December 1901

Sunday 1st   It was a fine day.  Mr Jebson (Wesleyan) conducted service in the Hall in the afternoon, I attended.  Ernest Cruickshank returned home in the evening.  I called up at Mr Handbys in the evening.

Monday 2nd  It was a fine day.  We were busy all day getting ready exhibits for the exhibition tomorrow, went down to the Hall in the afternoon to put up the tables and we took some of the exhibits down in the evening.

Tuesday 3rd   There was a misty rain when we got up early in the morning, but it cleared off and turned out a fine day.  The Art Floral and Industrial exhibition was held today, it was a great success.  We showed a good many exhibits and got a good many prizes.  There was a very good Concert in the evening.  The sum of £15 . 15 . 0 was taken for admission, the Steward gave 2/6 making £15 . 17 . 6.  Miss Cruickshank staid at our house tonight.

Wednesday 4th   It was a fine day, we did not get up very early after yesterdays exertions.   I went down to the Hall in the afternoon to clear up.  Jane and Miss Cruickshank called at Mrs R. Mathesons in the afternoon and then Miss Cruickshank went home.

Thursday 5th   We got the sheep up in the morning and Charlie and Walter Wyatt came to shear.  It was a very hot day.  Miss McKenzie brought Mr Alex’ Mackenzie the Piper to spend the evening with us , he gave us a tune on the pipes.

Friday 6th   It was a fine day, but there was a strong breeze which tempered the heat.
Charlie did not come today as her had to go for the mail, as Johny Salt is in town, but Walter Wyatt came and finished shearing them about 5 pm.  I went down to the Post Office and the Library  in the evening.   109 Sheep were shorn & one of Mr Frearsons.

Saturday 7th   It was a fine day.  Willie and I drove some Sheep out of Haskells place and mended up the fence.  Willie went fishing to Ti Point.  Mrs Sim and Miss Jenkinson came here for tea and afterwards we all went down to the wharf.  Miss Jenkinson went up to Auckland in the “Rob Roy”.
There was a meeting in the Hall at 7.30 to form a branch of the Farmers Union,  14 persons joined.

Sunday 8th   It was a fine day.  Mr &  Mrs Ellis Dyer & Miss Porrit came to spend the day.  We all went down to the Hall in the afternoon.  I conducted service, there was only a small congregation. They returned for tea, there were also here W. Frearson,  Hettie Wyatt, and two girl friends and two children.  It looked very much like rain.

Monday 9th   There was a good drop of rain fell last night, but it turned out a hot day.  I was working in the front garden.

Tuesday 10th   Jane rode to Matakana the first thing in the morning & staid.  Mr Avey, Engineer of “Rose Casey” came to spend the evening.

Wednesday 11th       It was very
Thursday 12th             showery during
Friday 13th                    these days and
were unable to do much out of doors.
Friday 13th   Killed a Ewe in the evening

Saturday 14th   A very showery day.  We got a Telegram from Joe asking us to send a horse over to Warkworth to meet them, so Jane went on Empress and took Fanny and staid at T. Williams’.
There was a return Cricket Match between Omaha and Kaipara Flats Clubs at the Domain, the Omaha Club won in one innings.  Went down to the village in the evening, there should have been a meeting of the Show Committee, but on account of the showery weather there were not enough to constitute a meeting.  Went to the Library & gave out some books.  Repaid W. Frearson hind quarter mutton.  Still owe him 4 lbs.

Sunday 15th   A few showers.  Revd R. McKinney held service in the morning,  Mrs A. Dunning‘s baby (Edgar) was baptized.  Jane returned from Warkworth in the afternoon, Joe & Minnie took Fanny to Ti Point so Willie walked over there and brought her home.  I went over to Joe Wyatts in the afternoon.

Monday 16th    A showery day.  I went down to the wharf in the morning to see G. Knaggs who was repairing the planking.  Mrs Dawson Birdsall and Mrs Sadler came in the afternoon for me to witness their signatures.  Willie & I sowed in the afternoon 2 rows Canadian Wonder Beans,  4 Hills Marrows,  3 ditto Squashes and
1 Pie Melons.

Tuesday 17th   It was a very fine day.  Willie & I were digging out docks etc in the middle of the orchard all day.
Willie & I went down to the village in the evening, the “Rose Casey” did not arrive until about 9 pm.  About 15 passengers went up by her.

Wednesday 18th   It rained and thundered very heavily during the night.  Willie took the Bullock down to the wharf  and hauled up 100 lbs Flour and Egg Box that came by the Steamer last night.  The remainder of the day we were digging out docks etc in the middle of the orchard.
The wind was blowing very strong and knocking a lot of fruit off the trees.

Thursday 19th   It was raining early this morning and continued until about 9 am, but cleared up and turned out a very hot day.  We were getting firewood in the morning, and in the afternoon we sowed a double row of White Dutch Beans,  1 row of Canadian Wonder Beans,  and planted a row (22 plants) Garden Drumhead Cabbage,  All these Charlie Wyatt gave me.  In the evening I went down to the wharf and Willie rode to Ti Point.
Mr Handby and Dan Kempt called in the evening.

Friday 20th   It was a hot day.   I went down to the wharf in the morning to remove and stack some Fruit cases, when I was down there the “Kawau” came in from Auckland, Walter Frearson came up by her, I helped him carry some of his parcels up.
Willie took Minnies sewing machine back on Fanny.  We fixed up the Dairy door and cleared out the rubbish under the house.  I went down to the Post Office and Library in the evening.

Saturday 21st   It was fine in the morning.  I was digging out docks in the orchard in the morning.  There was a meeting of the Road Board in the afternoon.  It came on a steady rain in the afternoon.

Sunday 22nd   It was a fine day.  Mr Patchet (Wesleyan Student) held service in the Hall in the afternoon.  Rosey calved a red Bull Calf, we got her up and milked her.

Monday 23rd   It was a fine day.  Took the Bullock down to the wharf in the morning and hauled up 2 loads of Fruit Cases (99).
The Heifer (Juno) calved a red Bull Calf we got her up and milked her.  I was digging out docks in the orchard.

Tuesday 24th   It was a fine day.  We took the bullock down to the wharf and hauled up some short pieces of old planks that I bought off the Road Board.
We all went down to meet the Steamer, it was the “Admiral” that came this week, a great many passengers came by her, Mrs Simpson & Victor came to stay with us.

Wednesday 25th   Christmas Day.  It was fine in the morning but showery in the afternoon.  There was a Cricket Match in the morning on the Race Course between the married and the single. Harold Torkington, Miss & Grace Simpson came here for tea.

Thursday 26th   It rained nearly all day, it put a stop to all picnics and other amusements.

Friday 27th   It was a tolerably fine day.  I walked to Ti Point to look at the road with Mr Saddler, had dinner at Joes.
I Killed a Sheep in the evening.  Minnie & Joe & Walter Frearson were here in the evening, we amused ourselves by playing cards.

Saturday 28th   It was a fine day.  We all went over to Ti Point to spend the day with Joe & Minnie.  Joe took us in the boat to the Domain to witness a Cricket Match between the Omaha Cricketers, a scratch match.

Sunday 29th   It was very windy and several showers.
Revd E. M. Cowie held service in the hall in the evening, there were about 55 present and the offeratory 16/5.

Monday 30th   It was a fine day, but windy.  I rode over to Pakiri in the afternoon, there was a picnic, tea & Christmas tree in the Hall.  I did not stay for the evening’s entertainment.  Walter Frearson came in the evening and we had a game of cards.

Tuesday 31st   It was a fine day.  The P. S. Awarua came in the place of the “Rose Casey“.  Miss Harding came up by her, but she is going to pay a visit to Mrs Gravatt first.  Jane & I rode over to Dacres Claim in the afternoon to a funeral.  A  Mrs Ashton had died yesterday and was buried in the Cemetery at Dacres Claim, I read the service.  Afterwards Mr Greenwood and I went up to Mr Hadwicks to look at a road and we had tea there.