May 1911

Monday 1st    Willie & Grace went to Auckland last Saturday on a visit so I am left on my own for awhile.   It was a dull day, it did not rain but it was blowing strong from the E.  The “Kawau” came in at 5 pm from Auckland on her way to Mangawai,  on account of the strong head wind she stopped in here all night and the passengers, of which there were ladies & children having experienced a rough time staid at the Hotel.   I was cutting firewood and other odd jobs.  In the evening there was a meeting of the Flower Show Committee in the Library, 9 members attended and we revised the schedule and fixed the date of the Show viz Dec 1st, it kept us until 11.30.  It was a very dark night.

Tuesday 2nd   It was raining and blowing hard from the E all day, in the evening it blew with teriffic force.   I was not able to do anything outside.  Lennie Wyatt came to stop all night with me.

Wednesday 3rd   The wind has changed to the S.  The rain is over, the sun came out and the ground is drying up.  I got firewood and did odd jobs.  In the afternoon I went down to the village to get the mail that came Monday night.  The “Kawau” had not returned from Mangawai on account of the rough weather, no Steamer today.  There was a wire on the Store window stating that the “Kotiti” was going to leave Auckland for Omaha tomorrow evening.

Thursday 4th   It was a very fine day, wind at the S and the ground is drying up.  I was making out the Schedule of the Flower Show.  The “Kawau” came in from Mangawai having been wind bound there ever since last Monday.  I went down to spend the evening at Charlie Wyatts.

Friday 5th   It was a very fine day.  The “Kotiti” arrived from Auckland this morning.  I went down to the wharf after breakfast and the “Kotiti” was alongside discharging cargo.  Harold, Flo & Mr Torkington came up in her , Willie sent me some bread.  In the evening I went down to the Library, there was a meeting of the Committee to choose books.  There was also a rehearsal of the Service of Song “The Roll Call” on the stage.

Saturday 6th   It was a very fine day.  After breakfast and I had cleared away I rode over to Jims place.  Jim was out shooting so I did not see him, Jane made lunch for me, and I returned home early in the afternoon to milk &c.
Mr H. Monro Wilson CE who came up by the “Kawau” last night was surveying for a new wharf to day,  Messrs  A. Matheson,  J. C. Wyatt and J. Banks who were appointed by the Ratepayers to confer with the Riding Member & Engineer as to the best place to put the wharf.

Sunday 7th   It was a very fine day.  After breakfast I walked over to the Claim.  Revd  E. O. Perry conducted service in the Hall.  I attended, afterward I went with Jim and had dinner with he and Jane.  In the afternoon I called at Mr J. Darrochs and John Greenwood who was there, drove me home, having spent a very pleasant day.

Monday 8th   It was a dull day, the wind has gone round to the E.
It rained a little when I got up, then cleared up, slight rain in the afternoon.
As I was not feeling well I took castor oil, I churned, got firewood, put some clothes into soak.  I was lying down most of the afternoon.

Tuesday 9th   It was a very dull day with a few showers.  Wind blowing strong from SE.  After breakfast I went down to the P.O thinking there might be a letter from Willie, but the “Kawau” had not been in on account of the weather.  I washed some clothes.  Eddie came to stay the night with me.

Wednesday 10th   It was raining when I got up in the morning and managed to get the cows milked and the fowls fed without getting wet,  it cleared up afterwards and was a tolerably fine day.  I went down to Charlie Wyatts in the morning and had dinner there,  the “Kawau” came in in the pm while I was there, Vincent went down below to get the mail, so he got mine also.
I received the seeds that I ordered from Rhyder & Son of St Albans England, this order was posted on Jan 31st.
Eddie came up to stay the night with me.

Thursday 11th   It was a dull day and there were a few showers.  I was fixing up the manure heap and gathering up all the cow dung, also finished making out the Schedule of the Flower Show.  Went down to Mr A. Dunnings to spend the evening.

Friday 12th   It was a very fine day.  After breakfast I went down to the village to post some letters, after I got home I was working in the flower garden raking all the leaves that were blown by the late gales of wind.  In the evening I took the horse & sleigh down below and left them in the sheep pen for Willie & Grace who are coming down by the “Kawau” this evening.  I also attended the Library.

Saturday 13th   Willie & Grace arrived home about 3 am this morning bringing all their parcels on the sleigh.  It was a fine day, but very dull, I was planting some flower plants in the flower garden that Grace brought me from Auckland.
In the evening there was a Service of Song in the Hall given by the choir that Mrs Carr & Mr Ashworth have been training, it is called the Roll Call,  Revd  Blundell read the connective narrative.  The audience was not very numerous, as there was a Football match at the Claim this afternoon  and a Dance in the evening.  The Collection realised 38/6.  It was a beautiful moonlight night to go home.

Sunday 14th   It was a very fine day.  Revd  Blundell held service in the Hall in the morning, I attended,  afterward had dinner at Willie Dunning,  in the pm I walked over to the Claim to Revd  Blundell’s service, he had the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and a great many remained, I walked home directly afterwards with Miss Matheson & Chas  Wyatt and it was fortunate I did because it came on to rain in the evening.

Monday 15th   It was raining when we got up and the wind was blowing from SE, it cleared up during the day, but the wind increased in violence.  I wrote a letter to Henry and was getting things together to take to Auckland.  I went down to the village to get the mail, the “Kawau” arrived from Auckland at 4.30 after a rough passage, on account of the weather.  She remained in here all night.

Tuesday 16th   It was a fine day, the wind has gone round to the S.
I was digging up the Dahlia roots as on account of the late rains the bulbs are commencing to rot.
John Greenwood came in the morning, had a look round the garden & staid dinner.  Willie Grace & I went to Mr Geo Knaggs to spend the evening, he entertained us with his Phonograph.

Wednesday 17th   It was a fine day.  Wind still blowing from the S.
In the morning I sowed flower seeds in boxes near the closet of the following –
2 sorts Pansies,  2 sorts Candituft,  Antirrhinur,  Intermediate Stock, Double  Wallflower,  Sweet William,  Calendula.
In the pm I went down to the village to get the mail.

Thursday 18   It was a fine day, wind still from S, but it has moderated & the sea gone down.
I embarked on board the S.S. “Kawau” at 10.30 am for Auckland, we had a very fair passage, arrived in Auckland soon after 4 pm, on landing I met Henry Brown, Bob & Clara and I was surprised to hear that my son Jack had been in Auckland, and had gone again, he came up to engage  bush man to fell bush for them.
I went over to the Shore by first boat arriving there about 5 pm where I received a very hearty welcome.

Friday 19th   It was raining a little in the morning, the wind still blowing from S.  I went over to town in the morning, got some books for the Library from Kealys and sent them up to Willie Dunning by the “Kawau” which is going at 1 pm to day.  Afterwards went up to Newton to see Fred.  Returned to Mr Wallaces to lunch.

Saturday 20th   It was a very fine day, but cold.  In the morning I went over to Auckland, went up to Ponsonby to call at Mrs Coplestones, returned to Mr Wallaces for dinner.  In the pm I went over to Auckland again, took the train to Green Lane and then walked to Atarangi Road where Fred Davey has built a new house, it is only about 5 minutes walk from the station.  Mrs Simpson gave me a hearty welcome & showed me over the house, which is most conveniently constructed and nicely furnished.  Fred did not come home until late at night.

Sunday 21st   It was very cold in the morning, but a beautiful day.  After breakfast Fred and I walked to the Ellerslie Race Course where there is a beautiful garden, far surpassing the Albert Park or Domain.  Returned to Mrs Simpsons for dinner and afterwards
Mrs S, Fred & I walked up to the Tram Barn on the Onehunga Road, they went to see the Wallets & I came to Auckland, returning to the Shore in time for tea.  In the evening Mr Wallace and I went to Trinity Church, Revd Sutton preached.

Monday 22nd   It was a very fine day.  I was digging in Mr Wallaces garden in the morning & gave a kink to my back which gave me great pain and I had to come in and rest myself.  Went over to Auckland in the pm and went to the Winter Show held in one of the big sheds on Queen St Wharf.   Hon Thos  McKenzie opened it at 3 pm, the exhibits were very interesting.

Tuesday 23rd   It was a very fine day, but the wind has gone round to SE.  I staid at home all morning to rest my back, went over to Auckland in the pm and visited the Winter Show again, met a lot of people I knew.  Mr,  Mrs & Alma Wallace visited the show in the evening.

Wednesday 24th   Empire Day.  I went over to Auckland in the pm, most of the shops were shut, I took a walk through Albert Park then up to the Domain, went into the Domain garden and sat down among the beautiful surroundings, then went through Seafield View to Kyber Pass and up to Symonds St, took the car down to Queen St and across to the Shore.

Thursday 25th   It was a fine day.  I went across to Auckland in the morning, took a pair of trousers & vest to a dyers up at Newton, had dinner at Buchanans, and then took the car out to Onehunga to see my old friend Revd  M. Kirkbride who lives in a side street off the bottom of Normans Hill, Mr K. was an old settler at Omaha going there the same year as I did, viz 1863.  We had a long chat together principally on church matters.  Mrs K gave me some afternoon tea and then I returned to the Shore.

Friday 26th   It rained early this morning, but cleared up afterwards, tho dull.  I went over to Auckland in the morning and went at once into the Winter Show.  Made the acquaintance of Mr Wotherspoon of Wangaripa who was standing near   nesy (?)     Mr Banks’ Settlers Table,  we got quite friendly and walked about the exhibition together & had lunch together, also met Mr & Mrs Salt & Duncan Knaggs.  Returned to the Shore, Mr Wallace got a Telegram informing him of the death of his sister Mrs Joe Smith of Matakana which occurred today.

Saturday 27th   It poured with rain last night and everything was very wet this morning.  I did not go over to Auckland today, but in the pm I walked to the Domain to witness football matches, but as I do not feel very interested in this game I did not stay long.  I went to call on my old friend Mrs McKenzie in Domain St and staid tea there, returning to Mr Wallaces in the evening.

Sunday 28th   It was very misty this morning, but later in the morning the mist cleared off and it turned out a very fine day.
In the morning Mrs Alma & I attended Trinity Church, Revd Mark Sutton (Vicar) preached.  In the afternoon Mr Wallace & I walked up to O’Neils Point road, took the car round the Lake and then down to O’Neils Point Wharf and home for tea.  Tillie Coplestone was there also Gordon’s girl.  In the evening I went over to Auckland, took the car up to All Saints Church Ponsonby for service.  Archdeacon Calder read prayers and Bishop Crossley preached.  Returned to the Shore in 9 pm boat.

Monday 29th   It was a fine day.  In the morning I went over to Auckland, went to see the “Kawau” off, a lot of Omaha people were returning home from the Show.  I had lunch at John Buchanans, went to consult Dr Lindsay who pronounced me perfectly sound and nothing the matter with me, which was very comforting.  Did some shopping and then returned to the Shore by the 4.30 boat.  In the evening Mr & Mrs  &  Alma Wallace & I went to the opening of the new Parish Hall by Bishop Crossley, there was some good singing and refreshments,  Mr Wallace introduced me to Mr Alec Boldero who used to live at Te Arai and carried the mail between Warkworth and Mangawai so we had a talk old times and old settlers who have passed away.

Tuesday 30th   It was a very dull day.  In the afternoon I went over to Auckland, took the car out to Kingsland to call on the Alec Cruickshanks,  Mr C  was not at home, but Mrs C  made me very welcome.  Afterwards I took the car out to Clonburn Road and from there I walked to Mrs Simpsons and staid there all night.

Wednesday 31st   It was a very dull day with slight rain falling.  I took the car at Clonburn Road to Newmarket and the car from Newmarket to Symonds St, walked to the Mount Eden Station and took the train to Henderson to visit my old friends there.  First went to Joe Greenwoods, had dinner there and then went down to Lincoln Road  to Willie Wrights, had a look round and had tea, returned to Joe Greenwoods to stay the night.