February 1896

Sunday 2nd   It was a fine day.   I read service in the Hall in the pm.

Monday 3rd   The school re-opened after the Xmas holidays.  The girls, Willie & I were picking plums, a great many have split on the trees.  There was a very heavy shower of rain in the afternoon.  Willie P. & Henry were cutting tea tree.

Tuesday 4th   It was a fine day.   The girls & I finished picking fruit.  Henry & Willie hauled the fruit down to the Wharf.  The remainder of the day they cut tea tree.  They hauled a load of Grass Seed from the E.R.

Wednesday 5th  It was a fine day.   Henry & Willie were hauling Grass Seed from the E.R.

Thursday 6th   It was a fine day.    Henry & Willie thrashed the Red Top in the E.R.  also thrashed some of the Cocksfoot a second time.
I turned over some of the Cocksfoot and cut tea tree.

Friday 7th   Willie & Henry finished hauling the Grass Seed also finished cutting the tea tree, and in the evening they got the sheep into the pen near the E.R., and put all the Lambs & Whethers into the E.R.   I killed a Sheep in the evening and then went to the Library to a meeting.

Saturday 8th   It was a fine day.   Henry & Willie cut the line between Haskells and our place, we had an early dinner and Henry & Minnie and Jane went over to Big Omaha to the cricket match.
Willie & Maud went down to the beach to fish, but did not catch any.

Sunday 9th   It was a fine day.   Maud, Willie and the children went home after dinner, Jane went up the hill part of the way with them to help carry their parcels.  Sandy Matthew was here for dinner, he went with us to Church in the afternoon (I officiated ) he and Jim Dunning were here for tea.

Monday 10th   It was a fine day.   Henry went to Tomarata this morning to dig gum.
I wattled the fence between our place and Haskells in the morning and dug Potatoes in the orchard in the afternoon.
Jane went to spend the evening at Mrs Dunnings.

Tuesday 11th  It was a fine day.   I was mending the fence round the orchard fence.  Henry returned from Tomarata in the evening.
I went down to the Steamer.

Wednesday 12th    It was a fine day.   Henry returned  from  to Tomarata in the morning.
Minnie went up to Mauds and spent the day.
I was digging Potatoes in the orchard.

Thursday 13th   It was a fine day.    I was digging Potatoes in the orchard.   The Mahurangi  Fruitgrowers Show was today.  Jane went with the Miss Hardings to the concert in the evening.

Friday 14th     It was a fine day.    We got a Sheep out of the E.R. in the morning and killed it in the evening .  I was getting material to mend up Haskells fence in the pm.  Jane returned from Warkworth at day break this morning, she staid up at Miss Hardings and came home in the afternoon.

Saturday 15th   It was a hot day.  I was mending the fence between our place and Haskells all day.  There was a meeting of the Show Committee in the Hall in the evening.  Henry returned from Tomarata in the evening.

Sunday 16th   It was a hot day.   I read service in the Hall in the afternoon.  The Miss Hardings,  C.  Gravatt & Jim Dunning were here for tea.  Walter Wyatt came over from the Kawau in the pm and was here for tea also.

Monday 17th    It was a hot day.  Willie stayed at home from school and was helping picking fruit.   Walter Wyatt also helped.  We picked 7 Cases Golden Drop Plums and one Case of Peaches.
Jane and I went to spend the evening at Miss Hardings,  Mrs & Miss Fordham and Mr Shepherd were there.

Tuesday 18th   It was a very fine day.  I rode over to the Matakana Show early in the morning.  Minnie & Walter also went later on in the day.  There were a great quantity of people there, and the Show was in every respect a great success.
I got home about dark, having enjoyed a very pleasant day.   Joseph Wyatt hauled our fruit down to the Wharf.

Wednesday 19th   It was a fine day.   Henry came home, having been to Matakana to get a tooth out, he called in here and got his dinner and then went back to Tomarata.
Walter Wyatt went back to the Kawau in the afternoon.

Thursday 20th   It was a fine day.  I was mending up the fence again next to Haskells & making Cases.   Minnie & Jane went over to see Mrs A. Meiklejohn in the pm.

Friday 21st   It was a fine day.   I was digging Potatoes in the orchard.

Saturday 22nd   It was a fine day.   I finished digging Potatoes in the orchard, and was then chipping round some Damson trees.

Sunday 23rd   It was a fine day.   I rode over to Matakana in the morning to attend service, as Revd J. Haselden was holding service in the Presbyterian Church.  I went home with Mr Jac Morgan and had dinner there, and looked round his orchard in the afternoon.
We then walked to Mr J. Ropers and had a look round his orchard and had tea there. When I was coming home I was cahght in a heavy shower of rain, but I was in the lightest of it , as it seemed the heaviest at Matakana.

Monday 24th   It was a fine day.  Mrs Fordham & Mrs Grindrod came up here in the morning and staid to have some lunch.
Jane, Willie & I were picking Damsons in the farm orchard.   Henry returned from Tomarata late at night.   The fire is raging in the bush over there so they had to pull down their tents and carry all their things in a place of safety.

Tuesday 25th   It was a fine day.  Henry took Johns horse over to Pamara (?)  to bring his horse home.
We were picking Damsons and Vicar of Wingfield Pears.   Henry hauled them down to the Wharf with the bullock in the evening.  We sent away 7 Cases Damsons, and 5 Cases Pears.  There was a Soiree in the Hall in the evening as a winding up of the monthly dances.

Wednesday 26th   It was a fine day.  Henry returned to Tomarata in the afternoon.
The girls, Willie and I went to Mrs Fordhams to spend the evening.

Thursday 27th   It rained a little in the evening, but it turned out a fine hot day.   Willie & I were making a wattled fence next Haskells also tightened up the wire at the top of the hill.

Friday 28th   It was a fine day.  The prizes won by the children were distributed at the School in the pm.  The parents and friends were invited and the Miss Hardings dispensed afternoon tea.
It rained a little in the evening.

Saturday 29th   It rained a little last night,  but it was a fine hot day. Willie and I took a Lamb out of Mr Neeleys.   Henry returned from Tomarata in the evening.   Minnie went to Mrs Arthur Wrights at Pakiri.