February 1894

Thursday 1st   It was a fine day, but threatened for rain in the evening.   I was thrashing grass seed.  We killed a Sheep in the evening instead of tomorrow night as I am going to Whangarei with the Cricketers.

Friday 2nd   It rained heavily last night and it was showery nearly all day.  I took the mutton out in the morning.

Saturday 3rd   The SS “Kawau” called in early this morning to take the Cricketers to Whangarei.  I missed my passage.  It turned out a fine day.  I cleared up the back room and sieved the grass seed.

Sunday 4th   It was a fine day.  I rode over to Dacre’s Claim in the morning to attend service, there were very few present.  I returned for dinner.  Mr Voice was here in the afternoon and for tea.  I read service in the Hall in the evening, there was a very fair congregation.

Monday 5th   It was a fine day and hot, but it came on to blow from SE in the evening and threatened to rain.  I sowed 4 rows Negro Beans the top side of the house where the Peas were.  I planted them in drills 2 ft apart, bone dust in 3 drills, fowl manure in the other.   Cut Cocksfoot seed in the pigs paddock.

Tuesday 6th   It was a very hot day.  I finished cutting Cocksfoot seed in the Pigs Paddock in the morning and in the afternoon I rigged up a stage for splitting shingles in the E.R.

Wednesday 7th   It was a very hot day.  I cut Cocksfoot Seed in the farm orchard in the morning,  made a Case and picked 16 Doz Peaches in the farm orchard and sent them to Cuthbertson.
Steamer came in about 4 pm, we were down to the Wharf.   There was a Dance in the Hall in the evening.  The girls and Maud went. The Miss Kempts were here for tea.

Thursday 8th   It was a very hot day.  I was digging in the orchard in the morning and cutting tea tree in the pm.

Friday 9th   Made a maul.   Killed a Sheep in the morning. A very hot day.

Saturday 10th   A very hot day, I was thrashing Grass Seed.   Jane went up to Pratts.

Sunday 11th   A very hot day. I rode over to Dacre’s Claim Church in the morning, went to Mr Birdsall for dinner, returned home in the afternoon.  Sarah Greenwood, Ellan Kempt, Walter Wyatt, George Pratt & Mr Voice were here for tea.  I read service in the Hall in the evening, there was a good congregation.  Jane returned from Pratts with George Pratt.

Monday 12th   It was a very hot day.  I commenced to split shingles in the E.R.

Thursday 15th   It rained all day.  It was the Matakana Show, they were very unfortunate with the weather.  Charlie Wyatt went over and took a lot of exihibits over and gained 19 prizes.  Minnie sent a loaf of bread over by Charlie and got 2nd prize.  I intended going to the Show but the weather prevented me.  We were surprised in the evening by Willie and Henry walking in, they came up in the “Kawau” steamer to Matakana and walked from there, they came up from Taranaki in the “Mahinapua” to Onehunga the day before.  John did not come home he was going to Hawera and from there across to Napier.

Friday 16th   Henry & Willie rode to Matakana to fetch their bags which they left there.  I was splitting Shingles.  Killed a Sheep in the evening.

Saturday 17th   We got all the Sheep up into the Stockyard, we separated the Lambs from the Ewes, dosed them with Turpentine and Milk and put them into the Barley paddock.  We branded all the Sheep.
The Sheep stand as follows
Ewes bought of W.G. 30
Ewes                                    60
Lambs                                 42
Wethers                            17
Rams                                      2
Total                                 151
There was a meeting of the Farmers Association in the Hall in the evening.

Sunday 18th  Monday 19th   It was a fine day.  We picked the Damson in both orchards, we only picked 2 small Cases.

Tuesday 20th   It was a fine day.  I walked to Pakiri and brought home a Ram I bought of J. Harper.   Henry was cutting tea tree on the farm.

Wednesday 21st   It was a fine day.  I commenced splitting Shingles at the dry Kauri near the Creek.  Henry got up the Bullock and hauled up some timber to Harpers paddock for the Show.  We had a meeting of the Show Committee in the Hall before the arrival of the Steamer.
The Telephone is finished. I sent a wire to R. Ross asking him to act as Judge at the Show.  Mrs & Miss Stanton staid at our house all night.

Thursday 22nd.   I was splitting Shingles, Henry cutting tea tree, Minnie, Henry & I went to Dacre’s Claim to a Minstrel entertainment.

Friday 23rd   We got all the Sheep into the lower Sheep pen and put all the Wethers into the E.R.  also some old Ewes,  30 in there now altogether.

Saturday 24th   I was splitting Shingles in the morning.  Henry was cutting tea tree.  In the afternoon I was doing odd jobs at home. Henry went fishing, caught 4.  Willie returned from Tomarata.

Sunday 25th   It rained the greater part of the day.   There was no service.