August 1895

Thursday 1st   It was a fine day.   John & Henry were cutting tea tree in the front.  I was putting the gate together.  A. Schollum sent the cutter Watchman up to take away our firewood, so Henry got the bullocks up in the pm.

Friday 2nd   It was a fine day.  John,  Henry  & I went down to the beach with the bullocks first thing in the morning to load the Watchman.  I was loading one sleigh while the boys took the other sleigh loaded alongside the cutter, we put over 30 Tons aboard  at about 1.30 and as the tide was coming in we had to leave off.
The cutter went out in the evening.

Saturday 2rd   It was a fine day.   John & Henry were cutting tea tree in the front.  I was doing odd jobs.  Jim Dunning came here for tea.

Sunday 4th   It was a fine day.   Jane rode up to Maudes to spend the day, returning in the evening.  I read service in the Hall in the afternoon, there was a good congregation.  I went up to Miss Hardings for tea.  Jim Dunning was there, spent a very pleasant evening.

Monday 5th    It was a fine day.    Henry & Walter Wyatt went fishing they caught about 30 Schnappers & Rock Cod.  John was cutting tea tree.  I was pulling up tea tree on the farm.  The Miss Hardings gave a dance in the evening, our young people went.     M  Shepherd returned to our place and staid all night.

Tuesday 6th   There was slight rain early this morning, but it turned out a fine day.  John & Henry were cutting tea tree.  I was digging round the macrocarpas.  Willie Pratt called in the evening.

Wednesday 7th   It was a fine day.   John & Henry were cutting tea tree in the front.  We got the Sheep up into the Stockyard in the morning and cleaned them.  Frearsons took away 5 of theirs and Mr Neely 1.     I mended up the farm orchard (fence) in the pm.  Jane spent the afternoon at Miss Hardings.  Ernest Wyatt was here in the evening.
Commenced one of the Sacks of Flour.

Thursday 8th   It was a fine day.  John & Henry were cutting tea tree in the front.   I put the Hams & Bacon in the Smoke house and commenced to smoke them.  I was digging round the macrocarpas outside the orchard fence.

Friday 9th   There was a heavy shower of rain in the middle of the day, but with that exception it was fine.  The boys were cutting tea tree in the front.    I was digging round the macrocarpas outside the orchard fence in the morning and pulling up tea tree on the farm in the afternoon.  The boys went to a dance in the Dacre’s Claim Hall in the evening.  Jane went down for the mail.

Saturday 10th   It was a fine day.  The boys were cutting tea tree in the front.  I was doing odd jobs.

Sunday 11th   It was a fine day.  I read service in the Hall in the afternoon.  The Miss Hardings came here for tea and spent the evening.

Monday 12th   It was a fine day.    The boys were cutting tea tree in the front.  I was pulling up tea tree on the farm.  Jane went up the hill with Miss Edith Harding in the afternoon to call at the Greenwoods & Kempts.

Thursday 13th   There were several showes during the day.  I was pulling up tea tree on the farm.  The boys went up the hill on their horses in the morning to Kill Judy’s calk which is very wild, they did not get home until 11 pm bringing the meat with them.

Wednesday 14th   It was a fine day.  We were all day cutting up the meat and salting it away.  The Miss Hardings  &  C. Gravatt came in the evening.

Thursday 15th   It was a dull day.  The boys were cutting tea tree in the front.   I took down the Hams & Bacon from the Smoke House, sewed them in canvas and hung them up in the kitchen.  They weighed as follows.
Ham         18         .
Ham         18         .  4
Bacon      21         .  8
Bacon      22         .  8
.                   80 lbs  .  4 oz    

Friday 16th   It was a fine day though dull.  The boys were cutting tea tree in the front.  I was digging against the elder trees.  The young people of the district gave us a surprise party in the evening, over 30 came and took our house by storm, they cleared our dining room out for dancing, they also played games.  They brought refreshments with them and supper was served about 12 oclock.  Before separating  we all joined hands and sang Auld Lang Syne.  The party broke up about 2.30 am.

Saturday 17th   It was a dull day.  We were all tired after last night and did not get up very early.
I went down to the Post Office for the mail and also to Mr Harveys.  We had intended to give an entertainment in the Hall next Tuesday night as a farewell to Mr & Mrs Harvey and I went there to see if that night would suit them, but they begged to decline the honour on account of Mrs Harveys health.  I heard at Mr Harveys of the death of Mr Harding in London, I took the mail to Miss Hardings containing a letter informing them of this sad bereavement.

Sunday 18th   It was showery nearly all day.  There was no service in the afternoon .  I went over to Tom & Joe Wyatts in the pm.

Monday 19th   It rained nearly all day.  C.  Gravatt came in the morning and staid for dinner,  Ernest Wyatt came in the afternoon .

Tuesday 20th   It was a fine day.  The boys were cutting tea tree in front.    I was doing odd jobs and took the eggs down to the Store in the afternoon.

Wednesday 21st   It was a fine day.  Henry hauled Mr Harvey’s furniture down to the Wharf, he left the bullocks in Mr Harvey’s place all night .  John was cutting tea tree in front.

Thursday 22nd   It was a fine day.  Henry hauled the remainder of Mr Harvey’s furniture down to the wharf.  The “Kawau” came in about 7 am loaded with Harveys goods and took them all to Auckland,  Edith & Joe Wyatt went with them.
Henry hauled up 2 Sacks Bone Dust,  1 Sack Potatoe manure &
1 Cwt Potatoes  for ourselves.  I commenced planting Potatoes at the bottom of the orchard in the afternoon, I planted them 2 ft 6 in apart and put Fisons Potatoe Manure in the drills.

Friday 23rd   The wind has got round to the NE and it threatens for rain.  I took John’s horse and rode up the hill to see Maud.  The wind was blowing very cold up on the ranges accompanied with driving rain.  The boys were cutting tea tree in the front.  It rained in the evening.

Saturday 24th   The wind has gone down and changed round to the W.   It was a fine day, the ground drying up.  I was pulling up tea tree on the farm.  The boys were cutting tea tree in the front.   The “Kawau” called in to take Walter Wyatt to the Kawau.

Sunday 25th   It was a fine day.  I read service in the Hall in the evening, there was a fair congregation.  Ernest Wyatt was here for dinner and tea.  Jane went up to Miss Hardings in the afternoon,  Henry went to fetch her home.
Minnie left Tom Wyatts and came home.

Monday 26th   It was a fine day.  We put the sheep out of the E.R. in the morning,  Chloe who was in there has calved a Heifer Calf, we brought her home.  Aunt Jane was here for dinner.  I was planting Potatoes at the bottom of the orchard.

Tuesday 27th   It was a fine day.  The boys were cutting tea tree in the front.   I was planting Potatoes at the bottom of the orchard.  The White Hen commenced to sit at the foot of  a Plum Tree at the bottom of the orchard.
There was a dance in the Hall in the evening, the young people went.

Wednesday 28th  It was a fine day.  The boys were cutting tea tree in the front.  I transplanted some young Peach Trees.  Also continued planting Potatoes.

Thursday 29th   The wind is blowing strong from the NE and it threatens for rain.  The boys were cutting tea tree in the front.  I was planting Potatoes at the bottom of the orchard.  Minnie rode up to Mauds in the pm.  We cut the Fowls wings in the evening and removed the Bee Hive.

Friday 30th  It rained very heavily last night and also this morning.  There was a fresh in the creek, but it cleared up afterwards and was tolerably fine.   The boys were cutting tea tree in the front.  I mended up the fence round the orchard to try and keep the fowls out.  Minnie returned from Mauds in the pm.  I went to the Library in the evening to change my books.

Saturday 31st   It was a fine day.  The Steamer “Kawau” called in about 10 am to take Hettie Wyatt  &  Jas Young back to the Kawau.  Henry went away in her to Auckland, on his way to Sydney and Melbourne.  John was gum digging in the morning and he was working in the flower garden in the afternoon.  I was doing odd jobs. Minnie went to the dance at Pakiri & staid all night at Mrs Salts.