February 1912

Friday    Thursday 1st   It was a very hot day.   Willie was thrashing danthonia in the Barley Paddock.  I went down to the village in the afternoon thinking to get the mail, but the “Kawau” went into Big Omaha first so had to go home without it, carried up a bag of sand.
Mrs Gravatt gave a Concert in the Public Hall chiefly by her pupils assisted by friends, there was a very large attendance, all of us went and enjoyed a pleasant evening.

Friday 2nd   It was a very hot day.  After breakfast I went down to the village to post some letters, carried up a bag of sand.  Willie was digging between & manuring the Tomatoes.  In the pm I was digging out periwinckle in the pigs paddock.
In the evening I went down for the mail and attended the Library.

Saturday 3rd   It was a very hot day.  In the morning I went down to the wharf when the “Kawau” arrived from Mangawai, a good many passengers went from here to Auckland mostly those returning to work or school duties after the holiday, a lot of fruit was shipped by her also several blocks of stone.  I carried up a lot of sand.
Willie was working on the graded road in the front and I was helping him in the pm.

Sunday 4th   It was dull in the morning, but it turned out a fine day.
I conducted service in the Hall in the afternoon for Revd MacDonald, there was a fair congregation, Collection 8/9, after church Willie & Grace went up to Charlie Wyatts and staid tea.

Monday 5th   It was a very fine day.  I was working in the flower garden, I pulled up the Clarkias & the Aquilegius which had finished flowering in the bed the upper side of the steps I sieved all the soil and planted some double pink Stocks that were in flower also an Antirhinum.
In the afternoon I took the horse & sleigh down to the wharf and got a load of sand.  Bert Wallace came up by the “Kawau” to stay with us, I also hauled up his luggage.  Willie was working on the grade road.

Tuesday 6th   It was a very fine day.  In the morning Willie hauled some fruit, box of eggs & crate of young roosters down to the wharf, Bert & I went down with him & I got a bag of sand which he hauled home.  In the pm Willie & Bert went out fishing and brought home a few fish.
I rode over to Jims, found them busy getting things ready for the Matakana Show tomorrow, stopped for tea, Mrs A. Greenwood & Archie Dunning were there, I rode home with Archie in the evening.

Wednesday 7th   It was a fine day, dull but not a hot day.  I got up very early to pick my flowers for a collection for the Matakana Show, John & Mrs Greenwood who were driving took them for me, I rode to Matakana with Archie Dunning.  I got 1st prize for the flowes, Jim & Jane got several prizes, I met a lot of old friends.  Got home about 8 oclock pm.
Willie & Bert went out fishing and caught a lot of schnappers.

Thursday 8th   It was a fine day.  After breakfast I took some fish up to Mrs Carrs and to Willie Dunnings.  Willie drove me down to the Village where I posted the newspapers and got the mail, Willie brought me up again in his wagon to our gate.
Willie smoked a lot of schnappers and was working at the grade road.

Friday 9th   It was a very hot day.  Willie & Bert were working at the grade road.  I went down for the mail and attended the Library in the evening.  There was also a choir practice, Willie, Grace & Bert attended.

Saturday 10th   It was a very fine day.  Willie Dunning drove me over to the Claim in his wagon, there were six of us rather many for one horse, but we walked up the hills.  I went to Janes and had lunch and then went to the Domain to witness a friendly cricket match between Pakiri and Omaha, 12 played on each side but Angus & Willie Dunning played for Pakiri.  Pakiri won the match but Willie Dunning made 72 runs.  I had tea in the Hall & staid for the dance and went home with Jim & Jane to stay the night.

Sunday 11th   There was a little rain early in the morning but it turned out a very fine day.  Willie, Grace & Bert walked over to spend the day with Jim & Jane so there was a large party of us.  In the afternoon Revd Macdonald held service in the Claim Hall, we all went, there was a very good congregation,  Mr Shannon & Mr Goeity (Churchwardens of Warkworth) had driven over for the service.  Collection 15/10.  After tea we walked home in the cool of evening.

Monday 12th   It was a fine day.  Willie & Bert were picking fruit and in the afternoon they went fishing and caught 24 schnappers.
My back was pretty bad and I was lying down most of the day.

Tuesday 13th   It was a fine day.  After breakfast I went down to the village for the mail, carried up a bag of sand.  Willie & Bert were working at the grade road.  Willie hauled the fruit down to the wharf in the afternoon.  I went down to the wharf in the evening.

Wednesday 14th   It was a fine day, but the wind was blowing pretty strong from NW.  Willie & Bert were working at the grade road.  I went down to meet the “Kawau” in the pm.  Ken Wallace came up to stay with us, Tillie & Gertie Coplestone also came up, but they went round in the steamer to Big Omaha to stay with Jim & Jane.  Mrs Mayall & children came in the morning and Charlie came in the pm & they staid all night with us.

Thursday 15th   It was very dull and threatening first thing in the morning, we were up early as the Mayalls are returning to Auckland by the “Kawau” which leaves here at 8 am, I went down to the wharf to see them off, carried up a bag of sand, coming home it started to rain which will do a great deal of good, but the wind soon changed round to SW and it cleared up and was a very fine day.  In the pm Ken & Bert walked over to the Claim to a cricket practice, had tea at Jims and returned here in the evening.  I went down to Charlie Wyatts and afterwards I was helping Willie with the grade road.

Friday 16th   It was beautiful & cool in the morning, wind at the S.  After breakfast I went down to the village to post some letters, carried up a bag of sand.  Willie, Ken & Bert went out fishing.  Tillie & Gertie Coplestone came here in the pm and had tea, in the evening Ken walked with them over to Jims.
In the afternoon I went down to the village to get the mail that came by the “Kawau” and to get some salt, also went down again after tea to get the overland mail and to attend the Library.

Saturday 17th  I was awakened in the middle of the night by loud thunder & vivid lightening and then it commenced a steady rain and rained steadily all morning, but cleared up in the afternoon.  I got some firewood in the pm.

Sunday 18th    It was a fine day.  Revd Blundell held service in the Hall in the morning, there was a fair congregation, I attended, Collection 18/6.  In the afternoon I walked up to Mr Handby and staid tea.

Monday 19th   It was a fine day.  I was digging some ground above where the broad beans were planted, I dug deep trenches and buried the bean haulm & horse manure in them.  Willie & Ken were picking fruit and they hauled it down to the wharf in the evening.  I went down to the village to get the mail.

Tuesday 20th   It was a very fine day.  Willie was busy picking in fruit for his collection tomorrow, Ken & I were helping him, we took some of the exhibits down to the Hall in the evening.  Jane who had come over to bring her exhibits came up with us to stay all night.

Wednesday 21st   The Annual Show was held today.  It was dull & threatening in the morning, but it turned out a fine day.  I was up at break of day picking flowers and took them down to the Hall after breakfast and arranged them, we were all busy taking down and arranging exhibits.  I got 1st Prize for my collection of flowers, Willie got 2nd Prize for collection of fruit, 2nd for Potatoes, 2nd for Cabbage,  Grace got 2nd Prize for Brown Bread.  Jane got 2nd prize for a Table Bouquet & 2nd for Buttonhole & Jim got 1st for Potatoes.
There was a very good concert in the evening all of us attended it and enjoyed it.  Jane came home with us & stayed all night.

Thursday 22nd   It was a fine day.  We all went to a Picnic to the Goat Island beach, the Archie Dunnings & Hettie went with us, and we spent a very pleasant day, Jane came home with us & staid the night.

Friday 23rd   It was a fine day.  Jane went to Mrs Dunning Senr this morning.  I went with her to carry her hamper, Jim came for her in the afternoon.
Willie & Ken rode to Warkworth to go to a sale, but found that it had taken place yesterday.
There was a choir practice in the evening, Willie & Grace attended.  I went for the mail and attended the Library.  Tillie & Gertie returned home with us to stay.

Saturday 24th   It was a fine day.  Ken Wallace returned to Auckland in the “Kawau” which left here at about 2 pm  I took the sleigh down to the wharf with his luggage and to see him off, we were sorry to lose Ken as we all like him very much,  the “Kawau” had a good many passengers, I hauled home a load of sand.
Willie, Grace and the two Coplestone girls went to Pakiri in the afternoon to take part in the Service of Song this evening.  Eddie Wyatt drove the girls & Willie rode.
The tenders for the new wharf had to be in this evening.

Sunday 25th   It was a fine day.  Revd Paris conducted service in the Hall in the afternoon, Willie, Gertie Coplestone & I attended.  Collection 15/9.
Hettie Wyatt, Miss Bourne & Miss Nedland came up here for tea,  after tea Tillie & Gertie walked over to Whangateau to stay with Jane.

Monday 26th   The wind was blowing strong from E.S.E, it was threatening for rain, but we did not get any.  In the morning I was gathering flower seeds, cleaning it and putting it into packets.  In the pm I was burning clay in the front garden and digging up bulbs.
Willie was thrashing Danthonia a second time and in the pm he went over to Ernest Wyatts to weigh the Danthonia seed he sold to Ernest.  It weighed 628 lbs net.

Tuesday 27th   It rained last night and it has freshened things up a bit.  The “Kawau” stayed at the Kawau last night on account of the easterly wind, but she came on here this morning,  I went down after breakfast to get the mail.  Willie was picking fruit & he took it down to the wharf in the afternoon .  I also went down to get some sand & Willie hauled it up for me.  Willie cleaned out the fowl house in the evening.
I received by this morning’s mail a letter from my brother Henry

Wednesday 28th  It rained last night and there was a misty rain during the day.  Fred Davey & a friend Mr Newsome came up by the “Kawau” to stay with us.  Willie took the horse & sleigh down to the wharf and hauled up part of their luggage and some goods from Newdick (Grocer).  It rained very heavily in the evening.

Thursday 29th   It rained steadily nearly all morning and we were not able to do anything out of doors.  In the afternoon Fred & Mr Newsome walked over to Ti Point.  Willie and I were working on the grade road, but a shower of rain drove me home.