November 1901

Friday 1st    It was a fine day.  We were digging in the middle of the orchard between the young Plum and Peach trees.

Saturday 2nd   It was a fine day.  Willie went fishing to Ti Point, but it was blowing too hard for fishing, so he brought home some oysters.  I was digging in the middle of the orchard.  Jane went a ride to Big Omaha.

Sunday 3rd   It was a fine day.   The Salvationists held service in the Hall in t   Mr Latimer held service in the Hall in the morning.  I had such a bad cold that I held no service in the pm.

Monday 4th   It was a fine day.  We commenced digging in the farm orchard in the morning, we commenced under the Orleans near the slip – rails.  Walter Frearson came to spend the evening.

Tuesday 5th   It was dusty rain in the morning.  We planted out 1 row Cabbages & 1 row Kumeras given to us by Walter Frearson.  We also planted 1 row Tomatoes.  Willie was digging in the farm orchard in the afternoon and I was also when I returned from the Steamer.  Jane rode to Ti Point, returning home in the evening.

Wednesday 6th   It was a fine day.  We were digging in the farm orchard all day.  Minnie, Joe, Harold & Walter Frearson came in the evening to have a game of cards,  others were invited, but they did not come.

Thursday 7th   It was a fine day.  We were digging in the farm orchard all day , we finished digging the strip that the Orleans are planted in, it has taken us just about 3 days.  There was a heavy shower of rain in the evening.

Friday 8th   It was a fine day.  We were digging out brambles in the farm orchard in the morning and were mending up the fence in the cow paddock in the afternoon.  There was a drizzling rain in the afternoon.  I went down to the Post Office and the Library in the evening.

Saturday 9th   It was a fine day.  We commenced digging the piece of ground in this orchard that is planted with Jap Plums.  Jane rode to Williams‘s and staid.

Sunday 10th  It was fine first thing in the morning and Willie and I were going over to Ti Point to spend the day, but the sky was overcast with black clouds, and there were some loud claps of thunder.  It commenced to rain and it poured all morning, but cleared up in the afternoon.
Jane returned in the evening.

Monday 11th   It was a fine day.  We continued digging at the bottom of this orchard where the young Jap Plums are planted.

Tuesday 12th   It was a fine day.  We were digging at the bottom of the orchard in the morning.  In the afternoon I dug the round bed in the flower garden and then went down to the Steamer.
Willie was cleaning the strawberries.
Captain McKinven came up in the evening and I showed him round the orchard.  Jim Greenwood and Mr S. Grant called later in the evening and they all staid for supper.

Wednesday 13th   It was a fine day, but there was a shower in the evening.  Jane went round to Ti Point in the “Rose Casey” early in the morning and did not return in the evening.   We were digging at the bottom of the orchard.

Thursday 14th   It was a fine day.  We finished digging the hard piece of ground at the bottom of the orchard.
Mr Carrie and Mr Parker of Tooman & Co called in the afternoon and had a look round the orchard.  Jane and Minnie came round from Ti Point in the “Kawau” they had dinner here and then  went up to Mrs Handbys and had tea there.  Jane rode home with Minnie to carry the baby.

Friday 15th   It was a fine day.  Charlie came to tail the Lambs and clean the Sheep.  The Lambs were as follows
Ewes              16
Wethers      24
Total              40
Walter Frearson took a Wether of his away from here.

Saturday 16th   It was a fine day.  Walter Frearson brought a hind Quarter of Mutton  15 ½ lbs which we have to return when we Kill.
I was working in the front garden all day.  Willie went fishing to Ti Point and brought home 1 schnapper and 2 rock cods.

Sunday 17th   It was a fine day.  I walked to Pakiri first thing in the morning to attend service in the Hall.  Mr Patchett, Wesleyan Student, held service and preached a very good sermon.  I had dinner at Johny Salts, Mr & Mrs Dale were also there, had a look round Johny’s orchard after dinner and then walked up to Mr Wittens, Mr Witten had been ill for the last three weeks with bronchitis and seemed very weak and feeble.  Had tea there and then Bertie showed me round the orchard.  Returned home by the old road calling in at John Greenwoods where I had supper.  Got home just as the moon was setting after 11 oclock.

Monday 18th   It was a fine day.   We were digging in the middle of the orchard,  we rooted out 4 apple tree that were badly blighted.
Jane went down to make the butter for Mrs C. Wyatt who is away in Auckland.  Mr Lang representing  Messrs Donald & Eninborough (?) called in the evening.  I ordered 100 Fruit Cases from him.

Tuesday 19th   Walter Frearson came in the morning and wanted us to help get the sheep in the other side of the creek, so Willie and I went, there was one sheep and lamb, Walter altered and tailed the Lamb which was a Wether.  There was a heavy shower and we got wet.   Took the bullock down to the wharf in the afternoon with a box of Eggs and hauled up 2 woolpacks,  1¼ Cwt  B & B Manure & ¼ Cwt Potatoes.   The “Rose Casey” brought back several persons who had been up to the Auckland, she also brought up Timber,  Iron & bricks for Norman Matheson, who is going to build a house, she also took away several bales of wool.  It rained heavily while the Steamer was in and until after we got home.

Wednesday 20th   It was a fine day.  I was working in the flower garden in the morning and we were digging in the orchard in the afternoon.  Mrs Archie Dunning came in the afternoon to register the birth of her child, she staid for tea.  Mr Roose came in the evening & staid all night.  We gave him a small order.

Thursday 21st   It was a fine day.  Mr Roose left in the morning.  I went down to the village, the “Rob Roy” had just come in from Auckland, she landed several passengers.  Dan Kempt who had come up , came up here for lunch.  We were digging in the afternoon.
Jane went down to the wharf in the afternoon to meet the “Kawau“.  Miss Julia Rollinson came up with Jane to register the birth of Mrs D. Knaggs baby, she staid for tea.  Mrs Handby called in the evening.

Friday 22nd   Jane rode to Matakana in the morning with Johny Salt, returning in the evening.
We finished digging the piece of ground in the middle of the orchard.  I went to the Hall in the evening to attend a meeting of the F. Show Committee.

Saturday 23rd   It was a fine day.  Willie walked to Ti Point and from thence he was going to the Cricket Match.  There was a Road Board Meeting in the afternoon which I attended.  Miss Williams called and staid tea and the Miss Cruickshanks came and they were going to stay here.

Sunday 24th   It was fine in the morning, but there were a few showers in the afternoon.
Johny Salt & Madeline came to spend the day.  We all went down to the Hall in the afternoon, I conducted service.  The Miss Cruickshanks returned home in the evening, Jane rode part of the way with them.

Monday 25th   It was a fine day.  It thundered very heavily in the pm and there was a shower of rain.  Willie and I were getting out sorrell between the Potatoes the top side of the house.

Tuesday 26th   It was a fine day.  We were getting out sorrell the top side of the house in the morning.  In the afternoon we took the bullock down to the wharf to meet the “Rose Casey“, sold some Eggs to the Steward, hauled up box of groceries, parcel of drapery and empty egg box.

Wednesday 27th   It was a fine day.  Jane rode to Ti Point.  We finished getting out sorrell the top side of the house.  Willie cleaned between the strawberries and put rushes underneath them.  I wrote a letter to my sister Jane and took it down to the post in the afternoon.  The “Kawau” called in while I was down there.

Thursday 28th   It was a fine day.  We sowed 13 Hills of Pumpkins in the orchard.  It came on a misty rain in the evening.

Friday 29th   It was a fine day.  I went down to Charlies in the afternoon to get some beef, they having killed some wild cattle up Barrow Hill.  Willie and I were getting pea sticks on the hill behind the house.

Saturday 30th   It was a fine day.   There was a Cricket Match at Kaipara Flats between to local and Omaha Clubs, Omaha won,  Albert Wyatt borrowed our horse to go over.  Ernest Cruickshank came over and went fishing with Willie to Ti Point, he came back here to stay.