May 1917

Tuesday 1st   There were a few showers early this morning.  Jack & Fred started out early this morning mustering sheep.
Lily and Mrs Conolly were bottling apples.

Wednesday 2nd   It was a fine day.
Mr Black, manager of the Te Araroa Farmers Trading Co rung up in the morning to say that the “Mako” was expected in either to day or tomorrow on her way to Auckland and that I had better get down to Te Araroa at once, so I packed up my things and said good bye to my friends whom I was sorry to leave,  Jack, Lily & Ken Pearson were returning to Ahomatariki to day.
Fred Galbraith drove me down to Te Araroa in the buggy, on our way down we met the nurse Miss Houghton & her assistant riding up to Tangihanga we arrived at Te Araroa at 2 pm put up the horses in McKeddie’s stable and gave them a feed and went and had dinner at the Hotel and engaged a bed room for the night.
Got the mail from the Post Office and made some purchases at the Trading Company.

Thursday 3rd   It was a fine day.
Fred Galbraith returned to Tangihanga in the buggy taking goods for Jack & Henry.  I was sorry to part with my young friend as he is a very nice chap.
Miss Houghton rung me up and asked me to go up to the Hospital this afternoon, so I walked up, had afternoon tea and had a look at her garden, also stopped for the evening, Mr Forrester (Postmaster) and his young lady, the assistant in the Post Office and Mr Allen of the Trading company came for tea and we spent a very pleasant evening with gramaphone selections & cards. During the evening it poured with rain and we had a very wet & muddy walk down to the township arriving there after midnight.

Friday 4th   The wind had changed during the night to the E and there was a big sea coming in with driving showers.
At 6 am the “Mako” sounded her horn in the bay so I got up, paid my bill at the Hotel and went down to the stables, and McKeddie took the passengers down to the wharf in a coach and we got on board at about 8.30 am in time for breakfast, a young fellow named Marcus Morris a shepherd at Becket’s station was going up for a holiday, and we occupied the same cabin, he came from Leicester my native place, he had been out here only three years, we had great chats together about the old place, and he showed me a book of views of Leicester.  There were also on board a lot of Maoris going to Auckland and we had two in our cabin.  Mrs Hawkins and family were also on board going to Cape Runaway where they have a small station.  Mr Hawkins has left the Hotel at Te Araroa, the present landlord being a Mr Harvey.  There was also on board a Maori parson Revd  Hakaraia Pahewa and we had great talks together.
The sea was very rough going to Cape Runaway but when we got there we were in shelter.

Saturday 5th   Showery & squally weather, the “Mako” was lying at Cape Runaway all day discharging cargo.

Sunday 6th   The “Mako” steamed to a place called Little Awanui to discharge a lot of timber & bricks, while taking a load of bricks ashore in the surf boat it swamped and they had to send the other boat to its assistance.  We landed Revd  Pahewa at Te Kaha and then we steamed for Auckland.

Monday 7th   When we got up this morning we had crossed the Bay of Plenty and were passing the Alderman Islands and soon afterwards the Mercury Island and Cape Colville, we arrived at Kings Wharf at 4 pm.  I had most of my luggage taken to the Northern Co’s Office and booked to Leigh.  Soon after landing I met Henry who had come up to Auckland from Gisborne in the “Tarawera”. Both of us went across to Devonport and up to Mr Wallaces where I received a warm welcome.  Henry staid for tea and returned to Auckland in the evening.
During my absence Mrs & Mr Wallace have lost their youngest son Bert who was Killed in France.

Tuesday 8th   It was a fine day.
I spent a quiet day at Wallaces, went down to the Shore in the afternoon to send away wires and letters to Jack & Willie.

Wednesday 9th   It was a showery day. I went across to Auckland in the morning, went to see the “Kawau” off.   Met Henry & Ernest Wyatt, had lunch at the Strand.   Ordered some furniture at Tonson Garlicks, returned to the shore.

Thursday 10th   The 2nd Anniversary of Alan Wallace’s death at Gallipoli.  I went across to Auckland in the afternoon, went up to Karangahape Road via Upper Queen St, met Capt Ohlsen on the car, did some shopping and returned to the shore.

Friday 11th    A calm day, but the city and harbour were enveloped in fog.   Left Mr Wallaces and went over to Auckland.  The fog was so dense the ferry boats had a job to find their way across the harbour. Took my luggage to the “Kawau” and then went up Queen St to make purchase of a few things to take home.  We left the wharf at noon, the fog being still very dense and we had a job to make out Tiri or the Kawau Island.  Ernest Wyatt, young Archie Dunning & Charlina Bond were also on board, we arrived at Leigh at 4pm.  Jane was down to meet me & Willie came down with the sulky later on.  Jane went up with us and in the evening Jane & I went down to the Hall to a social to provide funds to erect a Roll of Honour to the boys who have gone to the front.
I was glad to get back to my old home again.   During my absence Willie & Grace had legally adopted a beautiful little boy – they have named him Raymond Charles.

Saturday 12th   The wind has changed to the east and the sea is getting up, so I got home just in time.  In the morning I went down to the store & post office calling in at Charlie Wyatt’s on my way home. Willie & Dave Glass are burning charcoal in the barley paddock.

Sunday 13th   It rained all day. We did not go out anywhere.

Monday 14th    It was a showery day.  Willie was cutting clothes props as Dave did not come to burn charcoal.  I got some wood and went over to see Willie.  In the evening there was a meeting in the Hall to see about erecting a Roll of Honour for the boys who have gone from the front from this district, Willie & I attended.

Tuesday 15th   It was a showery day.

Wednesday 16th   It was fine in the morning.  In the afternoon Willie took the catamaran down to the steamer with some butter, I also walked down, I sent the apples I brought from Tangihanga to Mr Morrison to get named.
The “Kawau” brought the furniture I bought in Auckland and Willie hauled it up.  The was a heavy shower of rain when we were coming up.

Thursday 17th   It was a very fine day.  In the morning I was cleaning away the packing that was round the furniture and burned all the paper, carried some cut firewood from the farm.
In the afternoon went down in the front paddock to see the ploughing that Arthur Greenwood is doing there.

Friday 18th     It was a very fine day.  In the morning I went down for the mail.  Afterwards went to see Willie & Dave who have just lighted their charcoal pit also to see Arthur Greenwood ploughing. In the evening there was a welcome to Willie Knaggs who has returned from the war wounded, I attended, someone from nearly every house were there, the ladies provided a sumptuous supper.
I played 500 on the stage, we spent a very pleasant evening.

Saturday 19th   It was a fine day.
In the afternoon I went down to the Church to fix up the lamps for the session tomorrow night.  Revd Macdonald called late in the afternoon and had tea here.

Sunday 20th   It was blowing pretty strong and there were a few showers.
Revd Macdonald celebrated communion at 8 am.  I attended, there were present 5, collection 4/-  There was also service at 7 pm which I also attended.  Collection 8/4.  Mc  gave us a very good sermon.

Monday 21st   It was a very fine day.  I got firewood and was cutting tea tree outside the fence where Arthur Greenwood is ploughing.

Tuesday  22nd   It was a very fine day.  In the morning I was cutting tea tree on the road outside our fence near the big bridge.  In the afternoon I was cutting firewood the other side of the hill.  Grace went fishing down to the wharf.  It was Raymond’s 2nd birthday, Dorothy & Edith Torkington  &  Eyleen Torkington came in the evening to bring him some birthday presents.

Wednesday 23rd   It was fine in the morning,  but showers in the afternoon & evening.  In the morning I was cutting tea tree on the road near the big bridge,  and in the afternoon I was cutting weeds in the garden.  Willie and Dave were carting their charcoal down to the wharf.

Thursday 24th   It was a fine day.  In the morning Willie took the sulky down to the wharf and carted up fowl feed.  In the morning I cut tea tree outside the fence near the big bridge.  In the afternoon I was weeding the garden.
In the evening Willie paid me the rent of the farm & interest up to the end of last year, namely £10 . 15 . 0 .

Friday 25th   It was fine in the morning.  In the morning I was cutting tea tree, I went down to the P.O. to get the mail and I banked
£15 . 10 . 0 .  There was a very heavy shower and thunderstorm in the afternoon.  There was a dance in the evening as a send off for Private Roy Neeley who is home on his final leave, Willie & Grace went, I staid at home to look after Raymond.

Saturday 26th   There were several showers.  In the morning I wrote a long letter to my son Henry, afterwards I took it down to post it and then went to Arch Dunnings where I had lunch, went down to the steamer which left here at 1pm, Roy Neeley went away by her. Afterward I called on Mr Gravatt and called in at the Church.

Sunday 27th   There were several showers in the morning.
I conducted service in the Church in the afternoon, 23 present. Collection 6/0.   After Church I walked up with Willie Dunning and had tea there. Charlie Dunning who is off the “Kawau” on a holiday was also there.  During the evening it poured with rain, after it was over I came home dry.
Willie, Grace & Ray went to Mrs Dunnings for tea and came home in that heavy rain.

Monday 28th   There was a heavy shower at mid day and also late in the afternoon, otherwise the weather was very fine.   I was cutting tea tree at the crossroads both morning & afternoon.

Tuesday 29th   It was a very fine day.  I was cutting tea tree & young pine trees on the road opposite Charlie Wyatts,  I took Charlie the new Testament portion of the Bible Commentary and staid lunch. Grace went down fishing but she caught no fish.

Wednesday 30th   Only a shower in the afternoon.  In the morning I was getting wood the other side of the hill.  In the afternoon I went down to the steamer.  Willie took the sulky down and brought up some goods.
Dave came for dinner and staid the night.

Thursday 31st   There were a few heavy showers during the day.
In the morning I was clearing on the road opposite Charlie Wyatts gate.    In the afternoon I was getting wood.