November 1914

Sunday 1st   It was a very fine day.  Willie & Grace drove over to Ti Point to spend the day with Harold & Flo – returning in the evening.
In the morning I went to Willie Dunnings to have a look at his orchard, staid dinner, afterwards went with him to the methodist service at the hall conducted by a young student named Warren, he gave us a splendid serman.

Monday 2nd   There were a few showers of rain last night which freshened things up.  In the morning I went down to the village to communicate with the Returning Officer at Warkworth.   After I came home I got firewood.  In the afternoon Willie & I went down to the wharf to shift his fruit cases off the wharf, those that were already there and what were landed to day.
Carried up 2 bags of sand to day.

Tuesday 3rd   It was a fine day. Willie was sowing Mangolds in the farm orchard all day.
In the morning I was digging round some apple trees in the this orchard, in the afternoon I was working in the flower garden.  In the evening I went down to the village, Mr E. C. Purdie the liberal candidate for Marsden addressed the electors in this Hall. There was a very fair attendance, I was appointed chairman, Mr Purdies whole address was in condemnation of the Massey administration.

Wednesday 4th   It was a fine day. Willie was sowing Mangolds in drills in the farm orchard all day.
In the morning I was digging round some young apple trees in this orchard. In the afternoon I went down to the village to post a letter, carried up a bag of sand.

Thursday 5th   It was a fine day. After breakfast Willie took his eggs down to the wharf and hauled up several bundles of fruit case lids.
I also went down to the wharf.
I also went down to the village in the evening for the mail & attended Library.

Friday 6th   It was a fine day. Willie was sowing Mangels in the farm orchard.
The Bible Class picnic was held to day, all of us went and enjoyed ourselves very much.  There were two Methodist parsons present namely Spiers & Warren and they made it very lively.

Saturday 7th   It was a fine day. Willie went fishing to the Goat Island with the two young parsons & Mr Glass but there was too much wind and they caught no fish.   I went down to the wharf at 12.30 to see the “Kawau” off,  Mr Murry left by her, he has sold his farm to a Mr Buckland and is leaving the district for good, I shall miss him very much as we were very good friends.

Sunday 8th   It was a fine day. I walked over to the Claim in the morning to attend the Anglican service, Revd Macdonald officiated, afterwards I went to Jims for dinner and walked home in the afternoon in time for tea, I found Mr & Mrs Glass there, they had been spending the day.  Mr Macdonald held service in the hall in the evening, we attended a fair congregation, Collection 10/-.   I heard to day that Mrs Pratt had died last night.

Monday 9th   It was a fine day. Willie, Grace & I drove over to Pakiri in the morning, we had dinner at Johny Salts and in the afternoon we went to Mrs Pratts funeral, there was a large gathering of people. Revd Macdonald officiated at the grave. We returned to Salts for tea and drove home in the evening.

Tuesday 10th   It was a fine day. I was picking some Roses to send to the flower show.
Went down to the Hall in the afternoon to prepare for the County Election tomorrow.

Wednesday 11th   It was a fine day. I was Deputy Returning Officer and was in the Hall from 9am to 6pm.  The candidates were, T. Hoult, A. Matheson and Ernest Vipond. After the polling was over I went to A. Dunnings for tea, played cards in evening.
The Polling at all the Booths was as follows.

Hoult Matheson Vipond
Leigh 0 43 1
Pakiri  6  8  14
Claim  0 25 1
Whangaripo 0 0 25
Matakana 0 0 6
 6 76 47

 

Thursday 12th   It was a fine day.  Ernie Greenwood drove me over to Warkworth, we arrived there about noon, consulted Dr Morrison, had dinner and then went to the Show which was held in the Town Hall, John Greenwood took some Roses over for me yesterday & entered them but they took no prizes. The flowers were very good, also fancy work and cookery.  I went with the John Greenwoods to Mr Rooses and staid there the night.

Friday 13th   It was a fine day.   Mr & Mrs John Greenwood drove me home in the morning, they came up here to have a look at my Roses and staid for dinner.

Saturday 14th   It was a fine day. I went down to the village to post matter and get the mail.
Mrs Simpson came over from Ti Point.  Willie went fishing to Ti Point but only brought home a few herrings.

Sunday 15th   It was a fine day. Revd Spiers (Methodist) held service in the afternoon, there was a good congregation. Mr Glass’ baby was baptised.  I attended.

Monday 16th   It rained last night and early this morning, it was not very heavy but it has freshened up everything. The Jersey Cow (Kate) calved a bull calf.
I went down to the village in the pm to post letters, saw Mr Mander M.P who is going to speak this evening.  Heard with regret of the death of Lord Roberts while on duty in France.  We all went to Mr Manders meeting in the evening, Mr Jas Greenwood occupied the chair.   A vote of thanks and confidence was carried.

Tuesday 17th   It was a fine day. Planted out Corn flowers, Zinnias, Stocks & Asters. Willie drove Grace and Mrs Simpson to Ti Point in the morning,  Mrs S. remained there.  Mr & Mrs R. Williams drove over in the afternoon to have a look at the garden, they staid for tea.

Wednesday 18th   There was a misty rain in the morning and I seized the chance of planting out Zinnias, Stocks and Asters, but it soon cleared up, the sun came out and the wind changed to the SW and blew strong. Went down to the village in the afternoon to post a letter and to take a bunch of roses to the butcher for his wife.
Willie was cutting open tins for spraying.

Thursday 19th   It was a fine day, the steamer made a round trip, I went down to the village and the wharf when she came in to get the mail.  I was planting out Zinnias, Asters & Stocks and getting ready for going to Auckland.  May Dunning is going to look after the Library in my absence. The “Kawau” left here at 9 pm and I embarked, Willie was down to see me off, Joe Torkington was also a passenger.

Friday 20th   We called at the Orakei Wharf to land some sheep and arrived in Auckland at 4.30.  I went ashore later on and took the
7 am boat across to the North Shore and walked  up to Mr Wallaces where I received a hearty welcome, after breakfast I went down to the works and had a hot bath and a sleep, after lunch I went across to Auckland, called on Mr Grindrod at his office and then went to the Horticultural Show which was held in one of the Exhibition buildings in the Domain, there was a large exhibit of Roses but the quality was not very good.

Saturday 21st   Went across to Auckland in the morning and visited the park.  In the afternoon Mr Wallace & I went to Ken Wallaces place at Bayswater.  Mr W.  & I walked down to the end of the point to Mr Inksters place, a friend of the Feltons and Mrs R. Williams, he has about an acre and it is all planted with flowers & shrubs, they seem very nice people and I enjoyed my visit. Ken & Tillie came to the Wallaces in the evening.

Sunday 22nd   It was a fine day.  Mr W. & I attended service at Trinity Church in the morning,  Revd Chitty, the blind clergyman preached, in the afternoon I went out to Mt Eden to Mr Grindrods, had a look round his garden, had afternoon tea and returned to the shore,
Mr W.  & I went to the Presbyterian church in the evening.

Monday 23rd   I went across to Auckland in the morning, returned to the shore for lunch and in the afternoon I went to Point Erin park Ponsonby in the afternoon.

Tuesday 24th   Went across to Auckland in the morning, returned to the shore for lunch and in the afternoon I went across again in the afternoon, took the Remuera car as far as St Mark’s avenue, called on Mrs Carr at Hall’s avenue but found her out. I then went to the Ellerslie Race Course to look at the gardens, which are beautiful. Walked up to Arney Road where I met Mr Spedding, and went home with him, they have a beautiful place in Bell road.  Mr S. goes in for Roses and he has some beautiful ones, had tea there and a nice chat with Mr S. who is an enthusiastic gardener. I caught the 8.30 pm tram at the top of Arney road and went across to the shore in the 9 pm boat, rode up in the motor buss, there was a misty rain and I got a little wet.  Found Charlie Ballantine & his wife at Mr W.  and they were playing 500.

Wednesday 25th   It was a fine day. I went across to Auckland in the morning, took the car to Ponsonby and called on Mr Felton who lives in O’Neil St. Although he only has a small allotment he has it in all in cultivation in flowers and vegetables, he showed me round his garden which I enjoyed very much. Had lunch there. In the afternoon I went to the Domain to see the gardens and where the Exhibition buildings stood. Returned to the Shore.

Thursday 26th   It was a showery day. In the morning I walked down Albert Road, called in at Mr McKinleys and he showed me round his garden, it rained in the evening.

Friday 27th   It was a bit showery and windy in the morning.  In the afternoon I went across to Auckland, took the car to Campbell park where the Agricultural show is held, met several people from Omaha way,  Jno Greenwood,  Mr & Mrs Harry Dyer,  Ellis Dyer from Whangarei,  John Salt & Jas  Darroch whom John Greenwood had driven from Panmure.

Saturday 28th   A few showers. Went to Auckland in the morning, returned to Devonport for dinner & in the pm Mr Wallace & I went to watch the cricket match between Shore and Ponsonby in the Domain.  In the evening Mr & Mrs W.  & I went to a concert in the Parish Hall in aid of the local Fire Brigade.

Sunday 29th   Windy and showery. I woke up with a bad cold, so did not go to church morning or evening.  Went a walk with Mr W. in the afternoon.

Monday 30th    Windy & Showery.  In the morning I went over to town, returned to the Shore for lunch, went to town again in the afternoon, took the car to Mt Eden.  Called on Mrs Tucker, afterwards called on Mr Grindrod but they were not at home.
Ken & Tillie came to the Wallaces for dinner and staid the evening.