September 1926

Wednesday 1st   It was a very fine day.  The “Kawau” made a round trip,  Roddie McKinnon is still Captain, as Captain Olsen is still laid up.  I took up 500 Onion plants for C. Whittaker and sent them by the butcher, also 134 plants for Mrs G. Ashton.  Jim was planting out Onion plants.  I stuck the row of Peas below the broad beans.
Mrs Handby came in the afternoon & staid the night.
Mr & Mrs Wallace left their home at Devonport to day and came to take up their residence at Big Omaha on a small property of 9 acres lately belonging to Mrs Edgar Meiklejohn.   Alma who was at Devonport helping to pack came down with Mrs Wallace by train,  Mr Wallace came to Matakana by the “Glyn Bird” with their furniture, we shall be very pleased to have them as neighbours.

Thursday 2nd   It was a very fine day.  I dug the strip of ground next the peas, also loosened the soil round the eschallots.  Mrs Evans and 4 children came to spend the afternoon.

Friday 3rd   It was a very fine day.  I sowed a row of Stratagem Peas next the eschallots.   Jim has now planted out about 80 onion plants.

Saturday 4th   It rained last night, but it was very fine today.  My back was bad so was not able to do any work to day.  Jim and Hector took up some onion plants for me.  Mr Redwood called in the afternoon for some onion plants.
Mr & Mrs Stewart who have been to Whangarei for the mid winter holiday returned to day, and came here in the afternoon & staid the night.

Sunday 5th   It was a fine day.  Mr Milligan held service in the hall in the morning, there was a large congregation ,  all from this house except me went,  Mr & Mrs Stewart,  Ted & Mavis Dunning were here for dinner, Mr & Mrs S returned home after dinner.  My back was still bad, I did not go anywhere.

Monday 6th   It was a fine day, as we had rain last night, the ground was very wet.   I took up 400 onion plants before breakfast for Mr A. Wilson, and Hector took them to school, also some for Harold Torkington.  Laddie Whitaker came for 400 plants and Mrs Evans sent Betty for some for herself and some for Mrs G. Ashton.
Mr back is still bad and I was not able to do anything in the garden.
Jean was unwell so did not go to school.  Hector & Mildred went 1st time after the holidays

Tuesday 7th   A fine day, but the ground is still too wet to do any gardening, besides I was not feeling too well.

Wednesday 8th   It was a fine day,  In the morning Jim took up 600 onion plants and I bundled them up and Jim took them round to the store in the pm.  Jane went to Mrs Evans’ in the afternoon.
Laurence Whitaker in the car passed here in the afternoon, he had with him Alma & Mr & Mrs Wallace.  The latter was getting 2 jersey cows down by the steamer so they went to Leigh to meet them, Laurence returned in the car.  Mr Wallace drove the cows from Leigh to Big Omaha.  I sowed another row of Stratagem Peas.

Thursday 9th   It was a fine day, ‘tho threatening and windy, but no rain fell.
I sowed a row of Red Beet and dug up the ground each side.  The children went to school, but were let out early as Mr Stewart was not very well.

Friday 10th   It was a fine day, ‘tho blowey, I think it must be the equinoctials we are getting.  In the morning I went down to Pats to change my library books.  Was working in the flower garden.
Received a long letter from Grace in the evening.

Saturday 11th   It was a very fine day.  I pared the weeds off and commenced to dig the piece of ground the upper side of the broad beans.  Jim went to Matakana in the afternoon to witness a football match, Warkworth  V  Omaha, it was a drawn game.

Sunday 12th   It was very fine in the morning, but towards evening it commenced to rain and blow,  In the morning I started to walk round to Jack Waldens to see his flower garden.  I was overtaken by Trevor Gravatt,  Jessie, Mr & Mrs Dunbar were in the car with him, so I got a lift to Jacks.  I was very pleased with his garden.  Laurence Whitaker, Alma. Mr & Mrs Wallace and Mr Joe Smith were coming in their car to spend the day here, so I got a lift back home.
We spent a very pleasant day in their company, they had to go home early as they have cows to milk.
Minnie called in the evening, but would not stay all night although Jane pressed her to.

Monday 13th   It was a fine day, but a cold wind was blowing.  Wrote to Mr Elliott reminding him that half a years interest was owing.
Jim & I were digging the upper side of the broad beans.

Tuesday 14th   It was a very fine day.  Jim was helping me take up onion plants.  Mr Perks was displaying his drapery goods in the hall and several ladies came to purchase.  I took a bundle of 400 onion plants to the hall and gave to Laurence Whitaker to give to Charlie. A little Ashton girl came for 400 onion plants.  I continued digging above the broad beans.

Wednesday 15th   It was a fine day.  The steamer made a round trip to day.  Captn Olsen is still indisposed, so Roddie McKinnon is still skipper.  I sent 500 onion plants to Mr A. Dunning and 400 to Jim Wyatt by Trevor Gravatt, also gave Dolly 200,  and 200 to Will Dunning.

Thursday 16th   It was fine in the morning, slight showers in the early afternoon, and heavy ones later in the day.  I planted out 13 Cabbages that Minnie sent me and dug between the rows.

Friday 17th   It was a showery day and squally.  Was not able to do much in the garden.  Mr & Mrs Stewart came here after school as there is community singing in the hall this evening.  I stayed at home, all the others went, Mr & Mrs Stewart staid the night here.

Saturday 18th   Several showers and heavy wind.  Mr & Mrs Stewart returned home in the afternoon.

Sunday 19th   Slight showers otherwise fine.  Jim Wyatt, Elva and their baby who can now walk, came to spend the day.  Revd Addenbrooke was planned to hold service in the hall this evening, sent word through indisposition he was not coming.

Monday 20th   There were slight showers in the morning, but fine in the afternoon.  A cold wind was blowing all day.  I dug up a strip of ground near the sweet peas.

Tuesday 21st   It was a fine day.  Went down to Dolly’s to borrow a paper.  I planted about 25 Pansey plants.  Dug the border in front of the Tomato stakes.  I resowed seeds of Tomato (Birwood Prize and Fillbasket)

Wednesday 22nd   It was a very fine day, the finest day we had for several weeks.  Jane went to spend the day with Alma and Mr & Mrs Wallace.
While Jim and I were having our lunch, Agnes (Mrs Sandy Matheson) came in, so after she had a bit of lunch she waited down at Dolly’s until Jane came home.  I sent Alma a lot of Pansy plants by Jane.
I took up 200 onion plants for Frank Whelan and sent them by the butcher.  I spent the day in the garden.
I received a letter in the evening from Henry containing a Cheque for £48 . 16 . 3 being three quarters interest to 1st of this month. Agnes staid the night with us.

Thursday 23rd   It was a very fine day.  Agnes went with Jane to the shop and then she went home.  I sent my Bank Book to Leigh Post Office by her.  Mr Kirk who is building a septic tank for Jim Gozar at Leigh called in the afternoon.  I was digging in the afternoon.

Friday 24th   It was a very fine day.  I write a letter to Henry and it was posted to day.  I took up 300 onion plants for W. Harper and sent them over by Pat.  I was digging over the  [garden]  making it suitable for planting.  I resowed in a box seeds of Hendersons Succession Cabbage.

Saturday 25th   It was a very fine day.  Jim intends to get this house altered, lowering the roof and extending the front part, and intends to get Mr Schollum to do the work, so Mr S. came this morning to advise and estimate what materials would be required.
I was working in the garden, digging the ground over making it ready for planting.  Jim attended the Annual Cricket meeting at Leigh in the evening.

Sunday 26th   There were slight showers in the evening, but nothing to speak of, but it was a dull day.  Revd Rouprecht held service in the morning, there was only a small attendance.  Hector & Jean went to Leigh sunday school.   Eddie, Ivy and two youngest boys came in their lorry in the morning to Pats, they came here in the afternoon and staid tea, they had a look at the garden, I gave them about 300 onion plants.  In the evening Laurence, Alma, Mr & Mrs  and Ken Wallace came in their car, Ken is up on a short visit.

Monday 27th   It was a very fine day.  I sowed a long row of Canadian Wonder Beans.

Tuesday 28th   It was a very fine day.  I planted out 3 Aquilegia plants

Wednesday 29th   It was a very fine day, but blowey, threatening in the afternoon, and commenced to rain in the evening , I beat down the ground and dug between the Tomato sticks.
In the evening I received a letter from Elliott containing a cheque for £19 , being interest for two quarters up to the 6th of this month.
R. Jaffray is now the lessee and occupier of the farm I have a mortgage of £600 on.  I sent Minnie 200 more onion plants by the children going to school.

Thursday 30th   We had a lot of rain last night, but it was fine this morning, but the ground was too wet to work it.  I went up and caught a lot of slugs under the traps .  As I could not do anything in the garden I went down on to the road and cut 3 bundles of pea sticks.  It came on to rain about noon and was showery afterwards.
I wrote a letter to Grace which will be posed tomorrow.

The rainfall for September as recorded at the P.O Warkworth was only 3.3 inches.  Rain fell on 15 days, the heaviest fall being on the 16th when 57 points were recorded.  Last year we had 5.59 inches in September.