March 1926

Monday 1st   It was a fine day.  My back was bad, was not able to do much outside.

Tuesday 2nd   It was a fine day  My back was still bad.  Was not able to do much outside.

Wednesday 3rd   It was a fine day.  I went down to Pats to take a Library book and to send my bank book to the Postmaster at Leigh.
Resowed Cauliflower & Cabbage seed in boxes.

Thursday 4th   It was a very fine day.  The annual school picnic was held in the Domain.  The Schools represented were Takatu Point, Big Omaha, Ti Point & Leigh, the several Teachers being present.  There were 71 school children and younger ones bringing the total to more than 100, the parents were also present and a lot of friends,  all comers had lunch & tea in the hall, there were races and games and scrambles for lollies for the children,  the elders played bowls.  The children had a real good time.
I planted out 11 Vanguard cabbage plants.
Arthur Greenwood and Dan Kempt came in the morning to get me to witness their signatures to a deed.

Friday 5th   It was a fine day.  I was clearing and digging in the flower garden.

Saturday 6th   It was a fine day.  There was a cricket match at Matakana.   Matakana V Rodney.  Jane, the children and I went in Tom Ashton’s lorry, Jim rode.  It was a very close game as Rodney won by only a few runs.  We had a very enjoyable picnic under the trees with Tom & Harry Ashtons,  Dunnings and Wyatts.

Sunday 7th   It was a fine day.  Revd Addenbrooke held service in the hall in the morning, there were present 9 persons, 3 men, 3 ladies and 3 children.

Monday 8th   It was a fine day.  I finished digging the flower garden,  I took up and replanted a clump of gladiolus  Mrs H.  I started trenching the piece of ground that was growing Suttons Peerless peas.

Tuesday 9th   It was a fine day.  I continued trenching the piece of ground I started yesterday.  Mr Perks came in the morning with his drapery goods.  Dolly and Mrs Handby came up to see them and to make purchases,  they staid for lunch and went up to my garden.  It threatened for rain in the evening and there were a few  dray.  [?]

Wednesday 10th   It was a fine day.  It threatened for rain in the evening, but we did not get any.  I finished trenching the piece of ground I started on Monday.

Thursday 11th   It was a fine day.  I was helping Jane peel peaches and pears for bottling.

Friday 12th   I wrote a letter to my son Henry and it was posted this morning .  I was carrying water up to the garden to water the beans.

Saturday 13th   A little rain fell last night, it put a little water into the tank, but did not do much good for the garden.  There was a Cricket Match at Matakana,  Matakana V Big Omaha,  Tom Ashton took his family in his lorry and Jim went with him.  It was a fine day.  I picked in some White Dutch beans.  Jane and the children played tennis in the afternoon.

Sunday 14th   There was a slight shower just before church time in the morning, but it only lasted a few minutes , otherwise it was a very fine day.  Revd Rouprecht held service at 11 am, there was a fairly good congregation, the parson came here for dinner, afterwards I went with him in his car as far as Big Omaha, called at Bromleys.  Mr Bromley showed me round his farm and some pure bred Jersey heifers that he had lately purchased.
I next called at Jack Matthews where I had pm tea.  Afterwards Jack drove me home in his car,  Mrs M accompanied us, they came up here and had tea.  Mrs Evans and her sister Mrs Russell were also here with their babies.  The Matthews went to see my garden.  Jim, Jane and the children went in the car with them as far as Whitakers.

Monday 15th   It was a fine day.  Jim drove me over to Leigh in the morning, I had business at the Post Office.  I drew £20 out of the bank.  We had dinner at Mr A. Dunnings, afterwards I called at Mr Gravatts, but Mrs G was away, so I went to Mr Griggs and Jim called for me going home.

Tuesday 16th   It was fine with the exception of a slight shower in the middle of the day, but it did not last long and did not do much good. Tom Ashton who is working with Jim on the road was here for dinner.  I took out the sticks of the first planted Homestead Beans. Mrs Gravatt who has been staying at Jack Waldens called in the afternoon.

Wednesday 17th   It was a fine day.  Jim and Jane went to Warkworth with Tom Ashton in his lorry.  I was at home all on my own, I prepared a trench to plant cabbages.

Thursday 18th   It was a very fine day.  I gathered in and shelled a lot of seed beans.  Went down to Dollys to get some carrots , carried up some black soil.  Tom Ashton was here for dinner.

Friday 19th   It was a fine day.  I was carrying manure and water up to the garden.  Tom Ashton was here for dinner.

Saturday 20th   It was a fine day.  There was a lot of smoke around on account of bush fires.  There was a cricket match at Port Albert between the local club and Omaha.  The visiting team beat.  Jim went in Harry Ashton’s car, and Jane went in Lionel Meiklejohn’s car with Laurence and Alma.  Hector went to a scouts picnic at Matheson’s beach,  I went to Evans in the pm, she gave me two Tomato plants which I planted in the evening.

Sunday 21st It was a very fine day.  Mr & Mrs Stewart came to spend the day with us.  They went with us to the service in the hall conducted by Mr Milligan, there was a fair congregation and the singing was good.

Monday 22nd   It was a fine day.  It was Jean’s 13th birthday.  Jim and Tom Ashton finished their job on the road to day.  Tom was here for dinner.  I was carrying manure and water up to the garden.

Tuesday 23rd   There was slight rain, but nothing to do any good to the garden.  I was carrying water and manure up to the garden.

Wednesday 24th   Slight rain in the morning.  Cleared up later on.
I was shelling bean seed.
There was community singing in the hall in the evening, all of us went.  Mr Stewart was the conductor and Alma Whitaker the accompanist.  It was not attended so well as those last winter  on account of meetings at Matakana and Leigh.  There was a dance after,  Lionel Meiklejohn proving an efficient m c –  The ladies provided an excellent supper.

Thursday 25th  It rained a little last night when we came home at midnight.  It was fine this morning ‘tho threatening.  In the morning I went by the beach to the P. O. to get some stamps & the cricket score book.  The remainder of the day I was writing a report for the buster.

Friday 26th   It was a showery day.  I was not able to do anything outside.  By the mail this evening I received a letter from Willie , also one from Elliott & Holden containing a cheque for £9 . 10 . 0 .

Saturday 27th   There were only a few showers today .  The rain has gone deep into the ground so it was too wet to do any digging.
There was a children’s party at Albert Wyatts and these children went.  [Albert Bruce Wyatt b/d 26 March 1917]

Sunday 28th   It was a fine day ‘tho dull.  Revd Thornley was to have held service in the pm, but he has been appointed to Whakatane and has to leave almost immediately so he asked Mr Evans to take the service,

Monday 29th   It was a fine day.  I started planting the bulbs .  I planted 4 clumps of Dwarf Gladioli, 1 of Sparaxis, and 4 varieties of Daffodils.

Tuesday 30th   It was a fine day.  I planted 13 sorts of Daffodils.

Wednesday 31st   It was blowing a hurricane from NW and raining nearly all day , was not able to plant Daffodils.