April 1919

Tuesday 1st   April Fools Day
It was a fine day,  Ken Wallace called in to carry my bag down to the steamer  so I said good bye to Mr & Mrs Wallace who have been very kind and made my visit very pleasant.  Ken, Alma & I went across to Auckland in the ferry     I went across to Auckland in the morning to make some purchases and returned to the Shore for lunch.  In the afternoon I went down Calliope Road to Stanley Bay to call on Mr D. M. Darroch, but Mr & Mrs D. were out, Janet was the only one at home.

Wednesday 2nd   It was a fine day
My holiday is at an end and I am going back to Leigh in the “Kawau” this morning.  Ken Wallace called in to carry my bag so I said good bye to Mr & Mrs Wallace who have been very kind to me and made my visit very pleasant.  Ken, Alma & I went across to Auckland in the ferry and Ken very kindly carried my bag to the boat.
I made purchases in Queen St, collected my parcels, called at Hesketh & Richmonds office where Mr Grindrod is engage, and he gave me a parcel of flower plants and cuttings.  The “Kawau” did not leave until 11.45 and we did not get to Leigh until 5.30   A  Mr & Miss Hedges came in the steamer to look at Mr Glass’ place,  Willie met me with the sulky and I was glad to get home again.

Thursday 3rd   It rained steadily in the morning.  Willie went down to the Steamer to send his charcoal (about 70 sacks) away, Mr Hedges came up with him and had lunch here and in the afternoon Willie drove him down to see Mr Glass’ place.  I was busy in the garden, I planted out 25 Cauliflower & 25 Cabbage plants the upper side of the house , also a White Penstemon that Ken Wallace gave me and various coloured   Mesembry anthemums.

Friday 4th   It was fine in the morning ,  Willie was working in the garden, I was planting some flower plants that Mr Grindrod gave me, then I went down to the village to get the mail,  Mr & Miss Hedges came up with me to lunch, I called in to show them the Hall and found Revd Gould who had given a lecture last night on the Holy Land and we knew nothing about it, Mr G.  promised to bring his lantern & slides up to our place this evening and give us the lecture. Jane & Mrs Arthur Greenwood were also here for lunch.  There was a heavy shower while we were at lunch, but it cleared up.
Mr Hedges drove his sister and Grace down to see Mr Glass’ place and returned here for tea.  Mr Gould came and gave us the lecture in the dining room and Mr G. staid the night.

Saturday 5th   Willie’s 36th birthday.   It was a fine day.  In the morning I finished planting the little plants that Mr Grindrod gave me, afterwards I went down to the Steamer to take the Captain a bunch of flowers.
Mr & Miss Hedges returned to Auckland by the “Kawau“.  In the afternoon I went round the Cove to take Mrs D Matheson 2 Stokesia plants, staid for tea.
Willie was digging out self sown Potatoes in his garden.  The Omaha Cricketers went to Port Albert to day to play a match with Port Albert for the Challenge Cup.

Sunday 6th   It was a fine day.  Revd Gould held service in the Hall in the morning & preached an excellent sermon on Prohibition, I attended.  In the afternoon I called at Mr Gozars & staid tea.

Monday 7th   It was a very fine day.  In the morning I planted some plants of Schizanthus that Mrs D. Matheson gave me , also bulbs of the following near the front steps.  White & Coloured Fresias,  Lachanalia and Sparaxis.  Willie was burning grass in the front and I helped him in the afternoon.

Tuesday 8th   It was a fine day.  In the morning I called at Mrs Gravatts, went to the P.O to get the mail, & got a money order for £7 to send to Mr Macdonald as our contribution to the Church for the Half Year ended 31st March 1919.
Worked in the garden in the afternoon.
Ella Matheson called and staid for dinner.  I went down to Mr A. Dunnings in the evening, we played 500.

Wednesday 9th   It was a fine day.  In the morning I was gathering in and packing away flower seeds, I also planted 1 Doz Renunculus bulbs.  In the afternoon I went down to the village, posted a parcel of Bean & Pea seed & flower seeds to Mr Grindrod.

Thursday 10th   It was a very fine day.   The Prohibition Poll was held today throughout New Zealand,  The Leigh school was used on this occasion,  Mr J. C. Wyatt was D.R.O.
I went down to the P.O in the morning  and then went up to the school to vote, the remainder of the day I was working in the garden.
In the evening I went down for the mail and called into the Library,  Mr A. L. Greenwood the Librarian returned from Auckland yesterday bringing over 60 new books for the Library.  I helped him catalogue and mark [?] them.

The following is the vote for the undermentioned places
                                                Continuance            Prohibition
Leigh                                           21                                  42
Pakiri                                             6                                   27
Dacres Claim                         18                                   30
Matakana                                 30                                   80
Warkworth                              78                                130        
                                                       153                                349

Friday 11th   It was a very fine day.  In the morning I was working in the garden digging the top side of the house.
In the afternoon I went down to Mr Gozars to get some flax, the “Kotiti” came this trip to Mangawai”, I got the mail.

Saturday 12th   It was a fine day.  Willie was making a charcoal kiln.  I finished digging the strip of ground lately occupied by dwarf beans.  In the afternoon I took some vegetables down to Mr Gozar and he gave me a piece of Hapuka and a smoked schnapper.  Mr B. Birdsall called in the afternoon and staid for tea.
Heard that Willie Dunning had won the challenge cup for gents singles at the Tennis Tournament at Warkworth to day.

Sunday 13th   It was a very fine day.  Revd Orchard held service in the Hall in the pm, I attended.  Mrs Gravatt & children called here after church.  Willie Grace & Raymond drove to Ti Point in the afternoon.

Monday 14th  It was a fine day.  In the morning I went down to the village to post some letters.

Tuesday 15th   It was a very fine day.  Willie was hauling wood to build another charcoal kiln.  In the morning I was shelling beans, and in the afternoon I went down to the flat where Willie is working and set fire to the heaps and put them together.

Wednesday 16th   It was a very fine day.  After breakfast I went down to the beach and carried 2 bags of sand over to the wharf, Willie picked 4 cases of Vicar pears for Ken Wallace and carted them down to the wharf in the pm & he brought up my sand.
Miss McLellan met with a nasty accident by the overturning of Bertie Witten’s wagon in coming over from Pakiri.  She was badly cut about the face and bruised, she returned to Auckland by the “Kawau” at 8 pm.
I was burning tea tree on the flat in the pm.

Thursday 17th   It was a very hot day.  In the morning I was digging out convolvulus in the pigs paddock next the garden fence.  In the pm I was burning down on the flat.  In the evening I went down for the mail and changed my books at the Library.  Willie cleaned grass seed in the morning & went fishing at Mathesons beach in the pm.

Friday 18th   It was a fine day.  In the morning I burned off the heap in the pigs paddock.  In the pm I was burning down on the flat.  Willie went fishing at Mathesons beach in the afternoon.

Saturday 19th   It was a fine day, but windy.  After breakfast I took some flowers down to the church as I am holding service tomorrow.
In the pm I was burning on the flat.  Willie went fishing in the pm.

Sunday 20th   It was a fine day ‘tho windy.  I conducted service in the church in the afternoon, there were 30 present.  Collection 13/3.  Jim drove Jane and the children over and they attended church and they came up to our place to stay for the Tennis match tomorrow.
I went to W. Dunnings for tea, Ernie Greenwood & his wife were there.

April 21st   It was a fine day ‘tho dull.  Easter Monday & a general holiday.  There was a Tennis match in this court between Dacres and this Club.  Leigh won the match.  Jane was playing so of course she & the children went down, and Willie & Grace went down to witness it later in the afternoon but returned here for tea,  Jane staid for the dance.  I did not go out anywhere.

Tuesday 22nd  It was a very fine day, but too dry altogether, the ground is wanting rain badly.  Jim brought a sulky over to take Jane and the children home.
Willie was building his charcoal kiln,  & I was burning & clearing up on the flat all day and had my lunch with Willie in the shanty.

Wednesday 23rd   It was still very fine & dry.  I was burning on the flat in the morning, but returned home for lunch.  In the afternoon I went to Arthur Greenwoods to get the keys of the Library to change my books.  Went down to the steamer.  Roy Neeley (returned soldier) came up by her.  Mrs C. & Edgar Wyatt, Mrs Gozars & lady friend called here in the afternoon.

Thursday 24th   It was a fine day, it came on a misty rain in the afternoon, but it did not last long.  In the morning I went down to the flat to burn & clear up.  In the pm I went down to post letters & to take some flowers to the captain.  In the evening I went down for the mail and attended the Annual meeting of the Hall  Committee, the old committee wee re-elected.  Willie cut more wood for his kiln and hauled it out.

Friday 25th   Still keeps very dry weather and no sign of rain which is badly needed.  Willie was building his kiln which is going to be a very large one this time.
I was burning on the flat all day.
There was a concert and dance at the claim this evening to pay for a metheven boiler for the hall, but no one from this house went.

Saturday 26th   Still keeps very dry weather.  After breakfast I went down for the mail, also to the wharf.  Mr Hedges had sent some furniture up by the steamer last night and Willie Dunning was carting it to the place Mr H. has bought.
In the afternoon I was burning on the flat , Willie was building his charcoal kiln.

Sunday 27th   Weather still fine and dry.  Revd Macdonald called in the morning & staid for dinner.  He held service in the church in the pm,  26 present  Collection 13/2.

Monday 28th   It was a very fine day.  Willie was building his charcoal kiln and I was clearing up and burning on the flat at the Koeroa creek.

Tuesday 29th   There was a pretty heavy shower last night which have freshened things up a bit, but only moistened the surface of the ground.  Willie was building his kiln all day.  I was burning on the flat in the morning, returned home for lunch and in the afternoon attended the funeral of Mrs Rogers Senr, she died in a private hospital after a long and painful illness, the body was brought down to Matakana by the “Kotiti” yesterday and  was brought over here last night and the coffin deposited in the Church, Revd Macdonald officiated at the service in the Church  and at the grave.  Mrs Gravatt presided at the organ and we sang the hymn ‘Thy Will be Done’ and the dead march was played.  Many beautiful wreaths were laid on the coffin.

Wednesday 30th   There was a very heavy rain last night, more like rain as it ran into the tank, but turned out a very fine day.  Willie was picking fruit and he carted it down to the wharf late in the pm  and brought home 1 Sk each Maize & Wheat.  I went down to the flat in the morning put the logs together.  In the pm I went down to the steamer,  Mr Hedges & his father came up, they have bought Mr Glass’ place,  they spent the evening with us, but slept at the Hotel.