Tuesday 1st It was a dull day. In the afternoon Alan & I went across to Auckland, we then took the Parnell Tram as far as Ayr St where we got out and walked down to Hobson’s Bay to Hays Nursery, we were shown over the place and I ordered some Roses and Bouvardias. We walked up a road where there were beautiful gentlemens residences until we got on to the main Remuera Road and then took the car back to Auckland.
Wednesday 2nd It was a very dull day. First thing I went across to Auckland with Ken, I went up to the top of Symonds St in a Car, walked down to Mount Eden station and took the train to Henderson. Called at Joe Greenwoods, had dinner there, they gave me some flowers, and I returned to Auckland by the afternoon train, and went up to Mrs Simpsons and staid there all night. I went to call on the Coplestones after tea.
Thursday 3rd It was a dull day. In the morning I went to call on Archdeacon Calder at All Saints Vicarage, he gave me an account of his trip home. In the afternoon I went down town, ordered some plants at Yates and then went across to Devonport.
Friday 4th It was a dull day. I went across to Auckland in the morning , ordered some goods at Smeetons, went up to Mrs Simpsons and got two parcels and took them down to the Steamer office , returned to Mr Wallaces for lunch, went over to Auckland again in the afternoon with Alan, went up to the Choral Hall to witness the capping ceremony afterwards went up to Mrs Simpsons for tea. Alf Wyatt came in the evening to get my signature & he and I went downtown in a car and I returned to Devonport to stay the night.
Saturday 5th It rained a little in the morning, Alan & I went across to town , I was only intending gathering my parcels up and sending them up home by the “Kawau“, but I was told it would be a calm trip, so I bid Alan good bye and embarked on board the “Kawau“. We arrived at Omaha at 4 pm. Willie was down to meet me with the horse and sleigh, and I was glad to get home again.
Sunday 6th It was a fine day. We none of us went out anywhere, Mabel was here to spend the day and Jim was here in the afternoon.
Monday 7th It was a fine day. In the morning I went down to the beach and sieved some black soil, Albert hauled it up to our gate.
I planted all the cuttings I got from J. Greenwoods, also 2 Cineraria plants, an “Amalylis” & White Watsonia & White Camellia. Alma & Agnes came in the afternoon to stay a day or two.
Tuesday 8th It was a fine day. I planted 12 Roses in the Diamond shaped bed & a climber rose William, Allresi (?) Richardson near the top fence. Late in the afternoon I went down to the wharf to get my bag which came up by the “Orewa”
Wednesday 9th There was a very heavy dew last night and the grass was very wet this morning, there were a few showers during the day, but otherwise it was a fine day.
In the morning I planted the 3 Bouvardias I brought from town viz Flavescens (Single Yellow), Hogarth, fl pl (Double Red), Priory Beauty (Single pale satin rose). Also 8 Bromptom Stocks and 1 Perennial Larkspur. (Delphinium).
In the pm I went down to the beach for a bag of sand, called at Harpers for the meat, after I returned home I planted 12 bulbs (Yates Hybrids Glaiolus) in the diamond bed, 4 Clumps – 3 bulbs in a clump . Jane rode over to Mrs Jas Darrochs in the afternoon with Mabel.
Thursday 10th There was a heavy dew last night and misty showers several times during the day, getting heavier towards evening. In the morning I was helping Willie put the netting on the farm orchard fence. In the afternoon I planted 8 Nemesias, 3 White Forgetmenots & 4 Red Gladiolus. Miss C. A. Matheson & May Dunning came to spend the evening.
Friday 11th It was a dull day and there were a few showers.
I got some tea trees from the hill and sawed them into lengths and sharpened them for kerbs for the flower garden. I went down to the Library in the evening and was persuaded to take on the duties of Librarian, Secretary and Treasurer again, having resigned just before I went to Auckland.
Saturday 12th The wind was blowing very strong from the NE, a very dull day and slight misty showers. Willie and I went down to the Cottage in the morning to try and stop the leak in the roof with pieces of pine and shingles. In the afternoon I was making kerbs for the beds, & planted out some Princess of Wales Violets.
Sunday 13th It was a disagreeable day, slight rain in the morning, cleared up a bit and the sun came out in the afternoon , but later in the pm it came over very misty.
I went up to Mr Handbys in the afternoon and staid for tea.
Monday 14th It rained heavily this morning, dull the first part of the morning , afterwards it brightened up the wind blowing strong from NE. Willie was fixing the gate to the farm orchard fence. In the afternoon I went down to the Library to clear up, also went to the beach for a bag of sand. Wrote a letter to Jack and posted it.
Tuesday 15th It was rather showery in the morning, but very fine in the afternoon. In the morning I was sawing off blocks for kerbing. In the afternoon Willie and I went down to the wharf. I went to the Library and re-numbered some, the “Orewa” went into Big Omaha first and it was late before she came in here, Willie had up 1 Sk Maize, 1 Sk Sharps, 1 Sk Bran, 2 Coils Wire Netting, and a bundle of Fruit Trees from Mr Morrison, he hauled up the trees and one Coil of Wire Netting.
Wednesday 16th It was very dull in the early morning and there were showers, but later on it cleared up. Willie hauled up with the horse, one load from the wharf before dinner and two in the afternoon. I was doing odd jobs.
Thursday 17th It was pretty fine in the morning, but showery in the pm. Willie was planting the fruit trees he got from Morrison in this orchard. Mr T. W. Knaggs came in the morning to have a look round the garden, I gave him a Crimson Rambler root and some other cuttings.
Friday 18th Only a few showers today. I was helping Willie fix the wire netting on the farm orchard fence, finished it early in the pm, it is now securely fenced in.
In the evening there was a meeting of the Hall Committee , at which it was decided to allow the young people to use the Hall for skating.
There was also a meeting of the Library Committee to choose new books.
Saturday 19th It was a beautiful day. In the morning I walked to Ti Point to let the people know that the Revd K. Teale was going to hold service tomorrow, I called at H. Torkingtons, D. Knaggs, Mrs Lloyd & Joes – Neeleys & Mr Rogers & C. Gravatt. I had lunch at D. Knaggs and Mrs K gave me some flower cuttings. Mrs Neeley also gave me some.
Sunday 20th It was rather threatening in the morning, but it turned out a fine day. Revd K. Teale, Anglican held service in the Hall in the pm. There was a large congregation numbering over 80, he preached an excellent sermon, the collection was £1 . 2 . 9.
Monday 21st It was a fine day. In the morning I went down to the Village to post some letters, I sent an order to Wildman & Arey for books & enclosed Cash £1 . 18 . 6 in payment for an Act. Willie Brown was sending away 49 large Harpuka, some of them must have weighed 100 lbs. I carried up a bag of sand.
Willie was grubbing out the hedge in the farm orchard.
I was working in the flower garden. I planted the cuttings I got from Ti Point on Saturday, also planted 2 Cyclamens, 2 Dark Blue Forgetmenot, 1 Ivy Geranium, 1 Button Hole Rose, 3 Primroses and 19 Polianthus.
Tuesday 22nd It was a fine day. In the morning Jane walked over to Mrs D. Knaggs at Ti Point intending to come round by the Steamer tomorrow. Willie was grubbing out the thorn hedge in the farm orchard. I drove in the remainder of the kerbing of the border next the top fence and planted out some more polianthus plants. I went down to the Steamer in the afternoon to get the mail and brought home a bag of sand.
Wednesday 23rd It was a showery day. I was not able to do any work in the garden on account of everything being very wet. Jane returned from Ti Point in the “Orewa” bringing Arthur with her to stay a while. Willie was grubbing out the thorn hedge in the farm orchard .
in the afternoon I went down to the village to get the meat, also called at Joe Wyatts.
Thursday 24th It was a fine day, but cold in the shade, wind from SW. Willie finished grubbing out the thorn hedge in the farm orchard and afterwards commenced burning the tops. Jane & Arthur went to spend the afternoon at Archie Dunning. I dug up all the Cactus Dahlias and put them into the dairy under the house.
Friday 25th It was a fine day. In the morning I was helping Willie burn the tops of the thorns in the farm orchard. In the afternoon I was working in the flower garden. I planted out some Carnations that I struck last year, also 3 Scabious, did some weeding and top dressed a clump of Liliums and Daffodils. In the evening I went down for the mail & attended the Library. Wind strong from NW.
Saturday 26th The wind has gone down, but it was raining all morning, it cleared up in the afternoon, but was rather dull. In the morning I was doing odd jobs. In the pm I went down to the Store & Library.
Sunday 27th It was rather dull in the morning, but it brightened up as the day advanced . Revd Entrican held service in the Hall in the morning, Jane & I went, there was a good congregation. Collection 18/3. Willie rode to Ti Point to spend the day, taking Arthur back with him. A parcel of books for the Library came by the “Kawau” last night. Jim carried them up for me and put them into the Library.
Monday 28th It was fine in the morning, but it poured with rain in the afternoon causing quite a flood, the heaviest we have had this winter. In the morning Jane rode to Ti Point to stay with Julia Rollinson who is keeping house for Mrs D. Knaggs who is away.
In the afternoon I went down to the Library to Catalogue the new books.
Tuesday 29th It was a fine day, with the exception of a few showers in the morning, but the ground is very wet with the heavy rain we had yesterday afternoon. Willie was making a charcoal kiln with the largest thorn branches in the farm orchard.
The “Orewa” called in here before going to Big Omaha, I went down to get the mail, and then went to the Library to finish numbering the new books. I then went to see Willie Harper ploughing with two bullocks and a plough that weighs a ton, and is capable of cutting big roots. Jane returned from Ti Point in the afternoon.
Wednesday 30th It was a fine day. Willie set fire to his charcoal pit and had to watch it all night. I was working in the flower garden fixing kerbing &c. In the afternoon I went down to the beach to get some sand & I called at Harpers to get the meat.
In the evening I went down to Archie Dunnings, Dan Kempt was there, we played at cards.
It was a very cold night.