February 1898

Tuesday 1st   It was a fine day.  We finished picking the fruit and hauled it down to the wharf.  The Steamer cam in about 2.30 and brought most of the cricketers back from Auckland.
Mr Otway came up to survey the road up from the wharf.
Revd W. E. Lush came to conduct services in place of Mr Cowie, he came and staid at our place.

Wednesday 2nd   It was a fine day.   I was down with Mr Otway surveying the road.
We had a lot of callers,  Mrs G. Cruickshank,  Maud,  Miss Niccol,  Miss Townsend &  Minnie, the latter three staid for tea , there was a large party of us.

Thursday 3rd   It was a fine day.   Revd Lush rode to Pakiri in the morning.
I was digging Potatoes.
Miss Harding & Jane rode up the hill and called on Jno Greenwood and Kempts.
Minnie & I went to Mr Masefields to spend the evening.

Friday 4th   It was a fine day.   I was digging Potatoes in the morning .  Went to Walter Frearsons in the pm.  He paid me an account for mutton supplied amounting to 18/11½ .
Killed a Sheep in the evening.

Saturday 5th   A few showers of rain, but nothing to speak of.  Took the mutton out in the morning.  Picked 5 Cases of Orleans Plums in the afternoon.  In the evening I went down to R. Mathesons to get him to audit the Organ and Church Accounts.

Sunday 6th   It was a fine day.   Miss Harding rode to Pakiri in the morning with Honor Wyatt returning in the pm.  In the afternoon I rode to Dacres Claim to service conducted by Revd W. E. Lush, he rode back with me for tea and then he held service in the Hall in the evening,  there was a congregation of about 50 and a Collection of 15/10½ .  Mr Lush staid with us.

Monday 7th   Revd Lush went to Mr Masefields early in the morning to give the Communion to Mrs Copeland.  It came on to rain after breakfast and it rained all morning, but it cleared up in the afternoon.  We then commenced to pick Orleans Plums in the farm orchard, Charlie Wyatt came and helped us, we picked 9 cases and then it came on to rain again and we had to leave off.  There was a dance in the Hall in the evening as a farewell to Miss Harding who is returning to Auckland tomorrow.

Tuesday 8th   It was a fine day, wind blowing strong from SW.  Joe Wyatt, Albert, xxx Mills & Beckie Brown came to help us pick Orleans.  Mr Lush also helped.  We picked 14 Cases.  The Steamer was late getting in and it was after 5 pm before she left.  We sent 28 Cases of Orleans Plums to Mennie & Dey.  Miss Harding & Revd Lush went up by her.

Wednesday 9th   It was a fine day.   I picked all the plums off the ground in the farm orchard, we split open the firmest ones and place them out in the sun to dry.  I took a bucket full down to Harpers.

Thursday 10th   It was a fine day.   I was putting sticks and tying up the tomatoes.  Hoed amongst the Kumeras.  The weight of the Butter Crock without the lid  10 ¾ lbs.

Friday 11th  It was a fine day, but very warm and close.  I was doing odd jobs.  Killed a Sheep in the evening.

Saturday 12th   It was a fine day.   Took the mutton down to Harpers in the morning,  Afterwards went down to the wharf to see Alex Matheson who is making a new truck and fixing steel rails on to the wharf.   Hauled two loads of firewood   and did odd jobs.
The “Kawau” called in about 1 pm to take Mr Harvey to town.  There was a cricket match on the Race Course in the afternoon between the Ti Point and Little Omaha schools, the latter won in one innings and over 30 runs to spare.

Sunday 13th   It was a fine day tho’ rather dull.   Willie rode up to Mauds returning in the evening.
Mr & Mrs Salt came to spend the day and George Wyatt & Maud Anderson came in the afternoon & staid tea.  I read service in the Hall in the evening.

Monday 14th   It was a fine day.   Willie & I were picking plums all day in the farm orchard .  Miss Niccol & Miss Townsend came here in the evening and had a game of cards.  I went to Mrs Masefields in the evening to take the eggs.

Tuesday 15th   It was a fine day.   Finished picking the plums in the morning and hauled down to the wharf 3 Cases  Golden Drop and 2 Cases Orleans Plums consigned to Mennie & Dey.  Hauled up 100 lb Flour from Harpers.

Wednesday 16th   It was a fine day.   I was picking some Beurre Capoumont Pears, Digging Potatoes and peeling Apples for drying.

Thursday 17th   It was a fine day.   I finished picking Beurre Capoumont Pears, making 3 Cases.  Dug potatoes, peeled apples and syringed some of the Pear Trees with helebore dissolved in water.  Jessie Matheson & Miss Boles came to spend the evening.

Friday 18th   It was a fine day, but the air was full of smoke.  Went down to the Post Office in the morning.  Dug some potatoes, cut up some Apples for drying, Killed a Sheep in the evening.
The girls and Miss Townsend went to a dance at Dacres Claim in the evening.

Saturday 19th   It was a fine day.   Took the mutton out in the morning.  Willie went out in a boat fishing with Walter Frearson in the pm, he brought home a large Kawhai that he caught and a Schnapper that Walter gave him.
There was a meeting of the Road Board in the evening, it was decided to proceed with the making of the new road to the wharf.

Sunday 20th   Passed a very quiet day at home.  Read service in the Hall in the evening.

Monday 21st   It was a fine day.   We were picking Damsons all day.  Went down to Mrs Fordhams in the evening on business of the Road Board.

Tuesday 22nd   It was a fine day.   We finished picking & packing fruit and hauled it down to the wharf.  The Steamer did not come until after her advertised time as she went to the Little Barrier before she came here.

Wednesday 23rd   It was a fine day.   Mr Masefield  &  Mr Copeland came over in the morning, the former to pay me for the eggs.
Jane  &  Miss Townsend  rode over to Big Omaha, called at Mr Matthews and had tea there.  I went over to Masefields in the afternoon to see about some fowls.
Roderick Matheson came in the evening to register the birth of a son.

Thursday 24th   It was a fine day.  Willie & I got the bullocks up in the morning and took them over to Mr Masefields and brought home 20 Fowls, also a hen and 15 chickens.

Friday 25th    It was a fine day.  Went over to Walter Frearsons in the morning to see if he was going to get his sheep up, but he was not, so we got our own up to pick one out to Kill.  We then picked Damsons in the farm orchard.
Killed a Sheep in the evening.

Saturday 26th   A fine day.  Walter Frearson got his Sheep up in the morning and picked out 7 wethers which I bought for 6/- each, we tried to bring them home by the road, but they bolted away except 1 which I brought home on a rope.  Picked Damsons in the afternoon .
Took 8 Doz Eggs to Masefields in the evening.
Minnie came home from Handbys.

Sunday 27th   It was a fine day.  Jane & Alf Wyatt rode up to Mauds to spend the day.  Revd R. McKinney held service in the Hall in the morning, there was a large congregation.
Mrs James Greenwood , Ida, and Jack Greenwood came here for dinner.

Monday 28th   It was a fine day.  Alf Wyatt came here to help us pick Damsons, we were picking in the morning and part of the afternoon, we then hauled 14 Cases down to the Wharf consigned to  Messrs Mennie & Dey, we then hauled a load for Mr Masefield down to the wharf , as they are going away tomorrow, I bought a couch from him, also hauled up a Sack of Maize from Harpers store.
Archie Dunning set fire to his bush in the afternoon.

Memo
The Fowls laid 224 Eggs during the month of February,
being 18½  Doz  –  valued at
8½  Doz   at    9d                          6    4½
10 Doz    @  11d                          9    2   
     15    6½