August 1903

Saturday 1st   I went ashore at about 7 am and went up to stay at the Warkworth Boarding House in Upper Queen Street.  After breakfast I got a hand cart to take the two boxes of hams from the “Herald” to the McGregors goods shed.
In the afternoon I went up to Mrs Simpsons at Ponsonby and as Fred would not come home until tea time I took a long walk along the Richmond Road.  I returned to Mrs Simpsons for tea soon after Fred came in and after tea Noel as usual dropped in, we had a rubber of whist, and I returned to Warkworth House to sleep, Fred & Noel coming down with me.

Sunday 2nd   It was fine in the morning.  I attended St Matthews Church in the morning.  Revd W. E. Gillan officiated.
In the afternoon there was a procession of all the Friendly Societies, they met at the Reservoir at the corner of Ponsonby Road and marched to the Drill Hall.  The Governer, Lord Ranfurly & Bishop Neligan were present and gave addresses, Mr John McLeod presided. sacred items were sung, and an overture by one of the bands.
I met Mr Wallace there and we walked up to Ponsonby together.  Fred & I were at Mr Wallaces for tea and we spent a very pleasant evening.  I called in at Mrs Simpsons before I went to Wallaces and found Harold Torkington there who had come up last night.

Monday 3rd   It was a fine day.  I was in Queen Street all morning doing business.  In the afternoon I left the Warkworth House and took my bag down to McGregors Office, afterwards I went up to Ponsonby to Mrs Simpsons for tea and I staid there all night, Harold Torkington was also there.  Noel came in and we had a rubber of whist.

Tuesday 4th   I bade good bye to the Simpsons and went down to the wharf in the tram, a href=”#px-708″>Fred going with me as far as his shop.  I embarked on board the “Claymore” bound for Omaha, after an absence of nearly a month, Mr Wallace came down to the wharf to see me off, there were several Omaha and Pakiri settlers returning by the same boat.  We arrived at Omaha after a smooth passage at about 1 pm.  Jane and Willie were on the wharf to meet me.  I was glad to get back home again.

Wednesday 5th   It was a fine day.  Willie went out fishing with Walter Frearson, beside what they caught for market Willie brought home 2 large rock cod.

Thursday 6th   It was a fine day.  I was planting flower plants in the front garden.  Willie was cutting tea tree on the hill.

Friday 7th   Willie and I were cutting tea tree all day.  Jane went to Joe Wyatts and from there to the mail.  I went to the Library.

Saturday 8th   It was a fine day.  I went down to the Store in the morning to get some oil and white lead.  Several persons were working at the tennis court.
Willie was cutting tea tree.  Miss Hutchinson spent the day here.

Sunday 9th   It was a fine day, tho dull.  Jane rode to Matakana in the afternoon so as to go to the Military Ball tomorrow night.  Revd G. F. Marshall held service in the afternoon.  I attended.

Monday 10th   It was a fine day.  I mixed some paint and painted the gutters and covering boards of the roof.  Willie was cutting tea tree in the morning & both of us were in the afternoon.

Tuesday 11th   It was a fine day.  Mr & Mrs Dale came in the morning for me to witness their signature.  I took the Eggs down to the Store in the afternoon.
Jane returned from Matakana in the evening & she and I went to a Social in the Hall.  There were a good many up from the “Claymore“, there were over 40 there and it was a success.

Wednesday 12th   Willie and I were cutting tea tree in the morning and in the afternoon we took the bullock down to the wharf and hauled up some black soil and 1 Cwt Up to Date potatoes.

Thursday 13th   It was a fine day.  Jane and I went down to the Hall to help to scrub it out , Mabel & Honor Wyatt, Annie Harper, Jessie Neeley & Emma Brown were also there to help every part of the Hall and furninuie received a good cleaning.  Willie went up to Mr Neeleys to take a note, and afterwards went to Ti Point.

Friday 14th  It rained nearly all day.  I went down to the Library in the evening, there was a meeting of the late Road Board to wind up matters

Saturday 15th   My 60th Birthday.   It was a shower day.  Willie went to Ti Point.  I went down to the Post Office in the afternoon to post some Books to go to Te Araroa.QueenOfBeautyArrival

Sunday 16th   It rained all morning, but cleared up a little in the pm.  During a bright period I went over to Joe Wyatts and had tea there, it came on to rain so heavy in the evening that I staid all night.

Monday 17th   It was a showery day,  Willie & I were cutting tea tree.

Tuesday 18th   Willie took the eggs down to the Store in the morning.  I went down to the Steamer.

Wednesday 19th   It was a fine day.  We killed the pig in the morning.  Henry Brown came up here, and after I had finished the pig I went down to the Hall and handed over to Mr Brown all the Books and other property of the late Road Board.

Thursday 20th   Willie took the bullock down to the Store and hauled up 100 lbs Flour & some salt and sugar.
I cut up the pig, it weighed 183 lbs.  I was busy all day salting it and cleaning away.  Minnie & Joe came over and staid all night.

Friday 21st   It was a fine day.  I went down to the Hall in the morning to clear away all the rubbish belonging to the late Road Board.  Revd F. Latter came up in the “Kawau” last night, he staid at the Hotel, went visiting round here during the day and came up here late in the afternoon to stay.  There was a meeting of the Hall Committee also of the Flower Show Committee in the Hall in the evening, both of which I attended.

Saturday 22nd   It was a fine day.  I lent Mr Latter a horse and he rode up the hill visiting on his way to Pakiri.  I went down to the wharf to meet the “Kawau” to send a parcel to Mrs Simpson containing a piece of pork and some brawn.
Willie walked to Ti Point to take Minnie some pork.  I was pruning fruit trees in this orchard in the afternoon.

Sunday 23rd   There were a few slight showers in the morning.  I called over at Alec Haskells to ask him to come for dinner, but he had a previous engagement.  Harold Torkington came to spend the day.
It poured with rain and thundered and lightened in the evening, Mr Latter who had conducted services at Pakiri and Dacres Claim in the morning and afternoon respectively was caught in it as he was returning here and it continued raining so heavy that he did not go down to the Hall in the evening to hold service as he intended to.  Harold had also to stay all night on account of the weather.

Monday 24th   It was a fine day.  Revd Latter returned to Auckland by the “Rob Roy” which called in about 11 am, I went down to the wharf to see him off.
Willie and I were cutting tea tree.  The old people came in the pm to get me to witness their old age pension papers.

Tuesday 25th   It was a fine day.  I went down to the wharf in the morning to see the “Claymore” off.  I posted a letter to Henry which I had written last night.  Willie and I were cutting tea tree all day.
Miss Julia Rollinson came in the afternoon and staid all night.

Wednesday 26th   It was a fine day.  Jane and Miss Rollinson went over to Mrs Knaggs and then went round to Ti Point in the “Kawau“.  Willie and I were cutting Ti Tree all day.

Thursday 27th   It was a fine day.  Jane returned from Ti Point in the “Kawau“, she, Minnie & Joe and most of the Ti Point people went to a dance in the Claim Hall last night, which was well attended.  Willie and I commenced planting Up to Date Potatoes down at the Cottage.

Friday 28th   It was a fine day.  We continued planting Potatoes down at the Cottage.
Jane and I went down to the mail in the evening, there was a meeting of the Flower Show Committee in the Hall.  Both Jane and I attended.

Saturday 29th   There were several showers during the day.  Willie went fishing with Walter Frearson & Roddie McKinnon.  I was planting Potatoes down at the Cottage.
Three Austrians came with Johny Salt in the afternoon to get their naturalization papers witnessed.
Miss Hutchinson & Honor Wyatt came in the afternoon, Honor staid all night. We had heavy showers during the evening.

Sunday 30th   It was a very dull day, and very cold.  Willie walked to Ti Point to spend the day.  Jane went back with Honor and pulled round to the Pa returning home in the evening.

Monday 31st   There were several showers during the day.  We continued planting Potatoes down at the Cottage.  Miss Hutchinson & Miss McKenzie came to spend the evening and we had a game of cards.