April 1904

Friday 1st   It was a fine day/  I went to the Post Office in the morning, I found that the Wanderers had arrived about 2 am this morning in the “Claymore“.  The settlers gave a pic-nic in the afternoon in Mr A. Dunnings paddock.  Just as we were sitting down to tea the “Kotiti” arrived in harbour, she had a fishing excursion on board , having been fishing at Canoe Rock, and she came in here to stop the night , the excursionists came and joined us at tea.  The Wanderers gave a free Concert in the Hall in the evening, there was a very good house, and the performers received an enthusiastic reception.  There was a dance & supper afterwards.

Saturday 2nd   It was a calm & beautiful day.  Jane went to Auckland in the old “Kawau”  which left here about 11 am.  Willie and I went down to the wharf to see her off.
A Cricket Match was played in Charlies paddock between the “Wanderers” and Omaha, the latter won.  There was a smoke concert in the Hall in the evening, we lent Empress to Mr Hobson to ride to Pakiri afterwards.

Sunday 3rd   It was a fine day.  Willie and I walked over to Ti Point to spend the day.  We went over to the sandspit in the afternoon.

Monday 4th   It was a fine day, but very little sun, and it seems as if the wine weather is nearly at an end as the wind has changed to NE.
There was another Cricket Match in Charlies paddock between the Wanderers and  Omaha,  14 played on each side, Omaha won by 37 runs.  Mr Torkington came up here for tea.

Tuesday 5th   Willies birthday, he is 21 years old today.  Minnie, Joe and the children went up to Auckland last night with the Cricketers to be present at Harold’s wedding tomorrow and they wanted Willie to go over every day during their absence to milk their Cows, so he went over there after breakfast and did not return until the evening.
I went down in the afternoon to meet the old “Kawau”.
It rained heavily latter part of the pm & Willie got wet returning home.

Wednesday 6th   It was fine in the morning.  Albert Wyatt came in the morning to pay the rent and for the mutton also registered the birth of his child.  Willie went to Ti Point after breakfast to milk the cows and did not return in the evening as it set into rain in the pm and continued all evening.
Willie went over to Ti Point in the morning to milk Joe’s cows and as it came on to rain in the afternoon he staid over there all night.

Thursday 7th   It was a fine day.  I was working in the flower garden.  I went down to the wharf in the afternoon to meet the Coastal “Kawau“, but as she was so late coming in I thought she had stuck at Big Omaha, so I came home without seeing her.  Willie returned from Ti Point in the evening, he said that Joe, Minnie and the children had returned from Auckland in the “Kawau“.

Friday 8th   It was a fine day.  We got the Sheep up in the morning and killed a Wether in the afternoon .  Went down to the wharf and hauled up a Sack of Maize that came from Dumpers by Tuesdays boat.  I went down to the Post Office and the Library in the evening.

Saturday 9th   It was a fine day with the exception of a slight shower in the afternoon.  Willie took the mutton out in the morning and then went to Ti Point and was working at his boat returned in the evening bringing some that Joe and Minnie had caught.
I was working in the flower garden and I burned off the heap of rubbish below the house.  There was a Tennis Match at Pakiri between the Omah & Pakiri Clubs.  Omaha won all the sets.
Mr Roose called here in the middle of the day & he had lunch here.
I did not give him an order.

Sunday 10th   It was a fine day.  Willie & I walked over to Ti Point to spend the day.  Went down to Lloyds bay in the afternoon to see Willie’s boat, which he has been painting and tarring.

Monday 11th    It was a fine day.  We sowed Oats under the dining room window and pointed them in.  In the afternoon we were burning the grass in the Barley paddock.

Tuesday 12th   It was a fine day.  Willie went fishing to Ti Point, he only caught a few so he sold them over there,  I was burning tea tree on the hill and I went down to the Steamer in the afternoon.

Wednesday 13th   It was a fine day.  I was burning tea tree on the hill in the morning and part of the pm, afterwards went down to the wharf to meet the Coastal “Kawau“,  Harold Torkington and his bride were on board , they went round to Ti Point.  Willie was over at Ti Point all day, he was out fishing in his boat with Joe and Duncan in theirs.  He caught 42 Schnappers and 1 Kahwai which he was going to send up with Joe’s fish.  Willie returned home late in the evening.

Thursday 14th   It was a fine day.  We were burning tea tree on the hill behind Albert’s house in the morning, and also out in the front in the afternoon.

Friday 15th   It was a fine day.  We got the Sheep up in the morning and killed a Wether in the afternoon.  We were burning tea tree out in front.  I went down to the Post Office, also to the Library.

Saturday 16th   It was a fine day.  Willie took the mutton out in the morning, and he made a paddle for his boat in the afternoon .  I was burning tea tree out in the front in the afternoon.

Sunday 17th   It was a fine day.  We lent “Empress” to Mabel to go over to Dacres Claim.  Willie and I walked over to Ti Point to spend the day, I called in to see Harold & Flo on my way over.

Monday 18th   It was a fine day.  In the morning Willie & I took the bullock down and removed a land slip on the road opposite our place and hauled the stuff and raised the approach to our gate.
In the afternoon we made a crate.  Willie went down to the wharf to catch bait to go fishing tomorrow.

Tuesday 19th   It was a fine day.  We were up early in the morning, Willie went fishing to Ti Point, he was going to stay all night over there.  I finished making the crate and put 17 fowls into it, packed a box of 7½ Doz Eggs and hauled them both down to the wharf in the morning, hauled up some sand stone and put it at my gateway.
Went down to the wharf again in the afternoon to get some bread from the old “Kawau“.

Wednesday 20th   It was a fine day, but the wind has changed to the N.  I was burning tea tree heaps both morning and afternoon .
Willie returned from Ti Point in the evening, he did not catch many fish yesterday, but he caught a few to day and put them on board the Coastal “Kawau” round at Ti Point wharf.

Thursday 21st   The wind is still at the N and it was a showery day.  We tried to dig out a blackberry patch near the Cottage , but on account of the showers we had to knock off.

Friday 22nd   It rained nearly all day.  Jane came up from Auckland in the “Rob Roy“, she left at 2 am and arrived here about 6 am.  Willie went down to the wharf to meet Jane and help carry up her luggage.  On account of the weather we were unable to kill a sheep.

Saturday 23rd   It was a fine day.  I went down to the Store in the morning to get the letters and also some Sharps.  Got the Sheep up and killed one in the pm.  We were pulling up tea tree in the front in the morning & afternoon.

Sunday 24th   It was fine in the morning.  Willie went over to Ti Point to spend the day, he took the mutton out on his way.  Jane rode over to Ti Point in the afternoon to call at Harold Torkington’s place.
It came on to rain the latter part of the afternoon and Willie and Jane got wet coming home.

Monday 25th   It rained all last night and the greater part of to day, it cleared up in the afternoon and Willie & I were pulling up tea tree in front.

Tuesday 26th   It was a fine day.  Willie went early in the morning over to Ti Point to fish.  I was pulling tea tree in the front in the morning, and I went down to the wharf in the afternoon to meet the “Kawau“.

Wednesday 27th   It rained in the morning just after I had milked the cows and we thought it was going to be a wet day, but it cleared up afterwards and was a fine day.  I was pulling up tea tree in the front all day.  Willie returned from Ti Point in the evening, he did not catch many fish, so he did not send any to Auckland, but sold some over there and brought the remainder home.

Thursday 28th   It was a fine day with the exception of a slight shower of rain in the morning.  We took the bullock down to the wharf in the morning and hauled up a 100 lb Flour and a Sack of Maize.  In the afternoon we were fixing up the dipping tub to dip the sheep.  The old age pensioners came for me to witness their signatures.

Friday 29th   It was a fine day.  We were getting to place ready for dipping the Sheep.  George Wyatt and Alec Haskell helped us to get the Sheep in from the farm.  I went down to the Village in the evening.  There was a meeting in the Hall to get a testimonial for Revd R. McKinney who has retired from active duty.  Afterwards there was the Annual Meeting to elect Public Hall Trustees.  The old members were re-elected with the addition of Mr Archie Dunning.
I also attended to the Library as Mr Chris Boyd is in Auckland.

Saturday 30th   It was a fine day.  William Savage  & Alec Haskell  came and dipped the Sheep for me, they finished them in the morning and they had dinner here.  Willie took the mutton out in the afternoon and afterward we took the Bullock down to the Wharf and hauled up a Sack of Maize and a Fowl Crate.  Jane was down playing Tennis in the afternoon.
Filled in my Sheep Return this evening.
Number of Sheep on April 30th,   98.