April 1902

Friday 1
Thursday 17th    It was a fine day.  I rode to Pakiri in the morning to Johny Salts and had dinner there.  I bought a Saddle and Bridle for £2 belonging to George Fletcher and brought them home with me.  Willie was burning grass in the Barley paddock, which burnt very well.
Miss Hutchinson & Miss McKenzie were her for tea.

Friday 18th   It was a fine day.  We commenced to plant some Early Rose Potatoes between the young Peach trees in the garden.  There was a meeting of the Farmers Union in the Hall in the evening, also the Annual Meeting of the Hall Committee.  The old Committee were re-elected.

Saturday 19th   It was raining when we got up in the morning, but it cleared up and turned out a fine day.  We finished planting the Early Rose Potatoes between the young Peach trees in the garden.  I went down to the Hall and the Store in the afternoon.  Willie was cutting tea tree above the Cottage.

Sunday 20th   It was a fine day.  Willie rode to Ti Point to spend the day with Joe and Minnie.  I read service in the Hall in the afternoon, there was a fair congregation.  Jane  & I went to Joe Wyatts for tea and to spend the evening.

Monday 21st   It was a fine day tho’ it threatened for rain in the afternoon and we had a shower in the evening.
Willie and I sowed 2 rows of Snowball Turnips and 1 row of Eschallots.  We picked 5 Cases of Vicar Pears in the afternoon and Killed a sheep.

Tuesday 22nd   It was a fine day.  John Greenwood came to register the birth of his baby and staid for dinner.
We hauled 10 Cases Fruit down to the “Rose Casey” in the afternoon,  Mr Avey came up to our place for tea, Joe Torkington also came.  Jane and Willie came went down to the Hall in the evening to a dance.

Wednesday 23rd   It was a fine day,  tho’ rather dull.  We were digging out sorrel and periwincle the top side of the house.
I went down to meet the “Kawau” in the afternoon, she was very late in coming in, James Darroch and his wife came up by her, they are going to spend the winter at Mr Birdsalls at Big Omaha.
I expected Fred Simpson & his mate, but they did not come.  I got ½ bushel of Oats from Harpers to sow for green feed.

Thursday 24th   It was a fine day.  We were digging out periwincle the top side of the house. The old people from the valley came in the afternoon to get their Old Age Pension claims witnessed.

Friday 25th   It was a fine day.  We finished digging out and burning the periwincle the top side of the house.
Jane rode to Big Omaha in the afternoon to call on Mesdames Heber and Robert Meiklejohn.  Mr Roose called in the evening and staid all night, we gave him a small order.
There was a meeting of the Library Trustees in the evening to choose new books.

Saturday 26th   It was a fine day.  Willie went fishing to Ti Point, he went with Joe in the boat to Anchor Beach, he brought home 4 schnappers.
I was digging the top side of the house.  Charlie came in the afternoon to talk over matters connected with the Domain.
Charlie Gravatt came in the evening to pay for the Kauri log he took out of the E.R.

Sunday 27th    It was blowing very strong from SE and threatened for rain.  We went down to the Hall in the afternoon, but there was no service.  Jack Dunning came up with us for tea and spent the evening.

Monday 28th   The wind is still blowing very strong from the SE.  We picked 8 Cases of Vicar Pears, we also stripped the trees and put them into the Store.
The Annual Meeting of Householders was held in the School at 7 pm, there were only 5 present, it was a very dark night.

Tuesday 29th   We marked the cases and hauled them down to the wharf in the afternoon.  The sea was very rough, and the Rose rolled and pitched very much coming across from Takatea Point.  In going out she stuck near the wharf, and had to stay until next tide.  We hauled home a Sack of Maize  that I got from the Store, soon after we got home it came on to rain and it rained all night.

Wednesday 30th   It had been raining all night and until about 9 this morning, there was also thunder and lightening.
I was putting heaps together on the burn in the front.
It cleared up and the sun came out and the sea has gone down.
Mr Syme came in the afternoon, but we did not give him an order.