August 1904

Monday 1st   It was a showery day.  I finished the Closet.  Willie returned from Ti Point in the middle of the day.

Tuesday 2nd   It was fine in the morning.  I was doing odd jobs.  I went down to meet the “Kawau” in the afternoon.  Willie went out fishing, but came home with only one small fish.  There was a heavy shower in the afternoon and Willie got wet.
Mr Roose came in the evening and staid all night.

Wednesday 3rd   It was a very showery day, could do nothing out of doors.  Willie went down to the “Gael” in the afternoon.

Thursday 4th   We got up early and all went down to the wharf to see the “Gael” off at 10 am.  Jane went round to Ti Point in her and she staid there all night.  We brought up a box of Groceries and empty Egg Box from the wharf.
There were several hail showers and it was a cold day.  We were down at the Cottage in the afternoon fixing the stove pipe.

Friday 5th   It was a fine day.  A heavy frost this morning.  Willie and I were cutting tea tree in the front in the morning and I in the afternoon.  Willie went fishing in the afternoon, but only caught a few small ones.  Jane returned from Ti Point in the evening.  I went down to the P.O. and the Library in the evening.  Jane received a letter from Henry.

Saturday 6th   It was a fine day.  Willie and I were cutting tea tree in the front in the morning.  In the afternoon I went down to the beach to get some smoked fish and some grit for the fowls.  Jane went over to Joe Wyatts.

Sunday 7th   It was a fine day.  Willie and I walked over to Ti Point in the morning, I had dinner at Harolds, but Willie went down to Joes and they took their dinner and went over to the sandspit.

Monday 8th   It was a fine day.  Willie went out fishing, but only caught one bundle which he sold.  Minnie came here and got Empress to go to Pakiri, she returned home in the evening.
I was digging up a piece of ground near Haskells fence for a garden.

Tuesday 9th   It was a fine day.  Willie went fishing and did a little better than he did yesterday.  I was working near Haskells fence.
I went down to the wharf to meet the “Kawau“.

Wednesday 10th   It was a fine day.  Henry Brown came to tell me that Mrs Gozar Senr died this morning  and to ask me to read the service tomorrow at 2 oclock.
I packed a box of Eggs and we took the bullock down to the wharf and hauled up 1 Cwt Seed Potatoes, 56 lbs Sugar & empty Egg box.  The “Gael” went round to Big Omaha to stay all night.

Thursday 11th   It was a fine day.  I rode up to John Greenwoods in the morning where I had dinner, I went down with John by a short cut through Johny Salt’s land to Pakiri.  I read the service at the grave of Mrs Gozar, there was a large attendance of people, I called in at W. Wrights where I had tea,  Mr & Mrs Kempt were also there, and I met Mr R. C. (?) Dyer’s releaving Teacher, who seems a very nice man.  I arrived home just before dark.  I found the roads very dry, but rather rough and I did not get at all splashed with mud.  I found that Mrs Cook & Miss Austin had been to our place in my absence.  Angus Neeley came to spend the evening & we played at cards.

Friday 12th   It was a fine day.  Willie and I were cutting tea tree on the ridge next Albert’s paddock in the morning.  In the afternoon we went over to Walter Frearsons and helped him to get his Sheep up, and we took 4 of our Sheep out of his place.  Willie then went down to the beach to take Miss Austin out in his boat.  Jane went down to John Wyatts.  I went down to the Post Office and Library in the evening .

Saturday 13th   It was a fine day.  Willie and I were weeding the Strawberry bed in the morning.  In the afternoon Willie went fishing to catch bait.  I went down to the beach to get some smoked fish.  Jane went to Joe Wyatts and went with them to Archie Dunnings to play cards.

Sunday 14th   It was a fine day.  Willie went to Ti Point to spend the day.  Jane & Mabel went up to see Mrs Handby in the afternoon .  Revd G. T. Marshall held service in the afternoon, I attended.  I heard that Mrs A. McKenzie died early this morning.

Monday 15th   My 61st Birthday.  We had some rain last night, but it was very fine day.  Willie went out fishing.  I was digging up ground on the hill near A. Haskells fence in the morning and was digging in the flower garden in the afternoon.  Miss Gallie came for tea, and Jane had invited a few friends to spend the evening, as a surprise for me in honour of my birthday, namely,  Mr & Mrs A Dunning, Mabel, Ernest, Albert & Emma Wyatt.  We were playing at Euchre.  Miss Gallie staid all night.

Tuesday 16th   It was a fine day.  Willie went fishing.  In the morning I was digging in the flower garden.  In the afternoon I attended the funeral of Mrs McKenzie.  Revd G. T. Marshall conducted the service at the grave.
Annie Torkington came up here in the afternoon & staid all night.

Wednesday 17th   It was very dull when we got up this morning and it soon came on to rain, the wind is blowing very strong from the NE.
Packed a box of Eggs & Willie & I went down to the wharf to meet the “Gael“, it rained very heavy and blew very hard while we were down there , and we got wet.

Thursday 18th   The weather was a little better today, but there were some showers.  Annie Torkington returned to Ti Point between the showers.  Willie put a handle in my slasher, I cut a lot of firewood on the hill.
Mr Gifford came up to spend the evening, and he staid all night.

Friday 19th   It was a fine day.  Willie and I were cutting tea tree on the ridge near Alberts fence.  In the afternoon we all went down to see the “Gael” off, it is a cheap excursion trip up to the Football Match between the British Team and the Auckland Team.  13 passengers went from here.  I went down to the P. O. and Library in the evening.

Saturday 20th   It was showery in the morning.  Willie & I were cutting tea tree on the ridge near Albert’s fence and I was cutting there in the afternoon.  Willie went out fishing to get some bait.  The weather was finer in the afternoon, no showers but very windy.  Mr Handby came in the evening to bring Jane some Guavas, he staid and had tea, Bob Neeley & Willie Dunning came to have a game of cards, they brought us word of the result of the Football Match that was played in Auckland this afternoon between the British & Auckland Teams.  Auckland made 13 goals to nil.

Sunday 21st   It was pretty fine in the morning , Willie walked over to Ti Point to spend the day.  I went down to John Wyatts in the afternoon,  while I was down there there was a heavy shower of rain and I got wet coming home.

Monday 22nd   It was a very showery day and the wind blowing in squalls.  Willie and I were cutting tea tree in the front.

Tuesday 23rd   It was a showery day.  Jane went down to the beach returning in the evening.  Willie and I were cutting tea tree in the front both morning and afternoon.  I wrote a letter to Henry which I intend to post tomorrow.

Wednesday 24th   There were several showers.  I packed a box of Eggs and we got the bullock and took them down to the wharf in the afternoon and hauled up 100 lbs Flour and an empty Egg Box.  I was on the wharf shortly after the “Gael” arrived with excursionists returning from witnessing the football match.
There was a Euchre party in the Hall in the evening,  Jane went.

Thursday 25th   It was raining nearly all morning.  We cut a little tea tree in the afternoon in the front.

Friday 26th   A showery day.  Willie and I were cutting tea tree both morning and afternoon in the front down by Jacks garden.  I went down for the mail and attended to the Library in the evening.

Saturday 27th   It was a fine day, but the ground is very wet with the constant showers.  Willie & I were cutting tea tree in the morning  & I was in the pm.  Willie went fishing in the afternoon and caught a few rock cods.

Sunday 28th   It was a fine day.   Willie walked over to Ti Point to spend the day.  I took a walk up to Mr Handbys in the afternoon.  Mr Handby was laid up in bed with influenza , on that account I did not stay long.

Monday 29th   It was a very fine day and so calm on the water, hardly a breath of wind.  Willie went out fishing and caught two bundles and a few over.  In the morning I was pruning and tying up the Cloth of Gold rose tree.  In the afternoon I pulled out all the tomato stakes, tied them in bundles and put them under the house.  Dug up all the docks and creeping weed and cut a lot of thistles and grass for the cow.

Tuesday 30th   It was a very fine day and calm.  I was pruning the vines and Peach trees in the morning.  In the pm went down to the meet the “Kawau“.  Jane went round to Ti Point in her to go to the Euchre party at the Claim this evening.
Willie went fishing and caught two bundles which he sold to the Fish Curing Co.

Wednesday 31st   It was a fine day.  Jane returned from Ti Point bringing Alma with her to stay here,  Minnie and Agnes also came with her, they came up here for dinner and walked home in the afternoon.   I packed a box of Eggs and hauled it down to the wharf in the afternoon and hauled home a Sack of Maize that came in the “Gael“.  Willie went out fishing, but came in while I was down at the Steamer as there was too much wind outside, he caught a few rock cods which he brought home.