May 1900

Tuesday 1st   It was a fine day in the morning, but there was a shower in the afternoon,  I was finishing the fence in the morning.
Went down to the Wharf in the pm.  Joe Torkington came up by the “Rose Casey” and came up and staid at our place.  I had up 2 Sacks Wheat, 1 Sack Potatoes, 1 Bag Grass Seed & empty Egg Box,
W. Frearson hauled my goods up to the house.

Wednesday 2nd   It was a fine day.  Minnie & Joe went to their place at Ti Point in the morning to stay there a week.  I was fixing a fence in the gully below the orchard.  Willie & I went up to Joe Greenwoods in the afternoon and I bought 20 old Ewes for 5/- each total £5.  Joe & Elliot helped us down with them, we put them in the paddock at the back of the house.  It rained in the evening.

Thursday 3rd   It was a fine day.  We got the Sheep that I got from Joe Greenwood into the pen and branded then on the rump with red paint and then put them out in the front.
We tightened up the wires in the front fence.  In the afternoon I was digging up briers and Willie was burning heaps out in the front.
Jane went up to Miss Niccols.

Friday 4th   It was a fine day.  Wind blowing from SW.  Willie & I were making and burning heaps in the front in the morning.  In the afternoon I rode over to Ti Point and had tea at Joe & Minnies.

Saturday 5th   It was a fine day.  The wind was blowing from the same quarter as yesterday.  In the morning I went down the Goat Island road to meet Dan Kempt, to lay out some work for the Road Board.  Dan returned here for lunch, we then went down to the Hall where the Annual Meeting of Ratepayers was held, only six ratepayers were present.
Afterwards we went down to the wharf, the “Rob Roy” was expected to call in on her way to Auckland, and six passengers were waiting to go in her, but she did not come in up to 5 pm.
Willie went fishing to Ti Point and brought three large fish.

Sunday 6th   It was a fine day.  I read service in the Hall in the pm. Miss Clara Fordham was absent so Mrs G. Ashton who was present lead the singing.  Minnie & Joe came over from Ti Point and staid.

Monday 7th   It rained all day.  We intended killing the pig today, but the wind has changed to the E.  We were not able to do any work out of doors.  Jane went up to Miss Niccols in the pm.

Tuesday 8th   It rained nearly all day.  I packed a box of Eggs and took it down to the Wharf in the afternoon.  The two Steamers came,  but they had a rough time of it coming from Takatea Point.  The Piano for the Hall came up by the “Rose Casey”.

Wednesday 9th   It rained in the morning, but it cleared up afterwards, the sun came out and the wind sprung up.
I was working in the front making heaps for burning.  Joe Torkington rode to Ti Point in the morning returning in the evening.
There was Choir practice in the Hall in the evening, Willie & I went.

Thursday 10th   It was a fine day and the ground is drying up.  Joe and Minnie returned to Warkworth, Jane went with them to bring the horse back.  Some of the Old Age Pensioners came in the afternoon for me to witness their signature.
Willie & I were making and burning heaps in the front.

Friday 11th   There was a heavy shower in the morning, but it was fine during the remainder of the day.  I went down to the P.O. in the morning.  We were making heaps and burning in the front.  Killed a Sheep in the afternoon.  Went to the Library in the evening, there was a meeting of subscribers to consider moving the Library down to the Hall, it was decided that it should be moved.

Saturday 12th   There were several showers.  Revd  E. M. Cowie called in the morning.  Willie went fishing to Ti Point and brought home one large schnapper.  I was making foot lights for the Hall.  Went down to the Hall in the evening to decide on bookcases for the Library also to hear Miss Mitchell try the new Piano, there were several other members of the Committee present.

Sunday 13th   Revd  E. Cowie  celebrated the Holy Communion in the Hall at 8 am.  There were 5 present.
Revd  G. Frost conducted service at 3 pm and Revd  E. M. Cowie held service again in the Hall at 7 pm.  There were 20 present, Collection 6/9.  It rained heavily during the service.  Jane returned from Warkworth in the pm.

Monday 14th   It was a very showery day.  I was finishing making the footlights in the shed in the morning.  In the afternoon I went down to the Hall to clear out some drains.  Revd Cowie called in my absence.

Tuesday 15th   It was very showery in the morning,  but it cleared up in the afternoon.
I went down to meet the “Rose Casey“, she came in with her flags all flying she had a lot of people on board who had come up to assist at the Concert this evening in the Hall.  It was a beautiful moonlight night   There was not a crowd, but a very fair gathering considering the bad roads.  We enjoyed ourselves very much,  £6 . 4 . 6  was taken at the door, the tickets being  1/6.   The proceeds were for the Piano fund.

Wednesday 16th   It was a beautiful day, so calm,  and the sun so bright.  Willie & I went down to the wharf and unpacked a box of Groceries and we carried them up.  In the afternoon we were sowing Grass seed in the front and we racked it in.   Miss Niccol and Miss Mitchell were here for tea.

Thursday 17th   It was a very dull day and very calm.  Alexr  Haskell came to work here, we were digging in the orchard rooting out the old plum and apple trees ready to plant other trees in.
It rained a little in the evening.

Friday 18th   It was a fine day.  Alic Haskell came and we were digging in the orchard rooting out trees.  I went to the Post Office in the morning and to the Library in the evening.

Saturday 19th   The wind was blowing very strong from the E and there was a rough sea outside.
Alic Haskell was working here we were digging in the orchard and rooting out dead fruit trees.
Willie went fishing to Ti Point and brought home several fish.

Sunday 20th   It was a showery day, and in the evening it poured with rain.  Revd R McKinney preached in the Hall in the morning.  I did not go as I did not feel very well, but I heard that there were about 18 present.
George Wyatt came to see me in the afternoon about going down to work for Jack & Henry at Te Araroa near East Cape.

Monday 21st   It was a fine day.  We heard of the relief of Mafeking so Willie hoisted a flag on a pole that he erected  outside the stockyard.  Alec Haskell was working here, digging in the orchard.

Tuesday 22nd   It rained last night and the ground was very wet this morning.  Alec Haskell came and dug until dinner time.
Charlie Wyatt came to register the birth of their baby.  I packed a box of Eggs and Charlie took it down to the Steamer for me.  It rained in the afternoon, when it cleared up I carried up several loads of firewood.

Wednesday 23rd   It was fine in the morning.  Alec Haskell came in the morning and by dinner time we had finished digging the piece of ground in the middle of the orchard.  It came on to rain about noon and rained all afternoon & evening.  Alec has finished digging here, he has been working 4½ days and I paid him before he went.

Thursday 24th   The Queens Birthday.  The weather was very fine.  Jane & Willie went over to Ti Point to fish, but the sea was too rough, and they only caught  one fish.  I was sowing grass seed in the front and raking it in.

Friday 25th   It was a fine day.  Mrs Angus Matheson died this morning.   I was sowing grass seed in the front and raking it in.  Killed a Sheep in the afternoon and went to the Library in the evening, about 17 new books had come and were given out.

Saturday 26th   It was a fine day.   I did odd jobs in the morning. There was a public meeting  in the Hall at 1 pm to decide on closing the road between Lots 70 & 71, Village of Leigh,  there were only 7 ratepayers present, by resolution the meeting decided that the road should be closed.
Mrs A. Matheson‘s funeral was in the afternoon, there were a great number of persons present.  Revd R. McKinney  officiated at the grave.
There was a meeting of the Road Board in the Hall after the funeral.  I was re-elected Chairman, we passed Mr Sadler’s contract for metalling near the Hall, and he was paid for it.

Sunday 27th   Jane rode to Pakiri to Johny Salts in the morning returning in the evening.
Revd R McKinney held service in the Hall in the morning, he preached a funeral sermon on the late Mrs A. Matheson, there was a large congregation, the collection was 28/-  suitable hymns were sung.  It was fine first thing in the morning, but there was a heavy shower while we were in at church, it cleared up fine afterwards but it poured with rain in the evening, Jane got soaking wet coming home.

Monday 28th   The wind was blowing rather strong from the SE, and there were some showers during the day.  I was sowing some grass seed in the front also planted out roots of Buffalo grass and Paspalum Dilitatum.

Tuesday 29th   It was very dull and showery in the morning.
The wind was blowing very strong from NE and we never expected the Steamers would come, but the “Rose Casey” braved the elements and arrived about 4 pm  she rolled and tossed about coming from Takatu, and the passengers and crew said they had never experienced it so rough before.  I was down and we had a meeting in the aft cabin about the Piano – the crew of the R.C. giving it over into the control of the controll of the Hall Committee.  It poured with rain in the evening and I got wet going home.

Wednesday 30th   It was fine in the Morning.  Willie & I went down to the wharf – he carried up a 70 lb Bag of Sugar on Fanny and I carried up an empty Egg Box – Walter Freason hauled up a bag of Flour to our gate and Willie & I carried it up from there.
I was sowing grass seed in the front.  Miss Kempt, Miss Fricker & Miss Niccol came here in the afternoon and staid all night.  It rained heavily in the afternoon and evening.

Thursday 31st   It was fine in the morning.  Ted Harper hauled up 1 Sack Sharps & 1 Sack of Bran that I bought at the store.  Mr Roose, traveller for the D. S. C. called in the morning and I gave him an order, he staid for dinner.  It was very showery in the afternoon.