March 1910

Tuesday 1st   It did not rain, but it was a dull day, wind still blowing strong from E.
Willie was picking fruit all day, we hauled a load down to the wharf in the pm.  I went down to the village in the pm, the “Kawau” was over 6 hrs coming from Auckland she had a very rough trip.  The remains of Mr Robert Henry Shakespear were brought down in the Steamer to be buried alongside his mother in  this Cemetery, the funeral took place immediately after the arrival of the Steamer.  Mr Smith, a brother in law read the service at the grave.  Mr Shakespear for several years occupied the position of caretaker at the Little Barrier, he and his family were often over here and were very popular and highly respected , he was very generous and contributed to all athletic sports in the district.  Jane & Gertie went to old Mrs Dunnings in the pm, had tea there, and then attended the funeral and afterwards went to Mr Ashworths to spend the evening.
Mr Smith, Mr Shakespear Jnr and Willie Harper came up here in the evening to get me to fix up the burial certificate.

Wednesday 2nd   It was a fairly fine day, only a few showers.  Gertie was to have gone back to Auckland today, but on account of the rough weather, she is staying till Friday.  In the morning Willie hauled the Fruit and Eggs down to the wharf, in the pm he was picking pears.   Jane & Gertie walked over to Ti Point to spend the day.

Thursday 3rd   It was a very fine day.  Willie was picking Pears all day.  I was working in the flower garden all day.  Jane & Gertie went to spend the day at Mrs Archie Dunnings.

Friday 4th   With the exception of a heavy shower in the pm it was a fine day and some portions very hot.  Willie was picking fruit in the morning and in the pm he took the horse down to the wharf with some fruit for auction and Gerties luggage.  Jane also went down to see her off – but when they got down below they heard that the “Kawau” was bar bound at Mangawai, so Gertie had to come back here.  I was working in the flower garden .  I went down to the Library and for the mail in the evening.

Saturday 5th   It was fine in the morning, but there were heavy showers in the pm.  Willie was picking fruit and he went down to the Point in the pm to get flax.  I was working in the flower garden.

Sunday 6th   It was a fine day,  wind still from the E.  Mr Wilson (Presbyterian Student) conducted service in the Hall in the morning for the last time as he is leaving.  I am very sorry for I enjoy his services very much,  Jane, Gertie & I went.  Albert Wyatt was here for dinner & tea.  In the afternoon I took a walk up to Mr Ashworths and had tea there, Mr A.  showed me all round the place, they have everything very convenient and comfortable, and he has done wonders considering the short time he has been here.

Monday 7th   It was a fine day, wind still from E, but it is not blowing quite so hard, and the sea has gone down a lot.
I was doing odd jobs and working in the flower garden, Willie was picking fruit and after an early tea he hauled it down to the wharf in the evening.  The “Kawau” got out of Mangawai and called in here at about 6.30 having been bar bound there since last Thursday.  Gertie Coplestone returned to Auckland by her.

Tuesday 8th   It was a fine day.  I was not feeling at all well and was lying down most of the day.  In the pm Jane went down to Uncle Johns intending to go over to get the mail when the Steamer came in, but we heard later in the pm that it was a Orewa that was coming and that she was not to leave Auckland until 1 pm.  Willie was picking and packing fruit, he hauled it down to the wharf late in the pm, after tea he went down to the wharf again to meet the “Orewa” and get the mail.  Mrs Ernie Gravatt & her boy came up by her,  Bertie Witten was over to meet them but as it was such a dark night they all came up here to stay the night.

Wednesday 9th   It was a fine day, wind still E,  after breakfast Bertie Witten & his sister started for Pakiri.  Willie went down to the Steamer to get his fruit signed for, the rest of the day he was picking fruit.  I was working in the flower garden.

Thursday 10th   It was a fine day.  In the morning Mr Banks came to ask me to give him a testimonial .  Willie was picking & packing Pears
In the afternoon I went down to the beach and got two bags of sand which I put in the shed for Willie to haul up tomorrow.  I thought I would get the mail, but I heard that the Steamer was not going to leave Auckland until 4.30 this afternoon.

Friday 11th   It was a fine day.  In the morning Willie took a load of fruit down to the wharf to meet the “Kawau” and he hauled me up a bag of sand .  I was working in the flower garden.  I dug one of the three corner beds that have a border of Primroses, in the centre I planted a patch of White Ixias and round these a row of Anemones.
In the pm I dug up another three cornered bed where I intend to plant a border of snowflakes as I did last year.  In the evening I went down for the mail and to attend the Library.

Saturday 12th   It was a very fine day.  When we got up in the morning the wind had got round to the S, but towards evening it got round to the E again.  Jim came in the morning to rob a beehive in the bush for us, he got a bucket full of honey out of it.
Willie was picking fruit, he went down to the village in the pm to get the mail.  I was working in the flower garden.  I planted 2 clumps of Narcissus (La Grande Monarque) also took up and replanted the Watsonia bulbs that Mrs Simpson gave me, also dug out a lot of common Jonquills to burn  them.  There was a Cricket match in Charlie Wyatts paddock in the pm between Omaha & Pakiri schoolboys, the latter won by 3 runs, the parents of the former supplied tea.

Sunday 13th   It was a very fine day.  Jane & Willie rode over to spend the day so I was left at home alone, soon after they went Frank & Florrie Pratt came here and they were disappointed that Jane was not at home, so I sent them over to Ti Point.
Revd Jory conducted his last service in the Hall in the pm, his next circuit is Northern Wairoa.  I went to the service & there were more there than usual.  After service I went to Joe Wyatts for tea.

Monday 14th   It was a fine day, but it was blowing very strong from NW.  In the morning Willie hauled 11 Cases Fruit down to the wharf and brought up some empty cases from our gate, the remainder of the day he was picking fruit.  Mary Neeley was here for dinner.  I was working in the flower garden planting spring bulbs, I planted 3 clumps of Bride of Gladiolus, 2 ditto Daffodils, 2 ditto Fresias, 1 each Tritomas.

Tuesday 15th   It rained last night and seemed to have changed the wind as it is SW this morning & much cooler.  It was a beautiful day.  Willie was picking fruit and hauled a load down to the wharf in the pm.  I was working in the flower garden, I planted 18 clumps Snowflakes in the three cornered bed, I sent an order for Seeds & Bulbs to John Lewis Childs of Floral Park, New York, U.S.  I went down to the P.O in the pm and got a Money Order for £1 . 4 . 0 which I enclosed with the order and posted it in Registered letter.  While down there I got a bag of sand which Willie hauled up.

Wednesday 16th   It was fine in the morning.  I helped Willie pack 4 Cases Vicar Pears and then I went down to the beach and sieved a lot of black soil and sand, I carried the soil over to the wharf.  Willie who had hauled fruit down brought the soil home for me.
The “Kawau” had a very big cargo to take of Charcoal, Fruit, Butter, Eggs &c.   Several Omaha Cricketers went up to Auckland in her to play some matches in town.
A serious accident happened to Wilson Knaggs who was driving down to the Steamer this morning in his trap.  Arthur Greenwood was coming down the hill with a catamaran and his horses ran away and came into collision with Wilson’s trap, his horses therefore ran away and bolted away down the old road below Mr Handbys.  Wilson was pitched out, stunned and seriously injured, and the trap badly injured ,  he was carried to his father’s house and the Doctor was sent for.
In the afternoon I planted 2 clumps of Daffodils in the flower garden, it came on a steady rain and I had to knock off.  Willie was packing Beurre Diel Pears.

Thursday 17th   St Patricks Day.   It was a fine day.  In the morning I was helping Willie in the orchard, he was picking Beurre Diel pears from the tree in the middle of orchard and I was packing them.
in the pm I planted 2 clumps of Fairy Bells & 2 do Daffodills.  In the evening Willie went down to meet the “Kawau” to get the mail.

Friday 18th   It was a fine day.  Willie was picking fruit and in the afternoon he took a load down to the wharf.  I was digging out weeds in the flower garden and in the afternoon I took some Tomatoes & Apples down to John Wyatts & had tea there, afterwards I went across to the Post Office for the mail and then attended the Library.

Saturday 19th   It was a fine day.  Willie was shoeing the sleigh.  I went down to meet the “Kawau“, the cricketers returned from Auckland in her, I got a bag of sand and the mail.
Miss Butler was here for dinner.  Lewis Meiklejohn & Mrs Gravatt were here in the evening.

Sunday 20th   It was a fine day.  After breakfast I started out on the horse , first called on Mrs Carr to tell her that there would be a choir practice  in the Hall on Thursday evening to practice hymns for Easter Sunday , next went to Mr G. Knaggs to enquire after Wilson who was injured in the trap accident the other day, and found that he had been taken home last night, so I went on to John Greenwoods where I had dinner and spent a very pleasant time, in the pm John & I rode to Wilson Knaggs to see how he was and found he was improving fast, we had tea there and I returned home in the evening found that Mrs H. Torkington, Miss Batty and another lady had been to our place to spend the day.
Willie hauled a load of fruit down to the wharf in the evening as the “Kawau” is calling in here early tomorrow morning.

Monday 21st   It was a fine day.  Willie got up early and went down to the wharf  to get his fruit signed for , the remainder of the day he was picking and packing fruit, I was working in the flower garden.
I planted 2 clumps of Hoop Petticoat & ditto Paper White Narcissus and 1 ditto Snowflakes near the front gate.

Tuesday 22nd   It was very dull first thing in the morning and had every indication of rain, so Willie hauled a load of fruit down to the wharf and it commenced to rain steadily before he got home and it rained all day.  Mrs Ab Wyatt & children were here for dinner and on account of the weather they staid all night.
In the pm Willie went down to the wharf to get his fruit signed for, it was the “Gael” that came and made a round trip she had a very rough trip.  Horace Pratt came down in her & came up here with Willie and staid all night.
There was to have been a Social at Pakiri this evening as a farewell to Miss Brown who is to be married to Lewis Meiklejohn on Easter Monday, a general invitation was given, but on account of the weather it was postponed indefinitely.

Wednesday 23rd   The weather was dull, but fine,  the wind has abated and changed to the S.
In the morning Horace & I were helping Willie pick Beurre Diel Pears.  Lewis Meiklejohn came to get his Marriage Certificate.
In the afternoon I went down to the wharf as the “Kawau” had just come from town, she was on her way to Mangawai,  Dick Knaggs was in charge.  On account of the easterly weather she returned to Kawau to wait until the sea went down.

Thursday 24th   It was a fine day.  Mr Pratt came over with the wagon so Horace returned with him.
Willie was picking Pears all day.  I was doing odd jobs & helping Jane.  There was a choir practice in the Hall in the evening,  Jane & I went.

Friday 25th   I got up at 2 am and went down to the wharf to meet the Steamer from Auckland, it proved to be the “Orewa“.  Henry, Fred Simpson & Mr Laidlow came up to stay with us, a Cricketing team from Northcote also came up to play matches here.
After breakfast Fred & Mr Laidlow walked over to Ti Point and from thence went over to the Sandspit shooting rabbits, they had tea at Joes returning here in the evening.  Jane, Willie, Henry & I went over to the Claim to witness the Cricket Match between Omaha & Northcote teams, our fellows won easily,  Jane, Henry & Willie staid for tea & a dance, but I came home.

Saturday 26th   It was a fine day.  There was a Cricket Match at Matakana between Northcote & the local team, Northcote had an easy win.   Henry rode over to see it returning here in the evening.  There was a farewell social to Miss brown at Pakiri in the evening.
I rode over in the pm, had tea at Johny Salts and we all went down to the Hall, Jane, Henry and a lot more Omaha people went over and we spent a very pleasant evening, there was a concert, supper, and a dance.  I was chairman, Henry stopped at Bob Wyatts all night , but we others came home, it was a beautiful moonlight house.  [sic: night]?

Sunday 27th   Easter Sunday.  Fred, Mr Laidlaw & Willie went over to Ti Point returning here in the evening, in time for tea.  Mr Herbert Banks came up here in the morning to have a look round.  I showed him the garden, orchard & patch of Pumpkins, he takes a great interest in flowers and knows the names of nearly everything, he staid here for dinner.  Revd Teale held service in the Hall in the afternoon , there was a good congregation, Collection 16/-.  Jack Henry returned from Pakiri in the evening.

Monday 28th   It was a fine day, tho’ dull, Fred & Mr Laidlaw, were early and went down to the wharf where they embarked on board Mr Herbert Banks yacht and they sailed & steamed round to the top wharf Big Omaha and walked from there up to the top of Tamahunga mountain returning here in time for tea.  Jane, Henry & Willie went to the Claim to witness a Cricket Match between Northcote and a combined team, the local team won in one innings against the others two, Jane & Willie came home for tea, but Henry remained over there for tea & the dance.
I remained at home & was planting some bulbs in the flower garden.
Miss Mary Neeley & Mr Heywood called in the pm about their Marriage License.
There was a dance in this Hall in the evening, Willie went down early in the evening & Fred & Mr Laidlaw went down later on intending to call in at the Hall on their way to the Steamer.

Tuesday 29th   It was blowing a gale from the NE and raining nearly all day .  Willie was picking & packing Pears

Wednesday 30th   It was still blowing and raining.  Willie hauled 2 loads of Fruit down to the wharf, on account of the rough weather, the “Kawau” had not arrived from Auckland, we heard that she was sheltering at Kawau.  Mr Heywood came in the afternoon to get his Marriage Certificate.

Thursday 31st   It was a dull day, but it did not rain.  The “Kawau” came in here in the morning then went round to Big Omaha & came round here again to load fruit, she had been lying at Kawau since Tuesday on account of the easterly blow.  Willie hauled 2 loads of fruit down to the wharf
Jane & Henry went to Mary Neeleys wedding, Jane came home, but Henry staid at Minnies all night