December 1912

Sunday 1st   It was a fine day, but rather windy.  Revd Paris conducted service in the Hall in the afternoon, we went, there was a large congregation and he gave us a splendid sermon.
Willie took some Dahlia roots to Mr Duthie, Engineer of  “Kawau” for me, the steamer called in here on her way to Auckland from Mangawai while we were at church.

Monday 2nd   It rained heavily early in the morning and there were several slight showers during the day.  I went down to the village in the afternoon to get the mail, and afterwards walked over to the Claim and staid all night at Jims.

Tuesday 3rd   There was a drizzling rain when we got up this morning, but it cleared off.  I left Jims about 9 am, call in at Mr Jas Darrochs for some Cosmea & Sunflower plants and planted them when I got home.
It set in a steady rain in the afternoon, Willie picked 2 Cases of Evans Early plums and hauled them down to the wharf in the afternoon.

Wednesday 4th   It was a very fine day & calm.  In the morning I got firewood and then went down to the beach and sieved a lot of sand and carried it across to the wharf and Willie hauled it up for me in the afternoon when he took the eggs down to the steamer.  In the afternoon I was working in the flower garden.
I took up and replanted a clump of Gladioli, also planted 2 Chrysanthemums, 1 Miniture Sunflower and some Larkspurs that John Greenwood sent me,  also sowed a row of Major Convolvulus near the summer house.

Thursday 5th   It was a fine day.  After breakfast I went down to the Post Office to take £30 out of the Savings Bank to lend Willie.
I was working in the flower garden all day.  I planted 2 clumps of Larkspurs,  3 Marigolds,  4 Dahlias.  Willie planted 1 row of Cabbage,  2 rows Dun Beans and 1 row of Garden Swede.

Friday 6th   It was a very hot day.  I was working in the flower garden all day.  I planted out 2 clumps of Candituft and sowed seeds of African Marigold.
Revd Macdonald & his aunt Mrs Henry called in the pm and staid tea.  In the evening I went down for the mail & Library, Mr Westbrook an Apiary Instructor gave an address on Bee Keeping, there was a large audience and his address was very inteesting.

Saturday 7th   It was a very hot day.  We got up early as Willie is going to Auckland today,  Grace & I went down to the wharf to see him off, the steamer left here at 8.30 am so she ought to get into Auckland early.  Grace carried up the meat & i carried up some sand.
After I got back I planted 2 Chrysanthemums.

Sunday 8th   It was a very fine day.  Revd Macdonald held a communion service in the Hall at 8 am.  I attended and also service at 2.30 pm.  Collection at 8 am  4/- and at 2 pm 8/3.  Total 12/3.
Annie Torkington and Agnes were here for dinner and they went to church with us.

Monday 9th   It was a very hot day.  In the morning I got firewood and afterwards I cleaned out the summer house and was commencing to make the seats when Miss Lloyd came to ask if I would go to Ti Point to witness her mothers signature, she had dinner here and afterwards I started off for Ti Point, called at Mr Ashworths to leave a Dahlia for Mrs  A., then I went on to Joes and then to Mrs Lloyds where I had afternoon tea, called in at Harolds on my way home, got the mail at P.O and then home, tired with my walk.

Tuesday 10th   There was a slight rain early this morning, but not enough to do any good, but it poured with rain at Pakiri and Mangawai.
I went down to the village in the morning to post a letter, carried up a bag of sand.
I was working at the summer house.  Flo’ came in the pm , staid tea.

Wednesday 11th   It was a very fine day.  In the morning I got firewood and then worked at the summer house.  In the pm I took a level to Chas Wyatts that I had borrowed then went to the wharf, called for the mail, carried up a bag of sand.

Thursday 12th   It was a very hot day.  In the morning I went down to the village to post some letters,  carried up some sand.  In the afternoon I was working at the summer house.

Friday 13th   It was a very hot day.  I got a lot of firewood & odd jobs. After lunch I went down to the hall, the Perôt Troupe are giving a concert this evening in aid of Hall funds, the ladies were cutting up sandwiches and I filled the boiler and laid the fire.
Willie returned from Auckland by the “Kawau” bringing two fine Jersey Cows with him.  I went down to meet him and we led them home on ropes.  We went to the concert in the evening and enjoyed it.

Saturday 14th   It was a very hot day.  We did not get up very early being up late last night.
I was helping Willie pick 5 Cases of Wrights Early Plums and Willie hauled them down to the Steamer in the afternoon, I went down also and got some sand and Willie hauled it home for me.

Sunday 15th   It was a very cloudy day, but it did not rain here.
Mr G. Lochore a Presbyterian student conducted service in the Hall in the afternoon , all of us attended, there was a good congregation we were all pleased with him, he is a splendid preacher.  Mr & Mrs John Greenwood,  Irwin and the twins came up here after church to look at the garden and staid for tea.

Monday 16th   Cloudy in the morning,  sun came out in pm.  Willie was picking fruit.
I was working in the garden all day, I took up several clumps of Daffodils, dug the ground deep where they came out putting horse manure in the trenches.
Planted  9  variegated Nasturtiums near the summer house.

Tuesday 17th   It was a very fine day, but cloudy in the morning.
After breakfast I went down to the village to get a postal note, carried a lot of sand across to the wharf.   Willie hauled 8 Cases Fruit down and he hauled the sand up for me.
In the afternoon Willie commenced cutting Danthonia in the barley paddock.  I worked at the summer house.

Wednesday 18th   There was a slight rain at 4.30 this morning, but not sufficient to do any good.  It turned out a very hot day.
After breakfast I took the horse down to be shod, there were so many horses waiting their turn  that I did not get home till dinner time.
In the afternoon I got firewood and then went down to the village to get the mail, the steamer was late so I had to wait a long time,  I carried up a bag of sand.

Thursday 19th   The wind was blowing very strong from NW.  In the morning I got firewood and mulched some of the Dahlias with horse manure.  In the pm I went down to the village to post some papers and letters.  When I came back I planted out 4 Balsams and 7 Annual Chrysanthemums (Tricolour),  Willie was cutting Danthonia.  It came on a misty rain in the evening.

Friday 20th   It was a very hot day.  Willie was cutting Danthonia.
I planted out 14 Chrysanthemums (Tricolour).  I went down to the village in the evening to get the mail and attend the Library,  the Boxers gave a free dance in the Hall in the evening, all of us went.

Saturday 21st   It was a very fine day, but the wind was blowing strong from S.   There was a Cricket Match at Warkworth between Omaha & Kaipara Flats Clubs.  Mr Archie Dunning drove me in his new buggy, Mrs D. ,  Willie & Charlie also with us, it was a 2 innings match  and Omaha won by over 100 runs .  The local club entertained us to lunch & tea and we spent a very pleasant day.
At 3 pm there was to have been a vestry meeting John Greenwood & I attended only Revd Macdonald,  Mr Goerty,  Charlie Harding were present to represent Warkworth.
I got home soon after 9 pm.

Sunday 22nd   It was a very fine day, cold wind blowing from S.
Revd  Blundell held service at the Hall in the morning, I attended.
Afterwards I lunched at Mrs Dunnings and then walked to Ti Point, had tea at Joe’s and walked home in the evening.  Willie and Grace drove over to Harolds to spend the day.

Monday 23rd   It was a very fine day.  Willie was cutting Danthonia.
I was breaking up some ground in the flower garden in the morning.
In the afternoon I went down to meet the Steamer, Victor Simpson came up and a lot of other passengers.  In the evening Grace & Victor went down to the Hall to help rig up the Xmas tree.

Tuesday 24th    Christmas Eve.   It was a very fine day.
Willie was cutting Danthonia, and in the afternoon he took the sulky over and brought Jane & Hector over for the Christmas Tree.
All of us went to it in the evening, there was a big crowd.
Jane & Hector staid the night with us.

Wednesday 25th   Christmas Day.  Very fine weather.
Jim came over to have dinner with us , but he had to go home in the afternoon to milk

Thursday 26th   A very fine day.  Willie was cutting Danthonia.
In the morning Jane went to Mrs Dunning Senr to stay until evening, I carried Hector for her.  In the evening Willie took the sulky and called for Jane at Mrs Dunnings and drove her home.
There was a dance in the Hall in the evening.  All our people went.

Friday 27th  A slight misty rain when I got up, but it soon cleared up and was a very hot day.
In the morning I went down to the village to post a lot of New Year Cards.  After I got back I chopped a lot of firewood.  In the pm I went down to meet the Steamer,  Alma Wallace came up by her, I carried up her bag, had tea and then went down to get the mail and attend the Library.

Saturday 28th   A very hot day.  A have a bad sore throat and did not get up very early.  Willie was picking plums & I helped him.  After an early lunch he hauled them (8 cases) down to the Steamer and he hauled up a bag of sand for me.
In the pm Willie was cutting Danthonia.

Sunday 29th   A very hot day.   Revd P. R. Paris held service in the Hall in the afternoon,  Willie, Grace & Alma Wallace attended, I did not go on account of my cold.  Mr Paris came up here for tea, also Harold Knaggs.
The young people went for a drive in the evening.

Monday 30th   A very hot day.   Willie was cutting Danthonia.  I was working in the flower garden.

Tuesday 31st   A very fine day.   After breakfast I went down to the village to get the mail & to post letters.  After I came back I helped Willie to pick fruit, Grace & Alma were also helping, we picked 20 Cases of Burbanks, Willie hauled them down to the wharf in the afternoon , he brought up a bag of sand for me.
In the evening I walked over to the Claim to be ready for the picnic tomorrow and staid with Jim & Jane the night.