Wednesday 1st It was a showery day. I did not do anything outside. Willie went down to the steamer in the afternoon to get the meat, bread & mail.
Thursday 2nd Several showers during the day. Willie was cutting clothes props . On account of my cold I did not go out anywhere.
Friday 3rd The weather was much finer to day. After breakfast I went down to the village to get the mail, heard while I was down there that John Addison was killed in action at the Western front.
Saturday 4th It was a fine day. Willie was gathering his clothes props up and in the afternoon he carted a load down to the wharf. I carried several loads of firewood for my room from the barley paddock, and in the afternoon I cut tea tree. Mrs Rennie came in the morning for me to witness her signature, enabling her to assist at the Pakiri post office.
Sunday 5th The 55th Anniversary of my leaving Gravesend, England in the ship “Queen of Beauty“. There was a heavy shower in the morning when I was going to church, Revd Gould (Presbyterian) held service in the Hall in the morning, I attended, there was a fair congregation & Mr Gould gave us a very good sermon.
I went to Mr Archie Dunnings for dinner, Mr Gould, Ernie Greenwood & Eddie Wyatt also dined there, Eddie is home on his final leave, he is going away with the 38th Exp Force.
Monday 6th There were several slight showers, otherwise it was not such a bad day. Willie hauled two loads of props down to the wharf. In the morning I went down to the beach and carried some sand across to the wharf and Willie hauled it up for me.
I sowed seeds of Pansy in a box.
Tuesday 7th It was a fine day. Willie hauled the remainder of his props down to the wharf. I went down to the beach and carried some sand over to the wharf and Willie hauled it up for me.
Wednesday 8th It was a fine day. Willie went down to the cemetery to get some flax and then tied his props into bundles ready for shipment.
I was weeding in the garden in the morning and in the afternoon, I did some washing. In the evening there was a meeting of the Mutual Improvement Society in the Hall, all of us went, the subject for discussion was, Has the introduction of machinery done more harm than good? Willie, Grace, Harold Knaggs & Mr Knowles read papers in the affirmative and Archie Morley and I read papers in the negative. On put to the vote the negative got the most votes.
Thursday 9th It was a fine day. In the morning & afternoon I was weeding in the garden and burning oyster shells into lime. Eddie Wyatt came in the afternoon and he and Willie went out shooting, Ivy Dunning came in the afternoon & staid tea. I went down for the mail in the evening.
Friday 10th It was a fine day. I sowed a row of Sweet Peas near the front gate. Jane came in the morning and staid for dinner, she came to be present at the send off for Eddie Wyatt this evening.
Willie took a load of mixed goods down to the wharf in the afternoon, I went down to the beach & carried some sand across to the wharf and Willie hauled it up. There was a social in the Hall in the evening to farewell Lieutenaut Wyatt (Eddie) who is home on his last leave. There was a good crowd turned out, several of his friends subscribed and purchased a wristlett watch and I was asked to make the presentation, the ladies provided a splendid supper. Jane staid at A. Dunnings the night.
Saturday 11th It was a fine day. Lieutenaut Wyatt (Eddie) went to Auckland by the “Kawau” this morning, many friends were on the wharf to see him off. He is leaving Wellington shortly for France in the 37th re-inforcement.
Jane & I went back to her place in the cream cart, we called in at Mr Holders and I had a long chat with him.
Sunday 12th There were a few showers in the morning. Willie & Grace were to have driven over to spend the day, but on account of the weather they did not come. The afternoon was very fine, I walked up to Bowden Birdsalls and had a very interesting talk with him, returned to Jims for tea.
Monday 13th It was a fine day. After breakfast I walked home.
In the afternoon I burned some oyster shells, cut the grass on the path near the front steps, & pulled up the nasturtiums in the round bed.
Tuesday 14th There were showers last night, but it was fine to day with the exception of a shower in the afternoon. I was pulling tea tree and getting firewood in the barley paddock near the school bridge.
Wednesday 15th It was a fine day. I was pulling up tea tree near school bridge both morning & afternoon. Willie went down to the steamer in the afternoon and hauled up a sack of maize. The territorial boys came back in the steamer, they have been in camp at Narrow Neck, Devonport.
Thursday 16th It was a fine day. Willie was making a charcoal kiln.
I was pulling tea tree down near the school bridge. I went down for the mail in the evening. Heard that Mrs Creighton (Mrs Wallaces mother) had died last Thursday morning, also heard that Leiutenant Wyatt (Eddie) and Ivy Dunning were married in Auckland.
Friday 17th It was a fine day, but the wind is blowing strong from the E. The steamer did not come in the evening. I was pulling up tea tree near big bridge. There was a patriotic social in the Hall, but none of us went.
Saturday 18th It was a fine day. The steamer came this morning, then proceeded to Mangawai and called in here again in the afternoon, Eddie Wyatt and his wife who came up this morning returned to town in the afternoon. Willie had an Orion range up by the steamer this morning, so he hauled it up, took out the old range and commenced to fix in the new one.
I was pulling tea tree in the morning and in the afternoon I went down to take some flowers to the church, afterwards called at Mrs Gravatts and Arthur Greenwoods the latter audited the Church Accounts. Willie Dunning came in the evening for me to audit the acts of the Roll of Honour.
Sunday 19th There was a shower early in the morning when I got up, but it turned out a fine day. There was Communion at 8 am but I did not attend, in the evening Revd Macdonald held service only moderately attended, Collection for the Melanesian mission.
Communion 5/- Evening service 13/- .
Monday 20th Minnies 42nd Birthday. It was a fine day. After breakfast I took a letter of condolence to Mrs Wallace down to the Hotel to give to Mr Macdonald to post, afterwards I pulled tea tree near school bridge.
Tuesday 21st It was fine in the morning, I was working down by the school bridge, I burned off all the heaps of tea tree & sticks that I had made. also pulled tea tree.
There was a heavy shower while we were having lunch and there were showers in the afternoon so I staid in the house.
Wednesday 22nd It was Raymonds 3rd birth day. It was a fine day. No steamer to day, she is to leave Auckland tomorrow morning.
I was pulling tea tree the lower end of the barley paddock both morning & afternoon. Willie was working at his charcoal kiln.
Maggie Wyatt, Edith & Eyleen Torkington came in the afternoon and staid tea, Maggie went with us to the Mutual Improvement Society , the subject for debate was “Can a man get rich honestly?” Dan Kempt, Duncan Knaggs and I took the affirmative & Ernest Wyatt and Joe Torkington the negative, the meeting decided in favour of the negative.
Thursday 23rd Empire Day, It was fine in the morning, but there was a long shower in the afternoon. I was pulling tea tree both morning and afternoon but had to come home on account of the rain. The steamer made a round trip to day coming in here first about 2 pm. Grace went down to get bread & got the mail. I got a letter from Lily saying that she was coming down next Wednesday.
Friday 24th It was a fine day with a few slight showers. In the morning I was pulling tea tree in the barley paddock. In the afternoon I went down to the village, I was there when the steamer came in. I got the mail.
Saturday 25th It was fine in the morning. I was pulling tea tree in the barley paddock. In the afternoon it was very showery.
Sunday 26th There were several showers. I conducted service in the church in the afternoon, there were 16 present, Collection 6/6 .
Monday 27th It was a fine day, wind has got round to the SW. Willie lit his charcoal kiln. I was pulling tea tree.
Tuesday 28th It was a fine day, wind SW. I milked the cows in the morning for Willie as he was watching his charcoal kiln. I went down after breakfast so that Willie could come home and have his breakfast. In the afternoon I pulled tea tree in the barley paddock.
Jim Wyatt came to spend the evening.
Wednesday 29th It was a very fine day and the ground is drying up nicely, wind S. I was pulling tea tree in the morning. Willie was watching his charcoal kiln. In the afternoon Grace and I went down to meet the steamer, Lily (Jack’s wife) came up, but she went round to stay with Jane.
Thursday 30th It was a beautiful day., wind S. Willie’s kiln has burnt out , he commenced taking it out. I was pulling tea tree both morning & afternoon. In [the] evening went for mail & changed my books.
Friday 31st It was a very fine day. Wind S. I was pulling tea tree in the barley paddock in the morning. In the afternoon I sowed up the charcoal sacks for Willie, the kiln only turned out 29 sacks as a lot of wood was unburnt.