Monday 1st It was a very fine day. I went over to Auckland in the morning and after transacting a little business I went up to the opening of the Exhibition which was held in the Domain, I came across Alec Cruickshank, Ted & James Morgan, went to have lunch with them, afterwards met Mr, Mrs & Miss Grindrod and was with them most of the afternoon, returned to the Shore & in the evening Mr Wallace & I went to a concert in the Parish Hall in aid of the Fire Brigade.
Tuesday 2nd It was a very showery day. I went over to Auckland in the afternoon, went up to the Exhibition and into the flower show, returned to Devonport by the 5.10 boat.
Wednesday 3rd It was a fine day. I went across to Auckland in the morning, took £10 out of the P.O. Savings Bank, paid acts at Wildman & Aiegs & Bridgmans, went down to the “Kawau” steamer, returned to Devonport for lunch. Late in the afternoon I went out to Mount Eden by invitation to Mr A. E. Grindrods place in Woodside Rd. Mr G. is an enthusiastic gardener so it was very interesting to look round his garden, had tea and spent the evening there. Returned to Devonport by the 10pm boat, came up in the motor buss with Ken.
Thursday 4th It was a fine day. I went up over to Auckland in the morning , but returned to Devonport for lunch, went over to Auckland again with Alma in the afternoon to meet Jane and the children who came up from Omaha by the “Kawau“. The boat got in about 6 pm, we then came over to Devonport in the ferry & up to the house in a wagonette.
Friday 5th It was a fine day. Leaving Hector with Mr Wallace, Jane, the baby and I went over to Auckland and then up to the Exhibition , we returned to Devonport early in the afternoon as it was threatening rain.
Saturday 6th It was a fine day. Jane, the children went over to Auckland in the morning and then up to Ponsonby, Jane went to Mrs Coplestones & I called at Mr Feltons in O’Neil St, but he was not at home, however Mrs F. showed me round the garden, I afterwards went to Mrs Coplestones where we had lunch and afterwards went to Victoria Park to witness a cricket match between Waitemata and University, Archie Dunning made 87 runs & Pat made 20 runs, we returned to Devonport & Mr Wallace & I went to the pictures in the evening.
Sunday 7th It was a fine day. I went to Trinity Church in the morning and staid for Communion , Revd Young officiated. In the afternoon Mr & Mrs Wallace, Jane and I went over to Auckland and took a car to Dominion Road to pay a visit to Gordon Wallace & his wife. On returning home I left the others and went to Ponsonby, had tea at Mrs Coplestones and then all of us went to All Saints Church, Bishop Averell preached a very good sermon, returned to Devonport afterwards.
Monday 8th It was a fine day. I went over to Auckland in the morning with Ken, met Dora Greenwood on the wharf and we took the train for Henderson, had dinner at Mr Greenwoods, looked round his garden & orchard . Returned to Auckland & Devonport in the afternoon.
Tuesday 9th It was a fine day. Jane and I went over to Auckland in the morning and took the car out to Morningside to pay a visit to Mr & Mrs Cruickshank, we met Mr & Mrs Tait there, we dined there and returned to Devonport in the pm.
Wednesday 10th There were several showers, Jane & I went over to town in the morning and took the train to Green Lane and walked to Mrs Simpsons where we had lunch. In the afternoon Jane returned by train, but I walked to Campbells Park to see the agricultural show, but being the first day I did not stay long but returned to town by the car and went to Mr Grindrods office but found it shut up so I took the car again to his place at Mount Eden where I found him at home, he gave me several Dahlia & Chysanthemums & other plants, had afternoon tea there and then returned to Devonport.
Thursday 11th A very showery day. Jane & I went over to Auckland in the morning, I took part of my luggage with me and left it in the parcels office, Jane went up to Karangahape Rd to do some shopping and then went to see the Mills’ – and I went to the Albert Park, the Museum & Art Galery. Did some shopping and took all my things on board the “Kawau“. Returned to Devonport.
Friday 12th It was a showery day. Jane & I left Mr Wallaces took a wagonette to the wharf, crossed over in the ferry, Jane went straight to the “Kawau“, I went up Queen St to do some shopping, we left the wharf at 9.30 am, Ken, Bert & Alma came to see us off.
We had a very fair passage, arrived at Leigh about 3 pm. Willie was down to meet me with the sulky, and Jim was over with a trap to meet Jane and the children . The roads were very muddy showing the quantity of rain there has been since I have been away. When I got home I planted some of the plants I brought home with me.
Saturday 13th It was a fine day. Willie, Grace & Mrs Lomer drove over to Ti Point to spend the day with Flo.
I was working in the flower garden all day. I planted the following Dahlias that Mr Grindrod gave me, viz Johannesberg, C. E. Wilkins, Saturn, Loveliness & Lucy Godwin.
Sunday 14th A few slight showers. Willie, Grace and Mrs Lomer drove over to the Claim to spend the day with Jim & Jane.
I went down to the village in the morning, heard that Willie Jennings had been found drowned in the Pakiri river.
Revd Macdonald (Presbyterian) held service in the Hall in the afternoon, I attended, he gave us a very good sermon.
Monday 15th It rained last night and early this morning but it proved a very fine day. I planted following Dahlias, Dreadnaught, Princess, Pilot Red Cactus, Mrs Morley, Gondola.
I went down to meet the “Kawau” from Auckland, carried up a bag of sand.
Tuesday 16th It rained heavily nearly all morning accompanied by strong NE wind. I went down to the village in the morning to post some letters, went to the Library to catalogue some books, got firewood and did odd jobs. Mrs Jennings was buried today.
Wednesday 17th It was a fine day. Willie cut Danthonia in the morning and picked fruit in the afternoon . I was planting Dahlias above the summer house, viz Princess, F. C. Stoup, H. Shoesmith, Red Peony, Clincher, Pilot.
In the afternoon I went down to meet the Steamer, carried up a bag of sand.
Thursday 18th It was a very fine day. Willie took some fruit and eggs down to the wharf in the morning and hauled up some fowl feed and empty cases.
Mrs Lomer & boy returned to town by the “Kawau” which left here about 12.30, Grace also went up with her, I went down to see them off, carried up a bag of sand. I went down to the village again in the evening to get the mail and to attend the Library.
Friday 19th It was a dull day, the sun hardly came out. Willie was cutting Danthonia in the barley paddock,
I planted a Dahlia (Purple Seedling, Yellow) near the wire fence, also weeded some Onions.
There was a shower of rain while we were having tea.
Saturday 20th It was fairish in the morning, but showery in the pm. In the morning I went down to the village to post some papers, to get the mail, carried up a bag of sand. In the afternoon I planted a Heliotrope & a Dahlia (H. H. Thomas) & weeded Onions. Willie was cutting Danthonia.
Sunday 21st It was a very fine day. Wind blowing strong from SW.
Willie & I drove over and spent a very pleasant day with Joe & Minnie.
Monday 22nd A very fine day. Strong wind blowing strong from SW. Willie was cutting Danthonia all day. I got firewood and was working in the flower garden, I planted a Fuchsia (Purple Bell) and 2 Dahlias viz Dreadnaught & Flag of Truce.
Mr Richards the Coroner came to register the Death of Willie Jennings.
Grace returned from Auckland by the “Kawau” which did not arrive until midnight, she had a lot of passengers and called at Ti Point. Willie took the sulky to meet her.
Tuesday 23rd It was a fine day. In the morning I went down to the village to post some letters & to get the mail, carried up some sand.
I was helping Willie pick Burbanks he hauled 14 Cases down to the wharf in the afternoon.
I was weeding Onions.
Grace went down to the Hall in the evening to see about the Christmas Tree.
Wednesday 24th It as a fine day, wind strong from SW. Willie was cutting Danthonia in the barley paddock. In the morning I went down to the village to post a letter, carried up a bag of sand.
I finished weeding the Onions the top side of the house and then I commenced weeding the Schalottes below the house. Flo came here in the afternoon with the children to go to the Xmas tree this evening with Grace & Willie. I did not go as my back is bad.
Thursday 25th Christmas day. It was a fine day ‘tho dull, wind SW.
Flo & the children came home from the Xmas tree with Willie & Grace and staid the night, and Harold came over for dinner. I staid in bed until dinner time as my back is still very bad.
Friday 26th It was a fine day. Willie was cutting Danthonia all day.
Although my back was bad I was working in the garden all day, tidying up and cutting the grass on the paths. Flo returned home in the evening. In the evening I went down to attend to the Library, there was a dance in the Hall, but I did not stay.
Saturday 27th It was a fine day. The overland mail from Warkworth arrived here at 1.30 pm. I went down for our mail. Willie was cutting Danthonia.
Sunday 28th It was a fine day. Grace & Willie drove to Ti Point to spend the day with Harold & Flo, I drove with them as far as the Ti Point school and then walked on to the Claim to spend the day with Jim & Jane.
Monday 29th It was a fine day. Willie was picking Burbank plums.
I was helping him in the afternoon. Grace returned from Ti Point in the afternoon bringing Edith with her to stay while Harold & Flo are in Auckland.
I went down to the village in the afternoon to get the mail.
Tuesday 30th It was a very hot day. Willie hauled 30 Cases Burbanks and a box of eggs down to the wharf in the morning and I went down later on when the “Kawau” was in to take the steward some flowers. A lot of people went away by her, returning to Auckland after the holidays. Willie was cutting Danthonia.
My back is still bad & I am not able to do much.