November 1925

Sunday 1st   It was a very fine day.  There was no service here so Jane went to spend the day at Ti Point with Minnie and family.  Hector went to scout drill at Leigh so there were only Jim, Jean and I home for dinner.
In the afternoon Jean went to Evans  – and I went down to Pats, Erwin Greenwood and a Mr Townsend  who is working at Greenwoods were there having come in their lorry.  I had a long and interesting talk with Pat principally about the coming election,  I staid for tea there and spent a very pleasant time.

Monday 2nd   It was a very fine day.  I prepared and manured 4 hills for tomatoes alongside the stakes that are driven in .  Emptied the pool of water outside the garden, drove down pieces of board to raise the water.

Tuesday 3rd   It was a very fine day.  I was breaking down the lumps was digging to prepare for a row of Canadian wonder beans  next the tomatoes, also breaking down ground for Homestead beans. Dolly & Ina came in the afternoon and I showed her my garden.  A traveller named Perks came in the afternoon , he was selling drapery, Jane and I bought a few things.  He had lived 8 years in Leicester so I had nice talk with him about my own native place.

Wednesday 4th   A very fine day.  The General election for members of Parliament and also for the Licensing.  Mr and Charlie Whitaker were returning officers at this hall,  Mrs Holder came up with Jane when she came from voting.  I went to vote in the afternoon and afterwards I weeded the carrots I have growing in Pats garden.  I was preparing the ground for beans.  Jim went to the P. O in the evening to hear the results of the election.
The voting at Dacres as follows
Jones 30,   Murdock 9,   Richards 5.
Licensing,  Continuence  11,    S. Control  2,    Prohibition  31.

Thursday 5th   It was a fine day.  Jane & Jim drove round to the shop in the morning to take the eggs.  I planted a long  row  of Canadian Wonder Beans below the Tomatoes.
In the evening Hector and Jean went to Arthur Wilsons to see some fireworks as it is Guy Fawkes Day.

Friday 6th   It was a very fine day.  I was working in the garden preparing ground for planting homestead beans.  In the evening I went down to Pats to learn the result of the election, Mr Wallace sent me yesterdays Herald containing a full account.  Mr Jones got it for Marsden replacing Mr Murdock – Mr Coates the present Premier was elected by a majority of 4497 votes, the Government capturing 55 seats out of 80.
Government 55.   Labour 11,   National 10,   Liberal 1,  Doubtful 2.
Prohibition was lost by  30,874 votes.

Saturday 7th   It was a fine day, but very windy.  I planted out 12 Cauliflower plants in the morning.
There was a Cricket Match in the Domain between Omaha and Matakana.  Matakana batted first and made 134,  W. Dunning making the highest score 83.   Omaha followed with 127 – highest scores Jim Wyatt 34,  T. Ashton 24,  P. Dunning 19.  The wind was blowing so cold that many onlookers wore overcoats and some of the cricketers while fielding kept their coats on.  The cricketers were entertained at dinner in the hall.
The Tennis and bowling Clubs had their opening in the afternoon and attracted a large crowd.  The ladies entertained the cricketers before they went home with afternoon tea and all visitors.
In the evening I planted 4 Tomato plants that Laddie Whitaker gave me,  also a Daronicum.

Sunday 8th   It was a very fine day.  Revd Parson (Methodist) held service in the hall in the morning,  there were about 20 present.
Col  9/4  .

Monday 9th   It was a very fine day.  I resowed a row of Short Horn Carrots which had been eaten off by slugs.

Tuesday 10th   It was a very fine day.  Jim and the 3 Whitaker boys were working on the road at Cemetery hill filling up the holes and levelling it preparing it for the metal which is going to be put on.
I stuck the 3rd row of Peas   (Sutton Peerless).  Planted a hill of Apple Cucumber.

Wednesday 11th   It was a very fine day.  Jim was working on the road.  Jane drove round to the store after lunch to take the eggs, brought back maize and groceries.  I was working in the garden.

Thursday 12th   It was a very fine day   Jim was working on the road.  I was working in the garden.

Friday 13th   It rained for several hours early this morning.  It has penetrated deep into the ground.  There were several showers during the day.  I sowed a row of Red Beet.  Jane was working in the garden planting things,  she sowed Cucumbers, Marrows & Pumpkins, and put sticks to her Tomatoes,  Bowden Birdsall came to beg some Tomato plants,  Jim was working on the road.

Saturday 14th   It was a fine day, but very windy.  Jim was working on the road half a day.  I dug a patch of ground near the Choko, also cleared the weeds and grass off the piece where the rubbish heap was.  Jean rode to Almas to get her music lesson.

Sunday 15th   It was a fine day with the exception of a few showers, but a cold disagreeable wind was blowing.  The Greenwood family came in their lorry to spend the day at Pats.  I had a talk with Mrs Greenwood as I was going to church.  Revd Addenbrooke held service in the hall in the afternoon, there were only 5  adults present besides children.  Collection 4/6.  The Parson came here for tea.

Monday 16th   It was a very fine day.  I wrote a letter to the P. O. Auckland to send me another warrant.  Jim was working on the road. Jane planted a long row of Beans next to the Potatoes.  I started digging the piece of ground that was in cabbages & cauliflowers.
I stuck the last row of Peas, also planted a Burwood Prize Tomato.

Tuesday 17th   It was a very fine day, but very dull towards evening as if we were going to have rain.  I continued digging the piece of ground I was at yesterday.

Wednesday 18th   It was a fine day.  Alma W came to spend the day. Mr Hardy the traveller came for orders in the afternoon,  Jane all of us afternoon tea.  I continued digging the piece of ground, was very hard.  Jim was working on the road, he took the eggs to the store in the evening.

Thursday 19th   It was a fine day.  Jim was working on the road.  I finished digging the piece of ground I started on Monday.

Friday 20th   It was a fine day.  I went over to Leigh with Willie Dunning to the P. O – to get some money out of the bank, but they had nothing but cheques, so I have to send next Friday.  I returned with Willie in time for lunch.
There was Community Singing in the evening, I staid at home.  Mr & Mrs Stewart staid the night.

Saturday 21st   It was a fine day.  Mr & Mrs Stewart drove to Warkworth to the opening of the bowling season.  Omaha Tennis players journeyed to Dome Valley to play with the local club,  Pat & Dolly went in Jack’s car.
I planted 3 Tomato plants, 2 of Pats variety and 1 of Burwood Prize.

Sunday 22nd   Revd Rouprecht held service in the morning, all of us went, there were present 9 adults besides children ,  Collection 6/11
Mr Rouprecht & Mr Milligan came here for dinner.  It came on a driving rain while we were in church and continued all pm.

Monday 23rd   It was a fine day.  The rain we have had last night has done a lot of good, but we could have done with more, however it has softened the hard lumps.  I broke down the ground next the long row of beans , also dug up a strip next the Red Beet.  Jane was working in the garden nearly all day planting Pumpkins.  Jim was working on the road.  The children were home from school as the 6th standard were being examined.  Hector went to a meeting of the scouts at Mathesons beach.  I prepared and highly manured a trench to plant cabbages.

Tuesday 24th   It was a fine day.  I sowed a double row of Homestead Beans.

Wednesday 25th   It rained heavily & thundered early this morning before we were up.
Wrote a long letter to Willie it will be posted tomorrow.  Also sent a bill to Mrs Delatour for onion plants supplied.  Also wrote to my son Jack.

Thursday 26th   It was a showery day.  Was not able to do much in the garden.  Jack Walden and Duncan Knaggs came while we were having our tea to get me to witness their signatures.  Jim was working on the road.

Friday 27th    Jane’s 46th birthday.  A few slight showers, otherwise a fine day, but a cold wind was blowing.  I went down to Pats in the morning to get him to change my Library books and to draw some money out of the P. O bank at Leigh for me.   I pricked out some flower seedling in a box.  Jim was working on the road.  He drove Hector & Jean over to Leigh in the evening to a Sunday School Anniversary.

Saturday 28th   A showery day, but fine in the afternoon.  There was a Cricket Match at Matakana between the local team and Omaha, Joe Torkington came here in the morning and he, Jim, Jane and Mildred drove to Matakana, the showers so interfered with the match that it was not played out.  Jean went to Big Omaha for her music lesson so that Hector & I were the only ones at home.
While we were at lunch Mr Neeley came to tell me they were painting the Church at Leigh.  I gave him £1 towards the materials.
I planted out 2 Tomatoes.

Sunday 29th   It was a fine day.  Mr Milligan held service in the hall in the morning, there was a good congregation,  Will Dunning brought all his family in his car.  Lew Meiklejohn  brought all his in his car, there was Mr & Mrs Birdsall, Lad Whitaker,  Mr Wilson & 2 of Arthur’s boys,  Pat & Dolly,  Jim,  Jean,  Hector and I  – Total about 24.  Collection 10/2 .   Eddie Wyatt, Ivy and their two youngest boys came to spend the day – we were very pleased to see them.

Monday 30th   It was a fine day.  I started to weed the flower garden. Jane rode to the shop also Evans.  Jim was working on the road. There was an examination at the school by the Teacher.