 3.30 pm. Mr McWilliam came to stay with us, Willie went down to meet them.
Saturday 15th It was a dull day. Revd McWilliam walked up to John Greenwoods in the afternoon. I went down to the Hall to tidy up ready for the service tomorrow night.
Sunday 16th It was a fine day. Willie walked over to Ti Point to spend the day returning in the afternoon.
In the afternoon I rode over to Dacres Hall to service. Revd McWilliam officiated. Mr McWilliam returned with me to our place for tea, and we all went down to the Hall for evening service. Mr McWilliam preached a very good sermon.
Monday 17th It was a fine day. Willie was out fishing all day. Mr McWilliam [took] the horse up to John Greenwoods that he had borrowed and returned here on foot in the pm. Mr & Mrs Archie Dunning & Mabel came to spend the evening, Mabel staid all night.
Tuesday 18th It was a fine day, but the wind is blowing very strong from the E. In the morning Willie & I were putting in [the] other gate post. In the afternoon Willie & I went down to the Wharf to see Revd McWilliam off. The “Kawau” called her on her way from Mangawai to Auckland, there were 4 other passengers , they would have a very rough trip.
In the afternoon Jane went down to Uncle Johns.
Wednesday 19th It rained nearly all day, and the wind was blowing a gale from the SE, which we feel very much. We were not able to do anything outside, and the Steamer did not come.
Jane is still down at Uncle Johns, I suppose weather bound.
Thursday 20th The wind has changed to the S, no rain today, but weather very cold.
Jane returned from Uncle Johns in the morning.
Willie finished digging the hole for the gatepost at the front entrance and I was ramming the post while he went down to the wharf.
The “Kawau” left Auckland early this morning, went into Big Omaha first and left here about 2.30 pm. I went down for the mail and attended the Library in the evening.
Friday 21st It was a fine day, but very cold, the wind at S.
Willie & I were pulling in a strut and fixing the wires at the front entrance.
Jane went to the bachelors ball at Pakiri.
Saturday 22nd It was a fine day. There was a heavy frost this morning and ice ¼ inch thick fell off the roof of the back verandah.
In the morning Willie & I took the bullock down to the wharf, Willie went round to Duncan Mathesons & I hauled up some gravel & called in to Harpers store to get a box. In the afternoon Willie went out to catch bait, I did some concreting. Jane returned from Pakiri in the evening.
Sunday 23rd It was a fine day. It was dull in the morning, but the sun came out in the afternoon. Jane & Willie walked & I rode to Ti Point to spend the day with Joe & Minnie. Joe is still digging on Snell’s beach and is doing very well, he returned there this afternoon.
Monday 24th It was a fine day. In the afternoon I took the bullock down to the wharf and hauled up a load of gravel.
Mrs Handby called here in the pm. Willie went out fishing early in the morning , they got 12 bundles. There was no wind so it was nearly midnight before he got home.
Tuesday 25th We got up early in the morning as Willie is going to Auckland in the “Kawau“, I went down with him, but the Steamer did not come, the wind is blowing strong from the NE, there were 7 passengers waiting, we came back home for dinner and Willie went down again [in] the evening, but she did not come. It rained heavily during the night and blew a gale.
Wednesday 26th It was a wet day, but in the afternoon it changed round to the SW.
Willie went down to the wharf in the morning, but the Steamer did not come so he returned for dinner. He went down in the afternoon and heard that the “Kawau” would be in here at 10 oclock this evening, so he went down again in the evening and the Steamer called, so Willie got away at last.
Thursday 27th It was a showery day. Jane went down to A. Wyatts to do some sewing, taking Agnes with her. I painted the wood box again. Also got some firewood. In the evening I went down for the mail and attended the Library.
Friday 28th It was a fine day, only one slight shower, but the ground is very wet. In the morning I gathered all the pumpkins in , cut some rushes for the calves place.
In the afternoon I painted the wood box the third time, painted the safe & got some firewood.
Jane went over to Joe Wyatts in the afternoon, taking Agnes with her and they staid all night.
Saturday 29th It was a fine day. After breakfast I went down to the village to get the mail, also went down to the wharf to see if the “Kawau” had landed any goods for me, but she had not.
In the afternoon I gave the safe another coat of paint. Harry Greenwood came to register the birth of his twin babies, Jane returned from Uncle Joes.
Sunday 30th It was a fine day. Revd E. G. Evans (Presbyterian) held service in the Hall in the morning, I went, this is the last occasion Mr Evans will hold service here as he has accepted a Call from Bulls in the Wanganui District.