March 1903

Sunday 1st   It was a fine day.  Jack Cruikshank drove over in the morning to take his wife home, and after dinner they started.  Jane went up to Miss Hutchinsons in the afternoon.  I was not very well, and did not stir out.

Monday 2nd   It was a fine day.  Willie and I went to the E.R. in the morning and staid all day.  We sieved the Tall Fescue seed we only had 3 Sacks full.  Miss Fricker was here for tea.

Tuesday 3rd   It was a fine day.  We were picking Fruit in the morning.  In the afternoon we hauled it down and left it on the road near Walter‘s house while we went to the E.R. to get the 3 Sacks of Tall Fescue, on coming back we picked up the cases of fruit and hauled them all down to the wharf.

Wednesday 4th   It was a fine day.  We all got up early in the morning as I am going to Auckland in the “Claymore“, Jane also went round to Ti Point in her.
The “Claymore” arrived in Auckland about 1 oclock.  George Simpson and Wilfred Torkington were on the wharf to meet me.  They took up my carpet bag and 2 cases of fruit in the tram up to Ponsonby.  I staid down in Queen St a little longer to transact some business.  Noel Wallace afterwards came down to the wharf to meet me.
I went up in the tram later on to Mrs Simpsons where I staid.  Victor and I took a walk down to Shelly Beach before tea.
In the evening Fred, Noel and I went to His Majestys Theatre to see the play  Secret Service.

Thursday 5th   It was a fine day.  I was in the city all day transacting my business, dined at  Bazeley’s  Coffee Palace.  In the evening Fred and I went to have dinner at Mr Geo Wallaces  (Noel‘s fathers place) and we spent a very pleasant evening, in conversation and cards.
The Wallaces seem very nice people and Noel did his utmost to make our visit agreeable.

Friday 6th   It was a fine day.  I was in the City all day.  Spent the evening at home,  Noel,  Charlie Mayall & Wilfred came in to spend the evening, we had a game of 6 handed Euchre.

Saturday 7th   It rained a bit last night, but it turned out a fine day.  Archie Clark’s employees had a Picnic to Waihake, [sic: Waiheke] the Miss Simpsons went.  I was down in the city in the morning.  I called at Mrs Jacksons in Grafton Road to take some presents for Mr Moody,  Mrs Harding was staying there, I staid there for lunch and afterwards went to the Domain to witness the Cricket matches which were being played there.  Noel and Mr Wallace were playing in their respective teams.
In the evening Fred, Noel and I went to the Theatre to see the Christian, the building was packed in every part, we enjoyed ourselves very much.  We had a good view of Madam Melba who occupied one of the stage boxes just opposite where we were sitting.

Sunday 8th   It was a very hot day.  The boys all went to have a bathe at Shelly Beach.  I walked to S. Barnabas Church in the morning.  Revd E. J. Macfarlane officiated and gave a very good sermon.  Noel came for tea and we all went to All Saints Church in the evening, the Curate, Revd Aston officiated.  Noel came in after service and we had some music.

Monday 9th   It was a fine day.   I was in the city all morning.   Returned to Ponsonby early in the pm,  called at the Mortimers and then went down to the gass works [sic: gas works] where Mr Wallace showed me all over the works which were very interesting.  Noel, Mr W. Torkington & Charlie Mayall dropped in the evening and we had a game of 6 handed euchre.

Tuesday 10th   It was a fine day.  My visit having come to an end I left the Simpson with much regret having spent a very pleasant time,  I went down in the tram with Fred he getting out at his shop and I continued on to the wharf.  Noel came to see me off.  We had a very pleasant passage arriving at Omaha about 1 pm.  Willie and Jane were down and had 16 Cases of Fruit to send away.

Wednesday 11th   It was raining last night and all morning.  I went down to Charlies & the Post Office in the afternoon.

Thursday 12th   It was a fine day.  My back was very bad and I staid in bed all morning.  Young Malcolm Niccol, who is staying with his sister Mrs Jack Cruickshank at Matakana came over in the morning to see us.  Willie planted 3 rows of Early Norther Potatoes where the peas were growing between the Peach trees.  Mrs C. Wyatt & Mrs Biorklund were here for tea.  In the evening Willie and Malcolm went to Mr Rogers to borrow a boat to go fishing tomorrow.

Friday 13th   It was a fine day.  Malcolm Niccol and Willie went fishing to Ti Point,  Jane also rode to Ti Point to spend the day with Minnie.  I went for the mail in the evening.

Saturday 14th   It was a fine day.   Willie and I picked 4 Cases of Damsons in the farm orchard.

Sunday 15th   It was showery in the morning, but cleared up as the day advanced.  Willie went to spend the day at Ti Point.  Mr French held service in the Hall in the afternoon, but none of us went.  Jane went to call on the Frearsons in the afternoon.

Monday 16th   It was a fine day.   Jane rode over to Ti Point to spend the day at Minnies.
Willie and I were picking Damsons in the farm orchard.  Walter Frearson dipped his sheep today and Willie went over to see if there were any of ours in his place, he brought home 1 Ewe and 1 long tailed ram lamb which we killed in the evening.

Tuesday 17th   St Patricks day.   The weather was fine.  We were picking fruit all day and we hauled 19 Cases down to the wharf after tea.  It was the “Rose Casey” that came this week.  There was a Social in the Hall in the evening, Jane went, over Two Pounds was taken.

Wednesday 18th   It rained last night and early this morning, the remainder of the morning was fine, but there were several showers during the afternoon.  Willie and I took the bullock down in the morning and got 16 long Cases from Mrs T. Wyatt also a bag of Sugar and Wheatmeal from Harpers store.  We were picking Damsons in the farm orchard in the afternoon, we filled 8 Cases.

Thursday 19th   It was a fine day.  We hauled the 8 Cases of Damsons down to the wharf in the morning to go away by the “Kawau“.

Friday 20th   I went down to John Wyatts in the morning.  We were digging round some of the young trees in the orchard in the afternoon.
Miss Hutchinson was here for tea and she and Jane went down to Tennis in the evening.  Jane went to a party at Mr A Dunnings to celebrate  Mrs Dunnings birthday.
I went down for the mail in the evening.

Saturday 21st   It was a fine day.  Willie took the bullock to Mrs Thomas Wyatts in the morning to get some fruit cases.
I was working in the flower garden.  There was a Tennis Match on the Domain Ground between the Claim and Omaha clubs,  Jane went to play for Omaha, there was a dance afterwards,
There was a meeting of the Road Board in the Office in the pm.

Sunday 22nd   It was a beautiful day.   Revd R. McKinney held service in the Hall in the morning, there was a very large congregation, Jane played the organ.

Monday 23rd   A fine day.  We were picking Damsons in the farm orchard all day.

Tuesday 24th   It was a fine day.  We picked a few more Cases of fruit and hauled them down to the wharf in the afternoon Honor Wyatt and Mrs Austin (Mary) were here for tea.

Wednesday 25th   It was a very hot day.  We were picking fruit all day.  Hauled 10 Cases Damsons and 2 Cases Coes Late Red Plums down to the wharf in the afternoon to go away in the “Kawau“.  Brought up the remainder of the Fruit Cases that came in the “Claymore” yesterday.
There was a meeting of the School Committee at the School in the evening,   I attended.

Thursday 26th   It was a fine day.We were picking fruit.  I took it down to the wharf in the evening.

Friday 27th   It was a fine day.   We were picking Beurre Bose Pears in the morning and Vicar Pears in the afternoon.
I went down for the mail in the evening.  There was a meeting in the Hall to pay the Show Prizes.

Saturday 28th   It was a fine day.  I was packing the Beurre Bose Pears that we picked yesterday.  Willie went out fishing with Archie Dunning in his yacht, and brought home 4 schnappers and 2 rock cod.

Sunday 29th   It was a fine day.  I rode to Pakiri and spent the day at Johny Salts, spent a very pleasant day.  Arrived at home just after dark.

Monday 30th   It was a fine day.  We were picking Damsons and Coe’s Late Red in the farm orchard.

Tuesday 31st   It rained this morning and made the roads a bit slippery.
Old Murray, a Maori who died at the Pa on Sunday, was buried at the Maori Cemetery at 2 oclock this afternoon.  I went over and read the funeral service.
We took the Fruit down to the Wharf later in the afternoon.