Tuesday 1st It was a fine day, but the sun was often overcast which made it cool for working outside. In the morning Willie was digging in the orchard, in the pm he took the Eggs down to the wharf and hauled up empty Egg box, and Groceries.
I was working in the flower garden cutting the grass and paring the paths and tidying up. I sent to G. J. MacKays for 4/s worth of Seedling flower plants.
There were some showers in the evening.
Wednesday 2nd There were some heavy showers during last night, it was a fine day. Willie sprayed some Pear trees at the bottom of the orchard. We had quite a number of callers to day. Mr Banks called before we had our breakfast to bring Willie some bluestone, he had a look round my garden & I gave him some Sweet Peas. In the pm Mesdames Archie & Willie Dunning called, they also had a look round my garden and I gave Mrs Willie some plants and flowers, After they went away Maggie Harper brought a Telegram from Revd Teale saying that he would not be able to come next Sunday as he is to be inducted Vicar of Warkworth at Warkworth next Sunday.
In the morning I sowed 3 rows of Turnips and 2 hills of Everlasting Pumpkin. In the pm I transplanted some Lobelia, Dwarf Nasturtium & Scabious plants and I commenced to dig up the round bed.
Thursday 3rd It rained last night and nearly all to day, a great deal of rain has fallen which has flooded the ground and done a lot of harm. We were not able to do anything out of doors. In the pm I went down to the village to get the mail after the arrival of the Steamer.
Friday 4th It was a beautiful day. After breakfast I went down to the village to post some letters, sent the Church Guarantee to Mr Shannon, after I came back I got firewood. In the pm I continued digging the round bed . Hettie Wyatt called in the pm. Willie was spraying the pear trees. Mr Fairs exhibited pictures in the Hall in the evening, none of us went. I went down to attend the Library, but the door was locked on the inside, so I could not get in, so I came home.
Saturday 5th It was a fine day, but rather dull. I finished digging the round bed, also pointed over the diamond bed. Went down to the village in the pm to get the mail after the arrival of the Steamer, I carried up some black soil. I received by the mail from G. J. Mackay, Seedsman, the flower plants I sent for viz, 1 Doz Pansies, ½ Doz Zinnias, ½ Doz Delphiniums, ¼ Doz Arctotis, ¼ Doz Gypbophilas. He also sent 2 Packets Sweet Peas (gratis). I also received from J. L. Childs – Seedsman of Floral Park, N Y – 2 Packets of seeds that I ordered and a P. O. O for 10/8 that was due to me.
Willie finished digging round the young trees this side of the orchard.
Sunday 6th It was a very fine day. I rode over to spend the day with Jim & Jane. Wattie & Mrs Darroch came in the afternoon, also Angus and Archie Dunning also came, they all staid for tea except the latter, on my way home I called in at Mrs J Darrochs & got 2 Miniture Sunflower plants, reached home just before dark, spent a very pleasant day.
Monday 7th It was a very fine day. Willie was digging in the orchard all day. Joe Torkington came in the morning and told us that Minnie was confined of a son this morning. I went down to the village to post a letter I had written to Mr Wallace, carried up a bag of sand, the remainder of the day I was working in the flower garden planting the seedlings I received from Mackays on Saturday, I broke the lumps in the round bed and planted it.
Tuesday 8th It was a fine day, but dull and late in the pm it came over so cloudy that it looked as if it were going to rain , but it cleared off again. In the morning I got some firewood and planted 2 Miniture Sunflowers. I then took the box of Eggs down to the Steamer with the horse and hauled up empty egg box and a bag of sand. In the pm I planted 12 Pansy plants in the long bed.
Wednesday 9th Henry’s birthday. It was raining last night and the greater part of the day, it leared up the latter part of the pm. When it was fine, Willie was digging in the orchard. The ground was too wet for me to do any planting, so I was doing odd jobs.
Thursday 10th It was a very fine day. Wind blowing strong from S. After breakfast I went down to the village to get the mail which arrived by the “Kawau” at 9 am. The newspapers did not come, I carried up a bag off black soil. Grace rode over to spend the day with Jane . Willie was digging in the morning and fixing up the fence next W. Frearsons in the pm. In the pm I was working in the flower garden. I sowed some Early Baseball Tomato, transplanted a white bell Fuchsia, took up the Ranunculus bulbs.
Friday 11th It was a very hot day, especially in the morning, the sun was so strong that it gave me pains in the head and I had to go and lie down. In the pm Mrs J. C. Wyatt & Mr & Mrs Clark from Queensland came to call, they had a look round my flower garden. In the evening I went down for the mail and attended the Library. Willie was planting Onions that Ab gave him, the top side of the house.
Saturday 12th It was a fine day, but not so hot as yesterday, wind from N. There was a working bee at the Cemetery to clear the furze, about 7 turned up. I went down at about 10 am, but they had finished and were coming away. I remained and cleared round Mauds grave. In the pm I was helping Willie finish plant the Onions the top side of the house, there are 6 rows containing 345 plants. Afterwards I got some firewood, dug and broke the lumps on the outer side of the round bed and then watered the newly planted the newly planted plants and seeds.
Sunday 13th It was a very hot day. Jane & Jim rode over to spend the day. Revd Paris held service in the Hall in the pm. I attended, Jim & Jane left early as they had to call to see old Mrs Dunning and then hurry home to milk their cows as they wish to attend Mr Paris’ service this evening.
Monday 14th Wind blowing strong from N. Albert Wyatt came to dig, he commenced just below the Bon Chretian. Willie was fixing up the sheep pen in the morning and he was digging with Albert in the pm. After breakfast I burned a heap of rubbish in the front garden and then I went down to the village to post a letter. I got a milk dish at the Store for Willie and I carried up a bag of sand. When I got home I found Mrs G. Wyatt waiting to get my signature, she staid dinner, about 3 pm it came on to rain and rained steadily, after dinner I got some firewood and planted 5 Cineraria plants at the top of the Diamond bed.
Tuesday 15th The wind has changed to the SW, it was a very fine day. I sowed some Butterfly Beans, two sorts of Sweet Peas (King Edward) & (Helen Lewis), dug up the outside of the round bed , worked it fine and sowed 18 holes of Minor Convolvulus & 18 holes of Tom Thumb Nasturtium.
Wille was digging in the orchard in the morning and in the pm he took the box of Eggs down to the wharf and hauled up 2 loads, 100 lbs Flour, 1 Sack Bran & 1 Sack Sharps.
Tuesday 16th [sic: Wednesday 16th] It was a beautiful day, wind S, we were all up early, Willie had to get the Sheep in as Mr Neeley was to come to shear today, and I was to go to Auckland. I was down to the wharf in plenty of time , she was to have left at 7 am, but as she has so much wool and other cargo to put in, it was 7.15 before she left, we called at Takatu to take in more wool, however we got up to Auckland at 1 pm after a very calm passage. Alma Wallace was on the wharf to meet me and we went straight across to Devonport where I received a hearty welcome from Mrs W & family. I took a walk round beach road in the pm.
Thursday 17th It was a beautiful day, wind SE. After breakfast Alan & I took a walk down to the Narrow Neck beach, Alan had a bathe. In the pm I went over to Auckland to have a look round and to do some shopping, paid some accounts for Willie and called into
G. Fowlds to see Mr Rollinson, returned to Devonport later in the pm.
Friday 18th It was a fine day, but rather dull, in the morning Alan & I walked to the Narrow Neck beach, Alan bathed. In the pm I went over to Auckland and went to the Horticultural Societies Show held in the Choral Hall, there was a beautiful collection of Roses & I enjoyed it very much. Alan met me there and we returned to Devonport together, when we arrived at Devonport wharf it commenced to rain.
Saturday 19th It rained a good deal last night and this morning and I did not go out anywhere. In the pm I went over to Auckland, first I had a look at the flowers in the Albert Park & then I went to the Flower Show in the Choral Hall again. After that I went up to the Domain, had a look at the gardens and then went watch the cricket, met Mr Wallace there, did not stay very long but went to Ponsonby to see the Simpsons, had tea there came in the car with Fred to Karangahape Road he having to return to business, returned to the Shore by the 9 pm boat.
Sunday 20th It was a bit misty in the morning, but cleared up and turned out a very fine day. I had arranged with Fred last night to go with him to Rangatoto [sic:] today, so I went over to Auckland by an early boat and waited for Fred, but he did not return in time to go to the island, so we had a walk on the wharf, and then we went up to Ponsonby where I had dinner with Mrs Simpson, returned to the Shore, found Sam Mills & his wife at Mr Wallaces. Mr W & I attended the Presbyterian Church in the evening. Revd I. Bertram preached.
Monday 21st It rained a good deal last night and was very misty this morning. I went over to Auckland in the pm, ordered some goods for Jane and then went out to Parnell to call on the Rollinsons, staid dinner and spent a very pleasant evening.
Returned to Devonport by the 10 pm boat.
Tuesday 22nd It was a fine day. I went over to Auckland in the morning, ordered some Kumera plants for Dan Kempt to be sent by the Steamer, had lunch in town, met my old friend Revd M. Kirkbride who was very unwell. Had a good look round Albert Park and then went to Parnell, walked round St Stephen’s Avenue and Gladstone Road to look at the gardens, also visited St Stephens Cemetery where so many of the old identities are buried, took the car to Victoria Avenue, Remuera to see Miss Revell who is living with Mr J. W. Smith who has a beautiful place, I was shown round the garden and saw the beautiful Jersey cows and was entertained at afternoon tea, returned to Devonport by the 5.10 pm boat.
Wednesday 23th It was a fine day. In the morning I went down with Alan to Narrow Neck beach, the latter had a swim. In the pm I went across to Auckland, went down the Queens St Wharf to see the
P & O “Mongolia”, then went to the Wool Sale at the Chamber of Commerce, the Art Pictures in the Council Chambers, returned to the Shore.
Thursday 24th It was a fine day. I went over to Auckland in the morning, went to Mrs Simpsons for lunch, heard that Mr Torkington was ill in town, Harold also in town, but I did not see them, in the pm I took the car out to Kingsland and then walked to Morningside and called on the Cruickshanks. Mrs C was the only one at home.
Friday 25th It was a beautiful day, cloudy , but very cool. Alan and I went over to Auckland by the 10 am boat, took the Car out to Alexanda Park to the Agricultural Show, met a lot of Omaha people out there, it was a very good show, and I enjoyed it very much, we had lunch out there, Alan had to leave early in the pm, but I stayed later.
Saturday 26th It rained last night and early this morning, but afterwards it cleared up & the sun came out. In the pm Mr Wallace walked out to the Lake to see the Sweet Peas in Mr Bretts garden, we rode back in the Buss, afterwards we went to watch Cricket in the Domain (Shore v Grafton), in the evening I went across to Auckland, went up to Mrs Simpsons and staid all night.
Sunday 27th When we got up in the morning it was raining and blowing strong from the N, Harold T who was also staying at Mrs Simpsons was to have gone to Omaha by the “Kawau” at 7.15 am, but on account of the weather he decided to stay until Tuesday.
I went to All Saints Church in the morning, there was a severe thunderstorm and heavy rain in the pm, after which the wind changed to the west & cleared up. We all went to All Saints in the evening, the Bishop of Waiapu preached a splendid sermon, which I enjoyed very much.
Monday 28th It was a beautiful day, wind W and much cooler, in the morning I went down town shopping and then went across to the North Shore, had lunch, packed my bag and said goodbye to the Wallaces whose Kindness to me I shall never forget. Alan took my bag over and left it at the Northern Cos Office, I went over by a later boat, arriving in Auckland I went to Bennett & Greens Nursery to get some Cactus Dahlias and then I went up to Mrs Simpsons and staid the night.
Tuesday 29th It was a beautiful day, the wind which has been from the E for the last fortnight changed to the W.
Haorold Torkington (who was also at Mrs Simpsons) and I left Mrs Ss early and took the car down to the wharf and put our luggage on board the “Kawau” and then went up Queen St to pick up a few parcels, left Auckland soon after 9 am and arrived at Omaha at 2.30 pm. There were a good many passengers returning from the Show, the sea was calm & we had a nice passage.
Willie & Grace were down to meet me, after I got home I started to plant some of the flower plants.
Miss C. A. Matheson & May Dunning came to spend the evening.
Wednesday 30th The wind has changed round to the E again, but it was a fine day.
Albert Wyatt was digging for Willie. I was busy planting flower plants I got from Auckland, went down to the beach in the pm with the horse to get some sand. Gracie Knaggs & Willena Neeley called in the pm & staid tea.