April 1895

Monday 8th   The School reassembled today.  Miss F Harding commenced her duties as Teacher.
Henry & I were hauling firewood out of the Barley Paddock down to the beach.  The weather has been very dry lately it just suited our work.

Tuesday 9th   We continued hauling out firewood.  Sent 3 half Cases of Beurrie Dul Pears to Esam & Arthur.  John returned home by the Steamer in the evening.  The Steamer commenced her winter trips today .  John has been laid up in the Auckland Hospital for the last nine weeks with blood poisoning it having broken out in the knee and thumb, he is looking very well but is rather weak in his knee.
There was a Phonograph exibited in the Hall in the evening.  Henry, Jane, Willie & I went. We enjoyed it very much.

Wednesday 10th   Henry & I were hauling firewood down to the beach.  Henry also hauled up a load for Mr Harvey.  Weather still very dry.

Thursday 11th   We finished hauling the firewood down to the beach A few tons of small wood we stacked on the road.  There seems to be a change in the weather, the wind is from the NE.

Friday 12th   Wind blowing very strong from the NE, several showers during the day.  We killed a Sheep in the evening.  The Miss Hardings & Mary Ann Pratt came here for tea.

Saturday 13th   Very heavy shower in the morning, but it cleared up in the pm.

Sunday 14th   It was a fine day.  Jane & I rode over to Matakana to the opening of the new Presbyterian Church, the Warkworth choir were there to lead the singing.  Revd J. Hill of Devonport  conducted the service.

Monday 15th   There were several showers during the day.  John & Henry went on horseback up to Willies place to bring down some Sheep, they brought down 6 old Ewes & 3 Lambs, we earmarked the Lambs and tar branded all of them.  I emptied the closet and fixed up the manure heap.
We went up to Miss Hardings to spend the evening.

Tuesday 16th   It was a fine day.  I was digging Potatoes at the bottom of the orchard.  John sent away a Case of Gum & I sent a Bundle of  24 Sheep Skins to the Loan & Mercantile Agency Co.  Henry hauled them down to the Wharf, he also delivered 2 Tons of Firewood to Miss Harding.

A gap of 2 days – check in the diaries

Friday 19th   We put the Ewes with the Down Ram into the Barley paddock.

Tuesday 23rd   We were sowing Grass Seed on the burnt Tea Tree belowgrass the School.  We sowed Cocksfoot, Red Top, a little Tall Fescue & Rib  Grass and White & Alsyke Clover & Cow Grass.

Friday 26th   We got up the Ewes out of the Barley Paddock and put out 15 on to the Farm that have taken the Ram.  It rained heavily last night and the Stockyard was very dirty.

Saturday 27th  Took the Mutton out in the morning.  It was blowing too strong to sow grass seed.

Sunday 28th   It rained nearly all morning.  There was no service in the afternoon.  Walter Wyatt was here for tea.

Monday 29th   We were sowing Grass Seed below the School.  There was a social in the Dacre’s Claim Hall in the evening in honour of Tom Ashton’s marriage which came off alst Wednesday Week.  Henry & Jane went over.  John went to Matakana in the morning.

Tuesday 30th   Henry & I were sowing Grass Seed all day.  Went down to the Steamer in the evening, the Steamer went out again as they were afraid the wind would come on to blow strong.