Monday 1st It was a fine day. Willie took the Eggs down to the Store in the morning and ordered 100 lbs Flour & 1 bag of Sugar to be sent up, Ted Harper delivered them in the evening.
We rooted out two apple trees in the orchard and planted Evans Early plums in their place.
Tuesday 2nd It was a fine day. Willie was cutting tea tree in the morning, my back was so bad that I could not do much. I packed up some apple grafts and roots and sent them by post to the boys.
Went down to the Steamer in the pm, received a parcel of Drapery from the D. S. C.
Wednesday 3rd It was a very fine day. Willie went down to see the “Rose” off early in the morning, she took 80 Sheep from Henry Brown and 5 passengers.
Jane rode over to Ti Point to spend the day, and she staid all night. Willie and I hoed round the Peas and dug between the Cabbage and Cauliflower plants. In the afternoon we commenced digging in the orchard, we dug round the two top Jargonell Pears and the Canadien Reinette.
Thursday 4th It was a very fine day. Willie hauled a load of firewood with the bullock in the morning. Jane returned from Ti Point just before dinner. We were planting Potatoes (Reading Giant) the far side of the orchard, between the young Beurre Clairgou trees. Miss Hutchinson was here for tea.
Friday 5th The weather was threatening in the morning, but it turned out a fine day. Willie rode to Warkworth with Johny Salt to pay a visit to the Aveys. I went down to the P. O. in the morning, and also for the mail in the evening.
In the middle of the day I finished planting Potatoes the far side of the orchard. I regrafted the Beurre Claigau that had not taken.
Saturday 6th I was digging in the orchard, I dug round the large Beurre Clairgau, Wager Peach and the Bon Cretien Pear.
Jane went down to the wharf to meet the Steamers, “Kawau” & “Rob Roy” to post a letter. We heard to day of the death of Mrs John Kempt at Waipu, she and her husband used formerly to live at Omaha. It came on a misty rain in the pm and I got wet while digging, & had to change my clothes, it cleared up later in the afternoon, but came on again in the evening.
Sunday 7th It was fine in the morning. The Salvation Army held a service in the Hall in the morning. It came on to rain about noon and was showery all afternoon. I held no service.
Monday 8th It was pretty fine in the morning, I was cutting tea tree in the front. I took the Eggs down to the store in the afternoon. There were several heavy showers in the afternoon & evening.
Thursday 9th It was a beautiful day. Jane & I went down to meet the “Rose Casey“, I took the bullock down as I expected some manure, but it did not come. Fred Simpson & Noel Wallace came up by the Rose to stay with us so I hauled their luggage on the sleigh.
Walter Frearson & Eva came to spend the evening. Killed a Sheep in the evening.
Wednesday 10th It was fine in the morning and our guests walked to Ti Point to spend the day and they returned late at night. It rained in the afternoon. Ernest Wyatt came to spend the evening, and as it was raining so heavy he staid all night.
Thursday 11th It was a showery day and strong wind blowing from NE. Fred & Noel walked over to Ti Point and returned in the pm.
Friday 12th The wind has gone down, but it was showery. Willie returned from Warkworth in the evening. There was a Social in the Hall in the evening, Jane, Fred & Noel went, I went for the mail.
Saturday 13th It was a showery day. The boys did not go anywhere. I went down to the Store in the pm.
Sunday 14th It was a fine day. Fred, Noel & Willie went to Ti Point to spend the day. I read service in the Hall in the pm. Miss Hutchinson was here for tea.
Monday 15th There was steady rain first thing in the morning, afterwards it cleared up and was very fine. Fred, Noel and Jane rode to Matakana in the afternoon, the two former to stay at Joe Smiths and Jane to stay at Cruickshanks. Willie & I were mending up the fence near the Koeroa creek to keep some of our sheep out that are getting in to Matheson’s paddock.
In the evening it rained very heavy and tremendous thunder.
Tuesday 16th It was a showery day. Jane & Fred Simpson returned from Matakana in the morning, Noel remained behind to go and see his grandfather at Lower Matakana. We went down to the Steamer in the afternoon, but she went round to Ti Point to stay there all night.
Wednesday 17th It was very showery in the morning, but cleared up a little in the afternoon. Fred Simpson & Willie walked over to Ti Point in the morning intending to fish and then to go to the Domain Hall with Joe & Minnie. Noel returned from Matakana about dinner time, and he, Jane & I rode over to the opening of the Domain Hall. An excellent tea was provided at 5 oclock, afterwards a Concert of local talent, I was Chairman, concluding with a dance and supper. The sum of £15 . 15 . 0 was taken at the door in 2/- tickets which represented from 170 to 180 persons.
There were several showers during the evening. I met for the first time the Revd F. Latter, the newly appointed Diocesan Missionery, who seems a very nice man. Noel, Jane & I reached home at 4 am Thursday.
Thursday 18th It was a bit finer than yesterday. Revd F. Latter came here in the afternoon, and staid all night. We had a good game of Whist in the evening.
Friday 19th It looked very fine in the morning. Revd F. Latter went visiting round, returning in the evening, staying all night. Noel Wallace and I rode to Pakiri and back, we went by the old road calling at John Greenwoods where we had lunch, and then we returned by the valley road , we were caught in several showers and the wind was so strong as to nearly blow us off our horses. Honor Wyatt and Ted Birkett came and spent the evening. It rained very heavy in the evening and we did not get our mail.
Saturday 20th It was a squally day. Revd Latter left here to go to Pakiri visiting, he was then going over Pratts hill to Mr Birdsalls to hold service at Big Omaha tomorrow morning.
Noel Wallace returned to Auckland by the “Rob Roy”, which called in at 11 am, we were very sorry to lose him as we hold him in great esteem.
I set 3 Hens in the afternoon on 11 Eggs each, 26 of the Eggs are of the Black Manoica breed that I got from John Greenwood. It rained very heavy in the pm and was blowing a gale.
Sunday 21st It was a showery day. Fred & Willie walked over to Ti Point to spend the day. Miss Hutchinson & Revd Latter were here for tea, afterwards we all went down to the Hall. Mr Latter conducted service here for the first time, on account of the showery weather there were only 25 present, 6 stayed for Communion , Offeratory 11/- We liked Mr Latter very much. He left after service for Mr Birdsalls.
Monday 22nd It was pretty fine in the morning, but was showery in the afternoon. Fred & Jane rode to Ti Point returning in the evening. It was pretty fine in the morning, but very showery in the afternoon. I took the Eggs down to the store in the pm.
Tuesday 23rd There were several showers in the early morning, but the remainder of the day was pretty fair. We all went down to the wharf to see Fred Simpson off in the “Rose Casey“, she went at 11 am. Took the bullock down to haul Fred’s luggage and we brought up a Sack of B & B manure. Jane rode over to Ti Point in the pm and staid all night. Willie and I cleaned out the Store in the afternoon.
Wednesday 24th It was a fine day. We finished cutting the tea tree out in the front, the school side. Jane returned from Ti Point in the evening. (?)
Thursday 25th It was a showery day. We were pulling up tea tree in the front near Jack‘s garden.
Friday 26th It was a very fine day. We were digging in the orchard, we dug round the bottom Apricot, the Louise Bonne, the Marachal de Cour and the July Green Gage.
There was a Euchre Party in the Hall in the evening, Jane and Willie having bad colds I was the only one who went. It thundered, lightened & rained in the evening.
Saturday 27th It rained steadily in the morning, but cleared up in the afternoon. There was a meeting of the Road Board in the afternoon. Also a meeting of the Hall Committee & Show Committee in the evening.
Sunday 28th It was a beautiful day. Willie and I went to Ti Point to spend the day with Joe and Minnie, we all went over to the sand spit in the pm and enjoyed myself very much. When we got back home we found Miss Hutchinson having tea at our place.
Monday 29th It was a beautiful day. Willie and I were digging in the orchard all day, we dug round the Duchess D’Angoulême Pear, 2 Beurre Diel Pears, 2 Apricots, 2 Five Crown Pippius, 1 Stewait Seedling & 1 Early Newington Peach.
Tuesday 30th It was a beautiful day. We were digging in the orchard in the morning, went down to the Steamer in the afternoon, took the bullock and hauled up the 3rd and last bag of B & B.
Received a very kind letter from Noel Wallace, he also sent me as a present “The Eternal City” by Hall Caine, and he sent Jane some stamps. We were digging when we returned from the Steamer, we dug round 4 trees, 2 Apricots, 1 Wager Peach, 1 Romanite. Fanny Wright came and staid the night.