August 1902

Friday 1st   The weather looked very threatening in the morning and in the afternoon it rained, but it cleared up in the evening.  There was a progressive Euchre party in the evening in the Hall in aid of the funds of the Tennis Club.  Jane & I went,  on account of the weather very few were there.  Jane & I got the prizes for lady and gentleman respectfully.

Saturday 2nd   It was a fine day.  Willie went to Ti Point fishing. There was a meeting of the Road Board in the afternoon.

Sunday 3rd   It was nice & sunney in the morning, but dull in the afternoon.  I read service in the Hall in the afternoon.  Miss Hutchinson was here for tea.

Monday 4th   It was a fine day.  I pruned the Grape Vines near the fence and we planted Up to Date Potatoes, next the Magnum Bonum ditto – right up to the Grape Vines.

Tuesday 5th   It was very dull and threatening the first thing in the morning, and soon after breakfast it came on to rain steadily.  It held up a little after dinner and Willie and I went down to the village, I took the Eggs to the store and Willie went on board the Rose which was out in the stream.  It rained again in the evening and nearly all night.

Wednesday 6th   Jane got up early and went down to the wharf intending to go round in the Rose to Ti Point, but the Rose went round there last night so Jane came up here again and got Empress and rode over to Ti Point.
It was a tolerably fine day, there were several showers.  Willie and I were pulling up tea tree in the front.
Charlie Gravatt came in the morning to register the birth of his child.

Thursday 7th   There were several showers during the day.  Willie and I were pulling up tea tree in the front.  Jane returned from Ti Point & she and Willie went to a party at Harpers</a in the evening.

Friday 8th   It was a very showery day.  Willie and I were pulling up tea tree in the front between the showers.  Willie went down for the mail in the evening.

Saturday 9th   Coronation Day.  There were several showers during the day.  Willie rode to Ti Point to fish, but did not catch any.  I was pulling up tea tree all day.  George Wyatt & wife came for tea & to spend the evening.

Sunday 10th   It rained nearly all morning, but was a little finer in the afternoon. But there was no service.  Jane had a bad cold and staid in bed all day.

Monday 11th   It was a fine day.  Willie and I were pulling up tea tree and slashing fern in front.   Minnie rode over in the morning and Joe came in the evening, the latter was fishing with D. Knaggs off the Goat Island, and they left their boat round there, he brought us some fish.

Tuesday 12th   It was a fine day.  Willie took the Eggs down to the Store in the morning.  Minnie went home in the morning.  We were pulling up tea tree etc in the front.  Went down to the wharf to see the Steamer in the afternoon.

Wednesday 13th   It was a fine day.  We were pulling up tea tree in the front.  Jane went to Big Omaha in the evening to a Euchie Party.

Thursday 14th   It was a fine day, but the wind is blowing from the NE and a sea is getting up.  Willie and I were pulling tea tree and slashing fern in the front.

Friday 15th   My 59th birthday.  There were several showers during the day.  Willie and I were cutting tea tree and slashing fern in the front.   Willie Smith of Matakana was here in the afternoon buying Sheep for a Syndicate to ship to Sydney, but I did not sell any.  I went to the P.O  and Library in the evening.  Received a letter from Henry.

Saturday 16th   The wind was blowing very strong from the E  with driving showers.  Willie was laid up with a bad cold.  I was slashing fern in the front in the morning.  In the afternoon I went up to John Greenwoods to make a specification for a road deviation.  I had tea at John Greenwoods.

Sunday 17th   It was a very showery day, and the wind blowing strong from the E.   There was no service.

Monday 18th   It was a very fine day, the wind has changed to the SW, and the ground is drying up.  Willie took the bullock down to the Store in the morning and hauled up a Case of Kerosene, afterwards he hauled a load of firewood.  We were cutting tea tree in the front.

Tuesday 19th   There were a few showers in the morning, but it was fine in the afternoon.  We were cutting tea tree in the front in the morning.  In the pm we went down to the Steamer, a parcel of Magazines came for the Library which I catalogued.
There was a Social in the Hall in the evening, we went and Minnie returned with us and staid all night.   35/- was taken at the door.

Wednesday 20th   It was a showery day.  I got up early and went down to see the “Rose Casey” off.  Mr Handby went by her and took the cart that he has just made.  I was cutting tea tree in the morning.  Burton Witten  came at dinner time and brought 4 Evans Early Plums that I ordered from him.  I went down with him to the Library to give him some books, afterwards I went down to the Store and the wharf to meet the “Kawau“.

Thursday 21st   It was a fine day.  We gave a party in the evening to the young people ,  there were 19 besides our own family, they played at Ping Pong & cards.  Mrs Sim staid all night

Friday 22nd   It was a fine day.  Mrs McKay died in Auckland yesterday and was brought here by the “Rob Roy” early this morning.  Alec Matheson came to ask if I would read the service..  The funeral was at 2 pm in the Cemetery, I officiated at the grave, she was buried alongside of her first husband (Mr Maitland).  I went down to the Post Office and Library in the evening , there was a meeting of the School Committee at the Hall.
Miss Hutchinson was here for tea and Mr Roose came while we  were having it, and he staid all night.

Saturday 23rd   It was a dull day.  We gave Mr Roose a small order.  Willie went fishing to Ti Point, but he did not catch anything.  I went down to the village in the pm.

Sunday 24th   It rained nearly all morning and afternoon.  Revd Marshall was to hold services in the Hall in the pm, but none of us stirred out of doors.

Monday 25th   It rained nearly all morning, but it cleared up in the afternoon .  We all went to Joe Wyatts in the evening to a party.

Tuesday 26th   It was very fine in the morning, but dull in the afternoon.  I walked to Ti Point in the morning, called at Minnie and then went down to the wharf to meet the “Rose Casey“, Jim Sadler returned by her, I came round in the Steamer ,  afterwards Willie and I were cutting tea tree.

Wednesday 27th   It was a fine day.  We were cutting tea tree in the front.  I went down to the wharf to meet the “Kawau“.

Thursday 28th   Fine day.  Cutting tea tree.

Friday 29th   It was a very fine day.  We went down to the Hall in the afternoon to decorate, Miss Williams came to our place for tea, we all went to the Hall in the evening, the Tennis Club gave a progressive Euchre party, also to tender a welcome to Trooper Sadler and family, Troopers McLeod and Nilson of Warkworth were also present.  We spent a very enjoyable evening, songs were given by Mrs Sim, Miss Maunders & D. Kempt.  The ladies provided an excellent supper.  Jim Sadler, Miss Maunders and Miss Williams staid here all night.

Saturday 30th   It was a fine day.  Gus Nilson called here early in the morning, Rona McLeod called up afterwards and staid dinner, all our visitors left in the pm.  There was a Road Board Meeting in the afternoon .

Sunday 31st   It was a fine day.  I read service in the Hall in the afternoon, there was a fair congregation.