Saturday 1st It was a showery day. In the morning Willie & I planted 45 large Cabbage plants that Joe Greenwood sent me. Willie went down to the wharf in the afternoon to catch bait.
I was doing odd jobs. The opening of the Kia Ora tennis club at Pakiri was to take place this afternoon several went from here.
Jane did not go on account of the weather.
Sunday 2nd It was a fine day. I went over to Joe Wyatts in the afternoon to have a yarn. Willie went to Ti Point to spend the day.
Monday 3rd It was a fine day with the exception of a few slight showers, the wind was blowing strong from SW which dried up the ground more than the showers wet it.
Willie went fishing to Ti Point early in the morning and did not come home at night.
Ida Darroch came to make Jane a blouse.
I was digging in the orchard, I dug round three trees, viz, 1 Dr Hogg Peach and 2 Tibbetts Plums.
Tuesday 4th It was a fine day. I was digging in the orchard. I dug round 1 Monarck Plum.
When I went up to the stockyard this morning I found that the calf was dead. Went down to the Village in the afternoon to get a pair of boots & to get some sand for the fowls.
Wednesday 5th It was a fine day. I was doing odd jobs in the morning, packed a box of Eggs and took them down to the wharf in the afternoon. The “Gael” came and went the same tide.
Willie returned home after I had gone to bed having been fishing to Anchor Beach he came round here with the fish he had caught.
Thursday 6th It was a fine day, tho’ dull, the eind has gone round to the NW and was blowing strong it looked very much like rain in the evening. Willie went down to the beach before breakfast to sell his fish to the Co., he brought several home. We planted 2 rows Potatoes. I sowed seeds of Enfield Market Cabbage , Early York Cabbage & Tomato.
Miss Zanders came in the afternoon to borrow a horse to go to Warkworth. Miss Gallie came in the afternoon and staid the evening.
Friday 7th It was a very showery day. We were not able to do much outside. Willie took the bullock down to the wharf in the afternoon and hauled up a Sack of Maize that came by the “Gael” on Wednesday. I went down to the Post Office and attended to the Library in the evening.
Saturday 8th It was a fine day, the wind has gone round to the S and is drying up the roads. I got up early and went down to the wharf to take a buch of flowers for the assistant steward, also to give to Dan Kempt an order for new books for the Library from Wildman & Lyall. Willie & I were cutting tea tree in the front in the morning, and I was cutting there in the afternoon.
Peter Soljan was here in the pm about his naturalisation papers.
Sunday 9th It was a fine day. Willie went over to Ti Point to spend the day, he went in his boat. Jane & I remained at home all day.
Monday 10th It was a beautiful day, we got up early in the morning, Willie went fishing over to Ti Point. I planted 2 rows of Potatoes, that finishes the Potatoes.
I dug round 3 Peach trees in the garden, and put manure in a trench and dug over it, next to the potatoes which I intend to plant with broad beans. We had tea early and afterwards I dug round an Early Orleans tree in the orchard.
Commenced using the Sack of Maize.
Tuesday 11th It was fine in the morning and early part of the pm, but came on to rain the latter part of the afternoon and evening.
I was digging in the orchard in the morning and the first part of the pm and then went down to the Store to get some Wheat for the chickens, people were waiting about for the “Kawau” steamer, but she did not come.
Wednesday 12th Labour Day. It rained nearly all day. Was not able to do anything outside except getting some firewood.
Thursday 13th The “Gael” did not come yesterday on account of the holiday, but she left at midnight and arrived about 6.30 this morning, I was down to meet her and took the box of Eggs with me. I came home for breakfast , and after doing the usual odd jobs I took the bullock down to the wharf and hauled up 100 lbs Flour, 56 lbs Bag Sugar, Box of Groceries & empty Egg Box. In the afternoon I was cutting tea tree in the front. Jane went down to the Hall in the pm to help the girls scrub out the place.
Willie returned from Ti Point in the pm. It was a fine day and the wind which was blowing pretty strong from the SW is drying up the ground.
Friday 14th It was a fine day. Willie took the bullock down to the wharf in the morning and hauled up a Sack of Sharps that came by the Steamer yesterday.
In the afternoon we planted 2 rows of Onions that Willie brought from Minnie. In the evening I went down for the mail, also to the Library, some new books came for the Library this morning, Dan Kempt bringing them up in the “Gael” this morning, I catalogued them and some were given out.
Saturday 15th It was a very fine day. There was a working bee at the Tennis Court this morning, to tar and sand it again. Willie and I were digging in the orchard , we commenced digging round the bottom Hobbs’ Late Peach and dug round the Goldmine Nectarine, Evans Early Plum and up to the bottom Orleans Plum.
Sunday 16th It was a beautiful day. Willie went to Ti Point in the pm. Mabel Wyatt came to bring the Ham for us to cook, also to spend the pm with Jane. I went up to Mr Handby’s in the pm and staid for tea.
Monday 17th It was a fine day. Willie & I were digging in the orchard in the morning and I was in the afternoon and I was in the afternoon, finished digging round the bottom Orleans, round the bottom Greengage and nearly up to the top Orleans. In the afternoon Willie went fishing to Ti Point.
Walter Frearson came to register the birth of his child.
Willie Dunning came in the evening and he and I had games of draughts, euchre & cribbage.
Tuesday 18th It was a fine day. In the morning I packed a box of Eggs and did other odd jobs. In the afternoon I carried some lycopodium down to the Hall for decorating for the Ball tomorrow night. I came up again and did some digging in the orchard, and then went down to the wharf to take a bouquet of flowers for Sam Hill, both the “Kawau” and “Gael” called in on their way to Auckland from Mangawai, and both took fish from here caught by the local fishermen.
The ladies were decorating the Hall and they made it look very nice. Willie returned from Ti Point in the evening, bringing 4 kawhai’s.
Wednesday 19th There were a few slight showers, but they mostly indicated heat. Willie was smoking the fish. Jane & I went down to the Hall in the morning to help cut up sandwiches returning home in time for lunch. In the afternoon Willie & I were digging in the orchard for awhile and then we went down to the village and took the box of Eggs to the wharf. The “Gael” came in first bringing a lot of passengers for the ball. We had to wait until the “Kawau” returned from Big Omaha as our friends were coming by her. Fred, Noel, Tillie Coplestone , Miss Woods & Miss Wallet from Auckland, and Harold & Flo from Ti Point. They all came up to our place for tea, Miss Emily Cruickshank was also here, having ridden over in the afternoon . We all went down to the Ball and it was a grand success, there were over 200 persons present, all our friends with the exception of Miss Coplestone, returned to Auckland by the “Gael“, she & Harold, Flo & Miss Cruickshank returned to our place to sleep. It turned out a beautiful moon light night.
Thursday 20th It was a fine day. We did not get up very early. In the afternoon Willie and I were digging in the orchard, we dug round the top Greengage, the small vicar & Beureé Diel up to the fence.
Jane & Emily Cruickshank went down to the Hall in the afternoon to help clear up. Harold, Flo & Tillie went to Ti Point after breakfast.
Friday 21st It was a fine day. Willie & I dug round the big Vicar a Beureé Diel and 2 Kentucky red stones. Jane & Emily rode to Ti Point in the afternoon, returning in the evening. I went to the Post Office & Library in the evening.
Saturday 22nd It was a fine day. Peter Soljan came about his Naturalization Papers in the morning and as he was going to Matakana, Emily C. rode home with him. Willie was laid up with a sore foot and a boil on his leg, so he could not dig. I dug round a few Golden Russetts. Jane went down to the Tennis in the afternoon.
Sunday 23rd It was a fine day. Harold, Flo & Tillie Coplestone came to spend the day, Harold returned home in the evening, the others staid and went down to the Goat Island beach after tea. Mrs J. C. Wyatt & children called in the afternoon.
Monday 24th It was misty in the morning. Willie went fishing to Ti Point. Tillie Coplestone returned to Auckland in the “Kawau“, Jane & Flo went down to the wharf to see her off, Flo afterwards walked home. I dug round 2 Golden Russetts and hoed between some Potatoes. There were several showers during the day, and it rained steadily in the evening.
Tuesday 25th It rained heavy last night, and there were a few showers this morning, but the afternoon was fine, wind blowing strong from NE. I was digging in the orchard, commenced digging near the fence round the Ohinemuri Apple trees, the ground is much softer to dig.
Wednesday 26th It was a fine day. I flat hoed a few Potatoes and then continued digging where I left off yesterday, dug round an Ohinemuri & a Lord Wolsely, had an early tea and took the Eggs down to the wharf. I was caught in a heavy shower.
Thursday 27th It rained very heavily early this morning. Mr Jenkins came to take the Agricultural Statistics in the morning. I was planting out in the front Pasplum plants. Willie returned from Ti Point just before dinner. In the afternoon Willie and I were planting out in the front Pasplum plants, before we had finished it came on a steady rain.
Friday 28th It rained nearly all last night, but it was fine today. I set Two Hens with Duck Eggs, 11 Eggs each that I got from Minnie. We finished planting Pasplum plants in the front in the morning. Willie went down to the wharf to carry up an empty Egg box.
In the afternoon Willie and I were flat hoeing Potatoes. I went down to the Post Office and Library in the evening.
Saturday 29th The wind has changed round to the SW. There were several showers during the day. We planted out some Onions and also a few Enfield Market Cabbage. We were digging a little in the orchard.
I went down to meet the “Gael” to take the fireman a bunch of flowers. 3 passengers went from here. Jane rode to Pakiri in the pm to the Tennis Opening, a good many went from here.
Sunday 30th It was a fine day.Jane & I staid at home. Willie went over to Ti Point so as to be ready to start fishing early tomorrow morning.
Monday 31st There were a few slight showers during the day, but nothing to speak of. I sowed a hill of Cucumbers, also planted some Kumeras for shoots. Commenced to dig a strip round some Peach trees near the orchard gate. Jane went to Miss Gallies in the pm .