June 1895

Saturday 1st   It was a fine day.  Henry went shooting to pakiri.
I took out the mutton in the morning.  In the afternoon John & I dug in Oates  in the Potato ground in the orchard.  Jane rode to Ti Point.

Sunday 2nd   It was fine though dull in the morning, but in the middle of the day it came on the rain and rained all afternoon.  I held no service in the Hall on account of the weather.

Monday 3rd   It was a fine day.  Henry went to Pakiri to shoot Pheasants.  John was cutting tea tree.   I was pulling up tea tree.

Tuesday 4th   John was cutting tea tree.   I was pulling up tea tree in the morning and writing letters in the afternoon.  Minnie returned home, having been put ashore by the steamer “Kawau” after leaving Auckland, she has been staying a few weeks with Alice at the Kawau. Henry returned in the evening.

Wednesday 5th   It was very dull in the morning.  Henry went to Pakiri shooting.  It came on to rain in the middle of the day and it rained all afternoon and evening, raining very heavily up till midnight.  John made a slasher & axe handle in the shed.  I put a new pane of glass in the bay window in the dining room.

Thursday 6th   It was a fine day, but the ground is soaking wet.  John was cutting tea tree the other side the School.  I was pulling tea tree in the morning and I cleaned out the pig  in the pm.  Charlie Gravatt was here for tea.

Friday 7th   It was a fine day.  John was cutting tea tree the other side the School.  I mended the fence near the Koroa creek also round the farm orchard.  Killed a sheep in the evening.

Saturday 8th   It was a fine day.  Henry & Jim Dunning took their Pheasants out in a boat and put them on board the “Kawau” to take to Auckland.  John was cutting tea tree.  I did odd jobs at home.  The young people went up to Miss Hardings in the evening to have a dance.

Sunday 9th    It was a fine day.   I read service in the hall in the afternoon.  The Miss Hardings,  Fred and Mary Ann Pratt  came here for tea, the latter staid all night.  We had some music in the evening.

Monday 10th   It was a fine day.  Henry went to Pakiri in the morning to shoot.  John & I dug the piece of ground the top side of the house, we planted some strawberries next to those that Maud planted last year.  Jane & Mary Ann Pratt went up to Miss Hardings in the afternoon.

Tuesday 11th   It was a fine day, but the wind was blowing very strong from the NE.  We got all the Sheep up in the Stockyard and cleaned them, we then put all the Lambs into the horse paddock,  32 in all.  We put the Ram into the School reserve.  Mr Pratt came in the morning and took Mary Ann home.  The Steamer did not come this evening.

Wednesday 12th   The Steamer came this morning.  It rained nearly all day.  I was covering the dining room chairs and doing other odd jobs.

Thursday 13th   The weather cleared up and it was a fine day.  I was fixing the things up in the dining room, the boys were working at their contract at the School.  Charlie Gravatt came in the evening.

Friday 14th    There were several showers during the day.  The boys finished their contract at the School.  I was doing odd jobs.  Killed a Sheep in the evening.  The Miss Hardings, Jim Dunning and Joe Wyatts young people came here in the evening to learn some new dances that the Miss Hardings are teaching them.

Saturday 15th   It was showery in the morning.  In the afternoon I walked over to Mr Saddlers at Dacre’s Claim to exchange Sermon Books with him.

Sunday 16th   It was a fine day.  I read service in the Hall in the afternoon.  John & Jane went up to Miss Hardings for tea and we all went up in the evening to have some singing.  Jim Dunning & George Pratt were there.

Monday 17th   It was a showery day.  Henry went to Pakiri shooting. John was cutting tea tree and I was pulling up tea tree

Tuesday 18th     It was a showery day.  John was cutting tea tree and I was pulling it up.  Henry returned from Pakiri in the evening.

Wednesday 19th   It was a showery day.  John hauled some goods for Mr Harvey in the morning and in the afternoon he took the bullocks up on to the mail road.  Henry went to Pakiri shooting.

Thursday 20th   It was a showery day.  John was cutting tea tree and I was pulling it up.

Friday 21st   It was a fine day, but it rained heavily in the evening.  John was cutting tea tree and I was pulling it up.  I skinned 2 Lambs that died behind the house.  We killed a Sheep in the evening.

Saturday 22nd   It was a fine day.  I took the mutton out in the morning.  In the afternoon I cleaned out the pig.  Got 2 barrow loads of cow dung and did other odd jobs.  John was cutting tea tree and Henry was shooting.

Sunday 23rd   It was a fine day.  I read service in the Hall in the afternoon, there was a good congregation.  The Miss Hardings,  Jim Dunning  &  C.  Gravatt came here for tea.

Monday 24th   It was a fine day, but rained in the evening.  Henry went to Pakiri to shoot.  John was cutting tea tree in the front.  I commenced to cut tea tree on the farm.  John & Jane went up to Miss Hardings in the evening.

Tuesday 25th   It was a fine day, only a few showers in the afternoon.  John was cutting tea tree in the front.  I was cutting tea tree on the farm.

Wednesday 26th   The mid winter holidays commenced to day.  Miss Hardings went to Auckland this morning in the “Rose Casey” to spend their holiday.
Henry and Jim Dunning went to Hoteo beyond Mahurangi to shoot.  John was cutting tea tree in the front.  Willie & I were pulling up tea tree behind Mr Wyatts house.

Thursday 27th   The Steamer “Kawau” came in early this morning, Maud,  Willie & Horace, Walter & George Wyatt came up in her.  John went down to help Willie carry some of their things up.
Willie & I were pulling up tea tree.
Willie Pratt went out fishing with Mr Harper and brought home 4 schnappers.

Friday 28th   John, Willie Pratt, and Walter Wyatt went out fishing, they caught 4 large Harpuka and several schnapper.  Willie & I were pulling tea tree.  There was an entertainment in the Dacres Claim Hall in the evening to present an address and Testimonial to Miss Buchanan on her leaving the Dacres Claim School.  Jane and Willie went over and enjoyed themselves very much.  I went to the Library, there was a  very  (missing word)  shower of rain while I was there.

Saturday 29th     There were several showers during the day.  Willie Pratt went up home and brought his horse down in the evening.  John was cutting tea tree in the front.  Willie and I were pulling up tea tree.

Sunday 30th   It was very wet in the morning, but it cleared up in the afternoon.  I went down to the Hall in the afternoon, but as there were so few there I held no service.