October 1901

Tuesday 1st   It was a fine day.   Willie and I commenced to dig a strip in this orchard round the apricots and a large Beurre Diel.
Mr Wm Torkington called in the morning and staid for dinner.
Two hens hatched out 18 chickens which I gave to one hen.

Wednesday 2nd   We took the Eggs down to the wharf in the morning and hailed up a Sack of Maize that came from Dumper, also empty Egg box.
Jane  returned from Matakana.  It started to rain about noon and it rained heavily all afternoon and evening.  Frank Pratt came and put 4 bullocks into the paddock and he staid all night.

Thursday 3rd   It rained in the morning.  Frank Pratt took the bullocks away.  Mrs Pratt came up from Auckland yesterday by the “Kawau” and staid at Harpers.  Frank took her home on the slay.  It cleared up in the afternoon and Willie and I were cutting the tea tree in the front.

Friday 4th   It was a fine day.  We were digging in the orchard all day round the apricot trees.  I went down to the Post Office and the Library in the evening.

Saturday 5th   It was a fine day with the exception of a few light showers.  Willie went fishing to Ti Point and brought home 2 Schnappers.  I was working in the flower garden.

Sunday 6th   It was a fine day with the exception of a few slight showers.  The wind was blowing very cold from S.  I read service in the Hall in the pm.  There was a very small congregation.

Monday 7th   It was a fine day.  Willie and I were digging in the orchard all day.  We commenced at the fence and dug round the Beurre Diel and Beurre Capoumont and continued down below the Early Orleans Plum tree.

Tuesday 8th   It was a fine day.  We were digging in the orchard in the morning .  In the afternoon we took the bullock down to the wharf with a box of Eggs and hauled up the empty Egg box and a Sack of B & B manure that I bought at the Store.  We did some more digging in the afternoon when we returned from the Steamer.

Wednesday 9th   It was a fine day.   We were digging in the orchard all day.  I went down to Walter Wyatts in the evening.

Thursday 10th   It was a fine day.   We were digging in the orchard all day.  Jane rode to Ti Point with Mabel and Annie Harper to spend the day.

Friday 11th   It was a fine day.   We were digging in the orchard all day.  I went down to the Post Office and the Library in the evening.

Saturday 12th    It was a fine day.  The members of the Road Board met at A. McKenzies corner and proceeded down the Goat Island road to see if we could get an approach to A. Matheson’s land.  We had dinner at A. Mathesons.  There was a meeting of the Road Board also of the Domain Board in the Board’s Office at 2 pm.
Willie went fishing to Ti Point.  There was a Cricket Match at the Domain this afternoon between the Omaha and Claim Clubs.  The latter won in one innings and 19 runs to spare.
Mrs J. C. Wyatt and 2 children were here for tea.

Sunday 13th   It was a fine day.  Joe and Minnie came to spend the day.  I read service in the Hall in the afternoon, Joe and Minnie went with us, Miss Hutchinson was here for tea.
Erdie Goodwin ( Returned Trooper )  rode up from Auckland to stay at Frearsons.

Monday 14th   It was a fine day tho’ rather dull.  Willie and I were digging in the orchard in the morning and the greater part of the afternoon, the latter part of the afternoon we went down to the beach and sifted some black soil, some we took across to the wharf shed and some we brought up with us.  Jane sowed some flower seeds in the garden.
It looked very threatening for rain in the evening.

Tuesday 15th    It was a fine day.  We were digging in the orchard in the morning.  In the afternoon we took the bullock down to the wharf with a box of eggs and hauled up the soil that we sifted yesterday.
There was a Social in the Hall in the evening.  25/- was taken.

Wednesday 16th   It was a fine day.  We were working in the orchard.  Jane rode to Ti Point, returning in the evening.

Thursday 17th   It was fine in the morning.  We were digging in the orchard.  Mr Witten came to get me to witness his signature.  I went down to the Store in the pm.  Annie & Ted Harper came to spend the evening.  It came on to rain and continued for about 5 hours.  Annie & Ted staid all night.

Friday 18th   It was a fine day and the rain we had last night has sunk into the ground.  I raked over the beds in the flower garden .  We were digging in the orchard in the morning and earthing up the Potatoes at the top side of the house in the afternoon.  Went down to the Post Office and the Library in the evening.

Saturday 19th   It was a fine day.  We were planting Peas and Beans in the morning and I was digging in the flower garden in the afternoon.

Sunday 20th   It was a fine day tho’ dull and a cold wind was blowing.
Willie walked to Ti Point to spend the day.  Jane and Miss Hutchinson rode up to Pratts to spend the day.
I walked to Pakiri, attended service in the Hall in the morning, Revd G. Frost officiated.  I went and had dinner with Mr Spensers and had a look round their orchard.  On my way home I called in at Mr W. Greenwoods  where I had tea, and arrived home about dark.

Monday 21st   It was a fine day tho’ rather dull.  We were digging in the orchard.

Tuesday 22nd   It was a fine day.  We were digging in the orchard in the morning .  Took a box of Eggs down to the Steamer.  Dug again after we came home.

Wednesday 23rd   It was a fine day.  We sowed a double row of White Dutch Beans in the morning, and we hoed between the Potatoes that are planted between the young Peach trees in the garden, in the afternoon.  Walter Frearson, Erdie Goodwin, & Harold Torkington came to spend the evening.
Set a Hen in the perewinckle on 13 Eggs.

Thursday 24th   It rained last night and there was a dusty rain falling most of the day.  We were digging in the orchard in the morning.
The picnic in connection with the Bible Class took place in the pm.  Jane went to it.  Willie went fishing to Ti Point.

Friday 25th   It was a fine day.  We were digging in the orchard.  Jane rode to Ti Point in the evening.  I went down to the Post Office and to the Library, there was a meeting of the Flower Show Committee.

Saturday 26th   It was a fine day.  Mrs C. Gravatt went to Auckland by the “Rob Roy” at 8 oclock this morning.  Jane went down to see her off and to send a piece of bacon to Mrs Harding.  Willie and I planted about 200 Onion plants near the closet, the remainder of the day we were digging in the orchard.

Sunday 27th   It was a fine day.  Joe and Minnie,  Ruth and  Ralph Dyer came to spend the day.  We went down to Goat Island beach in the afternoon.

Monday 28th   It was a fine day.  We were digging in this orchard.  Jane and Willie rode to Matakana in the afternoon, they had tea at Mr A. Cruickshanks and attended a Concert for the benefit of Mr James Darroch.

Tuesday 29th   It was a fine day.  We finished digging the piece of ground near the English Damsons.  Went down to the Village in the afternoon to help get the Hall ready for this evening.  The Miss Darrochs and Mr Kempt were here for tea.  The crew of the “Rose Casey” gave a Social in the Hall in the evening in aid of the piano fund, it was a great success and £5 . 8 . 0  was taken for admission at 1/6 each.

Wednesday 30th   It was a fine day but it looks as if there was going to be a change of weather.  We took the bullock down to the wharf in the morning and hauled up a Sack of Maize,  100 lbs Flour and empty Egg Box.  I staid down at the Hall and helped A. Haskell clear up.  We were digging in the afternoon.  Jane went over to see Mrs Kiri Brown.

Thursday 31st   It was raining hard almost all last night, and most of this morning, it will do a great deal of good in softening the ground.