Diary 06 September 1897 – June 1899

091 BRA

15166
LOCAL COLLECTION

6740
29-5-74

H.B ART GALLERY & MUSEUM

February 1899   No. of Sheep Dipped
£ s d
10th   J Gower   355   1.2.0
11th   My own   729   S McGreevey   427
14th   C.A. Friis   150   10.6   J. Thompson   65
15th   Hulance   412   1.6.0
17th   John Brab.  141   1.6 0
20th   Nuuling   101   6.0
20th   Plank   91
21   Bai   111   7.6
27    Bengtsen   253   17.6
4th   Watson   280   18.0
4th   Beckett   246   16.0
20   Magnusen   55   3.6
20   H. Smith   208   14.0
21st   J.H.B.
21st   Goddard

SUN 19 SEPT 1897
John had some trouble this morning in putting Lillie in the Bail.  Dog Spot rushed her into wire fence.  After milking took her to Woods bull.  Went for her in afternoon.  Paid 2/6.  Found two more single lambs dead in Widerups.  Put skins on others.  This has been a fine warm calm day.
MON 20   Found another dead lamb.  Put skin on twin.  Ada here washing.  El Top & baby drove to J.H.B.  Got all the iron on shed except a few sheets. Fine
TU 21   Up early. Went to Toms to muster & pick out fat sheep for Friis & dag hoggets.  Called and saw Mrs Lochhead.  El & baby in buggy.  Called at B. Gundersens.  Went through sheep, found ewe cast with young lamb dead. Got ewe in and put twin to her.  Miss Webb got horse & dray.  Very fine day, like summer.

WED 22  SEPT 1897
Drove to W.M. Becketts. Sent letter to Wms & Kettle for 2 drums oil & hematite.  Worked at roof of shed afternoon   El & Top & baby to J.H.B. Skinned ewe. J. Lochhead called.
TH 23   Went with John through ewes & found a big dead lamb, another one was found by John in evening.  Windy today, worked at ends of shed. Dr. Macallen vascinated [vacinated] baby today.  Tom Clernett brought back 2 wedges.
FR 24   All drove to the Hill Norsewood to see procession of old settlers, children, Band etc. to Nordby’s paddock.  At the Banquet in school house at night.  El Ada & Mary.  Home at 12.15 AM.
SAT 25   Found dead lamb yesterday & another one today, big lambs.  Docked 11 lambs & 6 wether lambs. Came on wet.  Tom went home.  Ada Flor & Mary went this morning.

SUN 26 SEPT 1897
Round ewes, no dead lambs today.  Went to B. Gundersens & J Pettersens respecting Mr. Hunters offer to give £50 a year to some object decided on by old settlers in commemoration of the Jubilee.  A steady rain has set in tonight.
MON 27   Got in ewes & lambs off flat & started to dock.  Found a twin lamb unable to stand.  Killed & opened it.  Found wool & dry cocksfoot tussock & rubbish in its stomach, all indigestible.  Came on wet & had to put ewes & lambs in shed and crutch all ewes & dock in the rain.  One ewe lamb bled to death.  91 ewes gone out on flat & 66 lambs & 51 ewe lambs.  5 ewes for reserve to lamb.  In shed paddock & front 15 ewes & 16 lambs.  Total 111 ewes & 133 lambs = 61 ewe 72 wethers.  Wet night.

cont.
MON 27 SEPT 1897
J Lochhead called when going towards Orm.  He says he will not stay on.  John Pettersen & Hansen Salvationists called for selfdenial help, gave 2/6.  J Pettersen paid me 12/6 which he owed.
TU 28   Drove over to Becketts El & babe in forenoon.  At shed in the afternoon.
WED 29   Up early.  Drove to Makatoku.  Saw the two rabbit inspectors.  Walked over some ground with them and Lochhead.  Traces to be seen on Forwards Sec.  Finished roof of shed.  Put 5 springing ewes in reserve.  Children in Hall tonight.
TH 30   Put in a row of early rose potatoes in garden.  At batten yard outside shed back door.  Miss Webb brought back horse & dray.  El Er & Top at Lochheads.  Skins fetched 5 ¼ per lb.  £2.0.11 to my credit with Wms & K.  Warm day.

FR 1st OCTOBER 1897
Put in a second row of early Rose Potatoes in garden.  Showers & wind.  Worked at Shed.  John at Toms tonight.  High wind.
SAT 2nd   Shifted remains of lean to & battens with horse & dray up to new shed.  Counted totara posts – 192 – with Clemitti boys.  Attended rabbit meeting Lutheran Hall. T. Clemett & E. Erikson settled up for totara sleepers.  Paid me £11.4.6   Fine weather.
SUN 3rd   All at home.  Rain and wind.
MON 4   Carted rails for sheep yards in forenoon.  Afternoon got in sheep off ridges and docked 18 w 28 E lambs = 46 and 37 ewes with 111 = 148 & lambs 133 = 179.  Sent letter & £3.0.0 to George. Showers today.  Clipped away the wool from about the udder of every ewe after docking lambs.  No lambs dying now.

TU 5 OCTOBER 1897
Mustered remaining ewes on Widerups and docked 50 ewe lambs & 1 ewe lamb dropped in the yard & 49 wether lambs and a pair of twins on flat  = 281 lambs.  Put all ewes & lambs on Widerups and mustered back.  All dry sheep on flat.  Thunder & heavy rain.  John caught eels.
WED 6   Put all ewes & lambs on back.  Worked inside shed.  Rain all afternoon.
TH 7   Putting in houseblocks in shed.  Mr & Mrs Pattulla & children called.  Gave him ¼ lb of Coopers Dip to use on childrens hair.  Very heavy rain in the afternoon.  Rain tonight.
FR 8   Rain last night.  Let dry sheep go from flat on to ridges & Widerups.  Very heavy rain all the afternoon.  Worked inside shed.  Finished putting in houseblocks.  Nosed pigs.

SAT 9 OCTOBER 1897
Putting on battens in shed.  Dry day.  El Ev & Top drove to Ormondville.  Attended Rabbit meeting at night.  Recd. back the £1 advanced to Rabbitter.
SUN 10   All at home.  Dry windy day.
MON 11  A thorough wet day.  Nearly finished putting down battens in shed.  A ewe with a young lamb this morning in shed paddock.  Gave the cow “Lilly” a clean straw bed tonight and plenty of hay.
TU 12   Rain & wind all day.  Working inside shed.  Sent letter & Testimonial (Gayfer)  to Davis Wansted.  Rain.
WED 13   Made one door and laid boards for floor.  Rainy, squalls, cold & wintry.
TH 14   High winds continue.  Flooring shed.  Got in reserve sheep and killed one.  Docked 3 lambs & put all into Reserve.

FR 15 OCT 1897
High winds every day.  Finished flooring shed.  Partitioned night pens mad & hung one small door.  Wind.
SAT 16   Dreadful high wind and rain.  Making & hanging gates in shed.
SUN 17  All at home.  Went through Sheep.  Found dry fat ewe cast dead on flat.  Skinned her.  Went over back.  Found hoggt. Cast on Widerups.  Put her right.  John B & Willie for dinner.
MON 18   Fine day.  Drove to Toms El & Eva Auntie there.  Docked & dagged 183 lambs 208 ewes.  Bought pair chord [cord] trousers at Woodhouse.  8/6.  The Geese strayed away last week.
TU 19   Mustered hoggs. on flat before breakfast dagged and put back 143.  Dagged rams put in seed potatoes.  El got plants from Harding & Adams.  She Eva & Top drove to Adas in the afternoon.

WED 20 OCTOBER 1897
Mustered and dagged 124 dry sheep before dinner.  El Ev & Tom drove to J.H.B.  Commenced to paint shed.  W.H. Beckett & Rabbiter Campbell called.
TH 21   Tried to get in last mob of Hoggets off ridges.  They broke away, got into back section amongst ewes & lambs.  Docked 2 lambs making 283.  El walked to Norsewood taking baby.  Paid the Doctor McAllen £6.10.0   Came back in W. Woodhouses express.  Painted part of far end of shed.  Put in a row of E.R. potatoes.  In the evening mustered all sheep on back sec.  Ewes, lambs & hogg.  Pulled out some hoggs.  Could not finish.  Ewes & lambs are in shed paddock tonight.  This has been a warm day.  Young lamb not docked left out on back Sec.

FR 22 OCTOBER 1897
Up early.  Put all sheep in yards.  Dagged & counted out ewes 261.  Lambs counted out 281.  Hoggt dagged 101 & put in ridges total dry sheep in front paddocks 368.  Some ewes & lambs in Reserve and dry sheep.  Put ewes & lambs on back section.  Heavy rain about 3 PM.  Growing day.
SAT 23   Put in a row of potatoes before breakfast.  Put up 4 or 5 panels of four rail fence at new shed.
SUN 24   All at home.  Sven Anderson called.  Mr Duncan of the Dairy Factory called.  Tom paid his account today £2.6.8
MON 25   Put in a row of Early Rose before breakfast.  Put up some panels of four rail fence at new yard.  Sledged home load of rails from back.  Got in drayload of chips, maire etc.  Very fine day.  Feed all night in paddocks.

TUE 26 OCTOBER 1897
Went with Rabbiter Campbell along Danish line to J.H.B. & on to Mrs Fothergils & pointed out various farms & owners.  Got back home at dinnertime.  Put up a few panels of fence at shed.  Very fine day.  Put in a row of potatoes.  Bertie Thomasen staying here tonight.
WED 27   Put in last of early rose potatoe and most of drill of Magnum Bonium.  Put up a few panels at yard and painted front of shed in the afternoon.  Fine.
TH 28   Finished painting 3 sides of Shed.  White frost this morning.  Shower of hail.
FR 29   Put in row of M Bonium’s.  Round hoggt. at sheep yd.  Killed sheep.  34 in Reserve.
SAT 30   Windy.  Worked inside shed.  J.H.B. called coming back from Norsewood. John B. called at night.  Meeting at Norsewood.
SUN 31   High wind & rain.  All at home.  7 chickens.  This has been a rough windy month.

1st MO NOVEMBER 1897
Put in row of Magnum Bonum’s.  El & Ev at J.H.B.s   Windy but fine.  Made & hung front door for shed & made approaches to both doors.  Sent letter to Wms & Kettle ordering 40 woolpacks, box tea & lamp black.
TU 2   Made & hung door for shed & door for outside on battens.  Put in last of magnum Bonums.  Inspector Walsh called.  Rain afternoon.  Warm.
WED 3   Put in a row of Mangolds at shed windows.  Heavy rain in the afternoon.  Ada came El at J.H.B.  Children went to school early examination.
TH 4   Painted shed door & round windows.  El & children drove to Ormondville.  Brought back 40 woolpacks & tea etc.  Railway fare 6/8.  Worked at Sheep yards.  Calm day, good growth.  The 2 children got ½ holiday from school.

FR 5 NOVEMBER 1897
Guy Fawkes.  Gunpowder Treason & plot.  Worked at yards, made 5 hurdle gates.  John drove Darkie & sledge & cleared away houseblocks, chips, pieces for firewood etc.  His mother helped, raked, swept out shed painted windows etc.  John took meat to Ada’s.
SAT 6   Drove to Danevirk.  Rough day.  Rain & wind.  Dentist Chick examined mine and Tops teeth.  Drilled some of hers.  My tooth too far gone for stopping.  Called at and left baby at Lochheads.  Ordered window at Gordons 11/6.  Home about dark.  Cold & rain.  Home at 7 PM.
SUN 7   Windy.  John rode to J.H.B. & brought back Florrie.  Ram cast on hill.
MON 8   Still boisterous weather.  E. Top Baby and Flor went to Danevirk.  Top had 7 teeth drawn under chloroform.  Not well tonight.  high wind.

TU 9 NOVEMBER 1897
Rough morning, rain & wind.  Top better today.  Slept well last night.  Made new wool table in shed.  Cow Maggie’s time to calve up today.
WED 10   Rough day, fearful heavy showers.  Worked inside shed.  Put up wool bins. Tom walked down.  John at school.  Shut up black pup, he & pigs has [have] been eating all the eggs.  Put in 2 windows in shed.  No rabbit meeting tonight.  Rough.
TH 11   Fine morning.  Some heavy showers.  Carted in some firewood. Top at home.  Put up shelves in shed.  Pigs getting out of their paddock.  Cannot find out where they get through.  Calm.  Got Mr. Skinners bill today 18/8 for the month, including Tom  /3.  El determined to bake her own bread.  Considers 8p a loaf too much.

FR 12 NOVEMBER 1897
Round hoggt before breakfast.  Caught young starling.  Let it go again.  Carted in 2 loads firewood off flat.  Dragged in sledge load of posts out of Reserve.  Hoed up a few rows of potatoes.  Carted wool box bales etc up to new shed.  Pigs swim up creek.  John at Ada’s tonight.  He asks her to go to Dannevirk tomorrow.
SAT 13   Blocked creek where pigs get out.  El Ev Top & Ada went to Dentist.  Danevirk.  Tops teeth stopped.  Bought pram, window etc.  Fine day.  Mustered hogg. & ewes & lambs.  Put latter on flat & dry sheep on back.  Shore the 5 rams they cut 93 lbs.
No. 1 ram 18 lbs = 16 Fleece & 2 lbs Bellies & Pieces
No. 2 ram 21 lbs = 19 Fleece & 2 lbs Bellies & Pieces
No. X ram 20 lbs = 18 Fleece & 2 lbs Bellies & Pieces
No. O ram 16 lbs = 14 Fleece & 2 lbs Bellies & Pieces
No. C ram 18 lbs = 16 Fleeces & 2 lbs Bellies & Pieces.

SUN 14 NOVEMBER 1897
Very fine day.  Ewes in new shed tonight.
MON 15   Birthday.  Commenced to shear this morning at 5.30 AM.  Fine day.  Not bad fleeces.  No mats.  Shearing up to 6PM.  Ewes in very fair condition.  76 shorn.
TU 16   Very fine warm calm day.  Shore 59 ewes 2 shorn ones we put in Reserve & one woolley [woolly] hogget.  Gave Walton list of cattle for the sale on Nov 23 & also list of 20 fat sheep.  Hoed up 2 rows of potatoes.  Put some sheep in shed.
WED 17   Shore 68 & put remainder in the yard & 28 in shed.  Ewes heavy.  Lambs look well.  El. Ev. Top & Flor drove to J.H.B.’s
TH18   Shore 54 ewes.  Total ewes put out on back today 255.  Mustered back, sheep on flat,  Light rain & wind.

FR 19 NOVEMBER 1897
Finished the first shearing today.  Shore 7 more wet ewes & put them on back making 262.  Shore 21 fat ewes & put them on Reserve with 27 woolley sheep & 1 shorn hogget.  El Top & Ev drove Tom home.  Gundersons Black bull in Reserve.  Put in window in Shed.
SAT 20   Started early for Toms, El Ev Top Jim & Self.  Had breakfast up there.  Shore about 80 ewes.  Fine day.
SUN 21   All at home.  With John drove all cattle, 8 from back on to Reserve.  Maggie had roan bull calf today.
MON 22   Up early.  Milked Maggie.  Fed calf.  Left John in the house at his breakfast.  El, Ev, Top & Self drove to Toms.  Shearing Fine day.  Shore about 70 ewes.  Dry ewes very big & heavy. Letter from G. Hunter M.H.R. Re Rabbit Petition.  Pigs out of their paddock again.

TU 23 NOVEMBER 1897
Hoed some potatoes.  Took 20 fat ewes to Norsewood Sale Yards & 10 Woolley ewes.  Sold the 20 shorn Ewes to J.L. Pattulla at 5/6 each.  Sold 12 head of cattle for £19.10.6 nett.  H. Monteith Auctioneer.  Very fair sale.
WED 24   Finished shearing Toms ewes.  Sent cheque £19.10.5 to Union Bank of Australia.  Called at Friis.
TH 25   Pressed 6 bales of fleece wool today.  Hard to press.  Only 45 fleeces in each bale, average.  Pattulla took away 10 fat Ewes today, will pay for them in January.  Dry windy weather.
FR 26   Pressed one bale of Bellies & pieces & 4 fleeces on top.  Carted the 7 bales to Orm.  In 2 loads & put them on truck.  Wool gone to Napier.  Tom took horse & dray, wool box up to his place.  Got 11 lbs beef at Friis.  Paid for it.

SAT 27 NOVEMBER 1897
Pressed 5 bales of Toms wool.  Carted 3 down here.  Got fore shoes removed on Cockie.  Warm day. Ground getting dry.
SUN 28   Went through woolly sheep.  Fine day.  Baby Christened.  Eva Victoria by Rev I.T. Wills.  Miss Dora Webb Godmother.  Thos Jessop God Father.  Ella Mary Top John Auntie J.H.Bovaird Miss Patterson at the ceremony after the Service.  Had dinner at J.H. Bovairds.  Dry warm day.
MON 29   Pressed 4 bales with J.H.B.  Took 3 bales over to goods shed.  In the box with John Auntie handing up fleeces.  Did not finish.  Go back tomorrow.
TU 30   Passed remainder of J.H.B.s wool, 6 bales altogether.  Pressed & delivered one bale of Miss Webb’s.  Received weights of wool from Wms & Kettle.  Fairly heavy bales for spade pressed.  Some rain today.  Requires 2 men in the wool box.

WED 1st DECEMBER 1897
Got in sheep off reserve & killed one.  Put back 49 woolly sheep & 11 shorn ones.  C.A. Friis called.  Hoed up potatoes.  John rode up to Mr. Harris’ before breakfast.  For 1/- worth of vegetables.  Rabbit meeting tonight.  Paid mine and Toms rates.
TH 2   Mowed long plantation.  Got in sheep off flat.  Found one 4 tooth wether cast, down for days, not dead.  Put 40 in Reserve.  89 there now.  John & Top at Kinematograph.
FRI 3   John B came for Cockie & dray.  Florrie El & Ev drove to Adas & J.H.B.  Hot calm day. Mowed some about house & stock yard plantation.  Pigs got out again, had to shut them up in their yard.  Must ring or cut noses.
SAT 4   Mowed shed plantation.  Thin.  Mowed slope plantation thin.  Paid Woodhouses bill £6.18.2

SUN 5 DECEMBER 1897
All at home.  Still dry weather.  No rain.
MON 6   Light rain.  Took in sheep off Reserve.  Sold 10 fat shorn Ewes at 5/6 each to C.A. Friis.  Recd £2.15.0.  Put back 80 woolly dry sheep.  Put in 2 short rows of cabbage plants.  Watered them.  Rain over.
TU 7   Warm calm day.  Ada came.  Carted in some hay with Darkey & Sledge & John from long plantation, garden & some from lawn.  El paid Skinners bill £1.5.4.
WED 8   Florrie here today & tonight.  Went with El & baby for a drive beyond Ngamota.  Got in all dry hay with sledge.  Wool sold in Napier 7 ½d for 6 bales 4 ½ for bale of Bellies & pieces.  Warm calm day.
TH 9   Mowing in front.  Florrie gone home.  Got in sheep off Reserve.  Killed hoggt. with matted fleece, fat.  Turned back into Reserve 78 woolly sheep.  Cool calm day.  J.H.B. wool sold 7d

FRI 10 DECEMBER 1897
Mowing in front.  Nice fine grass and trefoil in plenty.  Cool calm day.  Had talk with H. Clayton.  Watered garden.
SAT 11   Finished mowing.  Finished the painting of the shed.  John went round sheep.  He found 2 cast.  A letter from Mr. G. Hunter enclosing one of Olsen’s.
SUN 12   All at home, hot day.  Found a 4 tooth wether cast on flat, down some days.
MON 13   Another hot day.  Ax & H Mortenson shearing August Svensons sheep in our shed.  Tom helped at hay today.  We finished sledging in last of the hay.  Warm.  Ada here today.  El has influenza tonight.
TU 14   Secured hay in shed from rain and Cows.  Walked into the creek & drove 2 totara posts & put rails across to keep pigs in their paddock.  They are troublesome to keep in.  Round all paddocks.  Found a hoggt cast in Widerups.  Get “Herald” now before dinner.  Still dry weather.

WED 15 DECEMBER 1897
Tom back from Waipawa Sale.  Did not sell his house.  Put in totara posts in fence in fence, shed flat – gully plantation.  Augt. Svenson & Axel Mortenson pressed their 2 bales of wool.  Sent letter G. Hunter M H R.
TH 16   Drove up to Toms with El & Ev, they came home at dinner time.  They have influenza.  Shore half of the hoggets.
FRI 17   Finished shearing Toms dry sheep.
SAT 18   Breakfast at Toms.  Shearing lambs.  John picking up.  Top & baby at home.  El Top & babe at J.H.B.s in the afternoon.
SUN 19   All at home.  John rode to Ada’s & to J.H.B.  He asked H Smith about iron piping.
MON 20   At Toms for breakfast.  John went to school from there.  Dry weather.  Finished shearing the lambs.  Very big ones.  J.H.B. brought back horse & dray whilst we were away.  The grass is drying up no sign of rain.  Will soon be required.

TU 21 DECEMBER 1897
Went with Cockie today to Toms.  Pressed 4 bales & 1 fadge.  Home late   Wool cheques from Wms & Kettle £47.6.8. after deducting Goods etc.  Letter from G. Hunter M.H.R.  Enclosed £2 for O. Olsen.
WED 22   Came on rain about 2 AM.  Got up and helped Tom cover his wool on the dray with bales.  A good drop of rain fell today.  Tank 3 parts full.  Tom took his wool to Orm.  Got in sheep off reserve.  Killed small hogget.
TH 23   Youngsters & Florrie went to Norsewood & bought a few Christmas things for themselves.  They drove to Orm.  Left ham at Rev. Wills house.  Flor stayed at home.  El paid J.J. Browns bill £14.1.7 out of £15 cheque.  Dragged one sledge of posts out of Reserve.  Through sheep found one four tooth wether cast.  Cool.

FRI 24 DECEMBER 1897
Got in sheep off Flat and shore 32.  Good sheep, clean heavy fleeces.  Mary called & had tea in afternoon.  Knocked off shearing early.  Warm day.  Drove up to Norsewood in the evening.  Paid Ole Olsen £2   Got 1/- worth of potatoes at A.B. Thomasens.  Nuts & lollies.
SATURDAY 25th DECEMBER 1897
Fine day.  Went to Orm Church.  All hands at J.H.B. for dinner & tea.  Home late.
SUN 26   All at home.  Warm day.  Sleeping.
MON 27   Came on light rain in the morning got heavier towards midday.  Willie & Ella came in the morning.  J.H.B. Auntie & Flor came at 11PM.  Drove in their new buggie round the Block home.  Tom went home.
TU 28   Cleared docks & other weeds out of garden.  Mustered  all dry sheep with Tom.  Dagged 263.  Killed Hoggt.  Put 60 in shed.  Allabaster took home his Ewe & lamb.

WED 29 DECEMBER 1897
Shore 25 four tooths 23 two tooths 26 ewes total 74.  Good fleeces clean.  Mrs Wills & children in shed.  I. Siddells called.  Looked at sheep in shed & on flat.  I agreed to sell 200 four & two tooth wethers to him at 6/3 each.  Equal number of both, delivered in 3 weeks.  John rode to Robinsons Makatutu for potatoes, none there or in Norsewood.
TH 30   Shore 12  4 tooth ,  27 2 tooth 30 Ewes total 69.  Tom fired his bush.  Windy.  Children brought in a mob of Woolly sheep off ridges with dogs.
FR 31   Shore 15 4T  11 2T 22 Ewes 1 stranger.   one four tooth (wether) cut 16 lbs.  One 2 tooth Ewe 13 lbs.  Tom burning his bush.  El rolled up.  Tom came in the afternoon.  Rabbiter Campbell called.  A cool season so far.  On the whole a prosperous year.

SAT 1st JANUARY 1898
Found 2 tooth ewe cast in Reserve.  Took her into shed & shore her.  She is weak.  J.H.B. Auntie Willie & Ella drove up with their new mare.  We drove to Orm after tea.  Did not stop.  John got the foal of the new mare from his uncle J.H.B. as a Birthday present.  He will be 11 years old on the 3rd inst.
SUN 2   All at home until after tea.  Got in Reserve sheep.  Drove to Becketts after tea did not stay.
MON 3   Shore 5 – 4 tooth  25 – 2 tooth 50 Ewes –  total 80.  Up to date 303 shorn & 68 in shed tonight.  The last of the dry sheep except a few with the Ewes and lambs.  John 11 years old today.  Jack Frost took 5 cats away today.  4 left.  J.L. Pattulla came this evening & paid £2.15.0 for the 10 fat sheep he bought here some time back.

TUE 4 JANUARY 1898
Shore 36 – 4 T  15 – 2T  17 –  ewes total 68.  Finished shearing dry sheep today except a few at the back.  El rolling.  Number shorn now 370 dry sheep.  Mr. Laurvig called with subscription list.  Gave him 10/-  Tom 5/- John 1/-   Christophersen  borrowed Cockie to draw in hay.  A sprinkling of rain.
WED 5   Pressed 2 bales of fleeces No 8 52 fleeces  No 9 53 fleeces.  Light rain.  Mrs. Gundrie & Auntie came.  Children at Xmas tree.  Lutheran
TH 6   Sent cheques, Kates £3.11.9 to county council, £1.6.0 for Herald  £1.17.10 to Mutual Life Association.  Pressed No 10 – 53 fleeces,  11 = 53,  12= 48, 13 = 53 one bale of pieces.  J.H. Bovaird helped us press.  Mustered ewes & lambs put lambs in shed.  El drove to see Mrs Pattulla.  Smoke about.  Dry.

FR 7 JANUARY 1898
Shearing lambs.  Cutting heavy fleeces.  John & Top put wethers on back.  John in taking “Maggie” to Woods Bull was met by Benbow’s bull on the road Half Jersey.  Brought cows back again.  Mr. Woodhouse called.  Shore 1 wether Hogg & 2 Ewe hoggets.  The two latter with Ewes & lambs.
SAT 8   Shearing lambs.  Put ewes & lambs in Widerups as they were shorn.  Shore & put with rams 1 four tooth wether & 1 long tail lamb.  Shoe on Darkie.  Top took some lamb to Ada’s.  El & John  drew in 2 box loads of Maire chips off flat with Darkie & Sledge.
SU 9   All at home.  Wind & Smoke.  John B. here today.  Top & Tilly Thodsen rode, the latter rode away to Orm. on “Darkie”.  Put last of the lambs 62 in shed tonight.  Thick smoke all  about tonight.  Wind.

MON 10 JANUARY 1898
Finished shearing the lambs.  Pressed one heavy bale of lambs wool.  Have 3 of H Mortensens lambs.  T Brenkly borrowed a bale for C Friis.   Tried a few stalks of Potatoes, no good.
TU 11   Tom took 2 loads of wool to Orm. with 2 horses – 8 bales.  Nils Friberg called & Beckett. Rev. & Mrs Dean & children & Auntie called.  Pressed 1 bale of lambs & 1 bale of Locks Bellies & 20 fleeces, the last No. 18.  Branded bales.
WED 12   Carted 3 bales of wool to Orm. Pressed 1 bale & ½ bale lambs wool for J.H.B. & put all wool on truck.  Got Jack for Tom & wire netting from Brown.  Rabbit meeting.  Rabbiter paid in full.
TH 13   Carried water to washouse [wash house].  Clothes washed. Shoes removed on Cockie.  Sledged in some post off Reserve.  Wind & smoke.  Killed longtail lamb.

FRI 14 JANUARY 1898
Carted home maire chips & cut 3 Wineberry rails for Gundersens gate way.  Letter from Mr Fourneau.  Parching weather.  Smoke, high wind.
SAT 15   Tom came early.  Mustered dry sheep at back.  Picked out 100 four tooth wethers 121 two tooths & put them on flat.  Put 151 Ewes mostly two tooths on ridges along with Ewes & lambs.  Put 25 mixed including strangers on reserve.  Opened gateways for sheep to go off Widerups & ridges on to back.  Very high wind today, dust very bad in yards.  News of houses about Woodville & Pahiatua being burned & families leaving their places and coming into Pahiatua.  High wind tonight again and a great fire in the direction of Orm.  No appearance of anything but dry weather and high wind.

SUN 16 JANUARY 1898
Not so windy today.  The church at Makatoku burned down & 2 houses.  El Ev Top & I went to Church & to J.H.B.
MON 17   Poor Top left this morning for Mr Fourneaus Papakura.  Her mother brother & sister saw her on the train at Orm., and then drove up to Toms where I was helping him muster his sheep & pick out some to sell to I Siddells tomorrow &  also to shift his ewes & lambs on to Leasehold.  I got the weights of Bales of wool today.  The bales weighed heavily.  A few drops of rain fell this afternoon and it is now raining a little.  News today of dreadful bush fires and destruction of property between here and Wellington.  Houses fences etc burnt in all directions. Sawmills

TU 18 JANUARY 1898
Mr Siddells man took away the wethers.  100 four tooths 112 two tooth 6/3 for 200 and 5/6 for 12.  Mr Wilson Station Master Orm. is to pay for them.   There ought to be 8 or 10 wethers remaining in the paddocks.  Went to D. O’Haras sale.  Very poor sale.  Dug a few stalks of potatoes, little or nothing under them.  Telegram from Mr Fourneau Top arrived.
WED 19   Made a whip for John.  John B came for Cockie & dray.  Ada came & El drove her to Eriksons & home.  John B’s wool sold yesterday 7 ½ per lb.  Dug a few more potato stalks, no good.
TH 20   Went and met Tom with his sheep going to Orm. Sale.  John & Jack McLees drove the cattle along.  Both sheep & cattle were sold.  Asked W. Grant about price of spare timber lying near his yards.  Will let me know.

FR 21 JANUARY 1898
Very hot day, the hottest this year.  Calm   Cut grass in gully planation.
SAT 22   John went to Ada’s this morning.  Drove to Danevirk with El & Ev.  Gave a fortnights notice, verbal & written to Campbell, Rabbiter.  Paid Godfrey & McPhee Danevirk £1.14.11   Paid Gordon £1.7.0  for 2 crosscut saws – one for Tom.  For fruit & potatoes 4/6 to Parker  5/1 for one sheep, which Tom was short of when delivering the 100 at Orm sale for which he recd payment.  Had dinner at Pearsons.  Had tooth drawn by Chick Dentist 2/6 for injection 2/6 for drawing.  Home late.  Got Wms & K letter re wool.  7 Bales fleece 7d 2 lambs 5 ½  2 pas Lcks 4 ½.  A long tiresome day.  Callers left garden gate open.

SUN 23 JANUARY 1898
Showers this morning.  Tom not well today Sore throat & pains.  JHB Auntie & Ella here this afternoon.  Calm & cloudy.
MON 24   Put hay together in plantation.  John & Willie brought home horse & dray from Ada’s.  Sledged in posts off Reserve.  El & Tom to JHB’s   Got cheque for sheep from Wilson Station master for  £65.16.0.  Boys cutting cocksfoot.  Warm day.  Reckoned up Toms account.  Gave cheque for £3.12.2.
TU 25   Sent 2 cheques to Union Bank.  One for £65.16.0 & one for £3.12.2.  Carted  in some hay to lean to shed out of Gully plantation.   Symptoms of rain.  Sledged remainder of totara posts out of Reserve.  Killed Rooster.  Willie & John milk the 2 cows.  Rabbit Inspector called.  Examined skins & saw Campbells report.  Says skin are old.  Hulena called re Dipping.

WED 26 JANUARY 1898
Drove with Rabbit Inspector & Campbell to Becketts.  Explanation before Walsh.  The latter indignant with Campbell told him to clear out & go about his business, would have no more to say to him.  Drove Inspector round by Toms, Magnusins, Lingquist, down to Prices & home.  Inspector says a practical rabbiter must be put on.  Hot day.  El bad with diarhea. [diarrhoea]
TH 27   Greased wheels of Buggy.  Rubbed blistering ointment into Cockie’s hoof – above hoof.  Repaired broken down old sheep yard.  Saw Campbell and he agreed to leave at end of next week.
FR 28   Mending old fence at sheep yard patching battened yard.  The pigs at F Schmidts house.  El & boys washed buggy.  High wind today.

SAT 29 JANUARY 1898
Wheeled dags into garden.  Got in sheep off Reserve 23 & killed one.  Worked at old sheep yards.  El Ev & boys drove to JHB.  Beckett called with Inspectors report.  Letter from Top.
SU 30   At Orm Church Rev Dean preaching.  Hot day.  Dinner at JHB.
MON 31   Put in a few posts in old sheep yard.  Went to Orm.  Meet Top at train.  Her box of fruit given to her by Mr Fourneau taken on in train.  Went to Goddards with JHB.  Picked out some of his sheep from amongst Goddards.  Mustered his sheep & picked out 58 two tooths & drove them here to keep until after rain.  Paddocks dry everywhere.  Smoke about.  JHB rode in front of sheep.  Did not get here until dark.  Wrote G. Hunter ESQ M.H.R. for a place in Shed N Thodsen.

TU 1st FEBRUARY 1898
Thick smoke beyond Makotoku.  Walked across back Sec.  Feed not bad.  Tom went with Horse & dray to Orm for his grasseed & wire.  Thick smoke.  Can scarcely see to read.  High wind welcome rain this afternoon.  Campbell called.  Gave him cheque for £2.0.0   Got Tops box of fruit at Ormondville
WED 2   Raked in turnip seed on potato ground.  Tom went to Lund and had tooth drawn.  Top & Willie rode round block.  Voted in Village Hall for “Rating on unimproved value.”
TH 3   Dug some in garden for onions. ground very dry.  Wind.  Mary rode up Willie & Ella gone to picnic at Orm.  Top rode Toms horse with Mary to Ada.  Got wool cheque from Wms & Kettle.  £113.11.5.  Dry windy weather.

FRI 4 FEBRUARY 1898
Another nasty windy day.  Sent cheque £113.11.5. to Union Bank.  Carted in 4 loads of maire chips etc off flat.
SAT 5   Cut in Reserve & dragged in with  Cockie some wine berry rails.  Sent £22.15. to Northern Invt Co.  Afternoon carted in load of maire chips.  Still dry.  John at cricket match.  2 Mrs Thodsens called.
SUN 6   Calm cool day.  All at home.
MON 7   Drove to JHB after dinner.  As he had more of his grass burned offered to take his cattle for time – until rain comes.   Rabbiter Campbell delivered his traps & received payment £6.3.0 up to end of his engagement, 5th Feb.   Top went to school this morning.
TU 8   Went to meet JHB & Florry with the 8 head of cattle.  Put them on flat.  Split a few hino posts for creek in Reserve.  Showers & high wind.  Letter from G. Hunter.  John & El drove to Orm.

WED 9 FEB 1898
Killed woolly lamb yesterday.  Repaired fence at gully.  Reserve flat.  Rabbit meeting.  Gundersen Friis & Gollan.  Beckett sick.  I Secretary & Ch.
TH 10   Working about the place today.
FR 11   John B came with his mare & foal left them & took back dray & Cockie.  Worked at Dip, boarded round sides & puttied seams.  Boiled some rye & sow thistles for pigs & old fat.  Our potatoes a complete failure.
SAT 12   Finished puttying floor at dip.  El got John clothes & boots at Woodhouses.
SUN 13   All at home except John who went to see Demonstration at Orm.
MON 14   Repaired fence, Brown gate.  Mr Beckett called re rabbiter.  Jones cannot come, must advertise in Herald.  Killed sheep.  Sent letter to Cranby &Tilly Re fowl wheat potatoes etc  20 of my sheep in reserve now 3 strangers.

TU 15 FEB 1898
Fixed up fence between lawn & Widerups.  Walked over back Sec & saw water enough & grass fair.  Mr & Mrs Webber at night.
WED 16   Nailed battens on draining floor at dip.  B Bengtsen called.  El walked to Norsewood & back and over to Thodsens.  Letter from Sandtmans.
TH 17   Put in a post in back Sec fence  W-B.  Drove to Orm sale .  Bought chair 33/1 4 jugs  2/-  to subscription , man who got his legs broken on Makatoku bridge 3/-   Sent letter to Wms & Kettle Dip & Goods.  Letter to A.B. Gibson rate of interest on £550.
FR 18   Finished battening draining stage at dip.  El E & Top at Ada’s & bought 5/- worth of potatoes at Woodhouses.  Close day.
SAT 19   Worked about dip.  All drove to JHB.  Posted letter in train (3 stamps) to Cranby & Sidey.  Home late.  Very dry every where.   About Orm particularly dry.

SUN 20 FEB 1898
All at home.  Very dry.  A few drops of rain.
MO 21   Repaired old gate.  At Widerups fence afternoon.  Letter from A.B. Gibson enclosing form to answer.  Invoice from Wms & Kettle.  El Ev & Top drove to Toms.  Ground bare.  Mathus Hansen called & O Olsens son.
TU 22   Sawed Hinau log & split 16 posts forenoon.  Afternoon got horse & dray at JHB and carted from R Station 1 bag potatoes 12/-, sack maize, small bag onions from Cranby & Sidey.  3 Drums Murtons dip. Case Kerosene, case sundries, bag of rice, 2 bags sugar from Wms & Kettle.  Railway freight 13/1.  Sent application to “Mutual Life Association” for £550 at 4½%.  Still dry bare ground.
WED 23   Took horse & dray to JHB.  Chains   Brought back buggy & Auntie.  She & El & Ev drove to Toms & got sack of cocksfoot & took to JHB’s.  Did some work to slip fence at Widerups – back.  No rain yet.

TH 24 FEB 1898
Finished putting in posts at slip fence.  Put wire netting round peach tree.  Top bought 1/- tin dish at Woodhouses.  Killed lamb yesterday.  Still dry.
FR 25   Finished fence. Strained wires.  Took 3 sheep out of O’Haras paddock.  After school put all sheep on back on to front paddocks.  Ewes and lambs in Gundersens.  One of Neals lambs also 2 or 3 in alabasters.  C Schmidt left sack pollard got at Woodhouses.  Discount Wms & K 3/3
SAT 26   Up early.  Mustered front paddocks with Top & Tui.  Picked out 245 ewes for breeding & raddled them red on head & put them on Widerups.  Put all others on back about 420 & 10 raddled blue on head put in Reserve for J Brabazon.  John staying at JHB tonight.  Sheep do not look bad after all the dry weather.  Thodsens children brought our ducks home.  Mathus Hansen came at night.

SU 27 FEBRUARY 1898
John at Orm today   John B & Willie here for dinner.  JHB rode up & put two of his cows in the yard to be inspected by White an Ong Onga man.  Ewes & lambs stuck against fence.  Ought to be separated [separated] by a paddock or some distance at weaning time.  Dull & calm this afternoon.  Rain threatening.
MON 28   Drove up to Roberts or rather to Mathias Hansens.  Mr Nordbye there.  Looked over cattle, and read agreement signed by Roberts etc etc.  Had to come away & leave Hansen and Roberts to settle their affairs.  Got in all sheep from back & picked out 50 ewes for Tom.  2 – 4 & 6 tooth.  El bad tonight.  Her head affected.  C A Friis called tonight & paid me £16.0.0 & took back his PN [?].  This has been a dry hot windy firey month.

1st  TUE MARCH 1898
Earmarked Toms 50 ewes & put them in front & on hill.  Hot day.  Young Coles called for JHB’s red cow.  She had a heifer calf today.  Sven Andersen called & saw his Lincoln ram.  J Petterson called & proposed to cart water down the creek & dip the sheep.  He screwed up & caulked the Dip Tom helping.  I went to JHBs & brought home “Cockie” & dray.  Mr Beckett called re New Rabbiter to be put on & take Contract.  Put 3 Lincoln rams out to 245 Ewes.  Tops Birthday today.  13 years. She is tonight in Village Hall to see “Hans the Boatman” played.   Poor baby fell out of bed tonight again and made a great report on coming in contact with floor.  £2.5.6. Reserve rent & 30/- to Cranby & Sidey sent.

WED 2 MARCH 1898
John Pettersen & Tom carted water for Dip.  It leaked very much   Coles took away JHB’s red cow.  Went to Salvation Hall at night to hear Major Brikenshaw lecture or preach.  Very good.
TH 3   Put all lambs off flat on to back.  J Pettersen again carting water seven cans.  Got water F Schmidt creek.  Put wires down.  Dipped Toms 50 ewes.  Dipped about 200 of my Ewes.  Did not have time to finish.  Dip leaked a good deal today.  Auntie and Ada here.  Rabbiter Tolmic called.  Attended first meeting of The Norsewood Jubilee Commemoration Society.  To meet again on Wed. next – afternoon.  Sent letter to Sandtran.
FR 4   Rain this morning, enough to make the sheep too wet to dip.  Not much rain.  Tom laid up with influenza.  Killed 2 tooth Ewe.

SAT 6 MARCH 1898
El Top Baby & Tom drove to Danevirk.  Tops tooth stopped.  Hannah Marcusen brought 2/6 worth of plums.  J Pettersen helped me dip remainder of Ewes total 244 found one dead, hurt at dip.  Also dipped Reserve more sheep total 45.
SUN 6   Rain this afternoon.  Water in creek.  Called at H Mortensens who had just returned from Ruahina Ranges.  Re putting JHB cattle in his paddock.  Called at Becketts, not at home.  Rode round by Mortensens paddock.
MON 7   Mustered back with Tom.  Dipped 418 mixed sheep including 52 of JHB and 1 strange lamb.  J Pettersen helping.  Sven Andersen dipped 100 & ram.  Gave him Lincoln ram.  Paid 7/- for dipping.  Dip first class, does not leak, nor floor.  Plenty of water in creek after yesterdays rain.  Grass freshened up a bit.

TU 8 MARCH 1898
Started early for Toms & mustered all paddocks & raddled Ewes for breeding.  Dipped all his sheep. Light rain in the morning heavier when dipping.  JHB & Pettersen helped.  Beckett Tolmie & lad called & had dinner with us.  Took Toms sheep home & JHB’s cattle.  Put the latter in Hans Mortensens paddock.  JHB paid £1.0.0. for Woolpacks & dip.  No rain this afternoon, looks cloudy.
WED 9   Rain in the morning.  Afternoon went to Thomsens.  Jubilee meeting at night Messrs Gundersen Gollan & Briske came.  No Rabbit meeting.
TH 10   Bengtson dipped 277 sheep & paid 19/- John B took away Cockie & dray.  Drove to J J Browns got bag flour etc.  Saw Cinematograph in Village Hall with youngsters.

FR 11 MARCH 1898
Rain all day & tonight.  Duthie defeated Seddon’s man Kirk yesterday in the Wellington Election.
SAT 12   Shook rye & clover seed over patches on Sections.  Made baby’s chair.  John rode up to Mrs Harris for carrots & vegetables.  Went John Pettersons in the evening, met F Shugar. Good rain now.
SUN 13   All at home.  John B & Willie for dinner.  El gave latter 12/- as his share of surplus wool money.  ET Olsen buried today. Orm.  Tom came in afternoon.  Steady rain tonight.
MON 14   El at Toms today.  Cooked plum pudding cake soup & meat.  I helped JHB to muster his sheep & picked out 52 culls for sale on Wednesday next in Grants yard.  Rain a good deal fell today. Grass growing fast.
TU 15   Dipped Amundsens 51 sheep, is to pay 3/6.  Letter from T Nelson Re lost books.  El Ev, Top drove to Ada’s.  Left Tui at JHB’s yesterday.

WED 16 MARCH 1898
Drove to Orm.  Helped JHB to bring his 50 sheep to the sale yards.  Had to come back & help John Petterson dip his 312 sheep – is to pay for ram & dip £3.0.0.  Windy
TH 17th   Fire from Ole Gundersens started stumps etc on flat.  High wind.  Got up early to go & bring John B’s sheep here to dip.  Saw a rainbow in the west.  Did not go.  Came on heavy rain & squalls.  Heavy rain off & on all day.  Did not go to sports at Orm.  Rain & wind tonight.
FRI 18   Windy.  Walked over Sections.  Nice feed on back & on Widerups.  The latter spelled for 8 or 10 days   Hulena called Re. Dipping.  John at Orm tonight.
SAT 19   Stormy wet day.  Put all Ewes & rams into Widerups.  Put in some tree seeds yesterday in garden & Sheep yards.  Drove to Village Hall with Auntie & El.  Auction Sale on.  Bought pants & stocking.

SU 20 MARCH 1898
All at home.  Fine cool day.  Frost this morning.  Top rode home here in the evening.  Tom paid this afternoon £16.4.0 Cheque.
MON 21   Children forgot to post letter to Bank containing cheques.  Rode to Ada’s.  Got sheep up here with John B.  Dipped 164 & 12 I sold him, took home 176.  I took one ram & 4 wethers off him.  JHB took away his springing cow & his mare & foal.  He helped us to Dip.  Wind. Mrs Swainson called.  El drove to Ada’s.
TU 22   A big chared [charred] tree blown down on flat.  Put a fire to it.  Sent the 3 cheques to Union Bank.  Batty Brunnan dipped 198 sheep, is to pay 13/-   At night went to A B Thomasen’s.  Calm growing day.  J Pettersen Paid for ram & dip £3.0.0.
WED 23   Made fire on flat.  Hulena dipped 445 sheep is to pay £1.11.0.  Calm.  Two Salvation women called.

TH 24 MARCH 1898
Made up some fires on flat.  Went with Pagett Rabbiter  over Magnusens Mortensens & my own back Sec.  Rabbiter  shot one on latter section over part of Neals.  Mr Beckett called and had dinner.  Dipped 101 sheep for C A Friis.  Went over Highs, shot doe.  Past sawmill.  Saw rabbit on Nissens.  Saw 2 on Hulenas shot one.  Home late,  Frost this morning .
FR 25   Dipped 81 sheep for P Magnusen.  Dipped   for Watson.  Beckett helped Ada came.  Magnusen paid 5/-   Windy.  Made fires on flat.  El Ada & baby out.  Made fires on back & on Reserve.
SAT 26   Made fires in creek near new shed.  Fired heaps on back section on hill side.  Had dinner there with John.  Windy day.  Came on rain in the evening.  Had letter from Agent Mutual Life Association of Australia.

SU 27 MARCH 1898
El baby & Tom drove to Ormondville.  John H. Bovaird rode up & I went with him to see his cattle on Mortensens Sec.  Could not see Miss Webbs cow.  Very fine day.
MON 28   Logged up & made fires on Reserve.  El baby Auntie & Florrie went to Danevirk home after dark.  I called at Mr Webbers.
TU 29   Made fires.  Dipped 110 sheep for Bai.  Dipped 118 for J Newling.  Paid 8/-   J Pettersen called to say meeting was postponed.  Met Mr Hunter on road coming to Norsewood with AB Thomasen.  Went with him to Waltons Hotel.  Then to Thomasens.  Was met by Messrs Shugar Olsen Briske P.G. Grant & Hansen.  Rain.
WED 30   Drove to Orm with El & baby, had dinner at JHB.  Went to Sports & Circus – Fitzgeralds.  Took children & Florrie.  Dipped Becketts 150 sheep (he & Watson)   Dipped JHB    A. Olsen 333  Watson 202
TH 31   Helped JHB bring & Drive home.  Rabbit meeting.

1st APRIL 1898
Went with Rabbiter over sections owned by members of Association down as far as Rathbones Makatoku.  Found no traces.  Saw no rabbits.  Ella rode up here behind me on Darkie.
SAT 2   Mustered sheep on back took out JHB’s 58 & drove them home to him.  Put on back 97 sheep & 249 lambs = 346 on Reserve 49 mixed nearly all weak lambs.  Went at night to Rabbit Annual Meeting in Lutheran Hall.  Old Committee elected.
SUN 3   El Ev & John drove to JHB’s.  No church.  Parson gone to Makatoku.  El very bad to night.  Pains in her head.
MON 4   Top at home washing.  Her mother not feeling well.  Made up fires on Reserve & flat.  Got new axe and 2 axe handles at Woodhouses.  J Neal called in the evening and had tea.  Very close evening.

TU 5 APRIL 1898
Made fire in Reserve on tree across track, also on flat & on point between gullies.  Postcard came from Mr Westall   Letter from Carlisle & McLean Re loan.  Beckett called & paid 8/- dip.  Tom got quarter of mutton.  Light rain.
WED 6   Sent letter to J Sandtmann Esq. & postcard to J C Westall.  Made up fires on Reserve on flat & point.  El & John drove to Mr S Andersens to see baby.  Wind.
TH 7   Made up fires on Reserve, flat, point heaped up some scrub on latter.  Warm day.  Ada came.  Ring. Auntie & Florrie.  Top tonight at JHB.  Wms & Kettle demand £1 as Railway fare for wool.  Railway mistake.
FR 8 GOOD   Mrs Frank Smith & child, Mrs Dantz & Frank for dinner.  Rev & Mrs Wills.  Went with John over back with Gun.  Drove to JHB in the evening for Top.  Calm warm day.  Did not do any work.

SAT 9 APRIL 1898
Made fires on flat & some on back.  Windy.  Pulled 2 fore shoes off Cockie.  Brought in a load of Maire chips off flat.  Mr Gower called about dipping his sheep.
EASTER   At Orm Church.  El & babe home.
SUN 10   Top stayed at JHB.  Willie came back.
MON 11   Got in Ewes off flat & ridges, dagged & put them in Widerups.  242 ewes  2 wethers 4 rams 1 of Highs, pet Ewe.  Killed 1 poor lamb.  Found 1 lamb dead on flat.  Mr Beckett called at night.  Mary & Florrie at night.  Willie went home.  Put 3 good lambs on Reserve.  Calm.
TU 12   Made fires on flat.  Killed sheep.  Put 13 of the weakest lambs on lawn & hill.  Put remainder in Reserve.  Went to Thomasens at night.  Mr Westall & Neilsen there.  Letter from Sandtman offering £550 for 5 years at 5% accepted offer.

WED 13 APRIL 1898
Made fires on flat sent letter to Carlile & McLean, declining loan.  Auntie & Flor drove up & went away to Norsewood with El & Ev.  Dipped 321 sheep helped – with Hans & A Mortensen.
TH 14   Firing on flat.  Hans Mortensen dipped his second mob of sheep.  Langley dipped 15 rams.  C A Friis called re getting overdraft in Bank for £50.
FR 15   Firing on flat.  Hans Mortensen came for his 2 lambs.  Top home from school helped her mother paper dining room.  Calm day.
SAT 16   Firing on flat with John & his mother   Mr Watson called & paid for dip 14/-.  Young Gower called re dip.  Made fires on back.  Toms dog here.  Tied him up.
SUN 17   All at home.  Put sheep off Widerups on to ridges & flat.  Calm cloudy day.  Came on wet in the afternoon heavy rain.  Children late at Lutheran Sunday School.

MON 18 APRIL 1898
Sawed matai log in Reserve.  A good deal of rain fell today.  Wrote to Wms & Kettle for tin of tea & 2 gals U. Dip.
TU 19   Sawed & Split some matai in Reserve.  C Friis called & wanted fat sheep.  Mustered back, one dead lamb, others scoured.  Picked out some fat sheep & some scoured lambs.  Got dark boiled tin of gum leaves for drench.  Hansen came at night and said people in the Village Hall were waiting to have meeting.  Rode up. 20 settlers present.  Agreed to form Society.  Name “Norsewood Jubilee Friendly Society”.  Provisional Committee formed.  Many settlers put their names down for 20/- each.  To meet again on Tuesday night next in Village Hall.  Mr Westall present.  Has been calm cloudy day.  Frost tonight.

WED 20 APRIL 1898
Picked out & put on back 281 mixed clean sound sheep mostly lambs.  25 poor lambs  4 or 5 maggotty about tail  20 fat ewes & 3 or 4 in the 20 wethers sold to C Friis   12 killing ones for myself put in Reserve.  I dead lamb found on back.  This leaves 7 short of last number put on back – 346 Nov 281.  Gave gum leaf tea to scoured lambs.  Top home from school today washing.  Went with her mother to Orm. & to Adas.  Got bag of flour at J Browns.  Put the 25 poor lambs on Hill.  2 will not recover.
TH 21   Killed & skinned weak lamb (4)   Auntie Flor & Ada came sewing.  Gower dipped 160 sheep to pay 11/-   Went over back, plucked wool off dead lamb.
FR 22   El. Ev. & Flor drove to Orm.  Windy. Gundersen brought back Cockie & dray.  Brought in 2 loads of firewood.  Sawgman called.  2 gals dip & tea arrived.  Put 3 slabs in cow bale.

SAT 23 APRIL 1898
Raked in grasseed on Reserve patches,  Made up fires on flat with John.  El & John washed & Varnished buggy.  Top bought 1/- worth of mutton from Martin.  Went to Mr Woodhouses at night.
SUN 24   Walked over to H Mortensens.  Rode on Toms horse to Friis Hulenas & Gollans.  Gave them the names of S Committee candidates.  Found a dead lamb on hill, from diahrea.  Two wires cut in fence between me & Topholm.  Frost last night & now.
MON 25   Made fires. Got in sheep off Reserve.  Went at night to School Com. Election  S. 73 B Gundersen 49 Lund 47 O Ericksen 33 C A Friis 35  D H Grant 35 E Ericksen 32 F Wahl 31 J Grimwood 26   Killed fat ewe.  Kept 13 of the smallest lambs on lawn.  2 lambs with ewes on flat  put 2 more ewes with rams.  Hulena 11 J Pet 22  A Englebretson  13 C E Pettersen 13   To meet 1st Wed in month.

TUE 26 APRIL 1898
Fires in gully & on flat.  At Village Hall   Not large public meeting   Com. Elected  SB Chair, Beckett Sec, Webber Treasurer.  To meet this night 2 weeks in Luth. S School.
WED 27   Got 2 hind shoes on Darkey.  Went with B. Gundersen as Visiting Committee to see about repairs at & about school.  Made up fires.  John took fore quarter of mutton to Thodsens. C A Friis called.
TH 28   Looked to fires.  Auntie Ada & Flor came.  El & baby went with them to Grants Draper.  I rode to Bank New S.W.  Mr Webber deposited £6.1.0. for Friendly Society.  Signed bond in Bank in favor of C A Friis for £50.  Repaired fence Reserve – Topholm   Mrs Plank called re dipping her sheep.  Pastor Topholm called.  John Pattersen Hulena paid £1.11 for dipping his sheep.  Gave the following names to Hulena for R. Board Gundersen, Andersen, Brabazon, O’Hara & Hulena.

FR 29 APRIL 1898
Went with JHB to Mortensens paddock for his cattle – 5 head 1 of Miss Webbs.  Dipped 120 sheep – Mrs Planks paid 8/6.  Sent cheque £1.17.10 to A B Gibson.  Agent Mutual Life Assn   Made up fires in gully.  John posted letter in Orm after tea.  Fine calm weather.
SAT 30   Looked to fires.  Murrays two men dipped 50 sheep.  El John & Tom went in buggy (Toms house) to Dannevirk home in good time.  Strawberry calved last night.  Killed calf today cow quiet. Easily broken in.  J O’Hara here tonight.  Salted calf skin. Fine.
MAY 1898
SUN 1st   All  at home.  Like summer day   John rode to Orm.  Sunday School   Went with 2 youngsters in evening to Lutheran Church.  Topholm preached in English.  Many there.

MON 2nd MAY 1898    WAR
Shooting season today commences.  made up fires on flat.  Top at home washing   She & Mother & Eva at Orm.  Got in Ewes & took out the 4 rams, 4 lambs & Heghs Ewe.  Put Ewes on Ridges. Rams on Hill.  244 breeding Ewes & 2 wethers = 246
TU3   Dragged logs together on flat with Cockie.  Lit a fire on blackberry patch in Reserve.  Mrs Callender called.  Warm calm day.  No rain grass short.
WED 4   Dragged logs with Cockie on flat.  Made fires.  Walked to Schoolhouse   Auntie selling tickets for Church Concert about Norsewood.  Sent sheep return to Napier.  Attended School Com meeting 7.30
TH5   Making up fires on flat.  Voted for members of Road Board Gundersen 78 Brabazon Andersen Lund Thomsen.  Rode up to B. Gundersens Auntie Florrie El & Eva Ticket selling.

FR 6 MAY 1898
Making fires on flat.  Got in sheep.  Killed fat Ewe.  Put 68 back in Reserve  put 8 weak ones on hill.  gave Gum water   El Ev & Top drove to Ada’s.  Willie came back
SAT 7   Out with Tolnui over F Schmidts Leopolds Adrians Finschs Bartosh Hulena’s   Killed one saw another.  Killed 3 on Buckland & Rhodes.  Saw Mr Nissen Killed 6 on his Section.  One run out of Max Fischer’s.  Over Heghs.  Came on light rain afternoon.  Light rain all night.  Tolnui had 10 scalps.
SUN 8   Light rain in the morning.  Went out with gun.  Nothing shot.  Rain cleared.  Tom went down to see A Friis about buying some fat Ewes.
MON 9   Put in some rows of Cabbage plants in garden.  Made up some fires on flat.  Mr Gower paid for his dipping = 11/-   Dull calm day.  Grass growing.  Rain now.

TU 10 MAY 1898
Made fires in flat.  JHB took “Cockie” & dray & case of emptie [empty] bottles directed to Robjohns & Sons Napier.  El & baby went in dray with John to see Mrs McNutt & little boy.  I attended a Jubilee Friendly meeting at Wingers.  Tom paid £1.0.0. to Friendly Society.  McLeod called in the afternoon & had a cup of tea & went on to Dannevirk.  Put 65 lambs 1 two tooth wether & 1 two tooth Ewe (67) out on back from Reserve, making 348 on back now,   in Reserve & hill.
WED 11   Made fires. & shook some grasseed & raked it in.  Put all Ewes out of Widerups.  Children at Orm. Concert tonight.  Dark, light showers.  A meeting of Rabbit Assn Committee.  All here.  Rabbiter Tolmui brought 100 scalps.  He received £5.0.0. payment on Acct.

TH 12 MAY 1898
Shook & raked grasseed on flat.   Also shook on burnt patches on back Sect.  Drizzly day.  Ada here sewing.  Attended First Road Board meeting.  Elected Chairman.  Thomsen Gundersen & Lund  A. Andersen absent, bad with Sciatica.
FR 13   Shook grasseed on flat & back patches, did not rake it, too much ground burnt for that.  Found a dead lamb which had become maggoty behind.  Steady rain.  Growth in the grass.  John at Ada’s tonight expecting to go in excurtion [excursion] train to Waipukurau tomorrow.  9d.  El baby & Tom at JHB’s   Saw Mr McNutt.
SAT 14   Rain today.  Finished Grasseed shaking.  Fires nearly all out.  Skylarks picking up the seed, altho well washed into ashes.  John came home today.  Too wet for excurtion to Waipukurau.

SUN 15 MAY 1898
All at home.  Dull calm day.  Went out to back with gun.  Fired at pheasant gun hung fire, did not kill anything.  John rode to Orm – Sunday school.  J & G went to Lutheran Church at night.  Small birds picking up seed on burnt patches, must rake some tomorrow.
MON 16   Raked in seed shook last week.  Mr Lochhead & Mrs Finsch for dinner.  Rabbiter Tolmui called.  Killed sheep.  Sent cheque £2.2.0 to Wms & Kettle.  Calm fine day.
TU 17   Finished raking seed in flat.  Auntie Flor Mrs McNutt & child came.  El got 2 bags flour & 50lbs at J J Brownes & 1/- worth potatoes.  Saw B Gundersen on flat & Laurvig.  Copied subscription list heading for latter.  Heavy frost this morning. Grass white.  Warm sunny day.

WED 18 MAY 1898
Went with El & baby in buggy to meet B Gundersen on Hill.  Agreed to addition to R.B. office.  In school.  Saw P Sanders re repairs inside school.  Letter from J Sandtmann re loan of 550 at 5%.  Cross cut some matai firewood on Flat.  Heavy frost this morning.  Ground white.
TH 19   Went with Inspector Ticknor & Tolnui over German Line Sections & Nordbyes bush.  Rabbit killed in latter.  Fine day after the heavy frost.  Auntie Mrs McNutt El Ev & Flor & boy at Toms.  El weak & faint at night.
FR 20   Rode up to Toms to see about him going to Napier tomorrow.  Wet cold day.  JHB here.  A great deal of rain fell today.  El expecting to go to Napier tomorrow & stay there for a month for a change.  Wrote out to night a cheque for £5.0.0.  No. 111778

SAT 21 MAY 1898
Up early.  Tom came & had breakfast here.  Put his horse in buggy & drove he and El to Orm Station.  Wetting rain fell.  Called at J J Brown’s & gave him cheque for £5.0.0. & 2/-   Received from him £3.0.0.  Fine in the afternoon.  Found dead lamb on back.  Had gun, got nothing.  Sawed & split bit of matai on flat.  The baby is good.  Looks for mama & calls out for her sometimes, is asleep now.  Her Mama in Napier tonight, near sea.
SUN 22   All at home except Mama.  A good deal of rain fell last night & this morning.  Very fine afternoon.  Baby good.
MON 23   Fine day.  Cleaned out & wheeled from pigstye manure into garden.  Letter from El at Caledonian Hotel.  Top washed clothes this morning, baby very good.  Florrie came & went with Top & baby in pram to Woodhouses.  Line from G Hunter M H R

24 MAY 1898
Fine day went out with John & gun, did not shoot.  Sent Tom a brown paper parcel.  Mary & Florrie drove up.  Willie Ella & their father came, latter with hand saw to be sharpened.  Found dead lamb on back scoured & maggotty.  Skinned it.  John had a holliday [holiday] .  Mustered back this afternoon.  Sheep on flat.  Flor came is here tonight.  Swept out shed.  Cold.
TH 26   Paid Barclays account & traps – £1.19.6.  Drove up to Toms & went over his paddocks.  Flor Top & baby in the house.  Flor & Top took 8 lbs butter to Brown, would not take it.  Letter from El in Napier.  Got in all dry sheep one lamb scoured & maggotty.  Picked out & put in shed scoured ones.

FR 27 MAY 1898
Dagged & dosed lambs in shed & put 15 on lawn.  Remainder on ridges & Widerups.  Sheep look fairly well & strong.  Killed fat sheep in new shed.  Top Flor & baby at Woodhouses.  Sold him 8lbs of butter.  Very fine day.  Frost last night.
SAT 28   Skinned hoggt.  Went with John 9 to Orm to meet express & El & Tom back from Napier.  Cold evening.  Ground white at tea time.  Covered with snow.  Hard night on stock.
SUN 29   At home.  Florrie Top & John to Orm church & Sunday school.  Home for tea.  Cold dry day.  Wind tonight.
MON 30   Squally with showers.  Sent letter to G. Hunter MHR & to Robjohns & Co with £1.  Made titoki mall.  Repaired armchair.  Mrs Ole Olsen & sister called re tea meeting.  Pedlar woman called.  Flor went to Orm.  Mrs Thodsen has baby girl.  Squally.

TU 31 MAY – JUNE 1898
At Ada’s helping at fence.  Put in hens strainer & two totara strainers at back gate.  El sold 5 lbs butter to Woodhouses.  B Gundersen called on school business.  Boiled Swede turnips.  Very nice to eat.
WED 1st JUNE 1898
Went to see work done at the School in company with B Gunderson as Visiting Comtte.   Sawed & split some firewood.  Tom called & got 14lbs mutton.  Fine day.
TH 2nd   Helped John B with his fence near house.  Rained some.  Fine night   xxxx attended school committee.
FR 3rd   Very fine day.  Made 2 hurdles one for Gundersens corner & 1 for sheep yards,  JHB brought home “Cockie” & dray & case of stout.  He paid freight 2/11.  Carted in load of matai firewood.
SAT 4   Carted in load of maire chips & matai.  Got in dry sheep 332.  At Lutheran tea.  Letter from GH  MHR

SAT 4 JUNE 1898
El Flor Top & baby at Mrs L Andersens.  Called at Mrs Harriss.  Got vegetables, gave mutton.  Got 1/- worth of potatoes at Woodhouses.
SUN 5   Children & Flor at Orm church.  The others at home.  Dull calm day.
MON 6   Carted in firewood off flat & took out horse & dray & sledge to back & logged up on track to posts, with horse.  Carted home from there a load of firewood.  Attended Road Board meeting at night.  In afternoon Lespolt from G Line came with petition.
TU 7   ­Met at 10 o’clock on G Line, Breisken Thomsen Gundersen & Leopold.  Saw what work was to be done.  Carted in load of firewood off flat.  Shook grasseed gathered in manger on bank of creek.  Strippped earth off gravel near brown gate.  Light rain.  El walked to Woodhouses for stamps.

WED 8 JUNE 1898
Light rain all day worked a little in new shed at putting flooring boards closer.  Rabbit meeting tonight.  Light rain.
TH 9   Light wetting rain.  Sent 5/10 worth of stamps to E Gilbertson Rabbit rates.  Worked some putting flooring boards together in Woolshed.  Tolnui & Tom for afternoon tea.  El bad & weak tonight.  Dioerea etc.  Got 2/- worth brandy.
FR 10   Spread load of gravel at back door   Florrie here today.  El somewhat better.  John B came & got “Cockie” & dray.  Sent 100 N F Society leaflets to Mr Webber.  Killed sheep.  Put 9 back in Reserve 4 lambs & 5 fat ewes.  Mrs Beckett & sister.
SAT 11   Put all dry sheep on back & Ewes in front.  Put 5 killing ewes in Reserve & 4 hoggs.  John B brought back horse & dray.  Cockie hot, kept him in cart shed all night.  Hard frost.

SUN 12 JUNE 1898
John rode up to Tom’s.  Both back for dinner.  Drove to JHB.  Home early.  Cold night again.  Alf Neal for tea & Tom.
MON 13   With horse on back making track & fires.  Brought home load at dinner time & at night.  Tom Nickolls & Mrs at tea.  El Flor & Ev Got flax near J Gollans.
TU 14   Tom took home horse & dray.  We drove to JHB & had dinner.  Met Mr Hunter in Schmidts coach coming to Norsewood.  Tied up 2 bundles of skins for Wms & Kettle.  Mr Hunter came down here in the afternoon.  Went with him & had tea at Youngs Hotel   he [?] Delivered an address in Village Hall.  I was in the chair.  Quiet orderly meeting
WE 15   Went to help John B with his fence   Tom carted skins to Station.  Had an invitation note from Mr Friberg.

TH 16 JUNE 1898    BABY ONE YEAR OLD
Drove to Ericksons with El Ev & Flor   Drove on to Lunds place.  Left Darkie & buggy there.  Went with T Nickolls & Lund along Ngamoku Road on to end of Prices Road.  Along Halliburt road past Gollans.  On to Bartosks road where Adrian was employed by Nickolls in cutting rushes on road.  Stopped him as we considered he was doing more harm than good.  Came along German Line to Norsewood.  Found roads in good condition & kept in order according to Specifications.  Cutting rushes on Mortensens road not necessary.  Instructed Nickolls to attend to Matamau Township requirements, which he has faithfully promised to do.  Recommend Board to pay Contractor his money.  Sale in Norsewood.  Conference with Murray & Mathews.

FR 17 JUNE 1898
Helped El at her washing.  Florrie rode home on Darkie.  Afternoon on back firing.
SAT 18   Rain last night & this morning   Worked in woolshed.  El & Ada bough [bought] some wedding presents at Eriksens for Miss Friberg.  Charlie Smith called with trap and had tea.  Letter from Mr Blakiston & £50 cheque from G Hunter MHR, for N Jubilee fund.
SUN 19   Fine day.  Walked over to back through scrub.  Cocksfoot grasseed not showing up well.  Rye looking better.  Children at Orm Church.  John at JHB tonight.  Windy afternoon & showers.
MON 20   Worked in shed closing floor.  O Gundersen called.  Ada for dinner.  She & El walked to Grants for drapery.
TU 21   Short day.  O Gundersen called for horse & dray.  Meeting at Wingers N J F Soc   £5 granted to A Andersen 2, Gilbrantsen  £3.10.0  DeLambo £2 to Larsen.  Rotorua

WE 22 JUNE 1898
Messrs Dawson & Grant.  Prohibitioners called to see Mr A Webber who was here writing out cheques for 4 recipients.  Went to L Hall to hear address
TH 23   Rain all day & heavy at night.  Creek up tonight.  Cannot go to Mrs Fribergs dance. Worked in shed.  John came home with Tom today.
FR 24   Rain today.  No newspaper.  In shed working.  Fitting up wool pens.
SAT 25   Planted Pinus Insignus tree at sheep yard gateway not much rain today.  Creek went down quick.  Worked in shed.  Put up shelf etc.  Mrs Winger was buried today.
SUN 26   Went through all sheep.  No deaths.  Boiled turnips for pigs in boiler at washouse.  Drove to Anton Andersen   Gave him the £5 cheque.  Poor baby not at all well tonight.  Dysentry [dysentery]

MON 27 JUNE 1898
Killed fat ewe.  Made & carted hurl [?] to “Top” gateway.   Mr Webber called.  Letter from G.H.M.H.R.  Fine day, not cold.
TU 28   Mr Westall & Miss Friberg married today.  Mr Beckett called & had lunch and gave me cheque from Mr Colenes [?] for £2.2.0 on behalf of Jubilee Fund.  Sent letter to G Hunter M.H.R.  Put in posts totara  Flat – shed paddock.  Carted gravel to gateway & to shed door.  Fine drying day.
WED 29   John and his mother went to Toms   Helped him to get his hogg in & pick out the weak ones – 40.  I got in ewes off flat & crutched 20 & put back.  Mr & Mrs Webber –
TH 30   Crutched 118 & put them on flat and 2 poor ewes in Reserve & 2 lambs in Reserve.  Got in sheep off ridges & crutched 13.  Filled shed   This has been a fine month, generally.

FR 1st JULY 1898
Crutched 81 which were in the shed last night.  Mustered the remainder on Widerups & put them in shed.  High wind & rain all last night.  Florrie came with spare ribs.  Ella went home.  El drove out with Mr & Mrs Webber who had tea here.
SAT 2nd   Married 14 years today.  John & El drove up to see Mrs F Smith.  Finished crutching the ewes 32.  Cut some round rails in bush at the back & dragged out with Cockie   Went with El to Wesleyan concert.
SUN 3rd   At home.  John Orm Sun School
MON 4   Boiled 3 barrowfuls of turnips in big boiler.  Florrie helped.  Children went to school this morning again.  Heifer went over wire netting into turnips   very fine day.  Road Board meeting at night.  Struck rate 1½ in the £ etc.

TU 5 JULY 1898
Went with horse to back Sec.  Cleared some of the track to totara posts.  In late.  Went to Village Hall.  Meeting.
WED 6   High wind last night.  Squally today & rain.  Walked to Norsewood R Board office.  Signed valuation list.  Asked Briesken to put pipes into new addition.  Calf drank today.  Attended school Com. Meeting.  Lilly calved nearly a week ago   John found her & calf on last Saturday.  Calf with cow a day or two.  Hard to get him to suck the finger.  This had been a hard day on sheep & cattle.
TH 7   Drove up to Toms.  El & Ev. Tom drove them back here.  I met Pettersen Beckett & Gundersen, went down gully through Toms Leasehold to see for a roadline.  Back to J McLees  met Murray & H Mortensen.  Went to Te Ohu crossing.  Dug out pinus Ins & planed in S yard near wool shed.

FR 8 JULY 1898
Rain hail & wind.  Severe on stock today.  Got letter from Wms & Kettle enclosing cheques for £2. 12. 9 for 31 pelts & skins & 1 calf skin.  Children took “Strawberry” to Woods but bull not available.  Cows home again.
SAT 9   Up at 5.30.  Milked fed pigs, calf etc had breakfast at 7 o’clock.  Walked up to hill.  After F Sugar & Breiske had breakfast.  Went exploring beyond Gollans, over Moari [Maori] ground on through bush to Makeretu river & across through green bush to Manawatu at Brieskes Sec.  Walked to […]   had a lift home.  Mary & Florrie here.
SUN 10   Windy.  Black heifer round took her to Carl Schmidts bull had difficulty in getting the other two cows with her.  Put her, Maggie & calf out on back.  Very windy tonight   John rode to S.S.

MON 11 JULY 1898
Dreadful high wind Last night & today.  Rain fell in the afternoon.  Not so windy tonight.  Old slab fence blown against yew tree.  Put in totara posts around pinus trees at sheep yds.
TU 12   High wind last night and all this day.  Mended stab fence which was partially blown down.  Dug out 3 gooseberry bushes and planted 2 in garden & one in gully plantation.
WED 13   Arbor day.  Boiled turnips & hoggt in big boiler.  Went to back with horse & dray for round rails & posts.  El & baby went to JHB’s   Tickner Rabbit Insp called yesterday.  Comm. here tonight.
TH 14   Fenced a tree in sheep yard.  Heavy shower.  Sledged in load of slabs from Totara hill, to make rails for tree guards. & cleaned remainder of sledge track up to hill.
FR 15   Tom came.  Killed pig.  Windy.  Went to back & mustered sheep & filled shed for crutching.  Flor, Mary, C Smith & Ada came.

SAT 16 JULY 1898
Crutched & put on Ridges 161.  John Mary & Flor put ewes out on back.  Wind   Tom helped.  Cut up pig & put in salt.  El & Mary drove to Orm.  Raid & cold.  Charlie came from Te Aute last train.
SUN 17   At home John rode to S School   In the evening C Smith & Ada came.  He Tom Charlie & John helped me get in remainder of sheep off Flat & fill the shed.  Calm day at last.
MON 18   Sent letter containing £172.15. to J Sandtmann Manager Northern Investment Co. NZ Crutched   hoggt etc.  Put six fat ones in Reserve.  Mustered the remainder.  All in shed tonight.  Found one stranger undipped lamb Earmark unknown.  Many ticks in him.  Killed him   This has been a fine calm day.

TU 19 JULY 1898
Finished crutching put 3 more fat ewes in Reserve, making 9 & 3 there previously – 12.  Have now in front paddocks 321 crutched sheep after deducting 4 hoggt in plantation and 9 fats in Reserve.  Pressed a light bale of crutchings & 3 skins on top.  Dug out pinus tree & planted between sheds.  Murray came at night – about Road in Te Ohu Block.  El has sore hand & a sore finger.  Gertie home today.
WED 20   Dug out Cryptomaria at Road & planted it near house.  Took bale of crutchings to Orm. & Charlie went home.  Got case from J J Browne.  Got Security Instrument from J.C. Westall
TH 21   Planted Holly (young) near house, between oak & cryptimaria.  Dug out Poplar in pig paddock.  Dug tree holes.  Tom carted home his gate timber from Nissens.

FR 22 JULY 1898
Planed & fenced macrocarpa tree on side of “Shed Hill”.  Planted cherry tree opposite bedroom window   Showers.  J Goodwin left sheep in yard tonight.  Cold winds & showers tonight.
SAT 23   Heavy rain last night.  El & John Drove to J.H.B.  Got Magnum Bonum seed potatoes from Wms & Kettle.  John helped me get in to front paddocks from back, Ewes & put out dry sheep  Recd letter from J Sandtman with receipt for £172.15.0 & also postal notes for 11/10 as overpaid interest.  My next interest comes due on the 1st February 1899.  Amount £13.15.0 and on the 1st August £13.15.0
SUN 24   Light rain forenoon, heavier in the afternoon.  At Orm. Church confirmation service 15 females 3 boys Ada Florrie & Willie.  Bishop Williams.

MON 25 JULY 1898
Top at home.  Sore throat.  El sore arm.  Has to bathe & rub liniment on it.  Carted in load of maire chips etc.  Sledged in load of totara slabs.  El walked to Norsewood to see Mrs Webber.  She was not at home.
TU 26   Fine in the forenoon.  Sledged in a load of totara posts from for clump of 5.  Very heavy rain in the afternoon.  Ada came,  Squally tonight.  Hard on stock.
WED 27   Very fine day.  Sawing on Ridges track forenoon.  Afternoon cut grass in Laurel hedge.  Put 2 laurels in weak part of hedge & manured with dags & clipt hedge.  Planted fir tree where elder stood at hill gateway.  El & Ev & Top visiting at Orm.
TH 28   Went to H Mortensens to get some sheep which H.M. though were mine.  They were not mine.  Sawed & split some rata firewood.  Planted willow in rubbish hole.  El got some poisoned wheat at Ericksen.

FRI 29 JULY 1898
Very heavy showers in the forenoon.  Drove to Toms.  B Gundersen considered the weather too rough to go & look at intended new road.  Stayed at Toms in the rain.  Top at J.H.B.’s tonight. She got 2 ½ yds tweed at P G Grants today.  El making pants for me tonight.  Inspector Ticknor called, he is staying at Orm.
SAT 30   Windy & showers all day & cold.  Fenced a few trees.  John washed buggy.  Top came home from J.H.B.’s   Got in sheep & killed one.  Put 9 hoggt 11 fats back.  Raining at present.  Wind & rain every day.
SUN 31   Snowing this morning at daylight   Kept on until the ground is covered with a heavy fall of snow.  Ground now covered & freezing.  Bad for all kinds of stock.  The two cows “Lillie” & “Strawberry” in the stalls.  Could eat more hay if they got it.  The end of this month was rough.  Cold windy & rain.  5 poor lambs in gully plantation.

MON 1st AUGUST 1898
Snow disappeared about 10am.  Fine clear sunshiny day.  Worked a little in the afternoon about the house.  Attended Road Board meeting at night.  Al present.
TU 2   Showers & cold.  Pulled down old wool table in buggy shed & put up two boards for a bench.  Attended N.J.F. Society at night at Wingers.  Messrs Wright & Nelson from Orm. attended on behalf of the late E.T. Olsen’s orphans.  Frost.
WED 3   Poor “Darkie” feels bad – unable to pass anything, gave him a dose of oil & eased him somewhat.  In garden tonight.  Attended school Comm.  Sent cheque for £2.6.0 yesterday as house insurance money.  J.H.B. called tonight and El agreed to bye [buy] his chestnut mare for £6.0.0.   Cold with winds.  This afternoon saw the two first lambs   Inspected each side DAHLS road with Lund & Gundersen forenoon.

TH 4 AUGUST 1898
Went through ewes, a third ewe has a single.  Looked in back sec for the 3 head of cattle.  Saw where they were in the snow & hard weather, in the scrub, fair feed & sheltry.  Good feed for sheep.  Front paddocks bare.  Every settler complaining of want of grass.  Many cattle have died in the district already.  Auntie Flor & Milly McNutt came today.  They brought the mare & foal.  Put the latter & darkie in back Sec.  El paid Woodhouse’s bill today.  This has been a fine calm warm day.  Carted in 2 loads of sawn & split rata firewood.
FR 5   Dull calm day.  Planted 2 st pines in pig paddock & 1 in gully plantation.  Round ewes 1 more single lamb.  Sledged in 2 loads of totara posts from back sec.  El & John went to Orm Church to practice [practise] in choir.  Rain, not heavy tonight.  John B has his sheep killed & worried.

SAT 6 AUGUST 1898
Wet morning.  Walked across to J.B.’s to see about the sheep worrying.  A good many worried.  Six killed.  One ewe died before & one moping after the worrying.  Heavy rain today, paddocks in front bare.  Fair feed in Reserve & back.  About 4 lambs.
SUN 7   Heavy rain all last night & today paddocks wet & bare 4 singles last night.  Found ewe dead in Widerups under log.  Skinned her.  Raining at present.  Looks like flood.  Must be careful of hay for 2 cows.  Top found turkeys nest & 5 eggs.  One to three hens laying nearly all winter.
MON 8   Heavy showers & sunshine nearly all day.  Raked in some manger grasseed on flat.  Fenced willow the other side of creek.
TU 9   Through ewes, no fresh lambs.  Raked in seed on burnt patches on back.  Made some rails out of totara sap.  El brought up Milly McNutt.  Wrote Kemp Waipukurau.

WED 10 AUGUST 1898
Ewe with twins the first.  Put them in Reserve.  Drove more to Mrs Fribergs with El Ev & Milly.  Mrs F had dogs in her sheep last night or rather the night before, and 2 killed.  Had dinner at Ada’s.  Put 2 pannels [panels] of fence over creek at Rails.  Rabbit Comm. Meetg.
TH 11   Through Ewes.  Two ewes with twins.  Fine warm forenoon.  Rain in the afternoon.  Put up bench for pots buckets etc at back chimney.  Made some rails out of totara slabs on back.  Had to come home wet.  P.G. Grant & T Barclay round yesterday to see if sufficient money could be collected to start a library.  They put my name down for 10/6.
FR 12   Wet all day & all night.  Rain at present and pitch dark.  Put a second ewe & twins in Reserve & 2 with twins in shed paddock. Killed a twin lamb.

SAT 13 AUGUST 1898
Heavy rain from East all last night – & today & tonight & pitch dark.  3 or 4 Ewes lambed last night.  Put 2 Ewes with twins in Reserve this morning & 2 ditto this afternoon.  6 now with 12 lambs.  Cleaned out drain at end of house & planted 2 poplars in gully plantation.  Mended wire in B Gundersens fence.  No communication outside.  Wet & miserable.
SUN 14   Heavy rain night and day.  Two ewes had twins last night of 1 or 2 singles.  One of the Ewes with twins in Reserve lost one of her lambs, think it was swept down creek the other weak unable to stand.  Put skin of latter on a twin lamb.  Ewe took at once both in shed tonight.  Raining hard now.  El & John drove Milly to JHB this evening.  The night dark, every prospect of a flood.  There has been constant rain since Thursday afternoon.  Hard for poor lambs to live.

MON 15 AUGUST 1898
Rain ceased this morning.  Rained again in the afternoon.  Through Ewes a few singles & one or two twins.  Shut the 4 rams up on hill.  Dug round & manured the 4 fruit trees at Stock yard.  John found the shells of the geese eggs think the rats have broken & eaten them.
TU 16   Fine day at last.  Found young ewe unable to lamb, got her in & took it away, a very big one.  Let the ewe go.  Found Ewe standing over dead lamb got her in & gave her a twin.  Some single & 2 doubles last night.  Skinned a very poor 2 tooth in reserve.  Killed a sheep.  Got return from Wms & Kettle for Crutching £3.12.2 & 4d for skins.  Good feed in Reserve for this time of year.  Good enough feed on back, but somewhat understocked.  Nothing to spare in front paddocks.

WED 17 AUGUST 1898
Fine growing day.  Got in 3 ewes with 6 lambs.  Ewes lambing steadily.  Gave one brown one to Walter Thodsen.  Split 19 rails up gully.  Good grass on back.
TH 18   Brought in 2 more Ewes with twins this makes 10.  Knocked 2 on head & boiled them for fowls with turnips.  Ewes lambing steadily.  Warm growing weather.  Sledged in 2 loads of sap rails for fencing trees between here & Fred Schmidts, but the ground is soaking with water & drain full.  El & baby went to Hill & paid P.G. Grants bill £2.2.2 & also sheep Rate 12/-   J Neal rode across back Sec.
FRI 19   Got in ewe with twins before breakfast (11) Lambing steadily.  El digging in garden, has some early potatoes (Mag. Bonum) & other seeds.  Some peeping.  Sledged totara posts.  Top at Mrs Drowers tonight, at a party.  Rain tonight.

SAT 20 AUGUST 1891 [1898]
Brought in 5 ewes with twins & one ewe with a single. 16 with twins now & 2 with singles.  Lambing steadily.  Growing day.  Put 18 mixed sheep out on back from Reserve to make room for Ewes & lambs.  John found goose’s nest up the creek with 13 eggs in it.  Put in a row of strawberry plants in garden.  Sent Kemp a registered letter.  Saw Rains Publican Re Pound.  Declined the office.
SUN 21   Very fine day.  Went to Orm Church.  Top & baby at home.  Dinner at JHB.  He rode from Church to Ada’s & to Mrs Friberg.  In the afternoon got in a Ewe which had a dead lamb & gave her another lamb.  Found a black & tan dog here, tied him up.
MON 22   Through Ewes on flat with John got in 3 with twins for Reserve.  19 with twins, 2 singles.  El & baby at Becketts.  Thodsen carted sack potatoes here.  Price 13/-

TUE 23 AUGUST 1898
A wet day.  No twins to bring in.  3 or four singles last night & today.  The 2 cows Strawberry & Lilly stood at the Reserve gate the whole day, in the rain.  Let them in early & gave them hay.  Colder tonight.
WED 24   Light rain.  Growing day.  Found a young lamb downed in Gundersen’s creek.  Put twin on the Ewe.  Found 3 dead lambs in Widerups.  Got in one of the Ewes.  Fenced oak tree in Widerups, at the corner.  Planted oak tree at the clothes line hill.  Takes a great deal of time & material to fence a single tree.  John helped me get in the Ewes after he came home from school.  We take “Spot” also.  It disturbs the ewes somewhat.
TH 25   Very fine day.  Only 1 or 2 lambs   JHB Auntie & Flor here for dinner & went to Tom’s also El & baby, the latter drowsy tonight.  Mrs Nelson & Mrs Smith called & also Mrs Drower.  Letter from Kemp.  Waipukurau.

FR 26 AUGUST 1898
Another fine day.  Sold 3 fat Ewes to D O’Hara for 27/-   He took them home in cart.  Only 2 ewes lambing.  Lambs coming slowly.  Fenced oak planted at clothesline.  Removed oaks in garden, transplanted them.  Poor baby bad last night & today with influenza.  Improving tonight.  El bad with it tonight.  Caught it at Becketts a few days ago.
SAT 27   El & baby better today but a long way from being well.  No fresh lambs.  Cleared flat & mustered back.  Picked out 26 fat sheep (2 wethers included) 3 poor hoggs for reserve 1 Ewe in lamb, which we put on Ridges.  Put on back 34 Ewes mostly poor & medium.  Only 1 two tooth wether.  266 Hoggets.  Total on back now 301.  Fine warm day.  Mary rode up this afternoon.

SUN 28 AUGUST 1898
Another fine day.  No fresh lambs.  John rode to church.  Auntie here in the afternoon.  John rode down after her with a note from his mother Re Ada’s affair.  Baby + tonight.
MON 29   One Ewe with twins & 1 with Single.  D O’Hara & F Schmidt took away 20 fat sheep (18 ewes 2 wethers) this morning.  D O’Hara paid me £10 for same.  El sent J.H.B. £6 for the chestnut mare.  Killed sheep   Dug a little in garden.  Auntie Aa & Flor here sewing & cake making.  Fine day.  Mrs Westall called in the afternoon.
TU 30   Two singles.  Heavy showers.  Dug in garden.  El went with Miss Webb to JHB John drove her home at 8.30 – Wedding arrangements.
WED 31   Sent Reserve rent cheque £2.5.6.  Put 2 Ewes with twins in Reserve 21 now and 2 singles.  Went to Orm Concert.  El frosting Wedding cake.  This has been a good month.

TH 1st SEPT 1898
A few snowflakes in the morning, but it turned out a very fine day.  Got the mare shod.  Paid 5/6  Had the shoes taken off Cockie, brought them home.  One ewe with twins 2 singles.  Carted from back Sec a load of firewood.  Florrie here.  Shook Rye on a bit of dug ground in the garden, the first bit of cropping.
FR 2   Very fine day.  Put 2 ewes with twins in Reserve – 23 now.  Dug a little in garden.  Drove up to the School & stayed inside a hour.  El shopping.  Top came home at midday.  Cool.  Grass short, no growth to speak of.
SAT 3   Very fine day.  Lambing slowly.  El at Ada’s. John & I saw two rabbits on back & John saw one go into Mortensens paddock.  We set fire to the tree which we thought the rabbit went into.  Willie came back with El.

SUN 4 SEPT 1898
Big tree where rabbits were seen, burnt down.  El & John & Willie went to Orm Church.  The two youngsters to Lutheran at night.  Fine.
MON 5   Very fine day.  Put in 3 rows of potatoes in garden, 2 of Beauty of Hebron next Rye with ashes & manure & one row of Magnum Bonum manured.  Took in 2 ewes with twins = 25 now.  Some fresh singles, very good ones.  At RB Meeting.  John saw a small rabbit on back Section.
TU 6   Another fine day   El at Ada’s in the afternoon.  Top came home from school at dinnertime.  Went out on back with John dogs & gun dogs chased rabbit.  Brought in a ewe with twins = 26.  Jubilee F Society at Wingers.  Granted £2.2. to Berger Olsen & £3.3. to Olsens Family.  The grass gives signs of growing in front paddocks.

WED 7 SEPT 1898
Ada & Charlie Smith married today at Ada’s Fathers House & after the Breakfast I drove them to the Makatoku railway Station.  They went to Wanganui.  Beautiful day.  John & I saw & smoked out of log a rabbit.  Attended School Committee meeting.
TH 8   Drew in 2 loads of firewood off Flat.  Relieved a ewe of twins – dead.  Put her in front of house.  Fine but windy.
FR 9   Windy drying day.  Made fires up the creek.  Made maire swingle tree.  Got into Reserve Ewe with twins.  Rain   27 Ewes in now with twins.
SAT 10   Calm warm day.  Found big lamb dead on flat.  Skinned & opened it.  Wool inside.  Put twin lamb on mother.  Put ewes & lambs on back except those in Reserve.  Put all dry sheep on front.  Flor & Mary came in buggy.

SUN 11 SEPT 1898
Fine day.  All at home.  John at Ormll S. School.  Saw 2 young rabbits on back Sec.  In the evening pulled them out of  hole in a totara stump.  The dogs chased them on lawn.  “Bran” catches & holds very well.  “Spot” will not bite them.  The hay nearly done.  What is left at the bottom is musty & dusty.  Cows in need of hay, very much this month.  Both poor.
MON 12   Dragged some logs with “Cockie” in Reserve & heaped them up.  Started after dinner to make sledge track to totara posts on back over slip dam.  Found lamb jambed amongst roots of burnt stump.  It died an hour or two after I took it out.  John took some things belonging to Ada over to her & stayed at Willie’s all night.  News today.  Empress of Austria stabbed to the heart & C. Garforth Ormll arrested for embezelment [embezzlement].  Weather very fine.

TU 13 SEPT 1898
Another fine day.  Rain wanted.  Ground getting dry.  Made fires on sledge track on back.  El walked to PGG [?] & back.
WED 14   Dry & windy.  Fires going in the Reserve.  Went with A B Thomson up the German Line & measured 29 chains up to Nissen’s gate, 25 chains of which requires mettalling.  Looked at work to be done at Lespoldts corner.  Made fires on back Sec on Sledge track.  No meeting of Rabbit Com owing to Becketts absence.  Present Gundersen Gollam & Pettersen.  J Woods called with clothes basket, paid him 4/-
TH 15   Shook seed (manger stuff clover & cocksfoot) on log ashes in Reserve & back.  Good shower fell this evening.  Walked over back through Ewes & lambs, 1 single today.  Skinned hoggt in Reserve.  D O’Hara called about getting a few killing sheep.  Tolmic & Beckett came after tea.

FR 16 SEPT 1898
Granny’s birthday.  Born 1808.  Put 3 sheep out of Reserve into front paddocks making 304.  Killed 4 tooth Ewe.  Twin lambs in Reserve looking well.  Not much grass in front paddocks.  Fair on back.  Hay all done.  Cows will not eat the bit of musty hay which is left.  Finished sledge track to posts on hill beyond dam.  Sledged from 10.  Cockie fell off bridge into creek today.  Steady rain falling tonight.  Dull calm day.
SAT 17   Dull calm day.  Rabbiter Tolmic came.  John & I went with him & killed 2 rabbits on back.  One of them ran out of Mortesens Sec.  Afternoon dragged in some posts & John went to Magnusens to enquire about bull.  Black heifer round.  Dragged a few logs on Reserve.
SUN 18   Fine day.  Went to church with John & El.  Baby & Top at home.  Dinner at JHB.  Went to back after breakfast & brought in the black heifer.

MON 19 SEPT 1898
Mustered front paddocks   D O’Hara & Fred Schmidt picked out & took away 22 fat sheep at 10/- each is to pay next month.  He also promised to buy black heifer for £3.0.0   Dagged the Hoggets 269 came on wet, good rain fell.  Put on back 19 mixed dry sheep.  Raddled red on head.  El drove to Blairgowrie.
TU 20   Dragged in load of posts from back   Put some logs together in Reserve with horse & fired them, breezy.  Wind tonight. Put “Lilly” in garden to eat long grass.  She is very poor.  The last bit of hay gone now.  Hay very much required this month.
WED 21   Windy.  Fires in Reserve, dragged some logs with Cockie.  Fires up gully El helping  poor baby fell on a sharp root & cut her forhead [forehead].  D O”Hara took away black heifer.
TH 22   Dry weather.  Put in 2 rows of Magnum Bonum potatoes.  Mr Roach Dannvirk called with sheep buyer.  None to sell.

FRI 23 SEPT 1898
Put in row of Magnum Bonum’s.  The row next mangolds all round seed this end.  Put in 3 rows of mangolds, manured.  Afternoon made hurdle & fixed alley for docking.  El rode up to see if Tom can come tomorrow.  He goes to Dannvirk.  John has gone to Florries to ask her father, but he has to go to Orm Court House tomorrow”?
SAT 24   Hans Mortensen came to borrow “Cockie”   He helped me & John to muster Ewes & lambs and dock.  Not light enough to finish the Reserve mob, they are in the yard tonight, the big mob on flat.  Two ewes in lamb on lawn.  Put 5 hoggs on Widerups 45 dry sheep on reserve.  274 now on Widerups & front.  Left a sick ewe behind on back & a big ewe with a young lamb not able to stand up.  Dog “Bran” killed & partly ate the big black laying hen.  My “Favourite”.

SUN 25 SEPT 1898
Started with John to dock the lambs with the 27 Reserve Ewes.  Had them finished when Hans Mortensen came.  118 wether lambs 108 Ewe lambs exclusive of one Ewe lamb weak which died   93 ½ %.  Two ewes to lamb.  Brought in the big ewe from back with the weak lamb.  Put the skin on a twin lamb.  She took directly.  The ewe has big udder full of milk.  Hans took Cockie across paddocks.  Let down a few top wires.  Very fine day.  Did not milk the cows last 2 evenings.  Put 3 hoggs on Ridges.  277 in front paddocks
MON 26   Very fine & calm.  Shower at midday.  Put in & manured mangold seed.  Went on back Section.  Two Mr Hutts called.  A B Thomson called with Telegram: Carroll.
TU 27   The two Ewes in front had 4 lambs this morning.  Went to Gundries Road.  Carroll (Surveyor) not there to lay off road.  Very fine day.  230 lambs now.

WED 28 SEPT 1898
Dug the remaining bit of garden today.  B Gundersen came to say that Carrol Surveyor was on Gundries road.  Drove there.  El & baby waited at Becketts.  Took Carroll & Barge to see Dahls road.  Went through Kemps Christophersens & Mortensens Secs.  Favourable to Road going through latters land.  Carroll will send estimate of cost & surveying & Deed of Conveyance. Etc.  Very warm day.  Rain wanted.  Mrs Woodhouse.
TH 29   Another hot day.  Worked in flannel, no shirt.  Sawed a few passages for sheep through logs on back.  El in the afternoon went to JHB   Got bag flour tin kerosene oatmeal at J J Browns.  Shut up lawn for Hay.
FR 30   Hot day.  Sawed logs near McGreevey’s fence to give sheep plenty of room to pass by.  Sawed ends off totara log for posts at 5 stumps.  Saw “maggie” – springing.  This has been a fine dry month.  Rain much needed.

SAT 1st OCT 1898
Put 4 rail fence round oak on hill and smaller Wellingtonia Gigantia   Got in Reserve sheep.  Put 40 & Tom’s Hoggt back & 2 hoggt in Ridges 279 in front now.  Children went to Rev Sussex’s social.  I attended ½ yearly meeting Rabbit Association in Lutheran Hall.  Insp Ticknor.  No quorum.  Painter Olson paid me £2.5.0. leaving a balance unpaid = 1.0.0.
SUN 2   No rain.  El & John at Church Mr Hutt preached.  El walked to Manawatu Bridge.
MON 3   Got in the 40 dry sheep of Reserve   Axel Mortensen came and bought the best for 11/- each    the others 13 mostly poor & midling but well wooled for 10/- each.  I agreed to accept £21.0.0. for the mob – 40.  He gave cheque  £15.0.0. & £6 to be paid middle of next month.  Split 21 totara posts at back.  Attended Road B. Meeting.  Letter for Relief from Ole Olsen Carpenter.

TU 4 OCT 1898
Sent cheque to Union Bank £15.  Cut down some scrub lawyers etc in Reserve & fired.  Note & books from Beckett who is in Napier.  No meeting at Wingers.  Still dry & windy.
WED 5   Windy heaping up stuff in Reserve.  Showers in the afternoon.  Heavy a night with high wind.  Frost & snow in the night.  Attended School Committee meeting.
TH 6   Heaping up in Reserve & cutting lawyers.  Cold & high wind.  After tea rode to H. Mortensen’s met A Andersen & B Gundersen discussed the Dahl deviation (Road) question.  H Mortenson brought home Cockie yesterday.  Letter from G Hunter MHR enclosing one from Ole Olsen carpenter, to be translated and sent back.
FR 7   High wind & showers.  Stopped inside.  John B came about docking his lambs.  Sifted grasseed in hay shed, only rubbish.  1 docked lamb dead on back – leaves 229.  John B made a mistake    Grass very backward.  Windy & cold.

SAT 8 OCT 1898
Windy miserable day.  Docked the lambs at John B’s.  140 lambs 153 sheep.  3 rams.  Attended adjourned ½ yearly Rabbit meeting.  An additional 2 per acre struck on Ngamoka Sections for 6 months.
SUN 9   At last calm dull day.  Steady rain tonight.  All at home today.
MON 10   Steady rain all day.  Shook some grasseed rubbish on patches on back.
TUE 11   Very fine day after the rain.  Paddocks look fresh.  Brought “Maggie” in from back.  Heavy in calf.  Shook some seed rubbish etc in Reserve.  Dug a bit.  Mr Webber called.  Sent letter to G.H.M.HR. El at P.G. Grants.  Blair Gowrie & Ormondville.
WE 12   Dug at netting & put in remainder of seed potatoes & some mangolds.  A Mortensens man took away the 40 sheep.  Mrs Coles & 2 children called & Auntie.  Sent Post Card Sydney, Vi Cocoa

THU 13 OCT 1898
Fine day.  Painted patches on house & in front of verandah.  Killed a young sheep.  Made fires on back over steep track.  Docked 2 ewe & 2 wether lambs.  Total lambs docked 120 wethers 110 Ewe lambs.
FR 14   El & Ev at Florries.  Mr Watkins & Tom for dinner, came to see the rams.  With Cockie at back, dragged & fired some logs.  Saw rabbit   Sledged in load of totara posts.  Goose up creek with 8 goslings.  Put them in cart shed.  Letter & telegram G.H. M.H.R.
SAT 15   Put in Totara posts in front of lawn on road side & strained up.  El & children drove to Blairgowie, fine day.  Attended Rabbit meeting in Lutheran Hall.
SUN 16   Calm day.  Some rain   El & John at Orm. Church.  Tom for dinner & tea.  Children at Lutheran church at night.
MON 17   Splendid rain today.  Shook seed in Reserve.  Carl Schmidt’s house burnt down tonight

TU 18 OCT 1898
Splendid rain today.  C Schmidts house burnt down last night.  Shook seed in Resere.
WED 19   Drove up to P G Grants.  Bought things.  Paid him £1.10 including 10/6 library sub.  Paid W M Beckett £1.14.6   Bought things.  Carted in load of firewood Etc.  Fine day.
TH 20   Dreadful high wind in the morning.  Showers throughout the day & wind.  Children got wet going to school.  Send cheque to Mutual L.A. £2.17.10   El has pains today & is sick tonight.
FR 21   Sledged in some totara.  Top rode up for Florrie.  Surprise Party came.  Stayed eating dancing games singing etc until 1.30 AM.  Fine night not windy.
SAT 22   Maggie calved this morning.  Heifer.  Sledged home totara posts & blocks.  El Ev Top & Flor to Ormondville.  John fishing.  Went to Lutheran Coffee supper.  El & Ev in bed.  Calm & moonlight.

SUN 23 OCT 1898
Calm dull day.  Top rode to Orm. Church   letter from G.H.M.H.R. Re rabbit clause in Act.
MON 24   Wet day.  Rain coming from North.  Will do a lot of good.  Shook grasseed rubbish on patches on back.
TU 25   Fog in the morning.  Dull calm day.  Fixed maire fastening in back door of shed.
WED 26   Sawed & split some totara on back.  Wet afternoon.  Cold wet night with wind.  Rev Wills & Temperance lecturer called.
TH 27   Got shoes on Cockie paid 4/-   letter from G H.M.H.R. Re Grimwoods Question.  Sent letter & £1 to Robjohns & Sons   Order to Wm & Kettle for bales & goods etc.  Sent letter to G.H. M.H.R.  Sledged in totara in afternoon.  El Top & Ev to Ormondville.  Rev Wills & Lecturer called.  Children went to hear lecture in Lutheran Hall.  This has been a fine calm day.  Grass now in paddocks after the late rain.

FR 28 OCT 1898
Finished digging inside wire netting & shook swede turnip seed.  El & Ev drove to Mrs Friberg’s. Hoed potatoes in garden.  Fine.
SAT 29   Split & dragged home totara posts & small gateposts.  Rain in the afternoon.  John went with other boys to play cricket at Makato.  Fred Shugar called.  Showed him G.H.M.H.S. letters & telegram & copy Rabbit Act.
SUN 30   Showers & wind.  Children went to Orm Church & to Lutheran with me at night.  Showers & wind tonight.
MON 31   Windy and showers of rain during the forenoon.  After dinner went to Nissens mill with horse & dray for a load of 2nd class timber.  Got home 315 feet broad inch boards & 6 x 1 and some 4 x 2.  Letter from Wms & Kettle Re goods sent to Orm.  This has been a rough windy month.  Blowing now.

TU 1st NOVEMBER 1898
Went with two horses, Cockie & Darkie to Nissens for load of mixed timber went & passed work done at Leopoldts corner by Magnusen.  Latter started to put on 125 yards of gravel on Nissens end of German Line.  Chas. Christophersen Spreader.  Authorised 50 yards more to put on.  Paid Nissen £1.10.0.  Went To Orm.  Got salt, case of sundries & woolpacks from Wms & Kettle, & case of stout from Robjohns & Co.  Spade handle from JJ Brown left him 6/6 to my credit.  Meeting of Jubilee Com.  Rejected Big Olsen’s application.  £5.5.0. granted to Carl Schmidt if he does not get his £30 insurance money.
WED 2   Auntie & Flor came.  Top washing.  Drove her to school in Auntie’s buggy at 10 AM.  The others drove up to Toms.  Got 2 girths at saddlers.  Rev Wills called.  Attended at school com.  Plenty of rain.  Working at sheep yards.

TH 3 NOV 1898
Worked outside battens, new shed.  Put them closer & widened the place.  Rev & Mrs Wills called.  Rain again in the evening.  Palle Jasen sawing matai logs in Reserve.
FR 4   Met B Gundersen at school.  J.H.B. came for horse & dray.  El & Ev went to Orm with him.  He took down case of empties for Robjohns.  Sold to North 8 sheepskins for 17/6.  Drove to J.H.B.  Did some work at battens.  Bought 6 lbs of beef at Friis for 2/-   John B. Called.
SAT 5   Guy Fawkes Day.  Working at outside battens.  Fine day.  El At Orm.
SUN 6   Went through Hoggs in front nice clean feed.  On back no Rabbits.  At Orm. church with El & John.  Top & baby at home.  W. Price called with Tom. Re Shearing Gowers sheep.  Wind tonight again very high.  Shearers & Fleece- oh’s home from Hunters Station.

MON 7 NOV 1898
Worked at outside batten yard.  Hung gate etc.  Chestnut mare threw John off in Reserve, he rode her barebacked with rope round her neck.  His mother came off her on Orm road, saddle went round and under her belly.  Dry day.  Wind.  Attended Road Board meeting.
TU 8   Mary Flor Top & John heard blind musicians   Auntie came.  Dry with some wind.  Worked in sheep yard.  Mr Hill inspector arrived at school.  I called and saw him.
WED 9   Drove to J.H.B. with El & baby.  Brought back Cockie & dray.  Carted in firewood.  Two black dogs amongst J.H.B.’s sheep.  Beckett & Tom called.  Amundsen took away 2 large bales for Sven Andersen.  Went to Cricketers concert on hill.  Finished at sheep yards late.  Calm now.
TH 10   Rain last night & this morn heavy today.  Saw Olsens Gully with Gundersen & Lund & went into school & saw Mr Hill.  El & children to J.H.B.’s

FR 11 NOV 1898
Steady warm rain all day.  El Ev & self at home.  Greased & oiled cart & buggy harness.
SAT 12   Rain in the forenoon.  Afternoon J.H.B. & J Allen came & had dinner here.  Draft & buggy harness oiled today.
SUN 13   Walked over back, found poor Darkie tied up in a clump of supplejacks on hind leg fearfully cut through skin & sinews.  Put him out of his misery & covered him with dead wood.  Not much rain today.  Plenty of grass.  John bought in foal.  In Reserve now.
MON 14   Mustered hoggs.  Dagged till late.  200 done.  Put them on ridges & Widerups.  Could not finish.  Came on a heavy shower.  Put remainder in shed.  Gower’s man came to say he will shear tomorrow.  Cannot now, sheep wet.  Sent the 3 rams to D O’Hara’s for Watkins.  He sent me £6.0.0.  I want £6.6.0.

TU 15 NOV 1898
Finished dagging hoggs 281   Tom came & helped with the end of them & then helped muster ewes & put them in front paddocks & hoggs on back.  Watkins & Morton from Ashley-Clinton came about the rams now at O’Haras.  Agreed to let them have them.  Showers.  Got the £6.0.0. for the 3 rams and Axel Mortensen sent me £6.0.0. cheque for the 40 sheep (ballance) [balance] sold in October.
WED 16   Got in ewes & lambs & dagged them.  Tom helped.  Gowers boy came to tell me his father wanted his sheep shorn.  El went over to N Thodsen.  He went to shear for Gower.  We dagged the ewes 230 counting 3 in Reserve.  I then drove to Gowers & helped to shear some until dark.  A rabbit Com. Meeting.  Tom was put on Committee.  The last meeting of the Association to be held.

TH 17 NOV 1898
All drove to Orm & went to the Palmerston Show.  El & Ev at home.  Got there at midday.  Great crowd wet evening home late, about 10.  El met us with buggy.
FR 18   Showers in the morning went with El & Tom to Dannevirk to see Governor.  Good many people there.  Saw Lord Ranfurly Countess & children.  Home at 6.30   Sent £6.0.0. cheque to Bank and £6.5. to Wms & Kettle in payment of goods.
SAT 19   Went with horse & dray to Gowers for Woolpress.  Got in some ewes after dinner & with Tom shore 30   heavy shower.  Fleeces not heavy   John took   lbs butter to Beckett.
SUN 20   Children & their mother to Orm Church Fine day.  Got in & put in shed 79 ewes & the ram.  Docked 2 lambs.  3 strange ewes & lambs.  J Woods called about the boy Sorrensen, who interfered with his girl last week.

MON 21 NOV 1898
Shore 76 ewes & 1 ram.  Plenty of mats.  Fleeces not near so good as last year.  Put 4 woolly hoggs & 1 shorn ram in Reserve.  Got in a cut off flat & put 73 ewes in shed.  Sven Andersen paid 2/- for bail & returned another one.  This has been a fine calm day.
TU 22   Very warm day.  Shore 92 ewes & put 1 hogg in Reserve making 5 now & 1 of H Mortensens & 1 of Tom’s & the ram.  Sheep shore better today.  Put 25 ewes in shed tonight, the last total 223
WED 23   Finished the last of the ewes soon after breakfast.  Drove up to Tom’s with El & Ev.  Shore between 30 & 40 ewes.  Got three ¾ bales from C A Friis & Aug Svensen which they borrowed.  They ought to be full size bales.  Fine.
TH 24   Shearing at Toms.  Had to dag the ewes outside.  Good shearing day.  Ewes cutting good fleeces.

FR 25 NOV 1898
Up early at Toms at 5 AM.  Shore 16 the two of us before Breakfast.  Dagged & shore the remainder of the ewes.  El & baby in pram came & went home again.  John came in the evening with bread.
SAT 26   Went with horse & dray to Tom’s up there at 6 AM.  Pressed 4 bales & Tom took them to station.  Left wool box & brands at JHB.  We pressed one bale at home in Mr Gowers press.  70 fleeces mostly matted.  New set shoes mare.
SUN 27   El Ev Top & John at Church.  Fine day.
MON 28   Loaded 3 bales of wool at shed.  Bales heavy Tom helped.  Mr Gower came with his load of wool & pressed a fadge of his which was lying here.  Watson came about drovers going along bye-roads & doing damage.  Loaded my 3 bales & Toms 4 bales & Gowers 9 bales at Railway Station.  Rain.  Left dray at JHB.

TU 29  NOV 1898
Rode up with Tom to his place.  Mustered his shorn ewes & lambs.  Picked out 30 dry sheep.  Mustered his woolly hoggs & put them in front paddocks 173 + 2 = 175.  Light rain.  Weeding in garden afternoon.
WED 30   Rode to Becketts farm to get his sheep mustered & bring them here to shear.  Met him near his house with a horse & dray.  Said he could not muster them until evening as he had to attend the sale in Norsewood etc.  Came on a very heavy shower in afternoon and he could not bring the sheep.  Mowed some grass near house & in the garden where it was lying heavy.  John H B came home with horse & dray in the rain.  He trucked seven bales of wool to Napier today.  Beckett wanted to get his wool away for 1st sale   Cannot do so now.

TH 1st DEC 1898
Road Rates C.C. 2. 7. 4.
Rates R.B.  3.11.0.
Sledged in 2 loads of slabs from back.  Beckett came in the afternoon with his ewes & lambs.  Shore with Tom 16 of them.  Light fleeces.  Paid Miss Wells cheque £2.2.0.  Warm calm day.
FR 2nd   Very fine day.  Up at 4 AM.  Started shearing Becketts sheep.  Murray took his few stragglers away.  Finished shearing B’s sheep.
SAT 3   Pressed 2 bales & fadge with Beckett & Tom.  B took his wool to Orm with Cockie & dray.  Tom went home.  Beckett dove his sheep home this afternoon.  Mowed the long plantation this afternoon.  Weight of 3 bales came today they are over 4 cwt each.  Cool day.
SUN 4   Went to Orm church & came back home for dinner.  Very fine day.  Walked with El & John to Lutheran Church but no service there tonight.

MON 5 DEC 1897
Mowed part of Slope plantation.  Rain in the evening.  Attended R.B. meting
TU 6   Rain all day & last night.  Attended J.F. Socy Meeting held at Becketts.
WED 7   Rain again all day & tonight.  Top at home today.  Napier Wool Sale today.  C A Friis called & gave me the Bond with my signature cancelled by Bank of NSW.  I gave him the Bill of Sale held by me as Security.  Attended School Committee meeting.
TH 8   Rain again today.  Walked over back long grass on back.  Plenty in front & reserve.  Sold 3 doz eggs at 9d per doz to Mr Skinner & 9lbs butter at Becketts store.  Top home.
FR 9   Dragged in posts maire sleepers etc with horse & sledge.  Long wet grass.  Anton Andersen called in the evening.  Children Practiced [practised] singing at Orm church.  Mary sick yesterday & today.  Very bad tonight.

SAT 10 DEC 1898
Went with El & John to see Mary.  Not much better today.  Sent telegram to Dr. Godfrey.  He cannot come.  Away in Blackhead.  JHB sent for Dr McAlum.  El & John there tonight.  Latter caught & plucked rooster & took it down in a kit.  Think today the anniversary of Grannie’s death.  Ella here tonight   Letter from Wms & Kettle.  Wool passed at 5 ½
SUN 11   Stayed at home, the others went to church & to see Mary.  She is still bad.  El drove home here & dove back again.  Tom came & helped me bring Lilly to Englebretsens bull.  Dull calm day.
MON 12   The Dr Macallum went past at breakfast time to see Mary.  Her uncle drove to Danevirk last night for him.  We went down today.  Mary a little better.  CC Smith & Ada came to see her.  El there tonight.  Rain this afternoon.  Hay rotting in some peoples paddocks.

TUE 13 DEC 1898
El came home with Miss Webb this morn.  After being up with Mary all last night.  Rain heavy all this day.  Tom here today rode down to enquire about Mary.  Put up 2 shelves in shed.  J Brown Bill 4.13.8.
WED 14   Put a sledge load of hay in shed   Top helped me get in ewes & lambs off Flat & put all lambs in shed & shore 20 lambs, 2 maggotty.  Put kerosene on them.  Turned bit of hay in slope plantation.  Warm day.  No rain.  John & his mother at school concert in V. Hall.
TH 15   Shore the remainder of lambs off flat.  Total 108 & one not shorn & 1 hogget.  Got in & put in shed 24 more lambs off Ridges.  Very warm day.  Top at home.
FR 16   Shore last nights 24 making 132 + 1.  Top & I mustered Widerups.  Put in shed 48 or thereabouts, shore some, 25 in tonight.  Murray called & North.  El took dray & frame to JHBs.  Shower this evening.

SAT 17 DEC 1898
Finished shearing the lambs.  El & John helped in the afternoon to take off the belly wool.  Put all ewes & lambs into Ridges.  Mustered with John the back.  Put all hoggs into flat.  Got in 43 lambs off ridges today.  According to this count it only makes 223 lambs
SU 18   John found 2 & 5 woolly hoggets on back Sec after last evenings muster.  Put them on flat.  He then went with his mother & baby to Orm.  El stayed with Mary whilst he others went to church.  El came home sick & went to bed  – pains.  JHB & Auntie drove round to see CC Smith who is sick & called here going home.  John rode down with them for turpentine & got varnish instead.  Rode to Becketts & got a bottle of turpentine.  Dug two stalks of potatoes in garden.  Fair return.  Fine dry day.  Poor Grannie dead six years.

MON 19 DEC 1898
Mowing in front.  Very heavy good crop.  El has pains in her back.  Very fine day.
TU 20   Mowing in front.  Auntie & Mrs Grant called.  Ada has a son.  Went with El to B. Gowrie.  Home about dark.  Heavy shower of rain..  Bad weather for hay making.
WED 21   El at B Gowrie all day.  Mowing in gully plantation & front.  Cocked some in front, not dry.  School broke up.  John helped with the hay & brought Cockie & dray up from JHB’s.  Beckett Gundersen & Pettersen called at night re rabbits.  Next meeting to be held at Becketts.  Rain this evening.  John got prize book & card.
TH 22   Showery wintry morning.  John B came before breakfast for El to go to B Gowrie.  Pressed bale of lambs wool with John.  Cleaned out wash house & made up the fireplace with sods & bricks.  Willie came with mare.

FR 23 DEC 1898
El came home this morning from B Gowrie   Mrs Brennan paid her dipping money 13/-   El Top & baby went to Dannevirke.  Came home in good time.  Sent 5 bales to Tom & his woolly hoggt by Pettersens boy & waggon [wagon].  Carted in hay from long plantation.  Shook out small cocks & made them when dry, longer.  Turned the other hay.  Killed a turkey this afternoon.  Shut up geese.
SAT 24  Xmas Eve   Turned hay in G plantation.  Carted in load of firewood from back. & two small loads of hay.  Came on very heavy rain.  Charlie came from Te Aute.  Drove to & had tea at JHB.  John rode up to Toms.  Signed paper J C Westall
XMAS DAY   Very fine warm day.  Went to Church Orm with Charlie & Top & John.  All from JHBs & Willie & his father here.  A good Xmas.  Children enjoyed themselves.  Games, running etc.

MON 26 DEC 1898
Cocked some hay in front.  Auntie Flor & Ella came & Willie.  We all drove up to near Frank Smiths for a picnic.  Rain threatened & we came back early.  Late we cocked the remainder of the hay in front.  A wintry evening.  Looks like rain now.
TU 27   Carted in one load of hay & sledged in a load.  Came on shower.  No more hay carting.  Cleaned out buggy shed. The others went to Orm.  Charlie went home.  Sports at Orm.  Sent JJ Brown cheque £4.13.8 his bill.  Mended chair   W Gower called – shearing his lambs in a week hence.  Dull calm evening.
WED 28   Sledged in all dry hay.  Nailed up front of shed.  Mowed some in front   Light rain.  El Top & Eva drove to JHB Borrowed £3 of John.  Letter from Milly to Top.  JHB laid up with stiff knee.

TH 29 DEC 1898
Went with El & baby to Napier and stayed at Caledonian Hotel.  Saw W. Kettle & put a reserve of 6d per lb on all wool – the 3 bales now at Spit & the wool of the 280 dry sheep which is to be shorn next week.  Did not put reserve on lambs wool.  Bought a coat & vest at Ringland & Thomas.
FR 30   Came in train as far as Te Aute.  Had tea at Mrs Gundries.  Went on to M Nutt [?]   Baby slept from station to Gundries.  Had Photos taken this morning.  1 of self & one of us three.  Baby good.  Run about a lot.
SAT 31   Knocked about Te Aute.  Saw Garden near shed & yards & old shed.  Splendid place for potatoes vegetables etc.  Frank drove us to R station.  Millie & Pearl came with us.  Said good bye to Mrs Gundrie.  John met us with buggy at Orm.  Glad to get home again.  End of Old year 98.  Cannot complain of the past year.  Have enjoyed good health.

SUN 1st JANUARY 1899
They all went to church except myself   Saw a woolly sheep on back & also a rabbit.  Went with John & dogs in the evening but could see nothing of rabbit.  Cocked a bit of hay late.
MON 2   Mowed some in front.  Sledged in all dry hay.  John & Top went to Te Aute.  Yarded sheep on flat & filled shed.  Attended R.B. meeting.  Posted letter to G.H.M.H.R.  Windy.
TU 3   Put in 88 sheep in shed.  Looked like rain.  Shore 46 ewes & put them on Flat.  Left 43 wethers in shed.  Rain today.
WED 4   Shearing the wethers.  Wet day.  N Thodsen helped.  Put the fleeces on floor & in pens.  Put the wethers in Reserve   Attended School Com. Meeting.  Rain
TH 5   Rolled up all fleeces.  Rain over.  Gower came with his lambs wool.  Helped him press it.  John came home.  Had Cockie shod.  Got in Matai firewood.

FR 6 JAN 1899
Mowed some in front.  Went to train to meet S Cook from Kaikora.  Had dinner here then drove him to Toms   Looked over the place.  Heavy shower.
SAT 7   Drove S Cook to Orm.  Went to JHB his leg better.  Finished mowing in front.  Shook out hay.  Came on high wind.  Got in & shore 12 wethers & 8 ewes   Milly & Pearl at JHB tonight.  Wind.
SUN 8   El Ev & John to Church.  Brought back Pearl & Milly.  Got in sheep & put in shed at midday 81.  Came on heavy rain & hail & thunder.  Brought back Milly etc.
MON 9   Fearful heavy rain in the forenoon.  Had to drive in the shorn sheep & put them in the shed about 15.  Let them out at midday   Shore the 81.  Put ewes on flat, wethers in Reserve.  John mustered remainder   Put 82 in shed.  This makes 271.  Should be 281.

TU 10 JAN 1899
Shore the sheep in shed last night except 8.  W. Cammock Contractor on Gundries road called.  Very showery.  Letter from O Eriksen re Miss Webbs resignation.  Attended meeting.   Hoggts cutting good fleeces, John helping.  El rolling & helping.  Top home from Te Aute tonight.
WED 11   Shore 8 before breakfast.  Top & John mustered Ewes & lambs on back.  Caught a woolly one on McGreeveys & got him through fence.  Brought in 4 woolly ones & shore them & also one cast on Widerups which John found & he also found the remains of another one.  Pressed 5 bales 70 fleeces in each.  El & John handing up fleeces.  Rode down & saw work done by Cammock on Gundries Road Contract.  Fine day.

TH 12 JAN 1899
Up early again.  Branded bales.  Carted them one at a time down to stage at dip.  All hands loaded 4  Put them on truck at Orm.  Put the other 3 on next trip & Gowers bale & sack.  Very heavy bales.  Left horse & dray at JHB & had tea came home & cocked hay in front.  John at JHB tonight.  Milly Pearl & Ella here.  A very fine day.
FR 13   The sheep which was cast died last night.  Rode to JHB & helped him to get in his hay.  Auntie & John tramping.  Came home with horse & dray and got our own in.  Post card from one Wm Logan Crown Hotel enquiring for sheep to buy.  Very fine day.  Too late to skin sheep.

SAT 14 JAN 1899
Skinned sheep on Widerups.  Mowing in Gully plantation.  El took Milly & Pearl & goose to railway station & then drove up from here to Florries to make butter.  Took up horse & dray & frame to cart in hay.  Not wanted till Monday.  Calm day.  Mowed some after I came home.
SUN 15   All went to church.  Rev Colenso preached.  Came on wet afternoon.
MON 16   Sunshine in the morning.  Drove to Becketts.  Top took butter & delivered it at store.  Went on to see Eriksen re Rabbit Act   Top bought stuff at Grants.  Mowed some in plantation & hill.  Very heavy rain all the afternoon.  Weights of wool came
cwt     qr       lbs
4 x Bred          70 fleeces                    4         –         18
5 x   “              ditto                            4         –          20
6 x   “              “                                 4          –          21
7  x  “              “                                 4         –          18
8     13 fleeces, locks, pcs mostly      4          2         29
9       lambs                                         4         1         22
10       bellies                                       2        2           3

TU 17 JAN 1899
Very heavy showers today again.  Planted young gum at sheep yards & one at gateway where pinus ins died.  Strained wire & put in hinau post.  Letter from W Robinson re Church subscription.  Flor & Mary called.  Had been to B. Gowrie.
WED 18   Went to see Mr Drake Orm with Beckett, also called & saw Mr Westall re Rabbit act.  El in bed all day sick.  Mowed a bit & turned some hay.  Fine.  Many old settlers attended Orm Courthouse today claiming their pensions.
TH 19   Made dog kennel.  Turned a little hay.  Transplanted 2 young gums.  El bad in bed but improving.  Wool sold and account of prices sent.  7 bales fleece 6 lambs 1 bale 6d.  Bellies 3 ¾ low prices 1 bale sacraficed [sacrificed] –  a bale of pieces with locks & 13 good fleeces sold for 2 ¼ d per lb.

FR 20 JAN 1899
Answered Mr Wm Robinsons (Mak) letter.  Wrote to Wms & Kettle to put £20 to my credit in Union Bank & to send me 4 drums of Murtons Concentrated Dip.  Made the hay into cocks secure.  Got in Reserve sheep & took out ram & Mortensen’s hoggt.  Cleared Reserve.  Hulena called Re getting his sheep dipped.
SAT 21   Hans Mortensen came for his sheep agreed to swap him for a wether running at his place.  Fenced in a gum at or near the dip.  Windy.  Strained wires in O Gundersens fence.  With Willie & John, could not see traces of rabbits on back.  El got up.  Improved today.
SUN 22   At Home.  Children at Sun School.
MON 23   Cool calm day.  Put maire sleepers in lane adjoining battens.  Letter from Wms & Kettle. £20 put by them in bank for me.  From I Siddells enquiring for sheep.

TU 24 JAN 1899
Dragged in 2 maire sleepers off flat for sheep lane.  Sledged in remainder of hay & rails for yards.  Mr McLeod had lunch with us, & left for Kopua.  Top drove today again for Mrs Beale or Miss Plank to help make a dress neither could come.  Sent £1.17.10 to Mutual L A of A £1.6. to Herald & letter to Sergt Siddells.  Sent £1.0.0. to Barclay for Cockies shoes & mare today.  Mrs Paisley & Auntie called today.
WED 25   Went to Orm sale.  Top Ev & John.  Did not buy anything.  Gave McLeod order to send me 4 one guinea rams.
TH 26   Working at race, sheep yards.  John cutting cocksfoot.  B Gundersen called. Rode to Gundries Road.  Passed formation.  Agreed with Thuslola Olsen to spread gravel £20.0.0. previously £94.8.11.  Three letters from Napier Shipping Agents.

FR 27 JAN 1899
Working at sheep yds.  Windy.  El Ev & the other 2 at Sun School.  Pic Nic Orm.
SAT 28   Mr Engelbretsen came with word that the foal was caught in the wires in Reserve fence on road.  Gusta Gundersen brought the foal down here from his place.  Skin cut above knee.  Worked at battens in old yard.  Wind.  Wrote to two Steam Ship agents at Spit about passage to Tasmania.
SUN 29   All hands at church Orm.  To JHB for dinner.  Gave contribution £2 Church.
MON 30   Wrote Cranby & Sidey Re passage to Tasmania.  Cut Cocksfoot in slope plantation.  Cleaned stage at dip.  John at Willies.  Top took butter to Beckett.  TU 31   John came home from Willies.  We made a dam in creek.  Mustered the back picked out 219 good lambs (weaned) put on flat.  Paid all road rates.  El called at O’Haras for young pig.  Recd wool cheque £74.8.11 and

WED 1st FEBR 1899
A four tooth ewe died last night on lawn.  Picked out 2 tooth ewes for rams = 95 & 3 six tooths & 157 taken from lamb = total 255 ewes for rams.  John went to cricket match Norsewood.  Picked out 182 wethers & 2 tooth culls & put them on back.  Put 225 lambs & 52 cull ewes on flat.  Found a ewe & lamb on back after mustering total sheep 716.  Attended school comm meeting.
TH 2nd   Put sheep in their different paddocks.  George Hansen called Re dipping his & others sheep.  Emptied dip.  Attended Rabbit meeting at Becketts.  Letter from G H M H R.  El & etc at Orm.
FR 3rd   John rode to Orm with post card to Wms & K to forward dip.  We put 500 Gallons of water in dip.  Flor & Mary & Mrs & Mr Webber for tea.

SAT 4 FEBRUARY 1899
Repaired yards about dip.  El Ev Top John drove to Orm & got two drums of Murtons Dip & left 2 at Station.  Sent JHB cheque for £4.0.0.  Cammocks job finished.
SUN 5   All to the opening of Makotoku church.  Big Congregation Orm   People drove here for dinner.  Drove to Gundries Road with B Gundersen JHB & our John.  Passed Road.  Rain set in.
MON 6   Wet day.  Thrashed a bit of cocksfoot in shed.  Attended Road Board meeting.  Adjourned.  Eriksen Sen. Dead.  TU 7   Fenced Gum plant in sheep yards.  John B came.  Went to funeral   Letter from Wms & Kettle Re Route to Tauranga   Must go first to Auckland and back to Tauranga.  Attended School Com meeting.  Miss Cumming selected.  From Invercargill.  Very heavy rain all night & cold.

WED 8 FEBRUARY 1899
Very heavy rain in the forenoon.  El in bed, pains inside.  Fine afternoon.
TH 9   Clear cold day.  Drove with El to P.G. Grants & squared up for everything.  She borrowed a leather bag from P.G.  Mr Hunter MHR called & drove round Norsewood with A B Thompson.  J Gower’s sheep in front of house tonight, to be dipped tomorrow.  Went into school house, asked P.G. Grant to Get Olsen to split a chord of wood for school.  Dragged in 2 sledge loads of posts over flat.
FR 10   Dipped 355 sheep with J Gower.  Fine day.  Mustered back with Top and John.  Sheep on flat.  Went to Orm for 2 drums of dip.  J Gower to pay 24/6.
SAT 11   Dipped all sheep John B helping John pinning up 255 Ewes for the rain [?] mixed & put on back 474 total 729 dipped.  One woolly lamb away (Becketts)   Attended Public meeting (L School. S.)  Formation Rabbit District.

SUN 12 FEBRUARY 1899
At home.  Children at Sunday School   El at JHB.  Hospital Demonstn Makotoku
MON 13   Went with horse & dray to JHB’s for 4 rams sent up by Wm & K.  6 for John there, one of them lame.  Put lame one & one of my own in dray.  JHB drove the others part of the way home.  Met him at Bai’s & drove them home here.  Good rams.  Sawed hinau log near shed for posts.
TU 14   Dipped 150 sheep for C A Friis. Settled his account Ac/- for meat.  He paid 10/6.  Swept chimney.  Got Ten one pound notes from P.G. Grant for a £10 cheque.  Got young pig from D.O’Hara & 6lbs corn beef.  Borrowed a box from Mrs Thodson.
WED 15   Hulena dipped his sheep.  Left him to finish them.  El, Babba & Florr off to Nelson via Wellington.  Fine.  Calm warm day.  Poor babba spilled ink on this book.  Ta Ta Pop.  Poor babba.

TH 16 FEB 1899
Tom took home 4 of his rams & J Pettersen took 2 lame ones in his waggon.  Went to Gowers sale & bought 69 Ewes at 4/11 each.  Paid H Monteith £16.19.3   Tom drove them home here   Good Ewes.  JHB & Auntie called after leaving Frank McNutt at Toms.  Hot.
FR 17   Up at Ella’s at 6. 30   Brought the sheep here.  Culled 21 put black dot on rump.  Bought them at 6/- each.  One poor one not counted.  2 wethers amongst them.  Paid £6.6.   Tom, F McNutt, Jong B & self for dinner.  Gave Tom & Frank buggy & mare to go to Orm – Helped John to foot of road with sheep.  No of sheep on the place now 729 + 69 + 22 + 5 rams = 825.  Very hot day.  Good weather for dipping.  Swapped 2 rams with John B.  He dipped 119 sheep & 2 rams.

SAT 18 FEB 1899
Earmarked the 91 sheep bought during the week.  Put them on flat.  Hans Mortensen borrowed Cockie.  Dipped the 5 rams & the Killing sheep.  Planed young gum at sheep yard.  John at JHB tonight.
SUN 19   At home all day.  Children at church & Sunday school.  Rabbiter Johnnie came.
MON 20   W & H Newling came & dipped.  Mostly lambs – 101.  Paid 6/-   Henry Smith registered the 2 dogs, 2/6 each.  Will settle with him later on.  T Plank dipped 91.  Is to pay 6/-.  Letter from Mamma.  Wrote whilst on the steamer near Nelson.  They are all well.  Planted & fenced young gum at sheep yards.  TU 21   Planted & fenced young gum at sheep yards.  B Gundersen came Re petition to Postmaster General to have both offices on equal footing.  Bai dipped lambs & ewes = 111 is to pay.  Bengtsen called about dipping.  Looks like rain.

WED 22 FEBRUARY 1899
Heavy steady rain all last night & today.  Top & John at school.  No one called.  We are wondering if it rains so constantly in Nelson, preventing poor Babba from going out.
TH 23   Light rain most of the day.  Worked some at yards.  Mr Gower paid 22/- Dip.  Two letters from Mama.  Getting on all right.  After tea drove to JHB.  Gave him £10 cheque to get Bank Draft in Napier tomorrow when he goes with excurtionists [excursionists].  John going tomorrow with 2/-.   Top stays at home & keeps her money.  Rain tonight.
FR 24   Dull day.  Vehicles going past early with excurtionists.  Posted letter & 3 Heralds to Mama Nelson.  Worked at round fence sheep yards.  Palle Jensen & Charlie Larsen splitting firewood in Reserve.  Light rain now & then throughout the day.  Top cooked apple pie & made potatoe [potato] scones.

SAT 25 FEBRUARY 1899
Worked at sheep yards.  Wrote petition as requested by B Gundersen & left same at Becketts.  H Mortensen sent Cockie home –  too big to get him in shafts.  Mr Neilsen (Andreas) came on behalf Martin Pedersen for relief from J.F. Society   Bran Got out of his collar last night and Killed a turkey hen & eat [ate] half of it.  The dog ought to be destroyed he was not hungry.  Hulena paid 26/- for dipping.  John not home yet after his excurtion [excursion].  Top gone to Auntie’s tonight.
SUN 26   At home by myself.  Went to JHB in the afternoon.  Got draft on Union Bank Nelson for £10.  Brought children home.
MON 27   John B came for Maggie.  Could only get her to Bai’s.  Came home again.  Bengtsen dipped 253 paid 17/6.  John had a letter from his mother.  & Top a Birthday present Petticoat from Nelson.  Sent £10 & papers.

TU 28 FEB    MARCH 1899
Put all ewes in yard 253 2 lambs 1 two tooth wether.  Put the 5 rams with them.  All on flat for a fortnight.  T Thorestensen commenced to work at Windows, putting in weights & pulleys.  John drove up to Ella’s 3 cows, left Maggie there.   brought the other two home again.  I attended N J F Society meeting   Martin Peddersen applicant.  Fine night.
WEDNESDAY 1st MARCH 1899
Tops birthday.  14 years of age Today   Split some hinau posts.  Sledged 13 totara posts to put in Reserve fence.  Lent Cockie & dray to O Gundersen.  Planted remainder of gums at yards.  Thorestensen fixed another window, advanced him 12/-   attended school Com meeting.  No quorum.  Drying day.

TH 2 MARCH 1899
Put in 13 totara posts in Reserve road fence.  Come [came] on wet in the afternoon.  Got 1/- worth of mutton from F Schmidt.  Pays 3 times every week, when getting the meat.  No booking with the butcher or the baker.  Pay ready cash.
FR 3   Strained wires & Stapled posts in Reserve fence along road.  Dug ½ sack of potatoes in garden & carried them up to shed.  Sent Johns letter & three “Heralds” to Mama at Nelson.  Thorestens finished windows & board on roof.  Paid him £1. & 12. shillings before, for the four days work 32/-   Attended meeting in Village Hall.  Ruatatahi Block.
SAT 4   McLeod came with Mr Watsons sheep & dipped them 280.  Also Beckett dipped his 246 is to pay 16/-   Mr Watson is to pay 19/-   Painted part of end of house   Gundersen returned Cockie.  John took him to JB   JHB called at night.  Letter from Mama   She must be sent for tomorrow.  A Telegram.

SUN 5 MARCH 1899
Went with John for a stroll over the flat & back.  Very warm day.  Top cooking dinner.  Drove them to Sunday School.  Had tea at JHB.  John is to telegraph to Nelson tomorrow to tell Nellie & Florrie to come home.
MON 6   Painting end of house.  Sent letter to G.H.M.H.R. for E Ericksen.  Sent £2.5.6 Reserve rent.  Attended Road B Meeting.  Signed letter to be sent to Minister of Lands re Balloting for Secs in Norsewood.
TU 7   Heavy rain all day long.  Got 1/- worth of beef off F Schmidt & large loaf off Skinner.
WED 8   Light rain in the morning.  Rode down the road and got the signatures of the settlers as far as Benbows.  Mr Brennan & Neils Larsen would not sign.  Afternoon split a few hinau posts & jobbed about the place.  Attended School Com Meeting   Received cheque from Tom £1.16.4  being full amount due.  Starlight night.

TH 9 MARCH 1899
Shifted sheep off flat on to ridges and Widerups   Found Ewe on her back on flat.  John B came & drove Maggie – Cow, home here.  He has sold his place to Horace Newling.  He is going up to see Toms place.  Put in a few posts in Reserve fence and dug out potatoes in garden.  Drove to Orm to meet express.  El has not come.  Sent another telegram to her to come home from Nelson.  Attended Rabbit Committee meeting at Becketts.  Paid his bill & rates.
FR 10   Painted part of house & went to meet express.  Disappointed.  Went to Village Hall to see Kinematograph.  Good pictures & a good nights amusement.  Fine night.
SAT 11   Painting house, John helping.  JHB drove Nellie & Babba home here unexpectedly, from Nelson.   both improved.  Letter from Mr Lochhead   Did not go out anywhere on Sat night.

SUN 12 MARCH 1899
All at home today.  None of us went out anywhere except John who rode to Sun School.  Mrs McLeod for dinner.  Came on heavy rain   Continued all night pouring steadily.
MON 13   Rain all the forenoon.  B Gundersen called about Smed Olsens culvert Contract.  El Ev I & J drove to Orm.  Luggage not come.  Letter from G.H.M.H.R. enclosing one from Knut Andersen.  Showers in the afternoon.
TU 14   Got new set of shoes on mare paid 5/6.  Drove to Smed Olsens Culvet Contract.  He is to do extra work for £2.15.0   O Ericksen to send for 6 more 18 inch pipes.  Put in some Hinau posts in Reserve fence.  Paid Engelbretsen 2/- for cow “Lilly” with […]
WED 15   Drove to Orm with El & Ev, got 2 boxes & pram   Paid 6/9 railway fare.  Dinner at JHB.  Got in all ewes, & picked out & killed a woolly hogg, wether.  Found a Ewe […] on ridges.  Lying a long time.

TH 16 MARCH 1899
Went through sheep.  Found a splendid lamb dead at O’Hara’s fence.  Head through fence between wires & jambed behind post.  Finished Reserve fence.  Auntie & El to PG Grants.  Painted part of house.  Very fine day.
FR 17   Sawed 2 Hinau logs, blasted one & split a few posts out of it.  Hard to split.  El went over to see Mrs Thodsen Jun.  Fine.
SAT 18   Went to Danevirk, all of us.  Bought a pair of boots for me 14/6 pair for John 8/- bought tin of Kerosene, tea etc at Becketts.  El & Top drove up to P.G. Grants got serge etc.  Attended Rabbit meeting.  Resigned chairmanship.
SUN 19   All at church.  Home for dinner except J & T who went to S School.  El went to meet them.
MON 20   Dipped 55 sheep for Magnusen.  He paid 3/6   Dipped 208 for Henry Smith, he paid 14/-.  Mrs Gribble & Mrs Grant came afternoon.  Attended School com meeting.  Miss Marten elected P Teacher.

TU 21 MARCH 1899
John H.B & John B came early with their sheep to Dip.   Goddard dipped   is to pay 12/-   Mrs Allen & Miss Webb called .
WED 22   Dipped 427 of S McGreeveys sheep mostly heavy wethers.  S McG. Son & J Newling helping.  Finished before dinner.  John B came over.  Jerry Newling Wired up his gate entrance & wrote him a letter.  Drove to Orm Sale & bought a cow & a heifer supposed to be in calf.  Cow for £3.0.0.  heifer 35/-   Said good bye to Top.
TH 23   Skinned JHB’s lamb.  Shifted Ewes & rams on to flat.  James Thompson arrived with his 65 sheep & dipped them after dinner.  Went through Reserve sheep.  Drove in a few staples.  Split a few posts.  Letter from G.H.M.H.R. Re settler in distress.
FR 24   Rain.  Worked about place.  Rode to Tailor Andersen’s to “explain” etc.  Called and saw P.G. Grant.  Young Mrs Bengtsen died last night.

SAT 25 MARCH 1899
Drove cow “Rosy” & “Fanny” home here from JHB.  Went with El to W Robinsons Store Makatoku. Bo [Bought] SK pollard, oatmeal rice tea etc.  Got “Cockie” & dray at JHB   Carted 2 loads of old paling 8 from church fence to Mrs Pattersons house.  Saw E Ericksen at township.  Left list of names lost by J Gollan at Becketts.  Fine night.
SUN 26   Showery day.  Went to the funeral of Mrs Bernard Bengsten.  23 vehicles many more on reaching Norsewood   Heavy rain at the burial service.  Drove youngsters home from Sun School.  Called at Shugars & had a chat with Fred.
MONDAY 27   Sent letter to Wms & Kettle for oil hemitite etc some to G.H.M.H.R.  Rain all day long and at present.  O. Olsen contractor for culvert called and I gave him an order on O. Ericksen.  Road Bard clerk for his money, the job being finished.

TU 28 MARCH 1899
El at P.G. Grants for drapery.  Mrs Webber & Miss Gower came for material, Library tea & concert.  Fixed box to hold pollard.  Thunder & heavy rain, creek rose high.
WED 29   Sent bit of butter for Library tea meeting.  Carted in remainder of 1st chord of matai firewood.  Got paint & oil at Orm Station fare 23d.  Sent letter to Tom Returns of letting his farm.
TH 30   Painting house.  El painting doors etc.  Sent letter to Williams & Kettle Containing cheque £1.4.2. & two pounds & ordering ton of potatoes.  Mr Adean called & had lunch.
FR 31 GOOD   Found Ewe cast on flat.  Took her home & put her on hill JHB’s hogget.  Walked over back with John & Gun fired at 2 quail.  Gun hung fire.  Plenty of grass in all paddocks.  Took Strawberry to Engelbretsens Bull.  Everything green still no leaves have fallen of [off] trees yet, abundance of grass, fine weather.

1st SAT APRIL 1899
Finished painting the house.  Fine day.  Tom gone to Wellington or Invercargill.  John carted a bit of rotten hay out of plantation & excavated at W.C.  Top at Library Concert.  Letter from Mrs McNutt.  Ormond will not purchase.  Others looking at place.
SUN 2nd EASTER   All at church.  Fine day.  Afternoon at JHB.  John got a Bible from Mrs Calender.  Prize for good attendance at S School.  Misses Moore & Cumming called.
MON 3   Went over back, no rabbits nothing to shoot.  El & children Mary & Florrie went to see Miss Nordbye & Mr Collinge married.
TU 4   Went with horse & dray to Railway Station no potatoes.  Took lamb home for JHB.  Put all seasoned timber into sheds.  Fine
WED 5   Brought home ton of potatoes.   paid fare 10/8 for 11 sacks.  Good ones.  Went to School Com at 7.30.  Had some floury potatoes for tea.

TH 6 APRIL 1899
Emptied 5 sks potatoes on shed floor.  Went to School with B Gundersen.  Showed Ted Tostesen what repairs to do at school.  Got in sheep off back on to flat with I & J.
FR 7   Got in sheep off flat and dagged & put back on flat the strongest and put the weakest lambs on lawn & hill did not have enough light to finish.
SAT 8   Wet day.  Put sheep not dagged on flat & those dagged on back.  Put Reserve sheep on flat also.  In Norsewood.  Gave specifications of school fence to Ericksen.  Put 2 eighteen inch pipes in Board shed.  Shook a little grasseed & raked in Reserve.
SUN 9   Wet last night and some rain today   drove the children to S School.  Called at JHB
MON 10   Fine day.  Fenced round gum tree at sheep yds.  Split some hinau posts.
TU 11   Finished dagging.  On back 443 mixed lambs for Reserve.

WED 12 APRIL 1899
Sawing & splitting hinau posts in Widerups.  Dull calm day.  Attended Road Board meeting at night.
TH 13   Took a bundle sacks to Orm Station for Wms & K Hastings.  Paid 9d.  Called at JHB.  Came on wet.  Split hinau posts in Widerups.  Letter from Mrs Friberg Auckland.
FR 14   Gave letter to D O’Hara asking for a Settlement.  Sledged posts for road Widerups fence.  F Goddard paid 12/- for dip   Mrs Plank paid 6/- dip.  Rev Wills called.
SAT 15   Nailed broad boards up & down on back verandah & painted ’em.  El & John went to Mrs Cummings.
SUN 16   Went over back & saw the 3 young cattle in scrub, the others went to church.  F Goddard took Cockie to Papatu.  Fine.
MON 17   Set boiler & boiled mangolds for pigs   put rings in pig’s nose.  To Norsewood to see culvert at Crown Hotel Etc.  El at Westalls.  Bai called for £10.  Taylor Andersen.  D O’Hara paid £13.12.

TU 18 APRIL 1899
Putting in posts in Road fence.  Widerups   Shut up pig to fatten him.  Fine.
WED 19   Repairing fence on road.  Hinau posts.
TH 20   Sent £2.0.0. to A B Gibson Esq Agent Mutual L.A. Napier.  Fencing on Road.  Auntie Mrs McEntyre & Miss Black called.  El sent letter to Mrs Watkins Taranaki.
FR 21   Putting in Hinau posts on Road fence.  Attended last School Committee meeting.
SAT 22   Got a few hinau posts in Widerups.  Came on wet.  Very heavy constant rain tonight.  Boiled mangolds for pig.  He is getting fat.
SU 23   Rode up to Hill & to O Olsen, Smed & to Neals & had dinner at CC Smiths. Saw Painter Olsen.  Drove to JHB.  Cold.
MON 24   Split some Hinau  posts.  Frost last night.  El went to see Mrs Watson.  Went to Lutheran tea meeting and was elected to School Committee.  The two children went to schoolroom (Lutheran) Tea meeting.

TU 25 APRIL 1899
Drove up to Hill.  Wrote letter to Thos Tanner accepting rates.  Went on to Mrs Nickolls had dinner.  Called at Mrs Gribbells & drove her & Mrs Brown up to Township.  Got flour vinegar etc at Becketts.  Boiled mangolds for pig.  Very fine day.
WED 26   Rode up Ngamoko road with Inspector Tickner to see about Phosphorus & pollard none to hand.  G McLeod called to see about leasing this place.  Split posts & put some in.
TH 27   Light rain today.  Boiled mangolds walked over sections.  Ins Tickner called he mixed pollard & phospohrus yesterday at Road Board office for Rabbits.  Spicksattin Christophersen here last night.
FR 28   Dragged enough Henau posts for Road fence with mare.  El & John took Old Mrs Parsons to Browns mill & Called at Gowers.  Very fine day.  Mr McLeod & Nelson rode past going to Takapau.

SAT 29 APRIL 1899
Raked up chips where posts were split.  Mustered lambs on Reserve dagged a few & put them 97 on back & 2 dry Ewes.  One lamb dead.  Mustered Ewes 254 & one wether & 2 cull ewes.  Dagged them & took out the 5 rams.  Ewes in good condition & looking well.  It was this afternoon El & John drove out, not yesterday.
SUN 30   Skinned lamb on Reserve.  I stayed at home.  El & children went to JHB & Sunday School.  John HB came back with them.  He borrowed a cheque for £6.15.0 (Drawer Per Magnusen).  Drove him back in buggy as far as  J Browns.  Had lamps lit.  Roughish night.  This has been a good month & a good Autumn.  There is plenty of feed in all paddocks & all stock are looking well & there will be good feed for the winter.

1st MAY 1899
MON   Rain in the morning.  Alf Neal called.  He killed 2 rabbits on back section one with his dogs & one in a trap.  I went out with him, did not see anything.  Boiled turnips for pig.  Letter from Chas Vaughan Re Leasing this place with purchasing Clause.  Road Board meeting.
TU 2nd   Putting in posts in Road fence.  Attended Ratepayers meeting Road Board Office.  Top rode to JHB.  Came out early from School.  Attended Jubilee Friendly Soc meeting at Becketts.  Voted £10.0.0 to Library Books.
WED 3   Drove to Gribbles & Lees sawmill with El, BaBa, Mrs Gribble & Mrs Brown.  Went up road through ranges.  Voted for 2 Road Board members.  2 letters today.  One from Mr & Mrs Watkins Taranaki & one from Mrs Lochhead Fielding.  Very fine frosty day.  Called at Mrs Lee’s coming home.

TH 4 MAY 1899
Boiled turnips & potatoes for pig.  Florrie & Auntie came to sew.  Worked at fence.  Attended School Com meeting.
FR 5   Put in totara strainer in Road fence.   & strained wires   letter from Mrs McNutt.
SAT 6   Stapled some posts.  Had to buy 2/- worth of staples at Becketts.  Stuck up 3 notices in Norsewood offering poisoned pollard to ratepayers.  Mrs Cumming & her girls came down in our buggy.  I drove them home, some rain tonight   Posted a letter to Wms & Kettle giving particulars of this place for 5 years lease.  Also a letter to Mrs McNutt.
SUN 7   Children & their mother to church & Sunday school.  We drove down Gundies road.  Coming back called at Mortensens & had afternoon coffee El & Ev.  John & Top at home.  F Goddard brought Cockie home.  Very fine calm weather.

MON 8 May 1899
Finished road fence.  Put in totara post at gate in front, for gate to come against.  Boiled sack of potatoes for pig.  Sent letter to Chas Vaughan & sent away sheep returns.  Leaves becoming yellow on poplars, quite green on Willows, Oaks etc.  Letter from George.
TU 9   Mending fences.  F Goddard came and paid me 30/- for use of Cockie for 3 weeks.  Sent letter to S McGreevey Re leasing the farm.
WED 10   Went Road Board office.  Helped W. Price to mix pollard Phosphorus & sugar.  Filly got through or over wires into Engelbretsens paddock.  Got it home.  El in bed sick.  Rainy.  Mrs DeLambs died last night.  Mended fence afternoon.
TH 11   Gave the pig only one feed today intend to Kill him tomorrow   El in bed Auntie came
FR 12   Wet day.  JHB came, too wet to Kill pig.  Gave him one feed.  El in bed.  Gave Maggie hay in stall.  She is poor, cold wet night.

SAT 13 MAY 1899
Showers.  Killed pig JHB helping.  Killed a good fat young gander.  A nasty wet dark night.  Left the 3 cows in the reserve tonight for shelter.
SUN 14   John B, dog “Tui” pulled the goose down last night in the wash house and eat [ate] part of it.  A wet day.  Put the 3 cows in the shed plantation today.  Cut up & salted pig, 290 lbs weighed in pieces.  All at home.  El in bed, bad cold.  Went with John over part of back.  Pulled wool off dead Ewe.  Rain tonight cold & dark.
MON 15   Worked about premises.  Palle Jensen took away out of Reserve his house blocks with Cockie & dray.  Auntie & Willie came   Mrs Beckett & children & her mother.  Went over part of back sec.  Plenty of feed.  No paper today.  Got in load of matai Fwood.  Leaves beginning to fall off willows, but mostly green yet.  Dark dull day.

TU 16 MAY 1899
Sledged out posts (totara) to fences.  Rev Wills called & Mrs also with them Mrs Clark, & 2 Misses Clark.  Showery day.  Went to Jubilee F Society meeting st Library.  No Quorum.
WED 17   Very fine day.  Went with Inspector Tickner over the paddocks & over part of Neals, Painter Olsens, Mortensens (Killed rabbit on latters Sec.)   Killed one on my back sec.  Had dinner at 1.10 PM.  Afterwards went out with my own two dogs and saw another rabbit 3 or 4 chains this side of where we dug the one out before   Put in a few posts in fence.  JHB got horse & dray.
TH 18   Put in a few posts in fence Flat-Ridges   James Thompson & Mr J Rutter came to see the place with the view of the latter leasing.  Walked over the paddocks, & saw sheep grass fences etc.  They went in coach to catch express.  Rubbed bacon.  Very fine day.  Heavy frost this morning.

FR 19 MAY 1899
Putting in posts in old fences & split 2 totara logs in back sec.  I got about 20 good posts.  Drove home Mesdames Gribble Grant & Brown.  Got note from Mr Shuker to attend a political meeting in his house early next week.
SAT 20   Dragged posts with mare & repaired fence Widerup – Back & John dragged totara posts to repair – Ridges – back Sec.  Put in some.  Mare bolted & ran towards home & got stuck in gully.  Rain.  Dried Lilly off a few days ago.  She is to calve in the end of Sept.  Time up on 11th.
SUN 21   Wet, walked over back.  Tried to drive “Lilly” over to back sec.  The 3 cows jumped over fence & went into Reserve.
MON 22   Drove up to School.  Signed cheque for £3.0.0 to be given to De Lambs.  Mending fence, Ridges – back.  Very fine day.  El washing & not feeling very well.  Carrol expected on 29th to survey Dahl’s road.

TU 23 MAY 1899
Repairing fences & dragging totara posts up to fence.  Got mare shod paid 4/6 2 new ones, 2 removes.  Bought 2/- worth of staples.  Attended meeting of GH’s supporters at Mr Shukers.  Letter from Mrs Watkins & Post Card from Mr Retter.  Clive.  Comes on the 25th.  Rainy weather now.
24th MAY   The queen 81 years today.  Hoisted the flag.  Went with gun through bush.  Saw nothing to shoot.  El not well in bed today.  Helped Top catch the lock low.  John helped me tape off across the back Sec from the 3 gateways to Mortensens fence 25 chains.  Dragged in 2 long round rails for sheep yard, with mare.  Very heavy constant rain tonight

TH 25 MAY 1899
Drove to meet Mr & Mrs Retter who came by express.  Walked over paddocks with them.  Staying here tonight.  Cold.
FRI 26   Stayed at home walked over Reserve.  Drove Retters to Orm.  Hotel at night.
SAT 27   Put the 3 cows in Gully Plantation.  Put in a few posts in fence.  Some rain.
SUN 28   John went to Church & Sunday School.  I walked over to see J Neal.  He sold his Ewes in Palmerston for 9/7 each.  Wrote a letter to be given or sent to Rutter.  Auntie Ella Willie here also Mr Beckett called.  El up & Improved.
MON 29   Rode over to Dahl’s road.  Carrol Surveyor there.  He is to Estimate Cost of two Routes.  Top had to come home from school, as her mother had to go to bed, she not being well enough to stay up.  Put in a few posts & worked a little at yards.  Got bottle whisky at Top Hotel

TU 30 MAY 1899
Helped JHB to Kill his pig.  Tom helping.  Paid JJ Browns bill.  Saw Mr & Mrs Retter at Hotel & agreed with them about leasing this place etc.  Called on Mr Westall about Lease.  Walked up to Becketts at night.  Brought Cockie & dray home from JHB & got in some firewood late.  Letter from Mrs Lochhead.  Rainy.
31 WED   Started for Rangitiki or Taranaki on the mare, a rough ride to Frances’ stayed at their place that night.  Are all well.
TH JUNE 1st   Left Frances’  Crossed Manawatu in punt 1/- & tollgate 9d.  Arrived Palmerston   Saw Land Agents land dear 20 £ an acre about Palmerston.  Stayed one night.
FRI 2nd   Left Palmerston arrived at Fielding went to and stayed at Lochheads.  Largest stock sales held here.  Went to Citizens Meeting an Antiprohibition League formed tonight.

SAT 3 JUNE 1899
Left Fielding at 8.  through Bulls Turakina Arri Wanganui (forded Rangitiki) went over Wangahu in punt.  Saw Pinsch land agent in Wanganui.  Advised by Stevens at Atkinsons Stables to anchor about Wanganui and to see land agent on Monday.  Stayed at “Wellington House” to board.  Wrote home.  Furze all over the place.  Glorious weather.
SUN 4   Stayed today in town.  Grand place.
MON 5   Left at 9 got to Kakaramea at 5 got mare & self a good feed.  Got Country all the way, all occupied for many years.
TU 6   Paid 1/6 for feed for mare & 3/- for self.  Passed Manutahi Hotel 5 miles further on then Mokai goods shed & railway siding into Hawera, big town.  Postmaster has just told me that land about here is too dear to make anything for oneself.  He has a sheep farm near Pohangina.  Thinks it is worth 8/- an acre for leasing.

The most difficult thing to find about any of these towns is a house & a few acres of land to rent.  All land agents say the same.  They have plenty of other property very dear.  At Normanby the same story – too dear   Am advised by some to keep my money in my pocket & wait.  In this township met a man who told me he came from India with John B.   asked about him and hoped I would settle amongst them, do not think so, do not like this very rich excellent level land, suitable only for cows, so well as cheap well situated sheep land.  Mare fagged, pushed on to Watkins. Fine day.
WED 7   Went with Mr Watkins to Okaiawa township.  Saw the place where Von Tempski and others were Killed.  A Monument there.  Walked over Watkins land after returning.  (Posted letter John Okaiawa) good grass at Watkins place, cocksfoot, good potatoe crop.  Big heavy cows.  Old & young short horn bull.  Visitors arrive.  Various games.  Broke up late.

TH 8 JUNE 1899
Mr Watkins took me in his trap to see Dr Rockstraws place, through Kaponga township.  Passed Dairy Factories & Awatuna Factory inspected it with the Manager 20 tons of cheese in the place.  On to Dr Rockstraws.  He was not at home, away in Palmerston, big house, excellent land most of it under heavy bush.  Had lunch, back home late.  Weather keeps beautiful.
FR 9   Had a fine day & a long ride coming away from Watkins.  Posted a registered letter to J Reeter from Hawera asking him to send me a deposit of £20. to my address Sth Norsewood.  Saw another land Agent at Patea.  Came on to Waverly.  Put up at Dennis Hotel noisy landlord.  Gave mare a feed 1/6   Came on the first heavy rain at 10 pm.  Paid 1/6 a meal and 1/6 a bed.  A stock sale here today.

SAT 10 JUNE 1899
Up at 5 AM came away in the dark.  Had breakfast at Waitotara Hotel.  Civil Landlord.  Landlady got me breakfast – eggs, at once paid 1/-.  Pushed on to Wanganui.  Gave mare a feed, saw 2 land Agents.  No land available, the nearest to be anything like suitable was a farm of 150 acres a good distance off at £17.10 an acre.  Stevens the stable man tried hard to get me to settle near Wanganui.  Pushed on to Turakina & stayed at Proctors Hotel.  Good place.
SUN 11   Thick rain this morning, on to Marton at 11 AM.  Went to Harris’ L Agents house, not at home.  Put up at Devines Hotel.  The best place I found in my travels.
MON 12   Saw J Harris Land Agent Marton.  Advised me see a place 8 miles beyond Hunterville & 26 from Marton, drove out with the owner.  Steep place, rough & broken.  Came back by train, walked 2 miles to Devines Hotel.  Finally stayed at Hunterville.

TU 13 JUNE 1899
Came on from Marton & Arrived at Fielding.  Put up at Lochheads, the mare became lame.  All have colds in this house, fine day.
WED 14   The mare hardly able to walk.  Led her from Lochheads, after going some miles rode her slowly.  Thro Bunnythorp & Ashhurst, empty houses here, over river in punt 1/- into Woodville, heavy fog.  Some empty houses.  H Monteith in Danevirk.  Got letter in P O from Mcleod.  To Francis’
TH 15   The Francis’ tell me of a 50 acre farm well situated & level near 2 factories cheese & butter, went with Francis & saw it drove over in a neighbours gig.  Saw the owner, possession cannot be given before 1st October.  Back to Francis in fog.  Steady rain sets in.  Agree to stay tonight.
FR 16   Rode mare home, walked her, home early.  No deposit nor answer from Retter.  They are all well.

SAT 17 JUNE 1899
Did some work at sheep yards, fine day.  Saw rabbit on back, fired log he was supposed to be in.  John Killed one in my absence.
SUN 18   Out on back sec, saw no rabbit.  Painter Olsens son killed one on Hans Mortensens.  JHB Auntie & Ella.  C Smith Ada & baby for dinner.  Hans Mortensen for tea. Blowing
MON 19   Drove down & saw Mr Westall about Lease & Retters affair.  Got in Ewes off flat & started crutching them.  Crutched ones going on flat.  Came on wet, have some in shed tonight.  Auntie & Tom came in the afternoon.  Baby not well.
TU 20   Crutching the big ewes fine day.  Dragged 5 posts from back on to flat with Cockie   Got in shedful of ewes found one cast.  Letter from Retter Re valuing stock.  Heavy frost.
WED 21   Crutched big shedful   El at JHB’s   Got £10 in cheques from him.  £7.10 to buy wool press from J Gower.

WED 21 JUNE 1899
Letter from Mr McLeod (Wms & K) giving particulars of a farm of 102 acres near Pahiatua for sale.  John gone to JHB for their horse, our mare is lame.
TH 22   Went in 1st train to Napier.  Saw Mr Julius Sandtmann.  He advised me to consult Carlisle & McLean Re Retter.
FR 23   Next morning saw McLeod.  G Hunter & Kettle went with Mr Hunter & saw McLean.  The latter wrote Retter breaking off our arrangement.  Was with J Thompson.  Saw H Clayton & had tea with them.
SAT 24   Came home by 1st train.  Saw Retter at Fardon.  He tried to explain etc on reaching home soon got a telegram from McLean saying he sent letter.  Attended Jubilee meeting at Becketts.  Mr Westall there.  Mrs Westall stayed here.  Moonlight night.  Freezing hard.

SUN 25 JUNE 1899
Very fine day.  Drove white horse round the Block.  Saw H Mortensen.  Saw C C Smith & Ada & had a talk on the road.  At JHB’s for lunch.  Mrs Hutt son & daughter.  Mr & Mrs Retter came & “explained” why they did not answer registered letter sent them by me from Hawera asking them to send me a deposit of £20.  They say the letter which I sent them got lost etc etc.  They want the place now etc wasn’t their fault etc  I could not agree.  It is ended.  Am well pleased.
MON 26   Got in 2 loads of firewood off Reserve.  El drove to P G Grants & to JHB’s sewing.  Got letter from J C Retter offering to make fresh arrangements, will pay expenses incurred in Taranaki & give £5 a year more for the farm.  Declined by letter.  John Top & baby went to JHB in dray & left it there.  Letters from Mrs McNutt, Carlisle & McLean & Dr Rockstron Awamutu Taranaki.

TU 27 JUNE 1899
Finished crutching the ewes put in the shed last night.  Sent letter to Carlisle & McLean & one to H Clayton. & sent Rabbit rates 4/8 to E Gilbertson   John & his mother at JHB sewing.  Tom called & Mr Knight, the latter came out on the back to see the old cow.  Could not find her.  Offered the sheep for 11/- fat ewes.
WED 28   Searched over back Sec for old cow found her in scrub & put her in Reserve   boiled turnips & a crawler for dogs & pigs.  Posted letters to Dr Rockstron Watkins & Hoadly & Co.  Mrs Thodsen & children here.
TH 29   Wet day.  Cut boards for gate & painted them.  John at JHB tonight.  Put ring in pig.
FRI 30   Painted boards to make gate   put in some posts in Reserve – flat fence.  El at B. Gower    Signed £2 cheque for Tostensen & Pedersen £1.  Letter from Rees Watkins Re Dr Rockstron property.  This month winds up wet.

Receipts for 1899
£   s   d.
Jan 31st   for 10 bales wool   94 8 11
For dipping settlers sheep   8 18 –
May 8   F Goddard for use of horse   1 10 –
July 25   20 two tooth wethers Palin   10 16 8
July 28   65 fat ewes Hans Nordbye
& one old cow   35 – –
Aug 8   Crutchings & skins North   4 – –
Aug 29   10 fat ewes D O’Hara   5 – –
Sep 30   Butter sold to Mr Beckett
Oct 3   Skins to H North   16 –
Expenditure   159 13 7
16
House Insurance   2.6.0   160 9 7
Sheep rate on 800   16.   40 19 2
Reserve Rent   4.10.0   119 10 5
Rabbit Rate   4.8
County Rates   2.1. 6
Road Rates   3. 11.0   Ballance for household expenses etc.
Interest on £550 at 5%   27. 10.0
40.19. 2