August 1900

Wednesday 1st   It was a beautiful day and the sea was like glass.  We took Spider down to the wharf in the morning and hauled up the other gate, an empty Egg box and 2 pieces of iron ridging.
Willie and I were digging out perrioinckle in the front garden and made some fires to burn it.  We had a lot of visitors, namely Mrs Ellis Dyer and Mrs J. C. Wyatt and children for dinner, and Mrs Haskell for tea.  Jane went to Miss Niccols in the evening.

Thursday 2nd   It was a fine day, tho’ not so bright as yesterday.  Willie and I were mending up the fence between Mathesons paddocks and our place, in the morning as our Sheep were getting into Haskells place.  We were digging and burning in the front garden in the afternoon.

Friday 3rd   I went down to the Post Office in the morning, it came on to rain and I took shelter in the Library where I occupied myself with sweeping it out, until there was a lull, and I got home in time for dinner.  I went down for the Mail in the evening, and also to the Library, the Testimonial that we have got for Mr Knaggs  should have been presented this evening, but on account of the very rough weather no one turned up and it has been postponed to next Monday evening.

Saturday 4th   It was blowing a gale from the E accompanied by rain.  There was a meeting of the Road Board in the Office in the afternoon,  Dan Kempt came up with me and staid tea & spent the evening.

Sunday 5th   It turned out a fine day, and the wind has gone down.  I went down to John Wyatts in the morning and staid dinner,  Honor and I went across to the wharf and went up to the Hall where Revd G. Frost held service, a young man named Mr Jefferson read the lessons, there was a good congregation.

Monday 6th   It was a fine day.  I was mending up the fence round the pigs.  Mr Birdsall called in the afternoon.  Willie was planting out some Cabbage plants in the E.R.  We all went down to the Library in the evening to spend a social evening and to present to Mr T. W. Knaggs the late Librarian a Testimonial in recognition of nearly 20 years faithful service.  The testimonial took the form of a writing table, and a platform rocking chair for Mrs Knaggs.  Mr K was very pleased with his present, we amused ourselves with playing various kinds of games, the ladies provided a good supper.  It rained nearly all the evening, 15 were present, we kept it up until about midnight.

Tuesday 7th   It rained most of the morning, and the wind was blowing strong from the E, it cleared up a bit in the pm.    I packed a box of 21 Doz Eggs in the morning and carted them down to the wharf in the afternoon, the two Steamers came having experienced very rough weather.  The Rose had a lot of cargo, principally for Mrs Harper who came up by her.  I hauled up a box of Groceries, bag of seed Potatoes, and a Wire wove Mattress.
The wind blew very strong in the evening.  Commenced to use Bag of Flour.

Wednesday 8th   The wind was blowing a gale from SE with driving rain.  I went down to the Library in the morning, also to the beach to get some gravel.

Thursday 9th   The wind is still blowing very strong, but there was not so much rain.  We did not do anything out of doors but get a good supply of firewood.

Friday 10th   The wind was still blowing strong from the E with driving rain.  I went down to the Post Office in the morning.  Willie and I were cutting some tea tree on top of the hill near A. Haskells. Jane was down at Maggies all day sewing.  Willie went for the mail.

Saturday 11th   The wind was still blowing strong from the E but there was no rain.  Willie rode to Ti Point to fish, but he returned without any, on account of the rough weather.
I was working on the hill in the afternoon cutting tea tree and putting it into heaps.
Jane went down to the Hall in the evening thinking there would be orchestral practise but there was none.

Sunday 12th   The wind was still blowing from E, but it was a fine day.  Walter Wyatt and his wife came up to spend the day.  I read service in the Hall in the pm.

Monday 13th   It was a fine day and the wind has gone down.  I was pruning trees in this orchard.  Miss Niccol and Miss Mitchell came for tea and spent the evening.

Tuesday 14th   It was a fine day.  I was pruning trees in the orchard. Packed a box of Eggs and hauled them down to the wharf.   The “Kapanui” was aground at the wharf and the Rose could not get up to the wharf, so I could not get my goods, so had to go home empty. There was a Social in the Hall in the evening.

Wednesday 15th   My 57th birthday.  It was a fine day.  There were a lot of fishing boats in the harbour last night, they put their fish on board the Rose.  They all went out this morning.  We took the bullock down to the wharf in the morning and hauled up a Sack of Potatoes & empty Egg box.  Willie went fishing to Ti Point in the afternoon and brought home several fish.  Jane went down to the beach.

Thursday 16th   It was a fine day.   I was pruning trees in the orchard.

Friday 17th   It rained last night but it turned out a fine day.  I was pruning trees in the orchard.  I went down to the Post Office and the Library in the evening.

Saturday 18th   It was a fine day.  Jane rode to Warkworth to see Minnie, and Willie rode to Ti Point to fish, and it was late before he got home.  He caught a good many fish and sold 2/- worth over there bringing one Kawhai home, Willie was very proud of his days work.
I was pruning all day.  Walter Frearson came in the evening to pay an account.

Sunday 19th   It was very dull in the morning, and it came on a steady rain after dinner.  There was no service in the Hall in the afternoon on account of the weather.

Monday 20th   It was a very showery day, Willie and I finished making a little sleigh in the shed.
I packed the Eggs.
Jane returned from Warkworth in the evening wet through.

Tuesday 21st   It was fine in the morning, but there was a very heavy shower towards noon, cleared up in the afternoon.  Willie and I went down to the Steamer, took a box of Eggs and hauled up an empty box and a bag of B&B Manure I got at the Store.

Wednesday 22nd   It was a showery day.  I went down to see Ernest Wyatt working on the road near W. Savages, also walked up the road towards Mr Neeleys, it seems we have a lot of Lambs on the hill.
Miss Niccol and Miss Mitchell came in the evening and staid all night.

Thursday 23rd   It was a showery day. I went up to Miss Niccols and bought some of her things.
Willie went to Wm Savages and got two settings of Eggs and we set two Hens.
I was pruning trees.
Mrs G. Wyatt came for dinner.  Willie and I went down to the Hall in the evening, there was a choir practice.

Friday 24th   It was a beautiful day.  Jane rode to Warkworth with
J. Salt to stay with Minnie, who was confined of a Daughter last Saturday night.  I was pruning Fruit trees.  Mrs G. Wyatt came up to stay with us while Jane is away.  I went down to the Post Office and to the Library in the evening.

Saturday 25th   It rained steadily nearly all day.  We were not able to do anything out of doors.  I made a hen coop on the veranda in the afternoon.

Sunday 26th   It was a showery day.  Revd E. M. Cowie held service in the Hall in the evening, there was only a small congregation, the offeratory was 10/5.

Monday 27th   The Revd E. M. Cowie celebrated Communion in the Hall at 8 am.  I went down, there were only 4 altogether.
There was a heavy shower in the morning, but afterwards was a fine day.  Willie went fishing to Ti Point and brought home a few fish.
I packed the Eggs and was pruning Grape Vines.

Tuesday 28th   It was very fine in the morning, but it was showery in the afternoon.  Willie and I took the bullock down to the wharf in the afternoon, took a box of Eggs down and hauled an empty Egg box up. I was very busy at the Library, also getting up a testimonial to Miss Niccol.  I sent away the Petition to Mr Monk, it had 45 signatures.
I received a letter from my brother Henry, there was also a letter for Minnie from Aunt Fanny.

Wednesday 29th   It was a fine day.  I was pruning trees in the morning.  In the afternoon I went down to the beach to get some shells for the fowls, also went to see John Wyatt who is re-erecting the foot bridge.
We set 2 Hens on 13 Eggs each that we got from Willie Savage.
Mr Handby came in the evening.

Thursday 30th   It was a fine day.   I was pruning trees all day.

Friday 31st   It was a fine day.  We got the Sheep up from the Barley Paddock and put them out in the front.  Those I got from Joe Greenwood have got 4 Lambs as far as I know.  Killed a whether in the afternoon, the last I got from Walter Wyatt.  I was pruning trees, went to the Post Office and Library in the evening.

Memo’
The Fowls laid  1321 Eggs during the month of August 1900
=  to 110 Doz  &  1    Valued at  £2 . 19 . 3