May 1895

Wednesday 1st   Shooting season commenced today.  Henry was out shooting all day.  I was sowing Grass Seed.  The steamer Kawau called in in the afternoon to take Walter & George Wyatt, Maud, Willie & Horace to the Kawau, Mr & Mrs Harvey also went up to Auckland in her.   Walter & George Wyatt have bought a large clump of Tea Tree from Mr Holgate which they are going to cut into Firewood.  Willie is going to work for them and Maud is going to keep house for them.  We shall miss them all very much.

Thursday 2nd   Henry was out shooting.  I was sowing Grass Seed.

Friday 3rd   I got the Sheep up out of the Barley Paddock and put 5 Ewes out on to the farm that have taken the Ram.  John rode over to Warkworth to take Henry‘s Pheasants to send them away by the “Rose Casey“.  Henry was out shooting all day.  I commenced sowing Grass Seed but it came on to rain and I came home, it rained nearly all day.

Saturday 4th   Henry was out shooting, I was sowing Grass Seed, but it was too windy in the afternoon that I had to leave off.

Sunday 5th   Henry took his Pheasants over to Warkworth.  Revd J. Law preached in the Hall in the afternoon.  The Miss Hardings & Miss Sargent came here for tea and spent the evening.

Monday 6th   I finished sowing Grass Seed below the School.  Henry was out shooting.  We all went up to Miss Hardings in the evening.  Mr & Mrs T. Knaggs were there.  There wes Music and Games  & we spent a very pleasant evening.

Tuesday 7th   I was sowing Grass Seed outside the new fence going to Mr Wyatts.  Henry was out shooting but did not get much luck,  We were all down to the Steamer in the evening.

Wednesday 8th   I was sowing Grass Seed outside the orchard fence.  Henry hauled a few goods for Mr Harvey in the morning.  In the afternoon he and John were cutting Tea Tree outside the Barley Paddock fence and near the culvert.

Thursday 9th   John & Henry were cutting Tea Tree outside the Barley Paddock fence both in the morning & afternoon.  I was sowing Grass Seed on the farm where some heaps have been burnt and in the afternoon I sowed Grass Seed heads below the School.  The Grass Seed is coming up nicely as we have had such showery weather.  There was a very heavy shower of rain in the evening which caused a flood.

Friday 10th   There is going to be a Social in the Hall this evening in connection with the monthly dances, Henry who is on the Commettee was down at the Hall working all day.  He took the bullocks to haul the Piano from Mr Harvey’s to the Hall.  I was pulling up tea tree in the barley paddock.  John fixed up the grindstone & slashed some fern.  The young people went to the Social in the evening, I was the only one left at home.
We killed a Sheep in the evening.

Saturday 11th    I took out the mutton in the morning.

Sunday 12th   I read service in the Hall in the afternoon.  It was a fine day.

Monday 13th   John & I dug the piece of ground below the house that was in beans.  It rained heavy in the evening.

Tuesday 14th   It was a wet day.  I made a crate and we sent 15 young roosters to Auckland, also 1 Case of Apples & Pears mixed.  The Steamer came in early.  There was to have been a dance in the Hall to eat up the tucker that was left over from last Friday night, but it did not come off on account of the rain.

Wednesday 15th   I was pulling up tea tree in the Barley paddock.  There were several showers during the day,  John hauled some goods for Mr Harvey also 1 Sack of Sharps for us.  Mr Trotter was round to buy cattle, Henry went to look for Lively but could not find him.

Thursday 16th   I mended the fence at Mathesons paddock to keep the Sheep out.  I was pulling up tea tree in the Barley paddock, John was cutting tea tree.  Henry was shooting and he and Jim Dunning    went out in a boat to meet the “Kawau” to send their birds away.

Friday 17th   We got the Sheep up in the E.R.  and took one home to kill which we did in the evening.  John & Henry were cutting tea tree in the front & I was pulling up tea tree in the barley paddock.

Saturday 18th   Henry was out shooting.  I took the mutton out in the morning and then I pulled up tea tree the remainder of the day.

Sunday 19th   It was fine in the morning.  I rode over to Dacre’s Claim to service.  Revd J. Haselden conducted service, he returned with me to dinner and he held service in the afternoon in this Hall, 5 remained for Communion and 13/- collected.
We went to Miss Hardings for tea and spent the evening.  George Pratt was also there.

Monday 20th   It was a fine day, only 2 small showers.  Henry was out shooting, John was cutting tea tree & I was pulling up tea tree in the barley paddock all day.
I filled up my Sheep return in the evening as follows.
Rams                                                        1
Wethers                                              12
Ewes intended for breeding    50
Lambs                                                    35
Total                                                       98

Tuesday 21st   It rained nearly all day, we went out to work but had to return home again.  The Steamer came in about 9 pm.

Wednesday 22nd   It was a fine day, but the wind was blowing very strong.  The Steamer went out in the morning but she had a very rough time of it.  John hauled some goods for Harvey also 2 Sacks Maize ,  2 Bag of Flour  &  a bale of Drapery from Rushbrook for us. In the afternoon we hauled a lot of firewood to the top of the hill behind the house.
The Miss Hardings came here for tea and spent the evening.

Thursday 23rd   It was a fine day.  John & I rolled all the firewood down the hill and stacked it across the drain.  I went to Mr Harveys in the morning and in the afternoon was pulling up tea tree,  John was cutting tea tree, Henry went shooting to Pakiri.

Friday 24th   It was a fine day.  Henry was out shooting all day.  John & I planted 5 rows of Cabbages.  Also sowed some Oates in the ground where the Kumeras came out and in the orchard where the Potatoes grew.  Killed a Sheep in the evening.
The young people went up to Miss Hardings in the evening to learn a new dance.  Harold Torkington & Mabel Wyatt staid here all night.

Saturday 25th   It was a fine day.  The Kawau called in in the morning on her way to Auckland & Henry sent his pheasants up by her.  Henry was out shooting & John went fishing, but did not catch anything.
I sowed 5 rows of White Stone Turnips next to the Cabbages we planted yesterday.

Sunday 26th   It was a fine day, but rather dull in the afternoon.
I read service in the Hall in the pm.

Monday 27th   It was raining and blowing all day.  I was making Cases in the shed.  Henry was out shooting.
Flora had 8 Pips, Henry drowned all but 3.

Tuesday 28th   It was a fine day.  Henry was out shooting.  John went up to Pratts and returned in the evening.  I was pulling up tea tree in the barley paddock in the morning & pulling up beans sticks in the afternoon.

Wednesday 29th   It was a fine day with the exception of a few slight showers.  John & Henry have got the contract for clearing the tea tree in the school ground and they commenced to work at it today.  I was pulling up tea tree in the barley paddock.
Mr Witten came in the afternoon for a parcel of drapery.
I settled up with Henry in the evening paying him a Cheque from Esam & Arthur  £4 . 7 . 0   and my share of the hauling of  Sleepers  £2,  this was in payment of the money I borrowed from him last winter.  I also settled with him for hauling Harvey & Rogers.

Thursday 30th   It was a fine day.  John & Henry were working at their contract.  I was pulling up tea tree.

Friday 31st   It was a fine day.  John & Henry were working at their contract.  I was pulling up tea tree.  Killed a Sheep in the evening.