Wednesday 1st It was fine in the morning and I was hoeing among the Potatoes, but it soon came on to rain and rained most of the pm. I went down to the wharf to meet the Steamer.
Thursday 2nd It poured with rain about daybreak, but it cleared up afterwards and turned out a fine day.
I took the box of Eggs down to the wharf with the bullock and hauled up 100 lbs Bag of Flour & Empty Egg Box. In the afternoon I was pulling up tea tree behind the Cottage as the ground is too wet to touch.
Friday 3rd It was a fine day. In the morning I went down to the store to post some letters and to get some wheat and oatmeal, I also got the mail as the “Kawau” brought it early this morning. Willie Dunning went with Arthur Wilson by the “Kawau” to Mangawai bush felling.
Emma was here for dinner and she paid the rent. In the afternoon I was digging in the orchard round 1 Dr Hogg Peach and 1 Tibbetts Plum. In the evening Jane went over to Joe Wyatts and then down to the village. Willie returned from Ti Point.
Saturday 4th It was a fine day. Willie and I were planting Onions near the gate going into the orchard, it had been dug up rough some weeks ago. We sowed B.B. manure on it and broke the ground down with hoes, and dug it shallow and planted the Onions in the trenches. We planted 342, about 200 of these were what Willie Dunning gave me, and the balance my own raising. Jane rode over to Pakiri with Miss Gallie to the Pakiri Tennis Club opening.
Sunday 5th It was a fine day. Willie walked over to Ti Point as usual. I rode over on Empress, had dinner at Harold Torkingtons, left my horse there, and walked to Mr Duncan Knaggs’, had a look at his yacht which is just on finished, also Mrs Knaggs flower garden, had tea there and returned to Harolds for Empress, but could not find her anywhere so I had to walk home. Jane had been spending the afternoon at Frearsons, she came home just before me, she brought Miss Gallies horse home as she is going to Warkworth tomorrow.
Monday 6th It was a fine day. Wind from SW. I walked to Ti Point and found Empress in Harolds place, it seems she was down below the trig station last night and that is the reason I could not find her last night. I rode down to Joe’s place, found that they had not breakfasted, went down to the beach, called at Mr Lloyd’s and he showed me his fowl runs and pens for chickens &c – also his orchard. Returned to Joes where I had lunch. Afterwards rode home. Brought a bag of shells that Mr Torkington got for me, after I got home I hoed between three rows of potatoes. Jane rode to Warkworth on Miss Gallies horse.
Tuesday 7th It was showery in the morning and it was very windy. I planted a row of Onions next to the others. Jane returned from Warkworth in the evening.
Mr F. Mander M H R addressed a meeting of the electors in the Hall in the evening, Mr Jos Greenwood in the Chair.
Wednesday 8th It was showery most of the day. I took a box of Eggs down to the wharf in the pm and found that the Steamer was not coming to day as she got stuck at Mangawai and only went up this morning.
Jane and Miss Gallie rode over to Matakana after School was out in the afternoon to stay at Cruickshanks. I went down to spend the evening at Charlie Wyatts, as he was Returning Officer for the Omaha Riding of the Rodney County Election. Messrs H. Brown and D. M. Kempt being the candidates, the following was the polling
Thursday 9th The Kings birthday, also Henry’s 32 birthday. The wind was blowing very strong. I prepared a manured drill and planted out Cauliflowers, also a manured drill for Peas which I sowed in the afternoon.
Willie came home at dinner time and he helped me in the afternoon. Mr R. Thompson the Government candidate should have addressed the electors in the Hall this evening and Willie and I got dressed ready to go, but it came on to rain and rained heavily until after 8 pm so we did not go down, Jane returned from Matakana about this time wet through, she said that Mr Thompson was at the Hall, but as so few turned up he had no meeting.
Friday 10th It was a bit showery in the morning, Willie & I planted out the last of the Onions, this makes 6 rows planted, afterwards we kept on digging this piece of ground towards the pigs paddock. Miss Gallie & May Clark came for tea. I went down for the mail in the evening.
Saturday 11th It was a fine day. Willie and I continued digging the piece of ground, we finished it at about 4 pm.
In the evening I rode over to Dacres Claim Hall to hear a political address by Mr R. Thompson. Revd F. Latter was there with Mr Birdsall having walked from Warkworth. It was a beautiful night and there were several from here.
Sunday 12th It was a fine day. I walked up to Mr Jos Greenwoods in the morning and had dinner there, and Joe took me round his orchard. I returned home for tea and we went down to the Hall for service in the evening. Revd F. Latter officiated, the offeratory was 11/9. Mrs Latter returned with us to stay all night.
Monday 13th It was a fine day. Mr Latter left here about 10 am, he had a horse of Mr Birdsalls which he had to return and was then going to walk to Matakana to go by the “Kotiti” tomorrow morning.
I set Two Hens with brown Leghorn Eggs, one in the periywincle in the pigs paddock just below the pig sty and the other in the pen in the pigs paddow near the orchard. I was burning some rubbish in the orchard and breaking the lumps round some of the trees.
Tuesday 14th It was a fine day. I went down to the wharf to get my empty egg box – the “Kawau” called in while I was down there, J. Salt & R. Matheson went away in her, there was no fish to go away, but a few bales of wool – and boxes of eggs & potatoes.
In the afternoon I planted 4 hills of Pumpkins where I had dug out a row of potatoes below the house.
Wednesday 15th There was a slight shower in the morning, but it turned out a fine day. I got the bullock up and hauled a box of Eggs down to the Steamer and hauled up an empty egg box and a box of kumera plants. The Bible Class held their annual Pic nic in Archie Dunnings paddock, Jane went in the afternoon, I called in the Hall on my way home for my tea and then went home to milk the cow and I came down to the Hall again in the evening.
Thursday 16th It was a fine day. I took the bullock down to the Store in the morning and got a Sk of maize and some sundries. In the pm I dug out a row of potatoes and prepared the ground to sow some parsnips, also broke up some ground next to the Onions to plant kumeras.
Friday 17th It was a fine day. I turned over the ground again for parsnips – digging in stockyard manure & bonedust. I sowed 4 rows of Parsnips. Willie returned in the afternoon and he helped me. There was a meeting in the Hall in the evening of the Flower Show Committee, Jane & I went.
Saturday 18th It was a fine day. Willie & I were cleaning out the shed and fixing up the yard ready for shearing.
Sunday 19th It was a dull day. Willie went over to Ti Point in the morning to be ready for fishing. I went over to Joe Wyatts in the afternoon for a yarn and I staid tea there.
Monday 20th It was a fine day. I was digging some potatoes just below the house. Mrs J. C. Wyatt was here for dinner.
Tuesday 21st There were a few slight showers during the day. I was preparing some ground just below the house for parsnips.
Mr S. Grant called in the afternoon and we had a great argument about election matters.
I went down to the Hall in the evening to prepare it for the Show tomorrow, also took down some exhibits. Heard that Mrs Frearson was confined of a daughter this afternoon and she is very illand they have sent for Dr McCredie.
Wednesday 22nd I got up very early. Sowed 2 Rows of Parsnips next to the other ones I sowed. Lenny Wyatt came here before breakfast and told us that Mrs Frearson had died last night before the Doctor had arrived.
Miss Mary Wann who is to be one of the judges to day came here to let her horse loose. I took the remainder of the exhibits down to the Hall and did not come home until tea time. Mrs Sinclair of Matakana and Mr T. W. Knaggs were the other judges. The judges and some of the Committee went to the Hotel for dinner.
Mr J. M. King JP, acting Coroner came over to hold an Inquest on Mrs Frearson, Dr McCreadie and Constable Johnson were also in attendance, the former giving evidence as to the cause of death, after viewing the body the Inquest was held in the School, I was one of the jurymen and was chosen Foreman. Mrs Rogers who was attending Mrs Frearson also gave evidence. The jury brought in a verdict according to the Drs opinion that the deceased died of Syncope and Internal Hemorrhage.
The “Kawau” came in rather late having gone up to the top wharf first. Mr Purcell, Charlie Mayall and some other singers came up in her to take part in the Concert this evening. Minnie and children and Mrs D. Knaggs came up here for tea and then we all went down to the Hall for the Concert which was a very good one. I was Chairman, it rained a bit while we were in at the Concert , but it cleared up again. Charlie Mayall, Mrs D. Knaggs, Minnie and children came home with us to sleep.
Thursday 23rd It was a fine day. We were up early and after breakfast went down to the wharf. C. Mayall went back to Auckland in the “Kawau” and Mrs D. Knaggs, Minnie & bairns and Willie went round to Ti Point in her.
In the morning Walter Frearson came to register the death of his child and also the death of his wife. Jane went down to the wharf to clear up. Mrs Frearson’s funeral was in the afternoon, I read the service.
After the funeral Mr Neely & I called in at the Post Office and with Mr Harper signed a Bond for £200 to enable a Money Order Office and Saving Bank to be opened at the Leigh Post Office, Mr John Greenwood witnessing our signatures.
Friday 24th It was a fine day. The “Kawau” called in at about 9 am on her way from Mangawai to the Auckland Show at excursion rates, several went from here. Willie came round in his boat to put some fish on the “Kawau“, and then he came up home. Jane went to spend the day down at John Wyatts . Willie Dunning returned from Mangawai.
Saturday 25th It was a fine day. Willie was digging out Potatoes and I planted 5 hills of Pumpkins. In the afternoon I went down to the Cemetery to tidy up Maud’s grave. They are fixing up the Tennis Court, they commenced it last Saturday and finished it this afternoon, the whole of it was tarred & sanded.
The scow “Scott” was loading flax at the Pa beach outside the harbour.
Sunday 26th It was fine in the morning, there was a misty rain in the afternoon, but there was not enough to soften the ground and the remainder of the afternoon was fine. Willie went to Ti Point in the morning to take his boat round and we walked back in the evening.
Mrs D. Knaggs’ two little girls were here for dinner.
I called up at the Handbys in the afternoon and staid for tea.
Monday 27th It was a fine day. Eddie Wyatt came up first thing in the morning and helped us get the Sheep in to shear, Charlie could not come to shear as he is ill, but George came and he and Willie sheared something over twenty. In the evening Willie went up to Mr Neeleys to ask if Gus could come to shear tomorrow. I went down to Charlie Wyatts.
Tuesday 28th It was a very fine day. George Wyatt and Gus Neeley came to shear and finished them in the evening, they got Walter Frearsons up in his pen and sheared two of ours there. Charlie came in the afternoon to tail the Lambs.
Cooper showed his Cenomatograph in the Hall in the evening, Jane and Willie went.
Wednesday 29th It was a fine day. Miss Lina Cruickshank was married today to Mr Tait of Warkworth, Jane was invited over and left here about 9.30 am.
Willie chased down a Sheep that has wool on and he sheared it. We killed a wether in the afternoon Willie helping me, afterwards he went over to Ti Point to fish.
I went down to the wharf to meet the Steamer, but she did not come in until late and it was getting dusk when I got home. It came over very black in the evening and there was a slight misty rain, but no rain fell to do any good.
Thursday 30th It was a fine day. The “Kawau” was to have left here at 9 am and I got up early, cut up the Sheep and did all my took some mutton to Alberts and then went down to the wharf to see the Steamer off, but she did not leave here until nearly 10 am. Took some mutton to Charlie Wyatts in the afternoon.
Mr Sadler came in the evening to get me to witness his signature. I went down to Mr Archie Dunnings in the evening, Willie Harper was also there, we played at Cards.
Jane returned from Matakana in the evening while I was away.