January 1910

Saturday 1st   There were a few slight showers first thing in the morning, but it turned out a very hot day with a nice breeze blowing from SW.  We all went to the Annual Picnic which is always held at Whangateau Domain, the Committee who had the getting up of the sports engaged the Warkworth Band which greatly enlivened things, there were all sorts of sports got up to entertain the public.  I had lunch with the Sadlers & tea with Minnie & I arrived home before dark, but the young people staid later.

Sunday 2nd   It was a fine day.   Revd  K. Teale (Anglican) held service in the Hall in the afternoon, there was a fair congregation , 16/6 was collected.  After church Willie & Grace went to Mr Ashworths for tea & Mr & Mrs Duncan Knaggs who came to church in their buggy came up here for tea.

Monday 3rd   It was a fine day, wind from SW.  In the morning Bert helped us get the Sheep in from the farm.  We killed a whether in the pm and left the remainder of the sheep in the barley paddock.  Flo was over from Ti Point and had dinner here, Grace returned with her in the afternoon.  I was tying up the Tomatos at front gate.

Tuesday 4th   It was a very hot day.  In the morning Bert walked over to Ti Point to go fishing with Vic Simpson & D. Knaggs’ boys, returning here later in the evening.  Willie took the mutton out and then he rode to Ti Point, he brought Grace home on Harold’s horse, and after dinner they both rode down to the Goat Island.  I went down to the Steamer.  Mrs Gravatt & Miss Pilcher came to spend the evening.

Wednesday 5th   It was a very hot day.  In the morning Bert & I went down to the village to get the egg box from the wharf and also a parcel of pictures from the P.O that my sister Jane sent out from England for me, afterwards we picked 5 Cases of Jargonell Pears & 1 Case Burbanks.  Willie hauled them down to the wharf in the pm,  later in the pm Bert rode to the Claim to have a game of cricket.  Jane spent the pm at old Mrs Dunnings.

Thursday 6th   It was a very hot day.  Jane, Willie, Grace & Bert went to Ti Point to a picnic.  I staid at home.

Friday 7th   It was a fine day.  Willie sprayed the Apple trees.  Miss Pilcher came in the pm and staid tea.  Bert returned from Ti Point  in the evening , I went down for the mail and attended the Library.  Afterwards I went to Mrs Gravatts and spent a very pleasant evening.

Saturday 8th   It was cloudy in the morning and there were misty showers several times during the day.  Jane & Bert went to Matakana to see a Cricket match between Omaha and Welsford, Omaha won.  Willie & Grace went fishing to Ti Point returning in the evening with some fish.  I staid at home and was working in the flower garden, went down to the village in the pm to get the mail.  It settled into a steady rain in the evening.

Sunday 9th   There was a misty rain nearly all day.  Mr Wilson (Presbyterian) held service in the morning, but none of us went, I heard afterwards that there were 20 present.

Monday 10th   It was a fine day, but it is misty on the ranges as if the rain is not all over, wind NW.
Grace returned to Auckland per “Kawau” which called in here at 9 am,  Willie hauled her luggage down and brought home a bag of sand for my garden, Bert & I were also down, when we got home  Rode to Ti Point to take a letter to Mrs H. Torkington.  We dug the potatoes the top side of the house and camped them under the house.  Killed a Sheep in the evening.

Tuesday 11th   It rained steadily early this morning until about 6 am , but it turned out a very hot day.  Willie took the mutton out after breakfast and then we started picking fruit, we picked 10 Cases Jargonell  Pears & 6 Cases Burbanks.  Mrs Ashworth & Mrs Wild called in the afternoon.  I went down to meet the “Kawau“.
Messrs G. Rollinson & W. Birss and 30 St Matthews choir boys came down by her to camp at Ti Point.  I had a letter from my brother Henry, he told me that my sister Fanny was very ill and not expected to live.

Wednesday 12th   It was a very hot day.  In the morning Willie hauled the 16 Cases of fruit down to the wharf and he brought up a bag of sand for me.  In the pm we picked 11 Cases Jargonells.

Thursday 13th   There were some slight showers during the day. and in the evening it rained steadily.  Willie & Bert picked 1 Case Jargonell Pears ,  4 do Burbanks,  1 mixed Plums.
Mrs & Alma Wallace came up by the “Kawau“, I took the horse down for their luggage,  Jane & Bert also went down to meet them.

Friday 14th   A few slight showers.  In the morning I hauled the 17 Cases Fruit down to the wharf for the “Kawau“, and hauled up some sand.  Willie was spraying Pear trees.  In the evening there was a concert in the Hall to get funds to pay for a band for the Show, we all went.

Saturday 15th   Several showers during the day.  Jane rode to Pakiri to a cricket match between Omaha & Kia Ora, Omaha won.  Willie & Bert went fishing to Ti Point.

Sunday 16th   There was a misty rain in the morning.  I rode over to the Claim.  Messrs Rollinson and Birss conducted service, they were accompanied by about 26 boy scouts.  I returned home for dinner and went to Mr Jory’s service in the afternoon, Mr & Mrs Jno Greenwood  came for tea and we all went down to the Hall in the evening.  Messrs Rollinson and Birss conducted service, the boy scouts were present , there was a very large congregation, £1 was collected which was given to the Omaha Bible Class.

Monday 17th   It was a fine day, ‘tho dull in the pm .  I was not at all well and was lying down most of the day.  Willie & Bert picked 15 Cases Burbanks and hauled them down to the wharf in the pm and brought me up a bag of sand.  Mrs Wallace & Alma walked to Ti Point in the morning , they called at Minnies and Flo’s and on their way back called at Mrs Dunning Sen in the pm and they all returned together.

Tuesday 18th   There were some heavy showers in the afternoon & evening.  Willie & Bert were spraying trees.  May Dunning & Mrs McNianus came to spend the afternoon .  I took the horse down to the Steamer in the afternoon and carried up in front of me a Bag of Sugar.  Willie & Bert went out fishing in the evening and brought home 2 schnappers.

Wednesday 19th   There was a big rainbow in the morning, but it did not rain all day.  Willie, Bert & I picked 13 Cases Burbanks and we hauled them, also a box of Eggs, down to the steamer in the pm, brought up a bag of sand.  Jane, Mrs & Alma Wallace went to Mrs A. Dunnings.

Thursday 20th   It was a fine day.  In the morning Willie & Bert were spraying, in the pm they were cutting blackberries.  I was getting wood and working in flower garden.

Friday 21st   It was a fine day.  We picked 10 cases Burbanks and Willie & Bert took them down to the wharf in the pm.  Jane, Mrs & Alma Wallace went down to Goat Island Beach to a sort of Picnic , the Dunnings were jacking logs over the cliff and making a raft for the “S.S. Wairoa” which was lying at anchor there.
I went down to the wharf in the evening to get the fruit signed for.
Messrs G. Rollinson & W. Birss & the boy scouts went away by the “Kawau“.  I staid down to get the mail & attend the Library.  Willie & Bert went out fishing.

Saturday 22nd   It was a fine day.  Jane rode with Jim to Whangaripo to a cricket match between Omaha & Welsford .  Willie & Bert sprayed the Tomatos with arsenate of lead.  After an early lunch they went fishing to Ti Point, they caught about 30 fish and brought home 8 schnappers.  Mrs & Alma went down to Dunnings beach and afterwards went to Joe Wyatts for tea.
In the afternoon I went down to the beach to sieve some black soil which I carried over to the wharf shed.  I got the mail after the steamer arrived.

Sunday 23rd   It was a hot day.  Willie & Bert walked to Ti Point to spend the day.  Mrs Wallace and I walked up the hill in the afternoon, we called at Mrs Handbys & Mr Banks. but there was nobody at home at either place.

Monday 24th   It was a very fine day.  We got up early as the Wallaces are going back to Auckland to day.  We all went down to the wharf to see them off, Mrs Wallace took Alma Torkington up with her on a visit, the Steamer called in about 9 am, they would have a very calm passage.  Willie hauled up for me a bag of black soil that I sieved last Saturday.  After we came home, Willie was cutting blackberries, I was digging out priwhinkle in the flower garden.

Tuesday 25th   It was a very hot day.  We were picking fruit, Willie hauled down to the wharf in the pm 4 Cases of Burbanks for Archie Morley and hauled up egg box and Keg of Vinegar.

Wednesday 26th   It was a hot day.   In the morning Willie hauled 4 Cases Fruit to the wharf.  I was digging out blackberries and periwinckle in the flower garden .  Willie was cutting blackberries.
In the afternoon I went down to R. Mathesons to get him to audit the Library accounts.

Thursday 27th   It was a very hot day.   Willie was cutting blackberries.  I was digging out periwinckle in the bottom corner of the flower garden.  In the pm I went down to the P.O to get the mail.

Friday 28th   It was a very hot day.   Willie was cutting blackberries,  I was digging out periwinckle in the flower garden.  In the evening I went down for the mail and to attend the Library.  There was a special Meeting of Ratepayers about getting a new wharf,  Mr Banks presided.  The question of site was left to Mr H. Brown, Riding Member and Mr Shannon County Engineer, and a resolution was carried to borrow the sum of £500 from the Government,  £100 to pay off the debt on the repair of the Ti Point wharf and £400 to meet the grant of £300 voted by Parliament for that purpose.

Saturday 29th   It had been raining during the night and it rained steadily most of the day .  Not a very nice day for the Auckland Anniversary and Regatta.  In the morning Willie went down to repair the fence next to Mr Ashworths and he got very wet.

Sunday 30th   It rained steadily all day.  Revd  K. Teale should have held service in the afternoon, but on account of the weather none of us went out, and I believe he did not come.

Monday 31st   There were several showers during the day.  Willie was cutting blackberries,  he picked 2 Cases Peaches, 1 October Purple and he shot a sheep in Matheson’s paddock, skinned it there and brought the carcuss home.  I was working in the flower garden .
The “Kawau” arrived from Auckland in the afternoon, she started from Auckland yesterday afternoon, but broke down and had to turn back to Auckland.  Jane went down for the mail.