July 1905

Saturday 1st   It was a beautiful day and the ground has dried up wonderfully.  Willie and I were burning some  down by the Lagoon, it burnt very well.  Willie went to Ti Point in the afternoon to catch bait.  Mrs John Greenwood & Johny came in the afternoon and staid tea.  There was a Football Match at the Domain between Omaha and Matakana Clubs, but none of us went , they were going to give afternoon tea and a Dance in the Hall in the evening, Jane went to the dance.

Sunday 2nd   It was a fine day, but the wind is blowing strong from E.  Willie went to Ti Point and returned home in the evening, as the wind is not favourable for fishing tomorrow.  Jane went up to see Mrs Handby in the afternoon.  I remained at home all day.

Monday 3rd   It was a fine day, but the wind is blowing strong from the E, Willie could not go fishing, so we started to mend the fence between the farm and the barley paddock, several of the posts had rotted off, and we had to take them out and put fresh ones in.

Tuesday 4th   It was a fine day, but the wind is still blowing from the E,  but the sea has gone down.  We packed 6 Sheepskins and I hauled them down to the wharf to send away in the “Gael“.  I hauled up a fowl crate and some gravel.  Willie finished putting the posts in while I was away.  We tightened the wires in the afternoon and stapled it and finished the job.

Wednesday 5th   In the morning I was cutting tea tree in the barley paddock on the top of the hill, there was a very heavy downpour of rain about dinner time and I got wet and had to change.  I took the Eggs down to the “Gael” in the pm.  There was a progressive Euchre party in the Hall in the evening, Jane & I went.

Thursday 6th   It was a beautiful day.  Jane who staid at Mrs Archie Dunning’s last night went round with Mr Dunning and others in the “Gael” to Big Omaha to be present at the launch of Mr D. Darroch’s new Scow which he has built for the McGregor Co,  it was named the “Scot” and is intended to be employed in carrying coal for the use of the  Co’s  steamers, Norman Matheson is going to be the Captain.
Jane returned in the evening having had to walk home.
I was cutting tea tree at the top of the barley paddock all day.

Friday 7th   It was a very wet day.  Could not do any work outside.  Willie returned from Ti Point in evening.  I went down to the P. O. & Library.

Saturday 8th   It was a fine day.   Willie and I were cutting tea tree at the top of the barley paddock.  I went down to the wharf in the pm to meet the “Gael” which called in on her way from Mangawai to Auckland, five passengers went from here, I saw Revd McWilliam on board who had been to Mangawai to bury Mr Samuel Tutin of Hakaru.
Mabel was here for tea and Ernest & Jim & Willie Dunning came in the evening, and we played the new game of Pit.

Sunday 9th   It was very dull in the morning, but the sun came out in pm.  Willie went over to Ti Point to be ready for fishing tomorrow.
In the afternoon Jane went to Joe Wyatts.  I went to call at Walter Frearsons and afterwards went down to the beach to see Mr & Mrs John Wyatt.

Monday 10th   It was a beautiful day.  I was cutting tea tree at the top of the barley paddock.
Honor Wyatt called here in the pm.

Tuesday 11th   It was a fine day.  I was putting in a drain to carry the water away from the bath.  I went down to the wharf in the pm when the “Kawau” came in.  Jane went to a Euchre party at the Claim in the evening.

Wednesday 12th   It rained in the morning so that I could do nothing out of doors, so I finished writing a letter to my sister Fanny which I posted in the afternoon, also posted to her a Weekly News containing a view of Te Araroa.
It cleared up and was fine in the afternoon , I took the Eggs down to sell on the “Gael“, she was very late coming in.

Thursday 13th   It was a fine day.  In the morning I finished the outfall of the drain from the bath.  Afterwards I commenced pruning the fruit trees in this orchard, started at the top corner on the Bon Chretien and Jargonells and worked downwards.

Friday 14th   It was dull in the morning , but it turned out a fine day. In the morning I continued pruning in this orchard .  In the afternoon I went down to the wharf to meet the “Gael“.  Captn D. Matheson brought 2 new books from Wildman  and  Arey for the Library.
The G. Ashtons gave a party in the Claim Hall in the evening to celebrate the coming of age of their son Tom, Jane was asked and Willie Dunning came up here to escort her over,  Willie returned from Ti Point in the evening , reports a bad weeks fishing.
I went down to the Post Office and Library in the evening , afterwards I went up to Charlie Wyatts to play at a new game called Halma.

Saturday 15th   It was fine in the morning.  I was pruning in this orchard.  Willie commenced digging in the top corner under the Canadian Reinette.  In the afternoon it came on to rain so Willie and I got some firewood.

Sunday 16th   It was a fine day only a few small showers.  Willie went to Ti Point in the morning.  Revd Griffin (Wesleyan) held service in the Hall in the afternoon, Jane and I went.  We heard that one of D. Darroch’s boy’s (Mackey) had died this morning of lockjaw.

Monday 17th   It was a fine day, only a few small showers.  I was pruning in this orchard all day.  Jane went up to Miss Gallies in the afternoon.

Tuesday 18th   It was a fine day with the exception of a few showers.  I was pruning in this orchard.  I went down to the wharf in the pm to meet the “Kawau“.

Wednesday 19th   It was a fine day.  I was pruning in the orchard all day.  There was a Social in the Hall in the evening, Jane & I went, they only took 23/-.  The “Gael” did not stay in, she went on to Mangawai.
Heard this evening that the two Steamship Companies had agreed to amalgamate.

Thursday 20th   It was a fine day.  I packed a box of Eggs 10½ Doz and took they down to the wharf to go by the “Gael“, she called in on her way from Mangawai, 3 passengers went from here.  The Eggs were consigned to Dumper and are the first I have sent him this season.
I was pruning in the afternoon.

Friday 21st   It was a fine day.  I was pruning in the orchard all day. Willie returned from Ti Point in the evening.  Eddie and   Lennie came up to have a game of  Pit.   I went to the P.O and Library.

Saturday 22nd   It was a beautiful day.  Willie was digging in the orchard.  There was a Bee at the Hall to improve the place A. Matheson and D. Kempt were lining the gents room,  Jos Greenwood was hauling gravel to against the Library door, and Elliot Greenwood & I were cutting tea tree.

Sunday 23rd   It was a beautiful day.  Willie went to Ti Point in the morning, Jane went to Bible Class, afterwards she went down to John Wyatts, returning home in the evening.
I walked up to John Greenwoods where I had dinner, Mrs Greenwood was away to see her parents.  I had a long chat with John, reached home just before dark.

Monday 24th   It was a fine day, but it looks like a change, wind blowing from NE, it rained in the evening.  In the morning I went down to Matheson’s paddock to drive out the Sheep and mend the fence.  The remainder of the day I was pruning trees in this orchard.

Tuesday 25th   There were several showers during the day.  In the morning I went down to Matheson’s paddock to drive out the Sheep and mend up the fence.  In the afternoon I went down to meet the “Kawau“, Noel Wallace came up by here to stay with us, Fred Simpson could not come now, but is coming up next Saturday.  Willie Dunning came in the evening & we played at cards.

Wednesday 26th   It was a fine day.   In the morning I went down to Matheson’s paddock to drive out the Sheep.  Noel walked to Ti Point.  I went down to the wharf in the pm to sell some Eggs on board the “Gael“.  Also attended the Library to change books.  Mr Handby hauled a gunney of goods (Sugar & Groceries) up to our gate for me.
Willie & Noel returned from Ti Point in the evening.

Thursday 27th   It was a showery day.  Willie & Noel  walked over to Ti Point  helped to get the Sheep in and we killed one in the afternoon.

Friday 28th  Willie & Noel walked to Ti Point in the morning and they returned home in the evening.
In the afternoon I went down to meet the “Gael“.  Revd F. Latter came up by her and came up here to stay, he called at the Knightly’s & Frearson’s in the afternoon.  It came on to rain in the evening so I did not go down to the Library.

Saturday 29th   Willie & Noel walked over to Ti Point in the morning and returned in the evening.
Revd F. Latter walked up to Jno   Greenwoods in the morning calling at Handbys and Jos  Greenwoods on his way.  A. Matheson and D. Kempt finished the gents room at the Hall.  I was down at the wharf in the afternoon & I called in and helped clear up.

Sunday 30th   It was a fine day.  Fred Simpson arrived by the “Kawau” early this morning.  All the boys walked over to Ti Point and staid all night.  Revd Latter held service in the Hall in the afternoon there were about 70 present, two children were baptised and 7 communicants.  Collection 18/- .  Mr Latter went on to Dacres Claim for evening service.  Willie Dunning was up here for tea.

Monday 31st   It was a fine day.  The boys returned from Ti Point in the morning and after lunch they went down to Goat Island to shoot shags.  Revd Latter returned here from Ti Point in the afternoon and he staid here all night.  Mr & Mrs Archie Dunning and Ernest Wyatt came to spend the evening,  the young people were singing and we were playing at cribbage and pit, spent a very jolly evening.