Saturday 1st It was a showery day. I went across to Auckland by the 10 am boat and soon after went up to Willie’s place at 85 Norfolk St Ponsonby, had dinner there and in the afternoon Willie & I went to a nurseryman’s place, Elmesley in Sackville St, who goes in for growing small plants, anemonies, renunculases, cyclamens &c. Willie bought some cyclomens for the people he is gardening for. After tea I returned to Devonport.
Sunday 2nd It was a showery day. I went to the Presbyterian church in the morning by myself and also in the evening with Mr Wallace.
Monday 3rd It was a very fine day. I went across to Auckland in the 10 oclock boat, cashed a cheque at the B. N. Z for £9 . 10 . 0 , I had received from Mr Elliott. Had lunch in Upper Queen St, went up to the Domain to see the gardens and then went to call on James Greenwood & had afternoon tea there & returned to the Shore. Mrs Petersen came in the evening and we played 500.
Tuesday 4th It was a fine day. I went across to Auckland and up to Willies place at Ponsonby. After lunch Mrs Simpson took the car down to the wharf and met Mrs Wallace and we three went to the opening of the Winter Exhibition in sheds on the Central Wharf. The exhibits were very good. Mrs W & I returned to the Shore by 4 pm boat.
Wednesday 5th It was a fine day. I went across to Auckland after breakfast and met Jim Wyatt outside the Ferry Buildings, he had come up from Leigh the night before and is staying at the Beazleys at Mt Eden. We were together all day, after calling at several places we had dinner and then went to the Winter Show, we spent the afternoon looking round , had tea there and staid the evening there, there was a great crowd and it was difficult to move about. We expected to meet the Wallaces there, but they came across in an earlier boat than we expected so did not meet them in the Show.
I returned to the Shore by the 8.30 boat and found that Mr & Mrs Wallace were returning by same boat
Thursday 6th It was a very fine day. I remained in the house all day reading. Jim Wyatt came across to Devonport by the 2 pm boat,
I went down to meet him, we came up to Henderson’s store by the buss. Mr Wallace showed us over the Gasworks & Brick Yard, Jim staid for dinner and spent the evening here, but would not stay the night although invited to stop.
Friday 7th It was a fine day. I went across to Auckland in the morning and went to the Winter Exhibition , met James Greenwood there and we went about together, returned to the Shore.
Saturday 8th It was a fine day. I went across to Auckland in the morning, called at Mr Grindrods office, went up to Willie’s place and had lunch there and afterwards went out to Mt Eden, called at Mr Grindrods had a look round his garden, had afternoon tea there, and then called at Mr Beazleys at No 12 Essex St, Mt Eden where Jim is staying. He had gone to a hockey match at Remuera, but returned for tea, I had tea there and in the evening I went back to Willie’s place found them playing five hundred 500.
Victor Simpson was there having arrived a few day previously from Durban South Africa. I stayed the night.
Sunday 9th It was a fine day. Jim came to Willie’s place in the morning and Jim, Willie & I took a walk round Ponsonby. In the afternoon, Willie, Jim and Mr Macgrath went over to Devonport to see the “Rona” in the Dock who was injured by running on to Canoe Rock near Kawau Island. They returned to Willies for tea and afterwards Willie, Jim & I went to the Anglican City Mission in the Princess Theatre, Revd Jasper Calder is the Missioner, but Bishop gave the address, Jim returned to Mr Beazleys and I went home with Willie.
Monday 10th It was a dull day. I left Willie’s place in the morning, took the car to the city, went to see the “Kawau” off and then returned to Mr Wallaces.
Tuesday 11th It was a showery day. I went across to Auckland in the same boat as Alma and took the car up to Kyber Pass Road & walked down to Mt Eden station where I met Jim Wyatt, we took the train out to Henderson, it rained all the way out, we had to take shelter in the station for some time and when it cleared up we walked to Joe Greenwood’s place where we received a hearty welcome. Mr & Mrs Adam Laybourn were staying there. After dinner we went up to Wilson Knaggs place had a look round & had afternoon tea, called at Harold Wrights and staid the night at Joe Greenwoods.
Wednesday 12th A shower in the morning, cleared up afterwards. We left Joe Greenwoods and went up to Willie Wrights had a look round & Mrs Wright gave us tea. We then went to the Saw Mill to see Heber Meiklejohn & afterwards called at Mr Handbys, had tea & then returned to Mt Eden station and I went with Jim up to Mr Beasley had afternoon tea there and then we went up Mt Eden where we got a splendid view, afterward we went down to the wharf and crossed over to Devonport, Alma went in the same boat , after dinner we played at cribbage and 500, Jim stayed the night.
Thursday 13th There was a shower early in the morning, but it cleared up & was a fine day. Jim & I went across to town by the 9.30 boat, we went to the Public Library, Art gallery & Old Colonists Museum, we then had dinner at the Kensington dining rooms and afterwards we parted as our business lay in different parts of the town. I went up to Newton and made some purchases and then returned to the Shore.
Friday 14th It was a fine day. In the morning I went down to the shore to make some purchases. After dinner I went over to Auckland and went up to Willie’s place & staid the night. Victor Simpson was also staying there, he is looking round for work. We played cards.
Saturday 15th It was a fine day. I have been suffering from a bad cold, but it is a little bit better today. I left Willies place in the morning and returned to the Shore.
Sunday 16th It was a fine day, but cold wind, SW. I attended the Presbyterian Church in the morning. Mrs Wallace & Alma went to Kens in the afternoon. My cold was so bad I did not go out after the morning.
Monday 17th It was a fine day. I went across to Auckland in the morning and made some puchases, and then returned to the Shore, had lunch at Wallaces and then said goodbye to my friends who had been very kind to me, a wagonette came and took me and my luggage down to the steamer which left Devonport at 1.20. On arrival at Auckland I took my luggage round to the “Kawau” and then went up town to make some purchases. The “Kawau” left at 3 pm, Jim Wyatt was also a passenger. It was a very calm trip, we played 500 in the saloon after tea which helped to pass the time. We arrived at Leigh at 8.15. Eddie came to meet up with the trap.
Tuesday 18th It was a fine day. I went up to the garden after breakfast and & planted 2 Cinerarias & 1 White Primrose, the ground was too wet to do much, so I did some weeding. I wrote a letter to Mrs Wallace & posted it in the afternoon.
Wednesday 19th It rained a little last night, but it was very fine today. I was up at the garden morning & afternoon. I started to prune the roses, I went down to the wharf in the afternoon to see the “Kawau” off. I received my photos by the mail.
Thursday 20th It rained last night, but it was fine today. The boys rode to Pakiri and brought a heifer & calf home. I stayed in all morning and wrote a long letter to my son Henry, which I posted in the afternoon, called at Gravatts and received £1 . 7 . 1 being the collection when Mr Addenbrooke held service here on July 9th while I was away in Auckland.
There was Cannon in the Hall in the evening , Jim went.
Friday 21st It was blowing strong from the E. It had been raining last night, and it was showery in the morning, but fine in the pm. In the morning I went up to the garden, in the afternoon I was helping Jim nail the pickets on the fence.
In the afternoon Eddie rode to Warkworth on his way to Auckland by steamer tomorrow morning. The boys were sawing wood in the morning.
Saturday 22nd It was a very fine day. The wind has changed to the SW. Charlie & Jim took horses & sleigh over the farm and brought home some Kaikakatea [sic: kahikatea ] rickers and they sawed them up in the afternoon. I was pruning and cutting grass on the paths, Revd Poole rang up and asked me to take his service tomorrow, so in the afternoon I went up to Mr Griggs to ask him to take it and we agreed to take it between us. Jim attended the annual meeting of the Ratepayers Association in the evening.
Sunday 23rd It was a fine day, wind SW, cold in the shade. In the absence of Mr Poole, Mr Grigg & I conducted the service in the Hall in the morning, Mr Grigg taking the first part and I read the sermon, there was a good attendance. In the afternoon I called at Mr Stewarts, Jane came here to see me and then came down to Mr Stewarts, Mr Hunt also called there.
Monday 24th It was very fine in the morning, but there was a shower in the afternoon. I finished pruning the roses in the morning. I loosened round some of the bulbs & put sand round them. I went down for the mail in the afternoon.
Tuesday 25th It was very fine in the morning, but there was a heavy shower at mid day. In the morning I was mixing some Laxative Medicine. When I had finished it was too late to go up to the garden so I cut tea tree on the road down by the culverts , I also cut there in the afternoon .
Mrs Holder & Charline drove over to spend the day. Charlie & Jim were picking Lemons.
Wednesday 26th It was a very fine day. In the morning I went up to the garden and loosened round the Daffodils near the front gate and put sand round them. In the pm I went down to the beach and carried sand to the wharf shed. Charlie was cutting tea tree on the farm near W. Dunnings boundary. Jim was picking and packing Lemons.
Thursday 27th It was a fine day. I took a bag of Escheveras down to the Steamer for Mr Hunt, the Pakiri Teacher who is leaving. There were a lot of people on the wharf to bid his good bye . The remainder of the day I was loosening between the Daffodils and putting sand round them. Jim was picking Lemons.
Friday 28th It did not rain, but it was blowing a gale from the E.
I packed my Onions in two manure bags and left them for the Carter to take them to Jack Waldon’s store as I have sold them to him for 1½ d per lb. I was cleaning up and digging the border below sitting and dining room. Bob Wyatt brought two kauri logs for Jim to cut into gate posts.
Saturday 29th It was raining & blowing all day, a gale of wind from SE, very rough at sea. I staid in the house all day reading. In the evening Jim, Ivy & I played cribbage in the dining room near a good fire.
Sunday 30th It has left off raining, the wind has changed to the S, very cold. Revd Richards should have held service in the Hall in the afternoon, but he did not turn up, so I conducted the service. There was a very fair congregation. Collection 12/5.
Monday 31st It was a fine day, wind S. Rather dull and cold. I got some tea tree sticks from the bush and made some kerbing which I fixed where the others had rotted. Started to dig round the seed Onions . Jim was picking Lemons.
Eddie returned from Auckland via Warkworth by the “Hauiti“, he had left his horse at Oscar Zanders, he arrived here late in the afternoon.