April 1901

Monday 1st   It was a very fine day.  We packed 4 Cases of Marachal de la Coui Pears and 4 Cases Vicar Pears.
We were cutting tea tree in the front in the afternoon.  Jane went to Mrs Gravatts and staid all night.

Tuesday 2nd   It was a bit dull and the wind blowing from the SE.   We were cutting tea tree in the morning and in the afternoon we hauled the fruit down to the wharf and hauled up 25 Fruit Cases and 1 Cwt Onions I bought of Joe Greenwood.

Wednesday 3rd   It was a dull day and the wind blowing in from E. We all went over to the Dacres Domain, the object was to present a Testimonial to Mr Sheppard who is leaving the District to take up the position of second assistant Teacher at Newton East School.  Tea was provided in the Hall, Mr Sefton took a photo (?) of the group of people and Duncan Knaggs presented Mr Sheppard with a handsome furnished Gladstone Bag.  There was dancing & supper in the Hall, Jane staid, but Willie and I came home.

Thursday 4th   Charlie Dunning came here in the morning to get a Marriage Certificate, he was intending to get married today, but Revd McKinney could not come, so it was put off.  I went down to the Store.  We had a choir practice in the Hall in the evening, not many present.

Good Friday 5th   It was a beautiful day.  The “Orewa” came in early this morning bringing the Auckland Cricketers,  (the Wanderers).
Charlie Dunning & Jessie Matheson were married by Revd R. McKinney at 9.30 am.
The late Mr R. Lankey was buried at Matakana in the pm.
There was a Cricket Match in Charlie’s paddock between the Omaha Club & Wanderers, Omaha beat.  Mr Whitehouse showed his Phonograph & Keinomatograph in the Hall in the evening, there was a very good house and we enjoyed it very much.

Saturday 6th   It was a fine day.  The Skow that David Darroch has been building was launched at 8.30 am, the Cricketers all went over to it,  David Darroch provided dinner for all comers.
There was a Cricket Match in the Domain in the A.M between the Claim Club & Wanderers, the latter beat. There was a smoke concert in this Hall in the evening.

Sunday 7th Easter Sunday.   It was a fine day. Revd G. Frost held service in the Hall in the afternoon and preached an excellent sermon on the Resurrection.   I read service in the evening, there was a Collection for Insuring the Organ and for Kerosene which resulted in 13/4 and given to me,  Miss Clara Fordham 1/- and
D. Kempt 1/- making a total of 15/4.   Miss Mills presided at the Organ.

Monday 8th   There was a Cricket Match at the Domain between the Wanderers and a combined team.  The Wanderers won on the first innings, but if there had been time to play the two innings out our side would have won.  Willie and I went over.  Jane staid at home and lent her horse to one of the cricketers.  There was a dance in this Hall in the evening.  We all went.  The “Rose Casey” came to take the Wanderers back to Auckland.

Tuesday 9th   It was a fine day. Walter and George Wyatt came to dip my Sheep  –  afterwards we put them all out on to the farm with the exception of 20 Wethers which we put out into the front.   We had finished dipping at 3.30.  Willie and I went down to the wharf and took 6 Cases Vicar Pears.  The “Rose Casey” after landing her passengers went over to the L. Barrier. There was a Select Concert in the Hall in the evening for the benefit of the Bible Class, the performers came from Auckland and we enjoyed it very much.

Wednesday 10th   It was a fine day.   We cut up a lot of Apples for drying.  Skinned a Lamb that got smothered yesterday, and cut tea tree.

Thursday 11th   It was a fine day.  We were picking Ohinemur Apples and Vicar Pears.

Friday 12th   It was a fine day.  Jane rode to Matakana with Johny Salt to spend the day at the Cruickshanks returning in the evening. Willie and I finished picking Vicar Pears.
The mail was very late coming in the evening as the Puhoi Bridge was under repair and the coach could not get over until late. The Annual meeting to elect a Hall Committee was held in the Hall in the evening.  The old Committee were re-elected.

Saturday 13th   It was a fine day.  Willie went fishing to Ti Point but did not catch any fish.  I was cutting tea tree all day . There was a meeting of the Library Trustees in the evening to choose new books.

Sunday 14th   It was a fine day.  Minnie and Joe came over to spend the day.  I read service in the Hall in the afternoon.  Dan Kempt was here for tea.

Monday 15th   It was a fine day. I packed 6 Cases Vicar Pears.   We packed 1 Case Maggs Seedling Apple in the farm orchard.   In the afternoon we burned the tea tree that we have got fell in the front, it burned very clean.

Tuesday 16th   It was a fine day.  I was digging round some trees in the orchard in the morning.  Mrs Arthur Wright and Mrs Ellis Dyer came for dinner.  We took the fruit down to the wharf in the afternoon.

Wednesday 17th   It was a fine day.  Minnie walked over and she & Jane rode up to Pratts to spend the day.  Willie and I were burning in the front.

Thursday 18th   It was a fine day.  We were cutting the tea tree in the front. There was a choir practice in the Hall in the evening.

Friday 19th   It was a fine day. We were cutting tea tree in the front all day.  Went to the Post Office and Library in the evening.

Saturday 20th   It was a fine day.  Willie went fishing to Goat Island.
I was cutting tea tree in the morning. There was a meeting of the Road Board in the afternoon.

Sunday 21st   It was a beautiful day.   Revd R. McKinney held service in the Hall in the morning, there was a large congregation.
Miss Hutchinson, Dan & Miss Kempt were here for dinner and the two former were here for tea.
Jane, Miss Hutchinson & Miss Kempt went for a ride in the afternoon.

Tuesday 23rd   It was a fine day.  We picked 2 Cases Russet Apples, took the down to the wharf in the afternoon, the “Kapanui” went out at noon, the Casey staid all night.   The White Lead and Oil came for the Hall and some new books for the Library.

Wednesday 24th   It was a fine day.  Jane rode up to spend the day at Kempts.  Willie and I were cutting and burning tea tree in the front. There was a choir practice in the Hall in the evening.

Thursday 25th   There is a change of weather,the wind is in from the E and there were slight showers of rain.  I was working in the flower garden.

Friday 26th   It was a fine day with the exception of a few showers.  I was working in the flower garden.  We got the Sheep in from the front in the pm and killed a wether.
There was a social in the Hall in the evening, only a few were present and 27/6 was taken.  There was a meeting at the same time to get up a benefit for the Revd R. McKinney.

Saturday 27th   There was a shower in the morning, but it turned out a fine day.  Willie took out the mutton in the morning.  Ernie Niccol came in the morning and he and Willie went fishing to Ti Point and they brought home several fish.
I went down to the Hall in the morning to clear up.
The nominations for the Road Board were to have been in by noon, at that time Messrs  W. Greenwood,  H. Brown,  D. Kempt and I were the only ones nominated so we were declared elected, there is still a vacancy.  Afterwards I went to see the work that is being done on the road at Dunnings hill.

Sunday 28th   It was a fine day.  Revd E. M. Cowie held communion in the Hall at 8 am, there were 5 Communicants.  I walked over to Ti Point to spend the day with Joe and Minnie.
Revd E. M. Cowie held service in the Hall in the evening at 7 oclock, there were about 45 present and the collection was 15/-   It was a beautiful moonlight night.  Mr Cowie rode as far as Birdsalls after church where he intends staying the night.

Monday 29th   It was a very showery day.  We were cutting tea tree in the front.  Jane rode over to Ti Point in the afternoon.

Tuesday 30th   Took Eggs down to the Store in the morning.  Went down to the Steamer in the afternoon.