January 1912

Monday 1st   It was a very fine day.  I was helping Jim make sandwiches and we all went to the Picnic on the Domain.  Willie, Grace & Victor came over, there was a very good attendance, but I think not quite so many as last year.
The Warkworth band were playing during the day, Revd  Macdonald and his Aunt were present.
I had lunch & tea with Jim & Jane.  There were all kinds of events for the children & grown ups, and I spent a very pleasant day.
Willie Dunning drove me home in his waggon, & I got home before dark in time to feed the poultry and milk the cow.

Tuesday 2nd   It was a very fine day.  Willie & Jim were thrashing Danthonia all day, Victor who had stayd at Harolds last night came with Harry Torkington and staid lunch and returned to Ti Point in the afternoon.  I was doing some thing in the flower garden, I took up some Daffodils.

Wednesday 3rd   It was fine in the morning and it had every appearance of being fine all day, but about 2.30 pm it came on a steady rain and got thick all round, so that Willie & Jim had to knock off thrashing danthonia and Jim went home.
I went down to the Steamer in the pm,  Alma Wallace was on board going round to the top wharf to  pay a visit to Jane.  I was doing a little in the flower garden in the morning taking up  Daffodils.

Thursday 4th   Although it was a fine day the grass seed was wet with the rain we had yesterday afternoon and unfit for thrashing.  Jim did not come over.  Willie was spraying the Jargonell Pears.
Miss Pearl Greenwood & Mrs Hughes called in the pm to have a look at the garden, Grace gave them afternoon tea.  Later on Mrs R.  & Miss Williams & Miss Felton came in a sulky, they looked round the garden & staid tea.  In the evening we all went down to the Hall to listen to the service of song,  “Restored or Ruth’s Return” given by a large number of ladies & gentlemen conducted by Mr Ashworth and Mrs Carr (accompanist)  Willie & Grace took part in it, it was very enjoyable.  The collection amounted to £2 . 6 . 1  –  which is to be given to the three churches.

Friday 5th   It was a very fine day.   Jim was over to thrash danthonia, but he knocked off early as Omaha has to play cricket with Port Albert tomorrow and they are going as far as Warkworth this evening.
In the morning I took the horse and sleigh down to the wharf and brought home some sand, a board from Archie Dunnings and two empty cases from the Hall.
The remainder of the day I was cutting weeds round the Tomato plants below the house.  I went down to the village in the evening to get the mail and attend the Library, there was a meeting of the Farmers Association , only a few attended, Mr Banks resigned his position as Secretary as he is leaving the district and I was asked to take over the balance in hand until there is a larger meeting.

Saturday 6th   It was a very fine day.  Jim did not come on account of the cricket match.  Victor Simpson returned to Auckland by the “Kawau” I went down to see him off and to get the meat, also carried up a bag of sand.  After lunch Grace rode over to see Jane returning in the evening.
Willie was thrashing Danthonia in the Barley Paddock in the afternoon.

Sunday 7th   It was a fine day, Harold, Flo and the children drove over to spend the day with us, we all went down to Church in the afternoon , Revd Macdonald conducted the service, there was a good congregation and the Collection amounted to 15/8.

Monday 8th   It was a very fine day.  Willie and Jim were thrashing danthonia all day.  In the morning I was making up my Quarterly returns, afterwards I picked 5 Cases Burbanks, in the pm I rode down to the village to post some letters, carried up a bag of sand, soon after I came home I heard the Steamer whistle so I walked down to the P.O to get the mail, after tea I walked over to Joe Wyatts to get Ernest to Audit the Library accounts, afterwards went to the P.O to post the application for a share of the subsidy for Libraries.

Tuesday 9th    It was a very fine day.  Willie & Jim were thrashing danthonia all day.  After breakfast I took the 5 Cases Burbanks down to the wharf and I hauled up a bag of gravel, after I came home I was getting firewood and working in the flower garden.  In the evening I gave the pansies a good watering.

Wednesday 10th   It was a very fine day.  Willie & Jim were thrashing danthonia all day.  In the morning I got some firewood afterwards I cleared out the manure heap sieved it and put the fine stuff round the Dahlias, watering them before and after.
In the afternoon I took the horse down to the wharf, Miss Edie Wallet came up to stay with us, Grace went down to the Steamer to meet her, I hauled up her luggage and some sand.

Thursday 11th   It was a very fine day.   Willie & Jim finished thrashing danthonia.  I was doing odd jobs.
Went down to meet the Steamer in the pm, Alma Wallace came round in the Steamer from Big Omaha, Jane was unable to come with her.

Friday 12th   It was a very fine day.  Willie was spraying in the orchard.  Grace, Edie Wallett & Alma Wallace walked over to Ti Point to spend the day at Harolds, Grace returned in the evening, but Edie W remained there & Alma went back to Janes.  I was making up the books & balance sheet of the Library, I went down  for the mail in the evening & attended the Library.
Mrs Simpson came up by the “Kawau” in the evening, Willie went down to meet her.

Saturday 13th   It was a very fine day.  I transplanted a Dahlia & a Cream Daisy, afterwards went down to the Steamer to get the meat,  also carried up some sand.
Willie was spraying the Pear trees in the orchard.

Sunday 14th   It was a very fine day.  In the morning I rode up to
Jno Greenwood to spend the day,  there were 18 of us sat down to dinner, namely Mr & Mrs Banks & 2 Children, Sidney & Miss Rhodes,  Mr Griffith & Mrs Abercrombie who is staying at Jno Greenwoods, the party was given to Mr & Mrs Banks as this is the last Sunday that they will be here as having sold their farm to a Mr Murray and is leaving for Auckland next Saturday.  I returned home in time for tea, we all went down to the Hall in the evening, Messrs G. Rollinson & W Bibss who were accompanied by several boy scouts under Chief Scoutmaster Rust held a service in the Hall, Mr Rust played the organ, there was a very good congregation, the Collection was 15/4 which was for the organ fund.

Monday 15th   It was a very fine day.   Willie was picking Jargonell Pears & I was picking Burbanks,  after an early dinner I went down to the store to get some nails, also carried up some sand.  Willie hauled the fruit down to the wharf in the morning.

Tuesday 16th   It was a very fine day.  We all went to a picnic at Lloyds point Ti Point, Willie to  [sic: took]  a horse to carry Mrs Simpsons hamper who is going to stay a while with Flo’.     Jane & Jim,  Minnie & family,  Flo & family & Miss Wallet were there, we were quite a large party & we passed a very pleasant day.
Mr Runciman called in the morning first before we started  but did not stay long.

Wednesday 17th   It was a very hot day.  Willie was picking fruit all day.  In the afternoon I went down to the village expecting to meet the Steamer, but I found that the “Kawau” was detained at Cabbage Bay and would not leave Auckland until 3 pm today.  Willie hauled the fruit down to the wharf in the evening.
Grace, Miss Wallett & Alma  Wallace called at Joe Wyatts and then went to Mrs Dunning Senr where they had tea.  When I was down to the village in the pm I carried up a bag of sand.

Thursday 18th   We all got up early as Alma Wallace & Miss Hallett are returning to Auckland by the “Kawau” this morning.  We all went down to the wharf to see them off, there were a good many passengers going away, the steamer should have left at 8 am, but she had so much fruit to put on board that she did not leave till 8.40
Willie took the horse & Catamaran down to the wharf and hauled up 3 Sacks Fowl feed.  Soon after the steamer left it poured with rain which continued all the morning & showers in the afternoon.  Willie got very wet.

Friday 19th   It was a very fine day.   Willie was cutting cocksfoot seed in the farm orchard.
Mrs Tucker came for lunch.
The rain we had yesterday has sunk into the ground and has done a great deal of good, I was loosening among the flowers.
In the evening Grace walked over to Ti Point and staid all night.  I went down for the mail and attended the Library, the annual meeting was held, the old Trustees were re-elected & I was re-appointed Secretary, Treasurer & Librarian.
I carried up a bag of sand.
In the am I sowed Maize broadcast & dug it in.

Saturday 20th   There was a slight shower of rain in the morning, but it turned out a very fine day.
There was a Cricket Match at the Claim between the Omaha & Pakiri, we all went over to witness it,  I walked over & took some flowers for Jane,  Maggie, Mrs Runciman & I had lunch there.
Willie rode and Grace walked.
Omaha had a three point win.  After the match was over I rode home and Willie & Grace walked.

Sunday 21st   There were a few slight showers in the morning, but it turned out a very fine day.
Revd Blundell held service in the Hall in the morning, there was a large congregation, Mr Ashworth played the organ.  I attended. Dorothy and Agnes came over in the afternoon to stay with us.

Monday 22nd   It was a very fine day.  Willie & I were picking fruit all day.  Mrs Simpson & Minnie came over in the pm.  There was a social in the Hall in the evening as a farewell to Miss Johanna McKenzie who with her father is leaving the district having sold their farm to James Greenwood,  there was a very large gathering and it was very enjoyable, we were much favoured by the presence of a party from Auckland in a motor launch including Mr & Madam Chambers, Miss Bartlett, Miss Holland and three young men.  Mr & Madam Chambers & Miss Bartlett sang several songs beautifully which was much appreciated.  Miss Mabel Wyatt on behalf of the subscribers presented Miss Mckenzie with a gold pendant & chain & Mr McKenzie with a meerchaune pipe.  [sic: meerschaum pipe]  Ample refreshments were provided and handed round, it was a very pleasant entertainment and everybody enjoyed themselves.  We did not get home until 2.30 am.

Tuesday 23rd   It was a very fine day.  We did not get up very early owing to being up so late .  Willie hauled 27 Cases of Fruit down to the wharf , he expected some goods up by the Steamer but they did not come.  Mr & Mrs John Greenwood came to spend the day and to have a look round the flowers and we enjoyed their company very much.  Willie was spraying the Tomatoes in the afternoon.

Wednesday 24th   It was a fine day ‘tho dull, very little sun showing out.  Grace & Mrs Simpson spent the day at Ashworths and had tea at Joe Wyatts.
Willie was picking fruit all day.
I went down to the village in the afternoon to get the mail, after I came back I was helping Willie pick fruit & carry up cases.

Thursday 25th   It was a fine day and very calm.  In the morning Willie hauled his fruit & Mrs Simpsons luggage down to the wharf & brought up a bag of flower  [sic: flour]  and some groceries.  Mrs Simpson returned to Auckland in the “Kawau“, Flo & children also went with her, the steamer had so much Fruit to put on board that she was an hour late in leaving.
Grace went to a choir practice in the evening.

Friday 26th   It was a very hot day.  After breakfast I went down to the village to post some letters, one to Messrs Shannon & Goeity, Angican Church Wardens, Warkworth, containing £2 . 12 . 6, being the guarantee for three Quarters to Dec 31st 1911 from Mrs & Wm Harper,  W. Neeley,  A. L. Greenwood & C. S. Clarke.
Carried up some sand.
Willie was digging Potatoes & spraying.
I also went down in the evening for the mail and to attend the Library.

Saturday 27th   It was a very fine day.  There was a friendly Cricket Match at Pakiri between the Pakiri & Omaha Clubs.  Willie Dunning was driving over so he very kindly gave me a seat in his wagon he also took his father & Sister Ivy – and Lennie Wyatt, the match was played in Mr Pointer’s paddock,  Omaha won on the first innings, they gave us dinner & tea in the Public Hall, I had a look at their Library, although not so large as ours they have some very nice books,  I witnessed Douglas Brown’s signature as assistance in the Post Office, he is 15 years of age and I registered his birth.  In the afternoon I walked up to Mrs Harpers to have a look at their garden, everything seemed wanting rain, I came down to the cricket ground again with Mrs Harper & Eva.
Directly after tea we started for home and I arrived there just before 8 pm,  when I got home Willie & Grace were out fishing and they brought home a few small schnappers.

Sunday 28th   It was a very fine day.   Revd Paris held service in the Hall in the afternoon, there was a fair congregation, we all went.  Mr Ashworth in the absence of Mrs Carr played the organ.  After church Willie & Grace went to Mr Ashworths to spend the evening.

Monday 29th   There were several black clouds passed over the sky but there was no rain and in the middle of the day the sun was very hot.  I was helping Willie pick fruit all day.

Tuesday 30th   It was a fine day, but threatening for rain in the afternoon.  I was taking up bulbs and preparing the ground that they came out of.
Willie was picking fruit and he hauled 26 Cases down to the wharf in the evening.

Wednesday 31st   It was a fine day.  I was digging out docks, periwinckle & blackberries along the fence in the pigs paddock and put them on a heap.  The “Kawau” stopped at Kawau last night on account of the E wind,  she came on here in the middle of the day and then proceeded on to Mangawai and returned here in the evening.
Tom Jennings who came up on here came up for his horse which he had left here and he staid for dinner.
Willie was picking fruit & he hauled it down to the wharf in the evening.