Sunday 1st It was a fine day, the wind which was from the E has changed to the SW. In the afternoon I took some flowers and two Cauliflowers over to Willie Dunnings, had a walk round his farm and had tea there.
Flo’, Dorothy, Alma T. & Jim Wyatt were here for tea. There were no services today.
Monday 2nd It was a very fine day & hot. I was working in the flower garden all day. I planted out over 30 Phlox, several Antirrhinums, also Stocks & 1 Zinnia, also planted a Mina Lobata (climber) near the summer house. Willie was harrowing in this orchard.
Tuesday 3rd It was dull first thing in the morning, but it proved to be a very hot day. I pricked out all the Portulacca plants into a box, planted 2 Antirrhinums. I got 2 Double Scarlet Geraniums from the farm orchard and planted them on the upper side of the path leading to the summer house.
Wednesday 4th It was a fine day. Willie was digging round the trees below the house. I stuck the row of Hormestea Beans, went to Mr Gravatts in the afternoon to take some Tomato plants and some flower plants for the girls, and then I went to the beach and went to the beach [sic: I went to the beach and got some sand] and carried it across to the wharf, John Greenwood carted it up to our gate, Willie took his butter & eggs down to the wharf and brought up 1 Sk Wheat.
Thursday 5th It was a fine day. The row of Peerless Peas near the Sweet Peas came up very thinly especially near the house so I transplanted those at that end and made half a row near the fence, on the lower end I planted Golden Butter beans.
I planted several Dahlia roots near the summer house and one near the veranda. Maggie Wyatt came in the pm and staid tea. I went down for the mail in the evening. Jean returned home in the mail cart this morning. It poured with rain in the evening and I got caught in it as I was coming home.
Friday 6th It was a fine day. I sowed a row of Lettuce where the Cauliflowers came out & a row of Red Beet next to the Lettuce.
Willie was digging round the trees in this orchard.
Saturday 7th It was a very fine day. I went with the cream cart as far as Ti Point school and then walked to Ti Point. Called in at Harold Torkingtons, also at Duncan Knaggs to take Mrs K a begonia. Mrs & Mrs K had gone to Matakana, only Connie & Len were at home, had a look round the flower garden and then went on to Joe Torkingtons where I had dinner and tea, called in at Mr Ashworths, had a look round Mrs A s garden, she gave me some plants. In my absence Mrs W Dunning had called to see my flower garden. There was a meeting in the afternoon to try and start a Tennis Club.
Sunday 8th It was a very fine day. Mr & Mrs John Greenwood came in the morning to spend the day, and Mr & Mrs Ernie Greenwood came in the afternoon and staid for tea.
Monday 9th It rained last night which has nicely moistened the ground. It turned out a very fine day.
Willie has got Bell (Mr Glass’ old horse) on trial from Ab Wyatt her present owner, he fetched her from Matheson’s lant.
Willie was digging round the trees in this orchard.
After breakfast I went down to the P.O to post an order to Yates for some flower plants. I planted 2 Mina Lobato round a Peach stump also some Zinnias, Calliopsis & Antirrhinums.
Tuesday 10th It rained heavily last night, it filled the tank and it was running over, it has nicely moistened the ground.
In the morning I was preparing a piece of ground for the reception of plants where 2 Stocks came out and I planted it in the evening with 1 Brown Calliopsis, 2 Zinnias and 3 Stocks.
In the afternoon I cut pea sticks in the barley paddock for sticking the half row of Peerless Peas. Willie was digging round trees in the orchard.
Wednesday 11th It was a fine day. Before breakfast I stuck the half row of Peerless peas, after do I went down to the beach and carried 3 bags of sand over to the wharf. Willie took his butter & eggs down to the wharf in the afternoon and he brought up my sand. I went down to the steamer in the afternoon, Lieutenant E. Wyatt & his wife came up.
Peter Louie (the Greek fisherman) and family who have been living on the flat for several years, left yesterday in a launch for their new home at Whaiheke. Mr Jas Gozar who has bought the place and is coming to live there brought some furniture over from Pakiri and put them into the house.
Thursday 12th It was a fine day, but a cold wind was blowing. I was working in the flower garden. Willie was working raising the fences to keep Belle in, that he bought of Ab Wyatt. I went down for the mail in the evening, took some young flower plants down to Ernie who went for the mail today.
Friday 13th It was a fine day, but cold and windy. Before breakfast these few mornings I have been digging out docks & other rubbish in the pigs paddock next the flower garden fence. A man came up in the steamer today to look at Mr Glass’ place, Willie showed him over the place. I was tying up the Tomatoes, went down for the mail in the afternoon.
Saturday 14th It was a very fine day. I plated a row of Silver Beet in the ground where the Cabbages came out. Mrs J. C Wyatt came in the evening and brought me ½ Doz Cosmos plants.
Sunday 15th It was a very fine day. Revd Gould conducted service in the Hall in the morning. Afterwards Willie, Grace, Ray & I drove over, Bell being in the sulky, to Big Omaha flats to see Messrs Micanoff and Romanoffs (Russians) this land was a gum flat and was full of pot holes and Kauri logs – they have drained it and brought it into a high state of cultivation, they have a considerable portion fenced into paddocks and growing good grass and clover and lucerne, and they had 10 beautiful shorthorn cows grazing on it, they grow largely maize, potatoes & melons. On our way back we called in at Jims and had tea there, it was nearly 8 pm when we arrived at home having spent a very pleasant day.
Monday 16th It was a very fine calm day. Willie paid me by cheque £9 – being balance of rent due for the half year ended June 30th last also 15/- interest on £30 borrowed for the half year ended 30th June last.
I went down to the P.O and put £8 in the Bank.
Willie commenced to cut Danthonia seed. I planted 5 Cosmea plants.
Tuesday 17th There was a heavy dew last night and it was a very hot day. After breakfast I went down to the village to get the mail, carried 2 bags of sand over to the wharf. I planted 2 Dahlias and 1 Red Sunflower.
Willie was cutting Danthonia and in the evening he took the trap down to the wharf and hauled up a Sk Maize.
Wednesday 18th It was a very fine day. In the morning I was preparing a piece of ground usually occupied by dahlias. I dug the ground over several times and broke the lumps and then dug horse manure and sand into trenches. In the afternoon I went down to the village carried a bag of sand over to the wharf, I took a bunch of flowers to the Captain & the Steward, the Steamer did not arrive until after 7 pm, there were a lot of passengers for here and Big Omaha.
I received a very nice letter from Mr Halliwell of Te Araroa, also a pr of boots from Store and some little flower plants from Yates.
Thursday 19th It was a fine day, ‘tho windy. Two years ago I was down at Te Araroa and Henry & I drove from Tangihanga Station to Te Araroa and Will Carpenter took the wagon down with 8 pressed bales of wool.
I planted the flower plants I received from Yates yesterday, viz
6 African Marigolds, 7 Zinnias, 7 Patunias, and 3 Stocks. Willie took the trap down to the wharf in the morning and brought up a load of Fruit Cases. Hector came over in the cream cart to stay here.
I went down for the mail in the evening, but it had not arrived and would not be in until 8 pm.
Friday 20th It was a very hot day. After breakfast I went down to the village to get the mail. I planted out 4 Calliopsis & purple Penstemon. There was a School Concert in the Hall in the evening, all of us went and it was very enjoyable, Jane who was over for it came up here and staid the night.
Saturday 21st It was a very fine day. Jane and Hector returned home in the cream cart. The Tennis people were tarring and sanding the court.
I transplanted 2 Geraniums from the farm orchard into this garden.
We had a picking of Dun Beans for the first time , they were sown on 20 Septr
Sunday 22nd It was a very fine day. Willie, Grace, Mrs Simpson
& Raymond drove up the hill to spend the day at the John Greenwoods.
I staid at home and went to church in the afternoon. Revd Orchard (Methodist preacher) and he gave up a very good Christmas sermon.
Afterwards I went to C. Gravatts and had tea there.
Monday 23rd It was a fine day, but windy. Willie was cutting danthonia for Wm Dunning. After breakfast I went down to the village for the mail. Prepared some ground in the long bed and in the evening planted 3 Zinnias. Got firewood from the hill.
Tuesday 24th Christmas Eve. It was dull in the morning, but brighter in the afternoon, all day a cold wind was blowing. I picked a lot of peas and took some up to Mrs Knowles, Willie sent her some potatoes & Grace sent some chocolates for the children. In the afternoon I went down to the church to trim the lamps & help decorate with Mrs Gravatt, for the service tomorrow night.
Willie was cutting danthonia for Wm Dunning.
Wednesday 25th Christmas Day. Weather fine.
In the morning Willie went down to the Church and he & C. Gravatt cut the danthonia in the church ground and were going to share the seed between them. We had a good Xmas dinner, lamb, green peas, new potatoes & plum pudding.
In the evening I conducted service in the church there were 40 present. Collection 17/6 for Vicarage fund.
Thursday 26th Boxing Day. There was slight rain early in the morning, but not enough to do much good. Willie, Grace, Mrs Simpson & Raymond drove to the Goat Island Beach to spend the day. Willie went out fishing and he brought home some rock cods.
I went down to the Church in the morning to straighten up, spent a quiet day at home.
Friday 27th It was a fine day, but the wind is blowing rather strong from the NE. I was helping Willie pick plums. Mrs G. Wyatt and Miss Bourne called in the afternoon and staid tea. Mr Torkington also called and he and I went down to get the overland mail.
Mrs Entwistle and her little daughter Jessie came up by the “Kawau” in the evening arriving here about 9 oclock, Willie & Grace took the sulky down to meet her.
Saturday 28th It was dull & threatening all day, but we did not get any rain to speak of.
After breakfast I went down to the village carried three bags of sand across to the wharf, called on the Jas Gozars who are settled at Peter Louie’s on the flat which they have purchased. Willie was picking plums all day, I helped him in the pm. He carted them and the butter & eggs down to the wharf and he brought up my sand.
Sunday 29th I was awoke early this morning by hearing a downpour of rain which has been threatening for several days, it will be very welcome as the weather has been very dry all this month, only two or three slight showers. It rained nearly all day, but it cleared up just before church time in the afternoon. I was the only one from this house that attended service, Revd R. A. Macdonald officiated, 17 persons attended, Collection 8/-
Wrote a letter to Mr & Mrs Wallace conveying Xmas greetings, which will be posted tomorrow morning.
Monday 30th It was a fine day, the rain yesterday has done a great deal of good. After breakfast I went down to post letters. Willie was digging round young trees in the orchard. I planted out 7 Colarette Dahlias, shifted the rubbish heap and continued digging.
Tuesday 31st It rained a little last night, but it was very fine today. Willie was digging round the young trees in this orchard.
I continued digging where I left off yesterday, I raked up all the leaves under the magnolia & brugmansia trees and dug them in the trenches, it looked very untidy before.
In the afternoon I sowed seeds in a box of Manchester Defiance Cabbage , also planted a dark Dahlia.