Saturday 1st It was a hot day. John cut down the Pine tree in front of the house. We planted 20 hills Pumpkins, Mr Ashton’s sort between the Potatoes where they missed. We dug stock yard manure in. Maud went up to Pratts in the afternoon.
Sunday 2nd It was a cloudy day, but there was no rain with the exception of one shower in the afternoon. I conducted service in the Hall in the afternoon. Maud returned from Pratts
Monday 3rd It was a fine day. Finished planting the Pumpkins in the Potatoe ground, 4 hills. We now have 36 hills of Pumpkins planted. We commenced digging near the Stone Pippin Apple trees, and commenced planting kumakuma. James Dunning and Miss Bond came in the afternoon & staid tea.
Tuesday 4th It rained last night and also this morning. John was underscubbing bush up by the slip. Henry & I picked Lemons, we picked 2 Cases, One containing 38 Doz small Lemons, and one containing 20½ Doz Large Lemons. Henry took them to the Wharf with John‘s horse, we continued digging for Kumakuma’s.
Wednesday 5th There were several showers in the morning, but it turned out a fine day. Henry was hauling for Mrs D. & C. A. W. We continued digging down by the Lemon Trees.
Thursday 6th It was a fine day. We finished digging the piece of ground near the Lemon trees. Finished planting Kumakuma’s making 10 hills altogether.
Friday 7th It was a fine day, but very windy. I sowed 4 hills of cucumbers and then beat down the bed next to the Onions.
The boys were digging against the Fig tree, they took the Fig tree out and planted it in the yard. I went to Mr Walters for tea and then went to the Library.
Saturday 8th Henry planted a few Kumeras. We continued digging among the Golden Russet Apple trees. It came on to rain at noon and rained steadily all afternoon.
Sunday 9th Henry & I rode over to Dacre’s Claim Church in the morning, returned for dinner and read service in the Hall in the afternoon. Drank tea at Mrs Fordhams and spent a very pleasant evening. T. & W. Pratt were here for tea. There was a heavy shower of rain as I was coming home from Dacres Claim. It also rained heavily when I was coming home from Mrs Fordhams.
Monday 10th The rain last night has done a great deal of good and softened the ground nicely. We harrowed the ground that we ploughed and dug in the orchard and then howed it over and commenced to plant Maize in rows 3 ft apart. I went down to Charlies in the evening.
Tuesday 11th It was a very hot day. We howed over and finished planting the Maize. I dug up the headland at the bottom. Miss & George Pratt came for tea. Charlie was shearing Walter Frearsons sheep.
Wednesday 12th Henry hauled 3 bags of Flour & a Case of Kerosene up from the Wharf for us. I cleaned out and planted 1 row of Duke of Albany Peas the top side of the house.
The boys were planting Maize in the orchard near the Lemon trees. There was polling at the Hall to elect a member to the County Council. Mr W. Greenwood & Mr G. Knaggs were the candidates, the polling was as follows.
Greenwood 19. Knaggs 15
It came on to rain in the evening and it rained all night.
Thursday 13th The ground is saturated with the rain that fell last night. We dug in the farm orchard.
Friday 14th It was a fine day. We continued digging in the farm orchard both morning & afternoon. Mr Walter & the boys came for tea and Mrs Walter came in the evening.
Saturday 15th It was a fine day. John went fishing with Mr Walter to Big Omaha but did not get many. Henry & I finished planting Maize near the young Lemon trees. Mr A. Elliott came here for tea, he held a meeting in the Hall in the evening & was well received and got a vote of thanks & confidence.
Sunday 16th It was a fine day. Maud rode over to Dacre’s Claim Church in the morning and Willie returned with her. I read service in the afternoon, there was a very good congregation. Walter Wyatt came here for tea.
Monday 17th It was a very hot day. Charlie was shearing Sheep at the Pa for Willie Brown. We went over there in a boat, there were 4 of ours in. We sheared them and brought the wool & the sheep home leaving their lambs behind.
Tuesday 18th It was a very hot day. We got the Sheep in the morning and commenced shearing, we sheared 31. Mr, Mrs Pratt & George came for tea, Mrs P. staid all night as she is going to Auckland in the Steamer in the morning. I planted out some Tomato plant that Walter Frearson gave me.
Wednesday 19th Henry was hauling for T. & J. Wyatt in the morning. We got the Sheep up in the morning and continued shearing. It came on to rain in the afternoon and we had to let the sheep out.
Thursday 20th The stockyard was too wet to continue shearing so we dug in the farm orchard all day. Alec & Miss Haskell came in the evening.
Friday 21st We continued digging in the farm orchard all day.
Saturday 22nd We all dug in the farm orchard in the morning, the girls got manure, I dug these in the pm.
Sunday 23rd Mr Moor preached in the Hall in the morning, I went down, it came on the rain, and there were a very few present. There was no service in the pm. It rained steadily all day and all night. Maud & henry rode to Dacres Claim in the morning intending to go to Church they met Willie who was coming this way so they turned back with him.
Monday 24th The ground is very wet. In the morning we dug in the orchard near the top Jargonell Pear tree. There was a very heavy shower of rain in the middle of the day. We mended up the fence next Mathesons paddock in the afternoon. There were 20 of our sheep in his paddock.
Tuesday 25th It was a fine day. John & I finished mending up the fence at Mathesons‘ in the morning. Henry was digging in the far side of the orchard. In the afternon I went over and finished digging the farm orchard. The boys finished digging the odd corners in the orchard and also planted some Maize.
George Pratt came here with two pair of bullocks, he staid here all night and is going to haul Mrs Pratts things home tomorrow. Mr Pratt came with horses to take Mrs Pratt home tonight who came up by the Steamer.
The new owner and landlord of the Hotel came up by the Steamer, a Mr Harper and his wife and four children, he brought a large quantity of goods up with him.
Wednesday 26th The boys got the bullocks up early in the morning and hauled up goods for the new Storekeeper, they also hauled some goods for T. W. K. & G. K. The knags’ went out fishing to the point and caught nearly 100 schnappers, they gave the boys four large ones. I stuck the last two planted rows of Veitch’s Perfection Peas, also dug up between the rows.
It came on to rain in the evening and rained all night.
Thursday 27th It was a wet morning. The boys cut bush in the afternoon. I cut Scotch thistles over Frearsons side. Clara Fordham came for tea.
Friday 28th The boys cut bush in the morning. I cut thistles up Neeley’s hill. In the afternoon John continued cutting bush. Henry & I packed one bale of wool. We got the Sheep up in the evening.
Saturday 29th We commenced shearing early and we sheared 47 that we had in. Went up to Neeley’s in the evening, there was one sheep of ours in his place, that has a lamb, we sheared the sheep, but gave him the fleece, but left the ewe & lamb in his place. Mr Walter gave a party to all the school children in honour of George’s birthday which was yesterday.
Sunday 30th First Sunday in Advent. It was a beautiful day.
Revd R. McKinney preached in the Hall in the morning , there was a good congregation. Mr Greenwood & Alic Meiklejohn came here for dinner. I read service in the afternoon, there was a good congregation. Ton & Wm Pratt & A. Meiklejohn were here for tea.