February 1904

Monday 1st   It was a fine day.  We picked some fruit intending to send it away in the “Kapui“, but when Willie took it down to the wharf the “Kapui” had just gone out.

Tuesday 2nd   It was a fine day.  I was not very well, Willie was cutting tea tree on the hill.  There was a Social in the Hall in the evening , Jane & Willie went.

Wednesday 3rd   Willie & I were cutting tea tree on the hill.  It rained very heavy in the afternoon.

Thursday 4th   It was a very showery.  Jane intended going to Matakana in the afternoon to hear the Black Family, but could not on account of the weather.  Willie & I were cutting tea tree between the showers.

Friday 5th   It was a fine day.  Got the Sheep up in the morning and killed one in the afternoon.  In the evening I went down to the Post Office and Library.  Joe T came in the evening and wanted Jane to go with him to mind the children tomorrow while he & Minnie went to Warkworth, so Jane went with him.

Saturday 6th   It was a fine day.  Willie took the mutton out and then went fishing to Ti Point.  Jane returned home in the pm .  I went down to the Store in the pm, also to the wharf where I found a parcel of books for the Library, which I carried to the Library and catalogued.

Sunday 7th   It was a fine day.  The McGregor Cos  Kawau” arrived from Auckland about 7 am this morning.  Fred Simpson and Noel Wallace came up in her to pay us a visit, I went down to the wharf to meet them.  Minnie Joe & children came over to spend the day with us.

Monday 8th   It was a fine day.  Fred, Noel & Willie went over to Ti Point to spend the day.  Bob & Gus Neeley came in the evening to have a game of cards, but the boys did not return from Ti Point until after they were gone.

Tuesday 9th   It was a fine day.  Fred & Noel went to the Goat Island beach in the morning .  I was down to the Steamer in the pm.  Nelly Lloyd came here in the afternoon to register the birth of Alf Gravatts child, she staid for tea.  Jane, Fred & Noel went down to the Tennis in the evening.

Wednesday 10th   It was a very showery day.  Noel & Fred went to Ti  Point returning in the evening.

Thursday 11th   It was a bit dull in the morning, but it turned out a very fine day.  Jane, Fred & Noel went over to the Matakana Show , Willie went fishing to Ti Point, returning late at night.

Friday 12th   Fred & Noel returned from Matakana just in time for breakfast , Jane did not return home until the evening.   There was a few heavy showers in the afternoon.  Fred & Noel helped us to get the Sheep in front and we killed a wether.  I went down to the Post Office in the evening.

Saturday 13th   Willie took the mutton out in the morning.  Fred & Noel went with him over to Ti Point.  Jane went down to Tennis in the afternoon. I was cutting tea tree on the hill.

Sunday 14th   There were several showers during the day.  Fred, Noel & Willie went over to Ti Point to spend the day.  Jane & I remained at home.

Monday 15th   The McGregor CosKawau” called in here on her way from Mangawai to Auckland.  Noel Wallace went up in her.  Fred, Willie & I went down to the wharf to see him off.  Mr Torkington & Charlie Mayall were also down there, they came up here and had dinner.  There was a very heavy shower of rain in the afternoon.  Mr Torkington went home in the middle of it, but Charlie Mayall staid here.

Tuesday 16th   It was a fine day.  Fred & Charlie Mayall went to Ti Point and returned here in the evening.  Willie & I picked 9 Cases of Bon Chrétien Pears, also packed 7 skins and hauled them down to the wharf in the afternoon.
I took 6 Doz Eggs to the Store and settled my account.
We heard that the McGregor CosKawau” had lost her propellor this side Takatu Point and had gone into Ti Point under sail .  Fred, Charlie & Willie went down to the wharf in the evening to meet the Coastal “Kawau“, but she had not put in an appearance at 10.30 pm, so they came home.

Wednesday 17th   It was a fine day.  The Coastal “Kawau” ran an excursion to the Kawau charging adults 2/- a head and school children free, the steamer seemed loaded with passengers when she arrived here.  15 adults went up from here besides the children, Fred, Charlie Mayall & Willie went.  I was cutting tea tree on the hill.  The “Claymore” came from Auckland and towed the little “Kawau” up to town.

Thursday 18th   It was a fine day.  Fred & Charlie Mayall went over to Ti  Point and they both staid there all night.  Willie and I were cutting tea tree.

Friday 19th   It was a fine day.  We got the Sheep up from the front and we killed a Wether in the afternoon.  We were burning tea tree and grass on the hill.  There was a meeting of the School Committee in the School in the evening.
Bob Neeley came to our place and Fred returned from Ti Point and we had a game of cards.

Saturday 20th   It was a fine day.  I went down to the wharf to see Fred off, Charlie Mayall also went away in her.  Willie took the mutton out also to Ti Point and did not return home until late in the evening.  There was a Tennis Match on this court between the Omaha and Claim Clubs, the Claim won, the ladies provided a good tea on the ground , there was a dance in the Hall in the evening and they gave them supper.

Sunday 21st   It was a fine day.  Revd R. McKinney held service in the Hall in the morning, there was a large congregation, he mentioned that this would be the last time of holding service here.  After lunch I went over to Alec Haskells and walked with him over to the Claim Hall to Revd McKinney’s service, there was also a large congregation present, on returning home I called in at Alec Haskells and had tea there.
Willie went to Ti Point to spend the day.  Jane rode to Matakana in the afternoon, intending to stay at Cruickshanks to night and to proceed to Warkworth tomorrow.

Monday 22nd   It was a fine day.  Willie and  I were burning grass and tea tree on the hill.  Charlie Wyatt called in the evening.

Tuesday 23rd   It threatened rain in the morning, but it cleared up and was a fine day.  Willie and I were cutting tea tree & burning grass on the hill.  We went down to the Steamer in the pm, we had a box of Groceries up from Dumpers.  Mr Handby hauled it up to our gate.

Wednesday 24th   It was a fine day, tho’ rather dull.  Our calf got out yesterday and we found it in Mr T. Knaggs paddock this morning.  We were burning tea tree in the front.  Jane returned from Warkworth in the evening.

Thursday 25th   It was a fine day.  We were cutting tea tree on the Hill above Alberts place.

Friday 26th   It was a fine day.  We got the Sheep up from the farm, and killed a Ewe in the afternoon.  We were cutting tea tree on the hill.  I went down for the mail in the evening.

Saturday 27th   It was a fine day.  Willie took the mutton out in the morning.  I went down to the wharf and store in the afternoon calling in at the tennis court.

Sunday 28th   It was a fine day.  Mr & Mrs Jack Cruickshank drove over in the morning, Jack returned home in the afternoon, but Mrs Jack is going to stay with us until after the Show.

Monday 29th  It was a very hot day.  We got the Sheep up from the front and we killed a big wether in the pm.  We were cutting tea tree behind Alberts place.