January 1906

Monday 1st   It was a beautiful day.  The usual pic nic was held over at the Domain.  I rode over and also back, all the others walked.  There was a great crowd there having come from all surrounding districts,  there were sports of all kinds.  I met many old friends that I generally meet once a year.  I had my lunch with the Jack Cruickshanks and tea with the Torkingtons & D. Knaggs.
I came home early to milk the cows and feed the animals.  The young people staid for the dance.  Willie brought his boat round, the Wallace boys came with him.

Tuesday 2nd   It was a fine day.  The boys went out in the boat, but could not catch any fish.

Wednesday 3rd   It was a fine day.  In the morning we picked 2 Cases Early Orleans & 2 Cases of Burbank, we hauled them down to the wharf in the afternoon , the Steamer did not get in until late.  Willie took the bullock home and hauled a Bag of Sugar and a Bag of Flour that we got at Harpers.  The girls came down to Tennis and had tea at Mrs Dunnings and went down to meet the Steamer in the evening.  I had some Fruit Cases up which I stacked them on the wharf.

Thursday 4th   It was a fine day.  We all went down to the wharf in the morning to see Elsie Bacon off by the “Kawau” who is returning to Auckland.  We took the bullock down and hauled up 41 Cases and all the lids.  The young people went a pic nic to the Maori Island in Willies boat, the boys brought home a lot of Schnappers.

Friday 5th   It was a fine day.  Willie was cleaning & smoking the fish.  I cut the brambles near the back gate and burnt them.
Grace returned rode to Ti Point returning in the evening.

Saturday 6th   It was a fine day.  We got up early as Grace is leaving this morning, Willie carried her bag down to the wharf, the “Kawau” called in on her way from Mangawai about 6.30 am, 12 Passengers went from here and some fruit.
It came on to rain in the afternoon and it rained all evening.

Sunday 7th   It rained most of the morning, it cleared up a little in the afternoon, but it came on again in the evening.  This is the most rain we have had for some time and it has sunk deep into the ground.
Mr French should have held service in the afternoon, I went down to the Hall, but there were no one about so I came home.

Monday 8th   It was a fine day.  We picked 4 Cases Burbanks, 1 Mixed Plums & 5 Cases Jargonelle Pears,  also 1 Case of Jargonelles for Mr Wallace.  I was digging round some of the Burbank trees.  The boys went fishing in the evening and caught about 16 schnappers & 2 sharks.

Tuesday 9th   It was a beautiful calm day.  We got up early in the morning as Jane and the Wallace boys are going to Auckland, we hauled the fruit and the luggage down to the wharf, we were in plenty of time as the “Kawau” had a lot of fruit to take in, there were several passengers from here,  we hauled up 24 fruit cases and 2 Sharks.
In the afternoon we cut up the sharks and packed them in an old zinc tub in the orchard for manure.
I was digging round some of the trees in the orchard.

Wednesday 10th   It was a fine day beautifully calm.  Willie and I were digging out convolvulus & other bad weeds in the orchard, I had small fires to burn the rubbish up.  We had an early tea and then we went down to the village afterwards to meet the steamer.  Willie took a letter over to Ti Point to Mrs Harold Torkington.

Thursday 11th   It was a fine day beautifully calm, Willie and I were digging out weeds in the orchard all day.
In the evening went fishing with Willie Dunning, they caught 7 or 8 schnapper & 1 5 ft Shark.  Willie D.  took 2 fish home and our Willie 4 leaving the remainder in the boat.

Friday 12th   It was a fine day.  In the morning Willie and I went down to the wharf to bring up the remainder of the fish, but Willie gave the shark to George Wyatt for bait so there were only 2 schnappers to bring home.
In the evening I went down for the mail also to the Library.  Willie went to stay at Archie Dunnings to go with them to the Mahurangi Heads regatta early tomorrow morning.

Saturday 13th   It was a very hot day.  I was digging out weeds in the orchard all day.  Willie went to the Heads Regatta early this morning and returned late at night after I was in bed.

Sunday 14th   It was a fine day.   Willie went over to Ti Point to spend the day.  I rode over to Pakiri in the morning, had dinner at Johny Salts, had a look round his orchard in the afternoon, and then went up to Mr Wittens,  Mr W.  showed me round the orchard, had tea there and rode home in the evening.

Monday 15th   It was a fine day.  Willie and I were digging round the Burbanks at the bottom of the orchard, afterwards we picked 7 Cases Burbanks.  I went down to the wharf to meet the steamer.

Tuesday 16th   It was a fine day.  We picked 4 Cases Jargonelle Pears, hauled them and the 7 Cases of Burbanks down to the wharf in the afternoon, the “Kawau” had a very big load, she was here about two hours taking it in.  It came on to blow strong from  E  in the evening.

Wednesday 17th   It was blowing strong from the E last night accompanied with rain , it was also blowing today, but it calmed down in the afternoon.  I went down to the village with a chance of the Steamer coming – and for a wonder she did come, but she had a very rough passage.  She brought 194 Fruit Cases for me and a Fowl Crate which I stacked on the wharf.

Thursday 18th   It was a fine day and the wind has gone down.  In the morning Willie and I picked 4 Cases Jargonelles and 1 Case Apricots and took them down to the wharf and hauled up some empty cases. Willie Dunning came to spend the evening.

Friday 19th   It was a fine day.  Willie was down on the flat all day painting his boat.  I was digging out weeds in the orchard.  In the afternoon I went down to the wharf to meet the “Kawau” to try and get some bread, but I could only get a small loaf.
The scow “Glennie” is in the harbour with a party of excursionists from Auckland on board, they gave a free dance in the Hall in the evening, there were several ldies of the party who played, sang and recited very nicely.  Willie and I did not go down.

Saturday 20th   It was a fine day, but the wind is blowing strong from SW.  Willie and I were digging in the orchard.
There was a Tennis Match at Pakiri between Pakiri and Leigh Clubs, I did not go so I lent Empress to Miss McKenzie to go on and Willie Dunning called up here for her about noon.

Sunday 21st   It was a fine day.  Revd  Evans held service in this Hall in the afternoon.  Willie and I went, there was a large congregation, he held service at the Claim in the evening several went from here.

Monday 22nd   It was a fine day.  Willie was down at the beach all day painting his boat.  I was working in the orchard.  In the afternoon I went down to the wharf to meet the “Kawau” thinking that perhaps Jane might be coming, but she did not come.
It rained heavily in the evening.

Tuesday 23rd   It was a fine day.  Willie and I picked 4 Cases Burbank and 2 October Purple and hauled them down to the wharf,
I went down to the Tennis in the evening and from there to Archie Dunnings for a game of cards.  The “Kawau” came in from Mangawai about 9 pm, she was expected here this morning and there were about 10 passengers waiting to go by her and we were wondering what had kept her.  When she arrived we learned that a fire broke out in one of her coal bunkers last night and they had a difficulty in putting it out, and the vessel is much damaged, the passengers who were waiting and about 500 Cases Fruit went by her.
It came on raining heavily accompanied by thunder and lightening about 10.30 pm and Mr Dunning lent me an oilskin and lanthorn to go home.

Wednesday 24th   It was a fine day.  Willie and I picked 6 Cases Fruit and hauled them down to the wharf in the afternoon expecting to meet the Steamer, but a wire had come saying that a Steamer would not leave Auckland for here before 3 this afternoon , we therefore took the bullock home and we walked down again in the evening. The “Rob Roy” was the Steamer sent ad she did not arrive until nearly midnight, Jane and Tillie Coplestone came by her, Willie Dunning very kindly helped carry the luggage up here.

Thursday 25th   It was a fine day.   Willie and I were working in the orchard.  Mr & Mrs Dale came for me to witness their signature, they staid for lunch.  We all went down to Tennis in the evening.

Friday 26th   It was a fine day.  Willie was down at the beach looking after his boat and when he came up at dinner time he reported that the “Rob Roy” had not put in an appearance from Mangawai so we thought she would not come till evening so we picked 4 Cases Fruit and carried them down to the wharf in the evening, but we found that there Steamer had been in and out, so our fruit will have to wait until next Tuesday.
There was a meeting of the Hall Committee in the evening, also the Annual Meeting of the Library Subscribers.

Saturday 27th   It was a very hot day.   The Warkworth Tennis Club should have played a match here with the local club but nearly the last day they sent to say they could not come, so the Kia Ora club very kindly came to play a Match,  Omaha won every event, afternoon tea was dispensed  and there was a very enjoyable dance in the Hall in the evening.

Sunday 28th   It was a fine day.  Willie walked over to Ti Point in the morning, Jane and Miss Coplestone walked over there in the afternoon.  Jane returned in the evening, but Miss Coplestone staid at Mrs H. Torkingtons.

Monday 29th   It was a fine day.  In the morning I walked over to Mr G. Ashtons to witness the signature of Mr Ashton Senr who is staying there.  Willie was picking fruit in my absence and we were picking fruit in the afternoon.

Tuesday 30th   A fine day.  We were picking more fruit, we hauled it down to the wharf in the pm.  The “Rob Roy” called in while we were down there.  The girls went to Tennis in the evening, and Willie Dunning returned with them to spend the evening, we played cards.

Wednesday 31st   It was a fine day.  Willie and I were picking Orleans in the farm orchard in the morning.  While we were there Mr Dumper Junr came to us and he came home with us to lunch and afterwards he and I went down to the wharf to meet the “Rob Roy“, Mr Dumper is in this district to try & push business and is now staying at Mr Joseph Harpers  Pakiri.  Mr Sadler came in the evening for me to witness his signature.