April 1908

Wednesday 1st   It was fine in the morning.  I said goodbye to the Simpsons and collected my parcels together and took them to the “Kawau“, we left the wharf at 11 am and arrived at Omaha soon after 3 pm, it came on to rain before we left Auckland,  and continued to do so until we were abreast of the Kawau Island when it cleared up.   Tillie Coplestone came up with me to stay with us, Jane was down to meet us and brought the bullock and sleigh  to take the luggage.
I was very pleased to get home again.

Thursday 2nd   It was very showery in the morning, but finer in the afternoon.  I was cutting tea tree on the hill behind the cottage, Willie was cleaning danthonia.  Jane and Tillie went down to the village in the afternoon called for the mail and attended the Library.

Friday 3rd   It was a fine day.  Willie and I were cutting tea tree on the hill behind the cottage all day.

Saturday 4th    It was a beautiful day.  Jane & Tillie went to Matakana to witness a Cricket Match between Omaha and Whangaripo Clubs.
Willie and I were cutting tea tree in the morning.
In the afternoon Willie went fishing and caught about 40 fish.

Sunday 5th   Willie’s 25th birthday.  It was fine in the morning, Jane, Tillie and I went down to the Hall in the morning for service, a Mr McPherson from Auckland preached.  Holmes McKinney drove home over from Warkworth.  Minnie and Hettie Wyatt were here for dinner.
In the afternoon I walked up to Mr Handbys, John Greenwood and his son Johny were there.  It rained heavily while I was there and it rained most of the evening.

Monday 6th   It rained in the morning, but cleared up in the pm.
Jane & Tillie went to Mrs A. Dunnings for tea and spent the evening there.  Willie & I were cutting tea tree.

Tuesday 7th   It was fine when we got up , but it came on to rain afterwards, but cleared up in the afternoon.  Willie and I were cutting tea tree.  Jane & Tillie went down to the Post Office in the afternoon.

Wednesday 8th   It was a fine day.  Jane & Tillie walked to Ti Point in the morning and staid the night.  Willie took some Danthonia seed on the horse to Mr Torkington.
In the afternoon Willie took a box of Eggs down to the Steamer and I went down to post some letters, went to the Steamer and the Library.  After we came home we cut tea tree.

Thursday 9th   It was a fine day.  In the morning Willie & I were cutting tea tree on the hill.
In the afternoon Willie was digging in the garden, I was clearing and digging in the flower garden.  Jane & Tillie returned from Ti Point, I went down to the Library.

Friday 10th   It was a fine day.  In the morning Willie went up to get the Bull in, which had got out on the road going up to Neeleys,  he tightened the wires and burned some grass.
I was doing odd jobs in the morning and in the afternoon I was working in the flower garden.
Willie, Jane & Tillie went out fishing in the evening.

Saturday 11th   It was a fine day.  I was working in the flower garden all day.  Willie was smoking the fish he caught last night.
Jane & Tillie went down to Tennis in the afternoon, afterwards went to Mrs A. Dunnings for tea and spent the evening.

Sunday 12th   It was a beautiful day.   There was a special service at the Bible Class this morning, Mrs Rennie, who is staying at Mrs Harpers sang a solo, Jane & Tillie went.
In the afternoon Mr Bottomley of Port Albert (Wesleyan) conducted service in the Hall.  There was a good congregation, all of us went.  Mr B. gave us a very good sermon and Mrs Rennie sang a solo.
Jane & Tillie went to Mrs Dunnings for tea, and in the evening they and Mr & Mrs Archie Dunning & Jim walked over to the Claim Hall for service.

Monday 13th   It was a fine day.  Willie was digging in the garden.  I started digging and clearing in the flower garden , but my back came on bad and I had to knock off and come in the house.
Jim Dunning was here in the evening playing cards.

Tuesday 14th   It was a fine day.  On account of my back I was not able to do any work out of doors, so I occupied my time in writing letters to Noel Wallace & my brother Henry which Willie posted this evening.  Willie was digging in the evening.
In the afternoon Jane & Tillie went down to Mrs A. Wyatts to do some sewing and in the evening they rode over to Dacres Hall to a send off to Messrs Donald & Ellis Jones who are leaving to take up land at Te Aroha.

Wednesday 15th   It was a fine day.  On account of my back I was not able to do any work outside, so I employed myself in doing odd jobs indoors, I wrote and posted a long letter to my son Henry.  In the morning Willie took the bullock down to the wharf and hauled up the empty fruit cases that came back from Dumpers, 2 Egg Boxes and a fowl crate.
In the afternoon he burned some grass and dug in the orchard.  Tillie went down to Mrs A. Wyatts to do some sewing, Jane went to Tennis practice and in the evening both of them went to the Hall to practice for Friday nights concert.

Thursday 16th   It was cloudy & dull in the morning, but it brightened up and turned out a very hot day.  Willie, Jane & Tille went with the Archie Dunnings and others in two boats round to the Sand Spit, Big Omaha to a pic nic and did not return until the evening.
I took a walk down to Mr T. Knaggs in the afternoon, he gave me some flower plants.  In the evening I went down to the mail and to attend the Library.  There was a public meeting in the Library to try and form a Farmer’s Club, Mr John Greenwood was in the chair, it was decided to form a Society to be called the Omaha & Pakiri Farmers and Fruitgrowers Association, 17 members gave in their names, and Mr John Greenwood was elected President and Mr Banks Secretary and Treasurer.

Friday 17th   It was a fine day.  When we got up in the morning we found that Ken Wallace has arrived from Auckland having come up in the “Gael” and been landed here about 4 oclock am.  Minnie &  the children came over for dinner, we all went to a Good Friday Concert in the Hall got up by Mrs Carr, there were nearly 200 present , I was Chairman.  There was a collection for the Hall, funds which realised £2 . 3 . 6.

Saturday 18th   It was fine in the morning. I was working in the flower garden all day.
In the afternoon there was a football match on the Whangateau Domain between Mangawai & Omaha teams.  Omaha won, unfortunately one of the visiting players Mr G. Keith in falling broke his leg , he was carried to the house of Mr J. Darroch and Dr McCreadie was telephoned for.  Jane,  Tillie and Willie & Ken went.  In the evening there was a dance in this Hall, Jane, Tillie & Willie went, Ken & I staid at home.

Sunday 19th   It was a fine day, but the wind is blowing pretty strong from N.  In the afternoon Jane rode to Warkworth to compete in the Tennis Tournament next Monday.  Willie and Ken walked over to Ti Point returning late in the evening.  Tillie and I went to Mrs Dunnings Snr for tea.

Monday 20th   It was a very dull morning and there were a few slight showers.  Will, Tillie & Ken went a picnic with the Archie Dunnings to Pa beach.  I staid at home.  It came on to rain steadily at 5 pm and rained all evening.  Jane returned from Warkworth wet through, she and Archie Dunning came second in the combined.

Tuesday 21st   It was a regular wet day.  We could not do anything out of doors.  The “Kawau” called in here on her way to Mangawai, she was to have called back here again at midnight on her way to Auckland.  Jim Dunning spent the evening here.  Jane, Tillie & Ken Wallace went down to go up in her, and waited several hours, but she did not put in an appearance, so they all came home.

Wednesday 22nd   It was a beautiful day.  The “Kawau” called in soon after noon and Jane, Tillie & Ken went up in her.
In the morning I was cutting tea tree out in the front, in the pm I went to Mr G. Knaggs to witness the signature of the old people.

Thursday 23rd   It was a beautiful day.   In the morning Willie packed the Eggs and took them down to the wharf.  I was digging in the flower garden.  In the afternoon Willie and I went down to the wharf to see the “Kawau” off, after I came back I was cutting tea tree in the front.  In the evening I was down for the mail and attended the Library.

Friday 24th   It was a beautiful day.  Willie went over on the farm and he was cutting some tea tree bunches.  I was digging in the flower garden both morning and afternoon, also made a fire round a stump.
In the middle of the pm, Willie went down to the wharf to see Fred Simpson and his uncle and Aunt off by the “Kawau“, afterwards he went out fishing and brought home three schnappers.

Saturday 25th   It was a beautiful day.  There was a Cricket Match at Matakana between Omaha and Whangaripo, several went from here.  In the morning Willie went down to the wharf to look after his boat, afterwards he fixed up a panel of fencing next barley paddock.
I was digging out periwincle in the flower garden.
In the afternoon we were burning off tea tree heaps on the hill behind the cottage.

Sunday 26th   It was a fine day, but in the afternoon it came over very black and it was raining at Matakana extending to Takatu Point.  I rode and Willie walked to Ti Point to spend the day.  Joe took us out sailing in his yacht in the afternoon which I very much enjoyed.
I returned home before dark, but Willie staid for tea.

Monday 27th    It rained steadily nearly all day, it cleared up the latter part of the afternoon.  I went down in the front and cut some tea tree.
Willie went out fishing with Ab Wyatt , they caught about 17, Willie brought home 6.

Tuesday 28th   It was a fine day, but the ground did not dry much as there was no wind.
In the morning Willie took the bullock down to the wharf twice with the sleigh and hauled up a Sack of Wheat & a Sack of Sharps , there is still a Sack of Bran to bring up.  I was cutting tea tree in the front all day, Willie was cutting in the afternoon.

Wednesday 29th   It was a fine day.  Mabel Wyatt came to wash and straighten up for us.
in the morning Willie was getting wood and cutting tea tree in the front.  In the afternoon he went down to the Steamer and carried up a small box of Groceries from Newdick’s.
I was working in the flower garden.

Thursday 30th   It was a fine day.  We got up early and after breakfast Willie went down to post some letters, after he came back he took the bullock down to the wharf and hauled up a Sack of Bran.
I was working in the flower garden.
In the evening I went down for the mail and attended the Library, there was a meeting in the Library to arrange about a Patriotic Concert on 22nd May.