April 1927

Friday 1st     It was a fine day ‘tho dull.   I started to trench the piece of ground below the Lima beans.   The “Gael” which is taking the “Kawau’s” place came in and out this morning.

Saturday 2nd   It was a very dull day, and there was slight misty rain several times especially in the morning.  I staid at home and continued trenching the ground I started yesterday.  Jim, Jane and Hector went in Tom Ashton’s lorry to Matakana to play a Cricket match against the local club.  Several of the Omaha players were absent (Eddie Wyatt was in camp at Waiuku, and Joe Torkington in Auckland.)  Hector played for Omaha.
Matakana was in full force and won by about 70 runs.

Sunday 3rd   It rained a lot last night and there was misty rain this morning.  Revd Addenbrooke was to have held service this morning, he staid at Birdsalls last night and came to the hall this morning, but as no one turned up he  [came]  up here and dined here and then went on to Matakana where he was to have service.
In the afternoon the weather being fine, I went down and had a yarn with Pat.

Monday 4th   Misty rain.  Mildred did not go to school.  I wrote a letter to Mr Birss, also sent my sub for the Church Gazette.  Did odd jobs in the house.  Hector took these letters down to the mail carrier.  (Trevor Gravatt)

Tuesday 5th   Misty rain again to day.  I was not able to do anything outside.  Willies 44th birthday,  I wrote to congratulate him.

Wednesday 6th   It is still raining.  Jim went to the channel and caught several fish.  Mr Whitaker called in the afternoon to bring me some cabbage plants.

Thursday 7th   It was a very fine day after so much rain and dullness, we appreciate the sunshine.  Mrs Wallace & Alma came to spend the day, and Mrs Whitaker came in the afternoon.  Laurence brought the car to take them home in the afternoon.  I gave Mrs W. some green beans & Daffodil bulbs.  I finished trenching the piece of ground I started last Friday.

Friday 8th   It was a showery day.  I was not able to do anything outside.  I went down to Pats to change my library book.

Saturday 9th   There were a few slight showers, but fine between.  The Port Albert cricketers were to have come here to day to play a match with the Omaha club, but sent word that they were not coming.  I took up some homestead bean sticks and cut up all the weeds.

Sunday 10th   Although there were some slight showers in the early morning it turned out a very fine day.  Revd Rouprecht held service in the morning, all of us went,  Will Dunning and family were there.  There was a very fair congregation.  Collection 9/ 5½d   The parson came here for dinner.  In the afternoon Mr & Mrs Bromley and daughter called, they came in their car.  Jane gave them afternoon tea.

Monday 11th   It was a fine day, ‘tho dull.  Jim dug all his Kumeras.  I tied up in bundles the bean sticks I took out on Saturday,  took up the sweet pea sticks and tied them in bundles.  Then made a trench and filled it with manure and then sowed a row of Sweet Peas with seed that Mrs C. Whitaker gave me.

Tuesday 12th   It was a beautiful day.  Jane rode to Ti Point to spend the day.  Minnie is in Auckland staying with her daughter Mrs Victor Smith (Alma)  I trenched the piece of ground between the sweet peas & strawberries.  I went down to Dolleys to borrow a paper.

Wednesday 13th   It was a very fine day.  I took up the sticks of the other row of Homestead beans and tied them in bundles, and cut the weeds growing on the ground.  Picked in a lot of Lima beans .  The steamer made a round trip to day.  Jean came by her for her Easter holidays.

Thursday 14th   It was a very fine day.  I commenced to trench the piece of ground next the sweet peas.  Eileen Torkington rode over in the morning and staid for dinner.  Jim & Hector were carting a lot of firewood.  We got the mail today as tomorrow is Good Friday and a holiday.

Friday 15th   Good Friday.  A very fine day.   In the morning I went down to Pats to take the papers back I had borrowed .  In the afternoon we had a lot of visitors.  Mr & Mrs Wallace,  Ken & Tilley and their two children,  Laurence & Alma,  Mrs Simpson,  Mrs Fred Davey & her little son.  Ken & Tilley & family came from Devonport this morning . They had a look at the garden and Jane gave them afternoon tea.

Saturday 16th   It was a very fine day, and a general holiday.  Jim was playing bowls all day down at the Domain.  There were sports at Warkworth, but none from here went except Pat.  My head was bad, but I finished trenching the piece of ground I started on Thursday. Hector carried some manure for me.

Sunday 17th   Easter Sunday.  It was a very fine day.  Mr Milligan held service in the afternoon all in this house except me went.  I took a walk through the Domain, had a chat with Mr & Mrs Smitherman who were in their car , then went along the beach to Harry Ashtons, but found them all out, returned home by the beach, when on the filling in I was overtaken by  Mr & Mrs Morrison Snr who offered me a ride, however I was so near out gate it was  [not]   worth while, however I had a chat with them, I had not seen them for several years.

Monday 18th   Easter Monday.  And a general holiday.  There was a large picnic in the Domain.  The following families were represented, Whitakers,  Wallaces,  Mr Wilson Snr,  Mr Ruth,  Mrs T. & Miss M. Ashton  & ourselves.  Mr Meeley,  Dolly & Mrs Evans came in the afternoon, lunch and tea was in the hall.  I started to trench a piece of ground next what I finished on Saturday.  Hector went fishing with Wilsons.  Jane, Hector & Jean went to Wilsons in the evening to hear a concert by wireless.

Tuesday 19th   It was a dull day, but it did not rain .  Ken Wallace & family returned home in their car, they took Jean with them as she is going back to the Techinectiecol  [sic: Technical]  College.  Mr & Mrs Stewart & infant came to spend the day.  I finished trenching the piece I started yesterday and started another piece.

Wednesday 20th   I finished trenching the piece I started yesterday. Agnes came in the cream cart , she, Jane & Mildred went to Birdsalls in the afternoon.  Agnes staid the night here.

Thursday 21st   We had a little rain yesterday afternoon and last night, but it was very fine to day,  Agnes returned home by the steamer this morning.  Jim went to Warkworth in Whitaker’s car to the stock sale, I sowed 2 rows of Broad Beans  the Lima beans.  Went down to Pats to change my library books.

Friday 22nd   It was a fine day.  Posted a letter to Mr Elliott about Interest due to me.  I formed the piece of ground I have trenched into 3 beds I intend planting with Onions,  I raked the beds, and one I covered with sifted cow manure.

Saturday 23rd   It was a fine day.  Ten bowlers went to Warkworth to play with the local playlers.  Jim, Jane & Mildred went in Tom Ashtons lorry.
I sowed ashes & B & B manure, dug it in, raked it down and sowed Onion seed in drills 8 in apart, there were 31 rows.

Sunday 24th   It was a very fine day.  Mr Roke Methodist held service in the morning. Jane, Hector & Mildred went there were only 13 present.  In the afternoon I walked to Birdsalls and had a very pleasant time talking to Bowden about old times.  After tea Murry brought me home in their car.

Monday 25th   It was a very fine day.  Anzac Day.  Jane & Mildred went in the cream cart to Big Omaha, as the Wallaces were going to Warkworth to attend the combined Anzac service, they spent the day at Willie Dunnings.  I dug over the 2nd onion bed, raked it and then put sifted cow manure over it, dug between the beans.  Jim & Hector played bowls in the afternoon.

Tuesday 26th   It was a very showery day.  I went up to the garden but was not able to do much.  I carried up cow yard scrapings and sieved it, pricked out some plants of pansies and antirrhinums in a shallow box.  Received a letter from Willie.

Wednesday 27th   It was a showery day.  I was not able to do any thing outside.  As Dolly is up at her mothers (Mrs John Greenwood) Pat came up here for tea and we played at 500 in the evening.

Thursday 28th   It was a showery day.  I sent my Bank book by post to have interest added.  Mildred went to school, but Mr Stewart was ill and did not come.  On account of the weather I was not able to do anything in the garden, so I carried up some manure.  Pat came for tea and staid until 8 pm.  Laddie Whitaker brought the car to take Jim & Jane to Mr Wallaces at Big Omaha, it was a surprize party to celebrate Mr W’s 69th birthday which is tomorrow.  Mrs W’s birthday was last week, and they are both the same age.

Friday 29th   The weather a little better to day, but there were a few showers .  I was not able to do any thing in the garden, carried up some manure.  Pat came for tea and we played 500.

Saturday 30th   It was a very fine day, but rather cold , but a treat after the showery days we have had.  In the morning I went up into the garden, dug up the 3rd onion bed, put sifted cow manure on, put ashes on the 2nd bed.
In the afternoon Hector went in Eddies lorry to play hockey and they were defeated.  Eight bowlers came from Warkworth to play a match on this green against 8 of our bowlers, 4 of our team won their match, and the other 4 of our team lost.  The ladies gave all comers a good tea in the hall.  I met a lot of old friends among the visiting team (Mr Morrison Senr, Mr G. Civil,  Tom Ashton Senr).

The Rainfall for April as recorded at the Warkworth P.O totaled 4.29 inches as against 1.37 ins for the same month last year.  The total for this year to date is 19.99 inches, as against 12.24 for the same period in 1926.