May 1897

Saturday 1st   It was blowing very hard and threatened for rain, but it did not rain until evening.
I took out the mutton in the morning and then took my nomination for the Road Board down to John Wyatts, the following persons were nominated.  J. C. Wyatt,  A. Kempt,  W. Neeley,  D. W. Knaggs,  W. Wyatt,  J. E. Salt and myself.  The Poll will take place next Friday.

Sunday 2nd   It rained very heavily last night which beat the wind down.  It was fine today, but has not dried up much as there was no wind.  I read service in the Hall in the afternoon.  John Cruickshank was here for tea.

Monday 3rd   It was a fine day.  I was burning tea tree alongside of the fence going up to the crossroads.  Joseph Wyatt put his horse into the E.R. to graze at  9 d  per week.  Jane and Malcolm Niccol rode to Matakana in the afternoon, returning for tea.

Tuesday 4th   It was a fine day.  I was burning tea tree alongside of the road going up to the crossroads.  The Steamer resumed her winter trips this week coming in about 5.30 and staid all night.  I went down to the Wharf in the evening.

 Wednesday 5th   It was a fine day.  Malcolm Niccol went away by the Steamer this morning, Jane and I went down to the Wharf to see him off.  Afterwards I rode over to Matakana to get 10 lbs Red Top Seed from Cruickshanks store.  I called in at Mr Ashtons at Big Omaha and had some dinner there.  I also called at Mr Birdsalls.  The “Ida” went round to load at John Greenwoods, this is the first trip that she has made since she got on the rocks at Takatea Point.

Thursday 6th   It was blowing very strong from the E.  I went down to the beach to John Wyatts in the morning and to Tom Wyatts in the afternoon.  I dug some Kumeras the latter part of the afternoon.
I went to Mrs Fordhams in the evening.

Friday 7th   It was blowing very strong from the E., but we had no rain to speak of , although it threatened very much for it.  I was doing odd jobs in the morning, killed a Sheep in the afternoon.  There was an Election in the Hall to fill the three vacancies on the Road Board.
The voting was as follows,
J. C. Wyatt                                         22
C. S. Clark                                           20
J. E.  Salt                                              19
D. W. Knaggs                                   17
W. Neeley & A.  Kempt each  15
The first three were therefore declared elected.  There was some little excitement down at the Hall, a good many people were waiting about the Hall, waiting to hear the result.

Saturday 8th    It was blowing strong and threatening for rain, but we did not get much.  I took the meat out in the morning after which I had to make out the balance sheet of the Road Board.  The Annual Meeting of Ratepayers was held in the afternoon in the Public Hall at 2 oclock, only 7 ratepayers were present.  Walter Wyatt was here for tea.

Sunday 9th   It rained last night, but the wind has gone down and it turned out a fine day.  I read service in the Hall in the afternoon.  John Cruickshanks was here for tea.

Monday 10th   It rained heavily last night, but it cleared up and was very fine today.  Walter Wyatt was working here to day.  We mended up the fence that had slipped away at the second Koeroa creek between Frearsons land and ours.

Tuesday 11th   It was a fine day.  I was burning tea tree heaps along side of the barley paddock fence.  Charlie Wyatt came up by the Steamer, I went down to his house in the evening.

Wednesday 12th   There were a few showers during the day.  Willie was home from School and he and I hauled with the bullocks, we hauled 3 coils of Barb and 1 Coil of Plain Wire up from the Wharf for the fence in front, we also hauled some posts from Neeleys road for the fence  next to T. Wyatts.
M.  M.  Total amount realised from the sale of Fruit for the past season.     £20 . 6 . 10

Thursday 13th   It was a fine day.  Wind blowing strong from SW.
I was burning and pulling up tea tree alongside the barley paddock fence.  I sowed some Grass Seed on the ashes where I had burned aff the heaps down in the bottom corner.  Annie Matheson & Miss C. Young were here for tea.

Friday 14th    There were a few showers during the day.  A strong wind blowing from the NW.  I was pulling up and burning tea tree alongside of the barley paddock fence.  Killed a Sheep in the evening.

Saturday 15th   Took the mutton out and chopped a lot of wood in the morning.  In the afternoon Willie helped me, we sowed some grass seed on the heaps and raked it in alongside of the barley paddock fence.  Jane and Miss Niccol rode up to Maud’s in the afternoon.

Sunday 16th   It was a fine day.  I read service in the Hall in the afternoon, there was a larger congregation than usual.  After Church I rode up with Mr Joseph Greenwood to his place and had tea there where I met Mr & Mrs Mark Laybourn.  Mrs Laybourn I had known before as Miss Tiplady.  I spent a very pleasant evening there.
John Cruickshank & Honor Wyatt were here for tea, the latter staid all night.

Monday 17th   It was a fine day.  I was pulling up and burning tea tree and sowing grass seed alongside the barley paddock fence.  There was a meeting of the Road Board in the Hall in the evening, I was elected Chairman and J. C. Wyatt Secretary, Treasurer & Collector.

Tuesday 18th   It was fine during the day, but it rained a little in the evening.  I packed a bundle of 15 Skins and hauled them down to the Wharf, hauled up 4 pipes to Harpers corner, and then hauled two loads of firewood.   Minnie came home on Joe Harpers sleigh, she brought a lot of plants and cuttings with her, but she returned to Pakiri again in the evening with Ellis Dyer to keep house for him while his wife is away in Auckland.  I went down to the Wharf in the evening and afterwards went to spend the evening.  Herbert is at home now

Wednesday 19th   It was a dull day and rained a little in the afternoon.  I went to the Pa creek in the pm to see the work that has been done by the Road Board there.  Jane rode up to Mauds in the morning, returning in the evening.  I was working in the flower garden.

Thursday 20th   There were a few slight showers, but otherwise it was a fine day.  I was pulling and burning tea tree alongside of the barley paddock fence.  It was very cold in the evening, but we are having splendid weather now.

Friday 21st   It was a beautiful day.  I was pulling up and burning tea tree alongside of the barley paddock fence.   Killed a Sheep in the evening.

Saturday 22nd   It was a fine day, but very cold.  I was pulling up and burning tea tree and sowing Grass Seed.

Sunday 23rd   It was a fine day, but a cold wind blowing.   Revd R. McKinney held service in the Hall in the morning.  I held no service.
I rode up to Mauds in the morning and had dinner there, returning home for tea.  John Cruickshank and his cousin, a Mr Smith, were here for tea.

Monday 24th   Queens birthday.  It was a beautiful day and very calm.  There was no School.  Jane and Miss Niccol went to the sand spit at Big Omaha.  Willie went fishing to the Wharf.  I was sowing Grass Seed and burning tea tree.

Tuesday 25th   It was a fine day.  I was burning the tea tree on the road near my fence near the x roads .  Minnie came home from Pakiri in the afternoon.  Mr Sheppherd & Evelyn Greenwood came here for tea and staid all night.  There was a dance in the Hall in the evening.

Wednesday 26th   It was a fine day.   I was digging Kumeras.  Minnie was working in the flower garden.  Jane went up to Mauds in the pm.

Thursday 27th   It was a dull day and threatened for rain.  Wind is round to the NE.  We yoked up the bullocks and went down to the Wharf and hauled 14 socket pipes up to Harpers corner.  Also a bag of black soil.  Minnie & I were working in the flower garden in the afternoon.  It came on to rain in the evening.

Friday 28th   It was a showery day.  I was doing odd jobs.  Killed a Sheep in the evening.

Saturday 29th   It was a wet day accompanied with strong wind.  Took the meat out in the morning and did odd jobs.

Sunday 30th   There were several showers during the day.  I read service in the Hall in the afternoon, there was a very small congregation.  Miss Niccol & Minnie went to John Wyatts for tea.

Monday 31st   It rained very heavy last night and there were several showers to day.  The wind blew in squalls from the SW.  I was doing odd jobs and cutting tea tree