Thursday 1st It was raining all day.
Friday 2nd It was a fine day. I went down to the Post Office in the morning and after wards went to see Albert Wyatt who was thrown from his horse last Monday morning and now lies at Mr C. Gravatts.
Afterwards I was putting heaps together out in the front.
Saturday 3rd It was a fine day. Willie and I planted out 25 Cauliflower Plants and 50 Cabbage Plants between the young Peach trees below the house in the morning.
In the afternoon the Annual Meeting of Ratepayers was held in the Road Board Office and afterwards a meeting of the Domain Board.
Sunday 4th It was a beautiful day. Willie rode to Ti Point to spend the day with Joe and Minnie. I conducted service in the Hall in the afternoon. Miss Hutchinson who was present returned with us and staid tea.
Monday 5th It was a beautiful day. This is the 39th anniversary of my leaving Gravesend , England in the good ship “Queen of Beauty“.
Willie walked to Ti Point to help Joe raft some timber down from Meiklejohn’s Mill, he was to remain at Joe’s all night and return tomorrow in the Steamer. I was burning heaps in the front in the morning and making heaps in the afternoon.
Annie Matheson came to spend the afternoon with Jane, she staid for tea and Jane went part of the way home with her.
Tuesday 6th It was a fine day. I was making and burning heaps in the front in the morning.
In the afternoon I took the bullock down to the wharf. The “Rose Casey” who called at Ti Point first brought round Minnie and Willie. The latter brought round a bag of shells for the fowls which we hauled up. Minnie came up here to stay.
Wednesday 7th It rained nearly all day. I went down to the wharf in the afternoon to see Minnie off in the “Kawau” which was going to take her round to Ti Point. Mr W. Torkington was on board, he said they had a very rough passage from Auckland.
Thursday 8th It was raining and blowing all last night.
Parata Brown came early in the morning to ask me to go to the Pa to read the funeral service over Mrs Charles Dennis (Kitty) who died at Pakiri on Monday morning. So I went after breakfast. Archie Dunning went with me. She was buried at the Native Cemetery near to Mrs Kiri Brown and Willie’s two boys. After I came back I went to the Library to Catalogue and arrange the new books.
The weather was thick and misty all day, but we had very little rain.
Friday 9th It was a fine day. Willie and I were making heaps in the front. I went down for the mail in the evening, I also attended to the Library, Mr Criss Boyd being absent.
Saturday 10th It was a fine day. I was making heaps out in the front in the morning. Jane rode over to Williams’ & staid all night.
Willie rode to Ti Point to fish, he returned in the evening with only one fish. There was a meeting of the Road Board in the afternoon,
I was elected Chairman.
Sunday 11th It was a showery day. Jane returned from Williams’ in the afternoon. The Salvationists held a service in the afternoon, Jane, Willie and I attended.
Monday 12th It rained heavily in the early morning, but it cleared up and was fine for the remainder of the morning, there was only one shower in the afternoon .
Willie and I were cutting tea tree and making heaps in the front.
The “Rose Casey” came in late this evening, none of us went down.
Tuesday 13th Willie went down to the Steamer first thing in the morning to sell some butter. It was a showery day. Willie and I were cutting and heaping tea tree in the front in the morning. In the afternoon we were fixing up the back room for a bedroom for Willie and I. Afterwards I went down to the Store to get some glass.
Memorandum
As I have not kept any record of the Gladiolus bulbs that I got from Yates last spring, the following are the names.
1 Liley Gandivensis
1 Guinevevie
1 Andie Leroy Fantome
1 Reine Victoria
1 Leander
1 Lamaick
1 Septre de Flore
1 Pactole
1 Penelope
1 Septre de Flore (gave J. Greenwood)
6 Gandevensis Assorted
1 Childsii (planted between 2 stumps)
2 Cleopatia Lemoine
2 Marie Lemoine
2 Alsase Lemoine
24
This Spring I got from Yates
12 Colville Alba (The bride)
6 Colville Rubra (Red)
42
Wednesday 14th It was a very showery day. I was putting in a pane of glass and hanging the sashes in our new sitting room.
Thursday 15th It was very showery and squally. We were cutting tea tree and making heaps in the front.
Friday 16th It was a very showery day. We did a little work out in the front when it was fine.
Saturday 17th It was a little finer today. I was working out in the front making heaps. Willie was making a slasher handle.
Sunday 18th It was a fine day with the exception of a shower in the middle of the day. Jane and Willie rode to Ti Point to spend the day with Joe & Minnie. The new Wesleyan Minister Mr Marshall held service in the Hall in the afternoon.
Monday 19th It was showery in the morning, but was fine in the afternoon. I was making heaps out in the front. Willie dug the remainder of the Kumeras and did other odd jobs round the house.
Tuesday 20th There were a few showers during the day. I was making heaps in the front in the morning. In the afternoon Willie and I went down to see the “Rose Casey“.
Wednesday 21st There were only a few showers, and in the evening the weather looked very much better. I was making heaps in the front all day. Willie was mending the sleigh. Jane rode to Matakana in the afternoon.
Thursday 22nd We heard that the “Kawau” had broken her rudder at Big Omaha and therefore was unable to return to Auckland, They telegraphed for the “Kapanui” to come and tow her up. She therefore came this evening. We also heard that the “Kotite” came. In the morning Willie and I took the bullock down to the wharf and hauled up some sieved black soil and 1 Doz Fruit Cases.
In the afternoon we were pulling up tea tree and making heaps in the front.
Friday 23rd Several showers during the day. Willie and I were making heaps in the front morning and afternoon. There was a Dance in the evening, 10/6 took.
Saturday 24th It was a fine day with the exception of a few showers. Willie rode to Ti Point to fish and brought home a few.
Jane returned from her visit to Warkworth and Matakana.
I was making heaps in the front in the morning, and I went down to the village in the afternoon to the store and also to clean up the Hall.
Sunday 25th Trinity Sunday. It was a fine day. Minnie & Joe came over to spend the day. I conducted service in the Hall in the afternoon, Joe & Minnie went with us.
Monday 26th It was a fine day with the exception of a slight shower in the middle of the day. We packed the last of the Vicar Pears (3 Cases) also picked in all the Apples and packed 3 Cases of Kentucky Red Streak, and 2 ditto Red Warrior. Was also making a Crate to put some Fowls in to send to Minnie, caught them in the evening.
Tuesday 27th It was a fine day. We got up early, milked the cows and had our breakfast and then hauled the 8 Cases Fruit & Crate of Fowls down to the wharf to send away by the “Rose Casey“. Jane went round in her to Ti Point.
We hauled up100 lbs Flour and a box of Groceries that came up by the Steamer.
Willie and I were cutting tea tree and Heather and making heaps in the front. Charlie came to tell me that the Dairy Expert was to be at Matakana this evening, but I did not go as the roads are too heavy.
Wednesday 28th It was a fine day. Willie and I were cutting tea tree and cutting heaps in the front all day.
Thursday 29th It was a fine day tho’ dull and it threatened for rain in the evening. In the morning I went down to meet the “Kawau“, Jane came round in her from Ti Point. Ted Harper hauled up a Sack of Maize and a Bag of Sugar that I bought at the Store.
Willie was cutting tea tree in the front all day. In the afternoon I was working in the flower garden.
Friday 30th It was a fine day. I went down to the Store in the morning to pay an account. Afterwards I was digging in the flower garden. In the afternoon I went down to the wharf to see the “Rob Roy” off as the Haskells were going away in her, also several other passengers, we were waiting down there until nearly dark, but she did not put in an appearance. Mr W. Torkington was one of those who were waiting and he came up with me and staid all night.
Saturday 31st There were a few showers last night, but it was a beautiful day.
Willie went out in a boat fishing with Mr & Walter Frearson and he came home after dark bringing 15 rockcod, 1 red fish and 3 schnapper. Jane went to see Mrs Handby in the pm. At 1 pm I met Mr Neeley at the Koeroa bridge and we went and laid out some work on the road leading up to Mr Neeleys farm.
The “Rob Roy” called in at about 4.30 pm on her way to Auckland.