December 1915

Wednesday 1st   Willie was planting Kumura plants in the farm orchard that came from Joe Torkington.   Grace & Nell went to Ashworths in the afternoon.  Fred returned from Ti Point.  I planted some more Dahlias.   Went round the harbour by the new road to look at Mrs D. Matheson’s flowers, got the mail and carried up sand. They started widening the road near the stone quarry at the wharf.

Thursday 2nd   It was a very fine day.  I planted out some Cosmea plants that Mrs D. Matheson gave me also planted some Dahlias. Willie showed Fred round the farm and Fred took some snap shots of the house & the cattle.

Friday 3rd     It was a very fine day.  I planted some Dahlia plants. Willie was spraying in this orchard.   Fred & I went down to the village in the morning, Fred took some snap shots of the Church, we were down to the wharf when the Steamer came in, she is making a round trip to day.
Fred & his wife left this evening, Willie drove them down to the Steamer,  Flo’ T & Edith returned with them on a visit to them at Dargaville.   I brought some sand with me in the sulky.
We shall miss our visitors very much because Fred is very good company.

Saturday 4th   It was a very fine day.  Willie finished spraying in this orchard and then he went to the farm orchard to spray the Lemons.
In the morning I went down to the wharf carried up some sand, Mr Addison Senr came to get my signature, he stayed lunch.    I went down to the Church in the evening to tidy up and to arrange some flowers, met Revd Macdonald there and a boy he brought with him, went down to the wharf & carried up some sand.

Sunday 5th    It was a very fine day.  I went to Communion at 8 am, there were 6 communicants.
Grace & Willie went to spend the day at Mr Glass’.   I staid at home.
Revd Macdonald held service in the evening all of us went, 37 present.  Collection for the day 12/7.

Monday 6th    It was a very fine day.  Willie planted some Cabbage plants in the farm orchard, I planted a row Canadian Wonder Beans.
In the afternoon I went down for the mail, carried up some sand.

Tuesday 7th   It was a very hot day.  Willie finished digging in the farm orchard.  I planted some Lobelia & Antirrhinum plants.  In the afternoon I went down to the Church to plane the outside door where is difficult to shut.  Carried up sand.

Wednesday 8th   It was rather dull and there was slight misty rain.
Willie & Dave Glass commenced to cut Danthonia in the front.
Mrs D. Matheson & Colin came to have a look round the garden, I gave her roots & cuttings, they staid for lunch.
In the afternoon I went down to the steamer, carried up some sand.

Thursday 9th   It was a very hot day.  Willie took down 2 Cases of Tibbitts plums and his butter & eggs to the wharf before breakfast and brought up 4 bungles of fruit case lids. In the afternoon he was cutting Danthonia with Dave.
I painted the Church gate in the morning carried up some sand, in the afternoon I painted our front gate and dug amongst the Roses, in the evening I went down for the mail & attended the Library.

Friday 10th   It was a very fine day. Willie was working at the Danthonia. I was working at the flower garden.

Saturday 11th   It was a very fine day.  In the morning I went down to the village to get the mail, carried up some sand. The Tennis opening was in the afternoon.  Grace & I went down for tea but we did not stay for the evening.

Sunday 12th    It was a fine day.
Willie drove over to the Claim & brought Jane & the children over here to spend the day, Jim rode, Mrs Handly also.   All of us went down to church in the afternoon, I officiated, congregation 36. Collection 8/-.
After Church I went home with Jim Greenwood and had tea there.

Monday 13th   It was a very fine day. I was working in the flower garden in the morning, I sowed seeds of  Zinnias and Asters and put out some little plant, also got firewood. In the afternoon I painted the front gate (2nd coat).
Went down to the steamer in the evening to get the mail, carried up some sand. Grace went down to the wharf & caught a lot of little fish.
Willie was working at the Danthonia.

Tuesday 14th   It was a very hot day.  In the morning I went down to where Willie & Dave are cutting Danthonia in the front, from there I went to see Tom Ashtons reaper & binder working on Archie Dunning’s Oats, but it broke down so they had to knock off.   I was working in the flower garden.   I planted two Cosmea plants.  Kate calved a Bull Calf.

Wednesday 15th   There was a misty rain first thing this morning and the grass was very wet, but it turned out a very hot day.
I was working in the flower garden.   Flo’ T & Edith returned from their visit to Dargaville, Mrs Simpson came as far as Auckland with them but she is staying at Wallaces until next Monday.

Thursday 16th   It was a very hot day.  I was working in the flower garden. I planted 1 Cosmea, sowed seeds of Mauve Cornflower in a box and Yellow Cornflower in a flower pot.  In the evening I went down for the mail & attended the Library, carried up a bag of sand.

Friday 17th    It was a very hot day. I was working in the flower garden.  I started digging at the front gate, took out the Daffodil bulbs that I came across and left them on the ground.
Bell calved a Bull Calf.
In the afternoon I went down to meet the steamer, the boys attending the Auckland Grammar School came home for the holidays, I got the mail and carried up a bag of sand.  In the evening the children attending the Ti Point School & Leigh gave a Concert in this Hall under the direction of Mrs Gravatt, all of us attended, beside the Concert there were stalls for the sale of goods and a Fish Pond – the affair was well attended.

Saturday 18th   It was a very fine day.  I was working in the flower garden.  Willie & Dave have been cutting Danthonia all this week.

Sunday 19th   It was a dull day. Revd Griffin (Methodist) held services in the Hall morning and evening, I attended both services.  In the afternoon I went to Mr C. Gravatts and staid for tea.

Monday 20th   It was a fine day.  I was suffering from Lumbago and was not able to do much. Willie was cutting Danthonia.

Tuesday 21st   It was a very hot day.  My back was a little better and I was able to do a little outside.

Wednesday 22nd   It was a very hot day.   I was working in the flower garden.  I went down to the steamer in the afternoon.   Mrs Simpson came up by her to stay with us.   Dave G. carted Willie’s butter & eggs down to the steamer and up a sack of Maize.

Thursday 23rd   It was a very hot day. I was working in the flower garden.   I planted out 1 Zinnia, 4 Larkspurs, 2 Calliopsis, & 2 Marigolds, also took up and replanted a clump of Nerene, or Guernsey Lily, also took up some Daffodils and put them into bags.
In the evening I went down for the mail  & attended the Library, there was a choir practice in the Church to practice Xmas Hymns.

Friday 24th   It was a bit showery to day. Willie had to leave off cutting Danthonia.  I was working in the flower garden.  Alma brought us a bags of Peas.
In the afternoon Grace & I went down to the Church to decorate it for tomorrow (Christmas Day).

Saturday 25th   Christmas Day.  We spent the day at home which ‘tho threatening yesterday,  turned out fine.   Harold, Flo’ & children came to spend the day with us.  In the evening I held service in the Church.   There was a very large congregation numbering over 60.   It was a very bright service with Xmas Hymns.  The Collection was for an Organ fund and amounted to £1 . 4 . 1.

Sunday 26th   It was a fine day with the exception of a shower in the afternoon.
We all went over to Ti Point to spend the day. Willie, Grace and Mrs Simpson drove and went to Harolds & I went to Joe’s, had dinner there and then in the afternoon I went across the beach to Jim’s where I staid the night.

Monday 27th    There were some slight showers first thing in the morning but it turned out a fine day, ‘tho it was very windy in the afternoon.   I returned home in the cream cart.   Lorrie Smith is driving the cart now.   Willie took the horse down to the wharf and hauled up a Sk  of manure, afterwards he planted some Kumeras that Joe gave him.
There was a dance in the Hall in the evening for patriotic purposes. Willie,  Grace & Mrs Simpson went.

Tuesday 28th     There were a few slight showers but not enough to do any good.
Willie planted Kumera & Cabbage plants in the farm orchard.
I took Mrs C. Wyatt two Dahlia plants and she gave me some Canadian Wonder bean seed, & when I got home I replanted the row of Canadian Wonder that did not come up.  In the afternoon I picked out in a box & tins some Zinnia plants.   Grace & Mrs Simpson spent the day with Mrs Handby.

Wednesday 29th   It was a very hot day. Willie & Dave commenced to thrash Danthonia in the afternoon.   I was working in the flower garden, I sowed seeds of Ten Week Stocks,  Asters & Arctotis.   In the afternoon Duncan Knaggs came to sign some documents.   I went down to the village but did not wait for the steamer, George Davis & Vic Simpson came up and dined here and went to Ti Point in the evening.
A cream Separator came up for Willie by the steamer.

Thursday 30th   It was a hot day. Willie & Dave continued thrashing Danthonia.  I was working in the flower garden.  George & Vic returned from Ti Point in the evening.  In the evening I went down for the mail & attended the Library.

Friday 30th  [sic: 31st]    It was a hot day.  I got up early in the morning and went down to the wharf to meet the Steamer from Auckland,  Alma Wallace and Leila Entwistle came up to stay with us.  Mrs Duncan Matheson came up in the morning & staid for lunch.  George & Vic went over to Ti Point.   Willie & Dave were not thrashing to day as Dave was not well.
Willie fixed up the Separator in the store and used it for the first time this morning.