March 1904

Tuesday 1st   It was a dull day, wind still blowing from the E.  Willie took out the mutton in the morning.  We were getting exhibits ready in the afternoon and we took some of them down to the Hall in the evening.

Wednesday 2nd   The weather looked very unpromising when we got up in the morning, the clouds very low and a misty rain falling , we took the remainder of our exhibits down to the Show this morning , Burton Witten, Emily Cruickshank, Horace Pratt, Minnie & children, Fanny Brittain and Tillie Coplestone were here for lunch, we all went down to the Show in the afternoon, which was a great success.  The “Claymore” and the “Kapanui” brought about 100 excursionists from Auckland, they had a very rough passage and most of the passengers were sick.  We went home for tea and returned to the Hall  in the evening for the Concert.  Mr J. H. Phillpot brought a very good company from town and we enjoyed it very much.  There were several showers during the day, and it rained more or less all evening.

Thursday 3rd   It rained steady all day.  Minnie and Miss E. Cruickshank were unable to go home.

Friday 4th   It rained steadily all morning , but cleared up in the pm.  Minnie and Miss E. Cruickshank returned home.  We killed a sheep in the pm .  Jane went down for the mail in the evening.

Saturday 5th   It was a fine day.  Horace went home in the morning.  Willie took the mutton out and then went fishing to Ti Point, he caught 25 schnapper,  he gave Minnie 8 and brought the remainder home.
Jane went down to the Tennis and I went down to help clear up the Hall.

Sunday 6th   It was a fine day.  Willie took Alma home and spent the day at Ti Point.  Jack Cruickshank drove over in the morning and took Mrs Jack home in the afternoon.
Jane went up to Mrs Handbys and took her some fish.  I went to Joe Wyatts and staid tea.

Monday 7th    It was a beautiful day.  We pulled out the bean sticks and commenced to dig next to the Pumpkins.

Tuesday 8th   It was a fine day.   We continued digging the piece of ground that we commenced yesterday.  Willie & I went down to the Steamer in the afternoon.  Harold Torkington was here for tea.  Jane went to the Tennis in the evening.

Wednesday 9th   It was a fine day.  Jane went round in the little “Kawau” to Ti Point in the morning and returned in the Coastal “Kawau” in the afternoon.  We finished digging the piece of ground.

Thursday 10th   It was a very hot day.  We were cutting tea tree behind the Cottage all day.  Willie and I went down to the wharf in the evening to see the excursionists going to the Mangawai Show, the two “Kawau” s   calling in.  Charlie & Maggie went so Vincent & Jessie came up here for Jane to look after them.

Friday 11th It was a fine day tho’ rather dull.  We got the Sheep up from the front and killed one in the afternoon.  Jane went down to the Tennis & also to get the mail in the evening, she took the little Wyatts with her.

Saturday 12th   It was a fine day.  Willie took the mutton out in the morning, afterwards went to Ti Point fishing, he caught 16 schnappers.
I was working in the flower garden all day.  The McGregor “Kawau” returned from Mangawai Show in the evening.

Sunday 13th   It was a fine day.  I rode to Matakana in the morning , had dinner at Mr Sims, went with them to the Presbyterian Church in the afternoon , returned home just before dark.  Mr French held service in this Hall, Jane went, and afterwards had tea at Archie Dunnings.  Willie spent the day at Ti Point.

Monday 14th   It was a bit showery.  We were picking Pears all day.

Tuesday 15th   The wind was blowing very strong from the NE and very showery.  Got the bullock and hauled the fruit and a box of eggs down to the wharf, a wire came stating that the little “Kawau” had put back on account of the weather.

Wednesday 16th   It was a fine day.  Mrs C. Gravatt came in the morning to register the birth of her baby.  We commenced digging under the dining room window.
Willie went down to the wharf in the evening, the Coastal “Kapui” had arrived bringing the mail.

Thursday 17th   St Patricks Day.  The weather was fine.  Took the bullock down to the wharf in the morning and hauled up a Sack of Maize that came in the old “Kawau” this morning. We were digging under the dining room window in the afternoon.

Friday 18th   It was a disagreeable day, the wind was blowing very strong from the NE.
I send my Seperate Rate to the County Treasurer by  Robt  Wyatt.
We got the Sheep up in the morning and killed a Wether in the pm.  Jane went down to Tennis and as My Boyd did not come over, she attended to the Library.

Saturday 19th   It rained very heavily this morning and it was very late when I cut up the Sheep, and then Willie took it out to the customers, he afterwards proceeded to Ti Point to fish and brought home a few fish.  Jane went down to Tennis in the afternoon, and I also took a walk down that way.

Sunday 20th   Spent a quiet day at home.  Harold Torkington rode over & spent the day here.

Monday 21st   It was a fine day.  Willie & I were working down near our gate making drains & turning water off .  Jane rode to Ti Point in the afternoon & staid all night.

Tuesday 22nd   It was a fine day.  Willie and I were digging under the dining room window in the morning, and we went down to meet the Steamer in the pm.  Jane & I had letters from my sister Fanny.  Jane returned from Ti Point in the evening.

Wednesday 23rd   It was a fine day.  We were digging just below the house.

Thursday 24th   It was a fine day.  We finished digging the piece of ground just below the house.

Friday 25th   It was a fine day.  We got the Sheep up in the morning  and killed a Wether in the pm.  We planted 2 Row of Potatoes (Early Norther) next the path leading to the orchard .  I went down for the mail in the evening.  I received a letter from my Son Henry.

Saturday 26th   The wind was blowing very strong from the NE and threatening for rain.  Willie took the mutton out in the morning and then he went to Ti Point to fish, he returned in the evening with 1 yellowtail & 2 schnappers.  There was a Tennis match in the afternoon between the Omaha & Pakiri Clubs.  Omaha beat 3 out of 4 sets.  The ladies gave tea on the ground, there was also a Dance in the Hall in the evening and supper.
The Annual Meeting  of Subscribers to the Show was held in the evening in the Library, I was voted to the chair.  Mr William Greenwood was unamously elected President and the following persons elected a Committee of Management
Messrs   Jos  Greenwood (Chairman)
A.  Matheson   (Secretery & Treasurer)
A.  Haskell
C.  Dunning
T.  Handby
Jas  Greenwood
B.  Witten
H.  Brown
W.  Neeley
I was elected auditor.
The prize money won at the late Show was then given out.

Sunday 27th   It was fine in the morning.  Willie went to spend the day at Ti Point.  Jane & I staid at home.  It came on to rain later in the pm.

Monday 28th   It rained nearly all day.  Harold Torkington came in the afternoon and staid the night.

Tuesday 29th   A showery day.  Harold Torkington returned to Ti Point in the morning.  Willie & I went down to the Steamer in the afternoon.

Wednesday 30th   It was a fine day.  Willie & I were re-hanging the store doors.  Cutting tea tree in the afternoon.

Thursday 31st   It was a very fine day.  We got the sheep in in the morning, and killed a Ewe in the afternoon.  We sowed 3 Rows of White Stone Turnips next to the Potatoes.