Tuesday 1st It was a fine day, although it looked threatening. I finished digging the strip near the orchard gate and was then digging in the orchard round the Rivers Orange Nectarine, and one Golden Russett. Jim Sadler came in the afternoon to make a declaration.
Wednesday 2nd It was a fine day. I packed a box of Eggs and took them down to the “Gael“, also a bunch of flowers for the Steward, after I came home I was digging in the orchard. Willie returned from Ti Point in the afternoon bringing a few fish with him.
Thursday 3rd It was a fine day. Willie and I were digging in the orchard all day, we finished at the Golden Russets and the top Coe’s Late Red, and then we started at the Berre Capaumont working downward. Jane went to a meeting at the Hall in the afternoon to settle up affairs in connection with the leap year ball.
Ernest Wyatt came to spend the evening. I set Two Hens on pure bred Brown Leghorn Eggs. Eggs brought from Minnies yesterday.
Friday 4th It was a fine day. Willie & I continued digging in the orchard, the ground is very hard and we cant make much show. In the afternoon we over to Frearsons as he was going to get his sheep in , he had tried to this morning, but they had run away on him, after we returned home we did a little more digging, but it came on to rain and we had to knock off. Willie went down for the mail in the evening.
Saturday 5th It rained nearly all last night and there were some heavy showers this morning. Willie and I were digging in the orchard all day, the rain has softened the ground and we were able to do a large piece, we dug round 5 trees, viz, Lord Wollesley Apple, 2 Evans Early Plum, 1 Burbank and 1 small peach.
I went to Mrs Dunning Snr in the evening to witness her signature.
Sunday 6th It was a fine day. Willie went over to Ti Point to be in readiness for fishing tomorrow. Revd Marshall held service in the Hall in the afternoon. I attended. Jane went over to Frearsons.
Monday 7th It was a fine day, but there were a few showers in the afternoon . In the morning first thing after breakfast I went down to the store to get some wheat for the chickens, afterwards I was flat hoeing the potatoes near the orchard gate. In the afternoon I was digging in the orchard. Jane rode with Miss Gallie over to D. Darroch’s.
Tuesday 8th It was a fine day. First thing in the morning I picked a bunch of flowers and took them down to the “Gael” for the Steward. Joe and Willie brought round fish to send away by her, also
R. Matheson. C. Dunning went to town by her. The remainder of the day I was digging in the orchard, finished down past the Hobbs Late Peach. Moulded up 3 rows of potatoes in the evening.
A Hen that set herself in the orchard brought out 8 chickens . Jane went down to Tennis in the evening.
Wednesday 9th It was a fine day. The Kings birthday, also Henry’s, the latter is 31 to day.
I finished digging the strip in the orchard, packed a box of Eggs and took them down to the wharf in the evening. “Gael” did not come today on account of the holiday.
Thursday 10th It was a fine day. I got up early in the morning
( 4.30 ) and did the usual work and then went down to the wharf. The “Gael” came in from Auckland & went straight back again, 3 passengers went from here.
I earthed up a few rows of potatoes, commenced to weed the peas and stick them. Mr Roose came in the evening and staid all night.
Friday 11th It was a fine day. I took the bullock down to the wharf in the morning and hauled up a sack of Maize & a bag of sand. Minnie rode over and staid for lunch.
Willie returned from Ti Point in the afternoon bringing some fish with him. I finished sticking one row of peas and partly stuck the other one. I went to the P.O. and Library in the evening.
Saturday 12th It was a fine day. In the morning Willie took the bullock down to the wharf and hauled up a sack of Maize and a sack of Wheat. I finished sticking the other row of Peas and dug up between the rows. The opening of the Tennis season was in the afternoon. We all went down, Willie and I returned home after tea, but Jane staid for the dance.
Beauty has calved (a bull calf) the calf seems a good age, she brought it into the cow paddock we milked her this morning for the first time.
Sunday 13th It was a fine day. Jane and Willie staid at home. I walked over to Ti Point to spend the day, called in at Harolds first and then went on to Joes for dinner and tea. Minnie gave me some lettuce, and flower plants to bring home.,
Monday 14th The wind was bowing strong from the NW and then from the SW, a few slight showers but not enough to wet the ground. Jane rode to Ti Point. In the morning I planted some flower plants that Minnie gave me. Afterwards I sowed a row of Peas next to the Potatoes, planted out 8 Tomato plants. Willie was moulding up Potatoes all day.
Tuesday 15th It was a fine day, but very windy. Willie finished moulding up the Potatoes, we then dug round and manured the Rhubarb and afterwards we sowed 5 rows of Carrots, 2 do Lettuce and 2 do Turnips. Mr T. W. Knaggs came in the evening to sign a declaration.
Wednesday 16th It was a fine day wind still blowing very strong. We finished digging the piece of ground near the grapes, Jane returned from Ti Point in the afternoon, Flo came with her to stay here, both of them went to the Tennis in the evening. I packed a box of Eggs and took down to the steamer in the evening.
Thursday 17th It was a fine day, wind still blowing strong.
Charlie, Walter & George came to shear my sheep, also to tail and castrate the Lambs.
They were as follows.
Ewes 11
Wethers 10
Total 21
Friday 18th It was a very fine day and the wind has calmed down. We helped Walter Frearson get the Sheep up, there were 4 of ours in there and 1 Lamb which Willie sheared, the Lamb was a Ram which we altered thus making 22 Lambs, equal sexes.
Saturday 19th It was fine in the morning. Willie went over to Frearsons to shear a Wether that they got in with theirs. We packed the Wool, 1 bale, 1 Dumps, 1 Bundle (4) Skins, hauled them down to the wharf in the afternoon, it was showery in the afternoon and it rained steadily all evening.
Sunday 20th It rained all morning, but cleared up in the afternoon.
Willie went round to Ti Point in his boat in the afternoon.
Monday 21st It was a fine day. I hauled a Sack of Maize down to the wharf and hauled up some black soil. I planted out a row Cabbage and Cauliflowers plants mixed between the Peas, also 2 short rows of Dun Beans between the Peach trees.
Mr S. Grant called in the pm.
Tuesday 22nd It was a fine day. I took 10 Doz Eggs down to G. Wyatts in the morning, afterwards went down to the wharf, the “Gael” came in on her way to Auckland, sent my Wool, Skins and Sack of Maize by her. I was digging the left hand side of the path going to the orchard.
Mrs Harry Ellis came to spend the day, returning to Matakana in the evening. Jane went to the Tennis in the evening and Willie Dunning returned with her to have a game of cards.
Wednesday 23rd Got up early. A misty rain was falling, which continued all day. I got all my work done and had breakfast and then went down to the wharf to meet the “Gael“, took S. Hill a bunch of flowers, got a shin of beef, a parcel of drapery, empty egg box which I carried up . Continued digging what I commenced yesterday. Willie returned from Ti Point in the pm. The Bible Class Picnic was held in the pm, Jane went
Thursday 24th It was a fine day. Willie and I finished digging the piece of ground that I started. Miss Gallie dropped in for tea & she and Jane went down to Tennis.
Friday 25th It was a fine day. In the morning we burnt a heap of rubbish in the orchard and were digging out convolvulus. In the afternoon we commenced digging at the bottom of the orchard near the Japanese plum. I went to the Library in the evening.
Saturday 26th It was a fine day. In the morning Willie & I went down to the E.R, caught and sheard 2 Ewes that were missed, caught a Lamb that was maggetty sheard the wool off its back and put kerosene on it. In the afternoon Willie continued digging in the orchard. I was making a coop for ducklings which have just hatched.
Sunday 27th It was a fine day. The wind has changed to the east and there is indication of rain. Willie walked to Ti Point.
Jane rode to Matakana in the morning, returning in the evening,
Revd E. O. Perry (Presbyterian) held service in the Hall in the afternoon, I went and enjoyed the sermon very much.
Monday 28th The wind still blowing strong from the NE. In the morning I planted out 16 Lettuce plants that Jane brought from Matakana, also sowed a row of Dun Beans. It was showery while I was doing this, & it rained steadily for the reminder of the day.
Tuesday 29th Wind still blowing strong from the same quarter. It rained nearly the whole day. I got wood and was cutting pea sticks in the fine intervals.
Willie returned from Ti Point in the pm , not able to catch fish.
Wednesday 30th It did not rain. Wind moderated, sea gone down. “Gael” and “Rob Roy” called in pm, both having been wind bound at Mangawai since Sunday.
Willie and I were digging round the young Burbanks at the bottom of the orchard all day.