Wednesday 1st It rained nearly all day. I went with Fanny Wright to the wharf early in the morning as she was going away in the “Rose Casey“. Jane rode to Warkworth to be present at the Masonic Ball this evening. Willie and I were not able to do anything out of doors.
Thursday 2nd It was showery first thing in the morning, but it cleared up afterwards, and although it did not rain, it was very dull. We mended up a panel of fencing in the pigs paddock, and also the fence near the closet. Late in the pm we went down in the orchard and dug round one tree, viz the lowest Autumn Compôte Plum.
Friday 3rd It was a fine day. Willie and I were digging in the orchard all day, we dug round six trees, viz 1 Autumn Compote, 2 Golden Drop, 2 Peaches and Burkank. Jane returned in the evening, she gave us a full account of the Masonic Ball. I went to the Library.
Saturday 4th It was a dull day. Willie went fishing to Ti Point, but caught no fish, but he brought home a large bottle of Oysters.
I was digging in the orchard. I dug round the two Late Scarlet apple trees and then went down below and commenced another strip, digging round 1 Hobbs’ Late Peach. It rained in the evening and Willie got wet coming home.
Sunday 5th It rained nearly all day. We did not go out anywhere.
Monday 6th It was a fine day. Willie and I were digging in the orchard all day. We dug round 6 trees 18 ft apart up beyond the Lord Wollesley and Red Warrior tree.
Willie took the Eggs down to the Store in the evening and then to the Steamer.
Tuesday 7th It was a fine day. Jane and Willie went round to Ti Point in the “Rose Casey” at 8.30 am. Jane staid at Minnies but Willie came back in her. I went down to the wharf to see the Steamer off at 10 am.
Mr Syme called here just as we were sitting down for lunch, he staid and had some with us, and I gave him an order for 2 Woolpacks.
Willie and I were digging in the orchard in the afternoon, we grubbed out two apple trees and finished up round the Beurre Capaumout Pear, we then made a start round the young Burbanks at the bottom of the orchard. Ted Harper delivered a Sack of Wheat and 100 lbs Flour.
Wednesday 8th It was a fine day. Willie went up to Mr Handbys in the morning to get a hoe that Mr H had bent for me.
We flat hoed the Potatoes the top side of the house, also some of those the lower side of the house. In the afternoon we were digging at the bottom of the orchard between the Burbank Plum trees.
Thursday 9th It was a dull day, and there were slight showers in the afternoon . Willie and I were digging at the bottom of the orchard between the Burbanks, we only dug round three trees, the ground is very stiff and lumpy which makes it very slow work.
Jane returned from Ti Point in the “Kawau” in the afternoon.
Friday 10th It was a very hot day. Willie has got a bad foot, so could not dig, he was doing odd jobs about the house. I was digging at the bottom of the orchard, between the Jap plums. Miss Hutchinson was here for tea. I went down for the mail and to the Library in the evening. Mr T. J. Bull gave a temperance Lecture in the Hall.
Killed a Sheep in the afternoon.
Saturday 11th It was a beautiful day. I was digging at the bottom of the orchard between the Jap plums in the morning. In the afternoon I stuck the two rows of Peas and dug between the rows afterwards.
Willie was hoeing round the Cabbage and Cauliflower plants.
Mrs Fordham called in the pm and staid for tea, Jane walked down with her to Harpers where she is staying, having come down in the “Rose Casey” last Monday night.
Sunday 12th It was a fine day. Willie rode over to Ti Point to spend the day. I read service in the Hall in the pm. It came over very bleak the latter part of the afternoon, and seemed to be raining over Coromandel way.
Monday 13th It was a fine day. Willie and I were digging at the bottom of the orchard, we finished round the Jap plums. Jane rode to Ti Point in the pm returning in the evening.
Tuesday 14th It was a fine day, but it looks as if there was going to be a change, as the wind is blowing from NE. I took the Eggs down to the Store in the morning and I also went down to the village to meet the “Rose Casey“. After she went I arranged the Hall for the Social this evening. The Social was also a farewell to Mr & Mrs Sim who are leaving the district to take up their residence at Matakana. Mr D. Kempt on behalf of a few friends presented Mrs Sim with a silver Biscuit Barrel and to Mr Sim a set of Carvers in a case. Mr Sim suitably replied. A very pleasant evening was spent, the ladies supplied an excellent supper, the sum of 33/6 was taken for admission.
Wednesday 15th It was a showery day and we were not able to do anything out of doors. I went down to the Hall in the pm to clear up, the wind was blowing very strong from the NE to E and there is a heavy sea running outside, and the “Kawau” did not come.
Thursday 16th The wind still blowing very strong from NE. There was a heavy shower of rain in the pm. We were digging in the orchard, dug round 4 trees up and beyond the top Orleans plum.
Friday 17th It was a very fine day, but the wind was blowing very strong from the NE. We were digging in this orchard all day, we dug round 5 trees, viz the top Green Gage, 2 Vicars and 2 Beurre Diel of quince stocks. There was a heavy shower of rain in the evening. None of us went for the mail.
Saturday 18th The morning was pretty fine, but there were rain squalls in the afternoon.
Jane went to Auckland by the “Rob Roy” which called in here about 10 am, there were three other passengers. Willie rode to Ti Point to fish, but he did not catch anything. I was digging in the flower garden in the afternoon.
Sunday 19th The wind was blowing in squalls all day, and there were several showers. Revd R. McKinney held service in the Hall in the morning, there was a good congregation. Collection 17/4. Joe, Minnie & Mr Torkington came to spend the day with.
I heard when I was at church this morning that Magnus Biorklund had died early this morning.
Monday 20th It was a fine day. Johny Salt came over in the morning to ask me to go to Magnus Biorklund’s funeral. Constable Stacy came over to consult with me as to the necessity of an inquest, but we decided that there was not, so I went with Johny over to Pakiri to the funeral, which was largely attended by the Pakiri people. Mr C. Holder officiated at the grave.
The “Rose Casey” arrived from Auckland late in the evening, Willie went down to meet her, she towed down Archie Dunning’s yacht. Jane sent me a letter, also a Christmas supplement.
Tuesday 21st It was a fine day. Willie and I went to see the Steamer off in the morning, we took the Eggs down to the Store and to the Steward. The Rose had a good cargo, viz 300 Sheep, 50 Sacks Charcoal, Mr Sim‘s furniture, also several maori passengers.
Mr R. Thompson addressed the electors in the Public Hall in the evening. Mr W. Greenwood occupied the Chair. It came on a misty rain as we were coming home and it was very dark.
Wednesday 22nd It was a showery day, we were not able to do any thing out of doors. I went down to the Store and to the Hall in the pm.
Thursday 23rd It was a fine day. We went over to Walter Frearsons sheep pen next to our fence, Walter got his sheep in that were across the creek, there were three of ours in with his, 1 wether & 2 ewes, we put one of the ewes we put over the fence, the others we left in his place. In the afternoon we were digging in the orchard round one Beurre Bose and some Golden Russets.
Friday 24th It was a fine day. We were hoeing round the Potatoes both the top and lower side of the house, and in the latter part of the afternoon we earthed up several rows. I went down to the Post Office and Library in the evening. There was a letter for Jane from Henry, he sent her 143 stamps and there seems many that Jane has not got.
Saturday 25th It was a fine day. Willie and I finished earthing up the Potatoes the top side of the house and then Willie rode to Ti Point to fish, he brought home two big schnappers and a rock cod.
I was working in the flower garden. the remainder of the garden.
In the afternoon there was a meeting of the Road Board and in the evening there was a meeting in the Hall of all persons interested in giving a welcome to the “Claymore” on her first trip to Omaha, a committee was formed to carry out the same.
Sunday 26th It was a fine day. As Mr Trench was to hold service in the Hall this afternoon, Willie and I rode over to spend the day at Ti Point, after dinner we all went up to where the big stones are and from there we saw a vessel out by the Little Barrier and on looking through the telescope we made her out to be the “Claymore” her red, white and black funnel being quite distinctly seen.
Monday 27th It was fine in the morning. Willie went down to the Store to take the Eggs and to take a Telegram to send to Magregor Company congratulating them on the safe arrival of the “Claymore“. Willie and I were working in the flower garden, preparing it for the reception of flower plants that Minnie gave me yesterday. It came on a gentle rain in the afternoon.
Tuesday 28th It was fine in the morning. I was planting flower plants that I got from Minnie. We went down to the Steamer in the pm, the Engineer, Mate & Steward were not on board this week as they are on the “Claymore“. It came on to rain in the evening.
Wednesday 29th It was a fine day. We got Juno and Roney in as both of them have calved and both of them have Bull Calves.
We were digging round the Ohinimuri Apple trees in the orchard .
I wrote a letter to my sister Fanny in the afternoon and took it down to the Post Office to post it.
Thursday 30th It was a beautiful day as warm as summer. We were digging in the orchard we finished the piece up to the gate coming in to the vegetable garden. Mr Francis Mander, a candidate for the Marsden Electorate, addressed the electors in the Public Hall in the evening, he had a very good reception.
Friday 31st It was a fine day. Willie and I were hoeing the Potatoes the lower side of the house and we moulded up the few rows of Up to date. In the afternoon Willie was cleaning the strawberry bed.
I was hoeing the Potatoes the far side of the orchard. In the evening we went down to the orchard, I brought home the Ham to cook for the Ball on Monday night. Received a letter from Jane, she says she is coming home on Monday in the “Claymore” so as to be present at the Ball.