Diary 10 December 1915 – 31 March 1920

BRABAZON DIARY 1915 – 20

091
BRA

LOCAL COLLECTIONS [15175]
091 BRA

3 cases coopers dip £7.17.6 or £2.12.6 each case.   5/3 packed

Mr Thomas Warren 111 Harrow Road Leytonstone Essex England

Armstrong Esq No 9 St Columbus Road Whiteworth Road Drumcondra Dublin Ireland

£ s d
2-17-6

£ s d
3-2-6
1-8-9
7-8-9

Jan 8th

One case Coopers Dip, Subtax added 5/-

one drum Coopers U O Fluid 5 gals

The New Zealand Farmers Fertilizer Co., Ltd
37, 37A, 38 Ferry Buildings
Quay Street, Auckland.

Dip up in price.  1 case Coopers Dip 57/6 plus 5/- subtax = £3. 2.

5 Gallon Drum 8/3 = £2. 1.3. and Powder 92/6
After 31st March dip up in price to £2. 13. 9

N Todd
P O Box 784
Wellington

IMPORTANT.
Please address letters to us as follows:
Messrs Williams & Kettle Ltd.
Box 176,
NAPIER.

No 9 St Columbus Road, Whiteworth Road Drumcondra Dublin, Ireland

The Secretary.  National Sheep Dip Co.  50 Willis Street, Wellington

Exchange. For £ d 20.6 for every additional £10 or fraction of £10, 3d extra

Price of Dip

One package of “National” Dip with box & carriage  £ s d 0.5.1

One package of Coopers Dip, carriage not included  0.6.3

One gallon Coopers liquid dip – to 150 gallons of water.  0.8.3

according to instructions.  Powder, 1 package to 100 gals water.

No carriage to pay on Coopers Dip. – brought home in car, both powder & liquid.

Paid to J  £286-2-8
Hayes cheque  1-1-6
Feierabind’s  3-0-0
S Fredericksen’s  2-7-0
11-2
Driving deduct  1-10-0
291-1-2
1-10-0
289-11-2
10-9
300-0-2

1919 Prices for Dip  290. 11.2

1.10.0

Coopers Liquid dip 10/9 per gal  89.1.2

1920 per drum 10/-   [?]

Powder Dip 92/6 per case

1920 per case 82/9  300.1.2

Exchange on cheque for £100 – 2/6

For £20 – sixpence and every additional

£10 or fraction of  £10 three pence extra.

Mr Thomas Warren  111 Harrow Road
Leystonstone  Essex  England

DEC 1915

WED 1st   A fine day to start with.  Chas Smith’s two teams took the eleven bales and fadge to Ormondlle [Ormondville].  John & Mr Baumgart shifted sheep into the paddocks they were in before shearing.  big mob on Back, all front paddocks open to the others.  Eva took car to Peter Larsen and he put it right – something simple – paid 2/-.  Put in row of peas today and transplanted some cabbage plants, fear the place where put in garden too shady.  All but “we two” motored to Dannevirke to a concert.  Mr Baumgart too .

TH 2   A very fine day, raked in rapeseed in shady places in garden.  Alice & Charlie came, after dinner all motored to Hughes & burnt off blackberries near house.  Eva painting house.  John with “Duke & Prince” and disc on Back.  In the evening Anton Svensen & Lund brought ewes & lambs.

FR 3   A very fine day.  Mr Lund got his sheep shorn by Ann Svensen.  Ted Arthurs and Charley Hulena came at midday.  Mr Baumgart went to Hastings.  John discing turnip ground on Back.  Started to fence it, put in 2 strainers.  All but “we two” at Concert in Norsewood.  Mr Resimo with them.

SAT 4   Another very fine day.  Helped Mr Lund and Anton Svensen press their 3 bales of wool.  Put in strainer at ploughed ground and put 2 stays to corner strainer.  John with disc.  Mam Eva and Douglas at pictures.

SUN 5   A very fine day.  John went fishing with W Torkilsen and caught 6 small trout.  After dinner all motored to Ormondlle where I got off and went to Uncle’s.  The others went with J Reismo to his mothers in Waikop [Waikopiro] and came back to Uncles where F Selby was picking out his fat lambs to be sent to Wellington in the morning, and his ewes to be shorn at Bains.

MON 6   Made a hurdle for new gateway before going out to work at fence.  Opened gateway at strainer near gully on Flat – Back.  John discing.  Mam and Eva motored  to Ormondlle   Mr Baungart and others went past in train for Trentham.  Mr Baumgart for Wellington.  Paid B Groom for Seperator £2.5.6.  Mam has letter from Middleton Beckett.  The “four” had a spin to D’virk [Dannevirke] today.

DEC 1915

TU 7.   A fine day, rain threatening, none came, worked at fence line, big hole on fence line to be filled up – an uprooted tree.  John with disc and harrows.  Three horses.  Sent letter to F. Selby re fat lambs.  Caught young rabbit on flat for Arthur.  All hands but one at pictures tonight.  Arthur gone with the crowd.

WED. 8   Windy today.  worked at fence, put in some heavy henau posts, filled big hole on fence line.  John finished harrowing.  Drilled in some swede seed. with “filly” & “duke”   “Prince” a bit lame.  Eva did some painting and lawn tennis.

TH 9   A very fine day.  worked at fence until dinner time, then motored with Mam Eva & Arthur to see both uncles, they were both up and looking as usual.  John finished drilling in turnips at midday and went to Torkilsens.

FR 10   A warm day, finished 1st strain of fence round turnips.  started on long strain over hill, much levelling and filling up.  Good digging excellent soil.  Mr. Baumgart back from Wellington.  Mam Eva and he gone tonight to P. Church where he & Mr. Harvey will have a farewell &c.

SAT 11   Another warm day.  worked at fence.  good digging.  big heavy henau posts.  All but “we two” at pictures tonight.  Mr. Thodsen bad.  Dr. Attending him.

SUN 12   A very fine day.  went over to see Mr. Thodsen, he is in pain in bed, can scarcely speak.  Dr just left him, tells me it is a bad case.  John, Grace and Arthur gone in phaeton to Torkilsens, a fishing pic nic.  Mam & Eva at E Church and P Church at night.  Mr. Baumgart came late.

MON 13   Worked at fence all day.  All wires stapled on posts, rails up at ends of fence, the fence is fit to keep sheep & cattle back until battens are on.  Out of £11-0-0 cheque Mackies bill is paid.  Mam Eva Grace & Arthur Mr. Baumgart and Grant (Mr. P.G. Grant’s brother) motored to Dannevirke.  The men bound for Trentham.

TU 14. Milked the 3 cows whilst Eva & John got in back sheep.  F Selby came at 9.30 and picked out 208 fat lambs at 6¼ per lb.  No Romney Ewe lambs sold.  No trucks till Friday.  Let back sheep go to their paddock.  Started [?] the rejected lambs.  Went to Hulena’s with Selby.  36 lambs picked here.

Dec.1915

WED 15   Napier wool sale A hot good shearing day, shore 101 and put 60 in shed for tomorrow   After tea Eva had a few rounds in meadow with mowing machine.

TH 16   Another hot day for shearing.  Drover Joyns came from Hulena’s with 36 fat lambs and waited here until the cool of the evening.  Took 208 of ours, as near as they could be counted, there was great difficulty in getting them on to road.  John went with drover to Ormondlle with them & yarded them, they are to be trucked early in the morning for the Gear Co.  Drover came back and stays here tonight and leaves at 4AM tomorrow to truck sheep.  Mam & Eva motored to Dannevirke.  A swarm of bees in front room, came down chimney.  News that Mr. Baumgart was rejected in Trentham.  18 lambs to shear.

FR 17   Finished shearing the lambs, shore 7 or 8 black and coloured ones.  Put 49 in Reserve – wethers, dry ewes, and 11 rams.  Put out on Back 383 – everything counted.  On Ridges & Widerups 313 everything counted.  745 total.  All hands went at the hay in the afternoon and turned it, nice trefoil.

SAT 18   Rain great part of the day.  A great deal of the heavy crop of oats partly flattened.  John carted home cases of benzine Louis Nordbye’s.  Letter from Wms & Kettle and catalogue giving prices of wool sold.  7 bales X bred 15¼d.  3 X Bred Fine 16½d one bale of bellies 11¼ one fadge of locks & pieces 7d.  all good prices.  Eva and Douglas out on Back found a black & white dog having a lamb bailed up between two logs or under a log, barking at it, brought dog home, has registered collar on.  All but “we two” gone to pictures tonight, raining steadily, oats flattened.  Sent Postal Notes to T Shaw Fitchett 376 Swanston Street Melbourne 14/= 2 years for Life subscription.

SUN 19   A dull cloudy day.  Went and saw Mr. Thodsen, he is weak but not in pain.  Mam & Eva at forenoon church & at Mrs Aldershaws.  John fishing, caught one.

MON 20   A fine sunny day.  Put Reserve sheep 38 on Hughes.  11 Rams in Reserve.  After dinner all hands turned hay.  Motored to Uncles with Mam & Eva.  Met Mr. Baumgart at train.  He came back with us and helped to get in hay.  Two waggons.  Eva on one.  late when finished, Mam Eva & Mr. Baumgart met new minister.

DEC 1915.

TU 21   A very hot day.  John cutting remainder of hay.  dug potatoes yesterday and today, also pulled peas and beans.  Red potatoes very good, they are either  Beauty of Hebron or early rose.  Two ladies with babies called.  Mrs Harris and another.  Mam & Eva at pictures, they changed cheque at Simpsons for £3-0-0.

WED 22   The usual hot day John went with Mr. Baumgart to his place with mare & waggon until dinner time, afterwards all hands turned hay.  Prepared foundation in fowl enclosure for stack of hay, as sheds will not hold all the hay.  dog gone.

TH 23   Hoed up a row of potatoes before we went at the hay.  dull and close, calm, got in 3 loads when rain came on at 1.30.  Mr Baumgart helping after he came back from showing new minister over his farm.  A load put in near shed and two loads in hay shed.  Torrents of rain fell in the afternoon.  nearly a third of the hay out in this rain.  The bees in chimney smoked & fired out.

FR 24. Mam & Eva motored to Ormondlle and met Gert Will Bazil & Betty.  Archie Ericksen came in forenoon.  Mr Baumgart went to township on an invitation to dinner.  We killed a young goose to see what it would be like.  too close & hot to kill a lamb, bought hind qtr from butcher and boiled ham.  At night all but “We two” went to township.  Much hanging up of stockings.

SAT XMAS DAY   A thorough wet morning.  young ones enjoyed themselves very much over their toys and stockings.  Presents for older ones too.  12 at breakfast.  Mr Baumgart wanted to go to Palmerston and Eva drove him immediately after dinner but there being only one express train today instead of two he was late and had to come back.  He John and Archie walked to the pictures tonight.  The others motored and took Arthur.  “Bobtail” round John took her to Gorintzkie’s bull.

SUN 26   A dull cool morning.  Will Gert children Mam & Eva left in car for home soon after 9 o’clock.  In the afternoon John Grace Arthur Archie & Mr Baumgart drove up to Ngamoko.  Archie is to stay a while with his sister.  John brought the milk over to Thodsens, he found something on the road for Arthur.  Mr Baumgart has tea in township.

DEC 1915.

MON 27   More rain this morning.  John drove Mr. Baumgart to Ormondlle to go by 8 o’clock train to Palmerston.  Ormondlle sports postponed, much rain in the forenoon.  Ella came in the afternoon and John & I drove her home and stayed at Grants a while.  Rain tonight and cold like winter.  No cheque for lambs yet.  “Herald” today, no “Evg. News”.

TU 28.   Another showery day.  Grace got a line of clothes out but only some got partly dry.  John went fishing but got only one or two.  He got lamb cheque £209-1-7.  In this is included exchange 5/6.  Each lamb brought £ s d 1-0-1 bar 15d over the whole number.  172 lambs 6474 lbs at 6¼ per lb.  36do = 1609 lbs at 6d per lb.  This sale is very satisfactory.

WED 29   Much rain fell today, no work done between showers.  John got cheque cashed in Norsewood Bank.  Letter from Eva, rain down country, very dry before.  Answered George’s letter.  Mr Mrs and Douglas Grant went to Christchurch, Ella Mavis & Jean here.

TH 30   A fine day after all the rain.  Sent letter to Frank at Pakowhai and “AW News” to G Armstrong.  Joe V came at breakfast time and helped us turn and shake out the hay.  He and I finished at 2 o’clock and John went with 2 horses and mowing machine at dinner time to his very rough paddocks and cut until night.  Letter from Mr. Campbell.  Pastor Le Garth called about a rake.

FR 31   A fine day for haymaking, breezy for loading, got it all in & under cover.  Joe Vaughan forking, his mare in one of the wagons.  Wms & Kettle sent wool cheque £265-10-11.  The cheque comes from Dannevirke and is on Bank of NZ Dannevirke.  Hitherto cheques have been in all cases on a Napier Bank which suits me best.  All but “we two” are in the township tonight on a visit, Archie too, he was a good help today getting in the hay.

JAN 1916

SAT 1st   A very fine New Years Day.  Archie left for King Country.  Ella & Jean stayed here, the others of us went to Ormondlle.  I took mare & phaeton to Uncles, he has been a little worse than usual these last few days, better today, faculties cloudy, forgets.  Chopping and running &c at sports, articles auctioned, bid 5/- for goose, 10/- for flag.  Paid them 15/-.  When we came home Mam Eva Gert Bazil and Betty here.

JAN 1916

SUN 2   A calm day, the company about going away for a pic nic but some rain fell, enough to dampen the ground, they gathered mushrooms and went for a walk over the paddocks instead.  At night Eva & Ella went to church.

MON 3   A breezy day.  Mam Eva Gert & two, Jean motored to Dannevirke.  Offices closed.  John rode round and made enquiries about rape lambs, hoed potatoes and in the afternoon worked at turnip fence.  fairly high wind.  Sent pass book.

TU 4   Joe Vaughan came at breakfast time, borrowed rake.  John mowing at his place all day, home late, very rough ground.  The crowd of women and youngsters visited river.  Gert & children left by 6 o’clock train.  Went to Hughes with Tricksie & sledge, brought back posts for turnip fence and 17 stakes for rape dividing fence.  Finished putting in posts in turnip fence.  Gone to pictures as usual.  Sent wool cheque drawn on Dannevirke bank, to Wms & Kettle to be put in Union Bank.  Sent a years subscription for Herald – 26/= to Dinwiddie Walker & Co Napier.

WED 5   A fine day.  John went early to mow for Joe and finished late tired of the rough job pointing stakes for dividing rape.  Put tape across it with Eva, about 8 chains.

TH 6   Drove stakes across rape paddock and stapled on wire netting, heavy crop of rape, should have been divided before rape grew up.  Letter from Mr. Baumgart.  Eva rode over to Rankins to know if his lambs are for sale.  Cannot sell.  Farm not sold yet.

FR 7   All sheep except rams and 38 dry ones on Hughes put through yards today.  Picked out & raddled 336 good breeding ewes.  149 on Widerups.  Back 187.  On rape 157 lambs and 12 cull ewes with them.  87 ewe lambs, 39 of them on Widerups.  48 on Back.  and 3 cull lambs on Back.  102 cull ewes.  42 of them on Hughes.  On Hughes now 80.  Killed an old ewe this evening for dogs.  All ewes and lambs looking well.  Much feed.

SAT 8   A very fine day for carting in hay.  Went with John mare & wagon & carted in all Joe’s hay.  McQuade & Hays also carting and two men forking up.  Mam Eva and all at home came in car & had pic nic in paddock.  Pictures tonight.  John in bed.

SUN 9   Dull calm day.  Mam Eva Ella Mavis to church twice to Baumgarts.  John at Mortinsens.  Grace and Arthur walked over to Thomsons.  Mushrooms very plentiful.

JAN 1916

MON 10 Mr. McGilvray at Hulena’s at 5.30 this morning.  John rode up to see him but he was gone without taking any lambs, they were not fat enough.  He came round to McLeods where John saw him and then brought in Hughes sheep and the lambs off the rape.  He picked out 12 wethers and 14 ewes and 48 lambs the latter being shorn are only worth 5½ per lb instead of 6½.  The drover took them away at once.  John cut a light bit of meadow at Thodsens.  All but he and I motored to Dannevirke, home at dinnertime, afterwards Eva Mam & I went to Ella’s, her father not well.  Auntie Florie & Dorothy there, afterwards went to Ormondlle.  Uncle a little better, his memory has come back somewhat.

TU 11   A hot calm day.  John gone to Waipukurau sale, did not buy lambs as they went too high to make any thing out of them.  Rape down country beginning to fade, lambs bought up to eat it.  Woolly lambs 17/1 shorn 14/- the shorn lambs 1d per lb behind woolly ones.  All but one at the pictures tonight.  Made a partition in front to seperate calves, and prevent sucking each other.

WED 12   A dry warm day.  Got in Reserve sheep, picked out 4 lambs & 6 ewes & put them on the rape.  Put 28 in Reserve a lamb included.  27 on Flat.  all old and in good condition.  All but John & another gone to Methodist pic nic.  He went to Makotuku Sale, did not buy.  Rape lambs 17/- weaner calves £2.10.  Eva & Mam motored to Ormlle met Miss McRae.  Paid Mackies bill = £3.15 out of £6 cheque.

TH 13   Joe Vaughan brought the rake home, one shaft splintered – caught in a gateway.  Raked the hay at Thodsen’s and took it home in load.  Pressed lambs wool in two bales, one light one.  John gone to see about a reaper & binder.  The Company motored to Manawatu and had their pic nic.  D.H. Cameron blacksmith’s bill 7/6 paid yesterday.  Weather continues fine.

FR 14   Made & painted frame of gate.  Company out in car and phaeton visiting.

SAT 15   John took 2 bales of lambs wool to Ormlle and brought back 3 cases of Coopers Dip.  Cut with mowing machine 2 strips round oats.  Miss Williamson came.  Got cheque £ s d 71-6-9 from Longburn 48 lambs 26 sheep.  All hands at Mrs Veitch’s tea & tennis and pictures tonight.

JAN 1916

SUN 16   The usual warm summer day.  Mr Thodsen passed away this morning Mam present.  All the company went to Church, John fishing, caught some, one big.  In the afternoon Mr. and Mrs Selby came in a hurry for me to come and see her (Mary’s) father as he was about to undergo an operation.  Drs Veitch and Dawson present.  Also Nurse McLeod.  The Doctors consider that an operation should have taken place a good while earlier, they cannot say at present whether this one will be successful or not.  Stayed until 9.30 when Dr. Veitch with Mam came to see the patient.  Eva & Mrs Veitch in car on road.  Came home with them.  Before the operation Uncle gave me instructions what to do about his property.

MON 17   Went with Doctor at 9AM to see uncle, stayed until Dr’s nightly visit, and then came home with him.  Eva Mam & Mrs Veitch in car.  Mam saw Uncle, very low.

TU 18   Doctor again called for me at 9AM.  Uncle worse than yesterday Doctor says Willie just arrived.  Mary Florie & Ella there.  F. Selby called & Miss Shaw.  Nurse McLeod attending, very good and attentive.  Stayed all day, at 11PM Dr and Mam came.  Patient sinking, no hopes now.  Came home with Mam & Dr.  John & Hurst went to Waipukurau sale, did not buy.  Lambs too dear.  Adrian came with reaper & binder and cut most of the oats.  Miss McRae left by express.  Funeral of Mr. Thodsen.  All his relatives present, sorry I was unable to go.

WED 19   Usual fine dry day.  Went with Dr to see uncle, breathing heavily all day long.  T Hoskings came and Ada.  Dr will not come again, can do no good.  Sports at Norsewood, in aid of wounded soldiers.  Gert & children came by express they all went to sports and came with car in evening & brought me home.

TH 20   A fine day.  a slight shower in the afternoon.  Mr. McLeod came early to see about dipping but John & B Rigor went to Onga sale.  Rode Tricksie to see Uncle but he passed away at 5AM.  Rode to Ormondlle saw Rev Mackay.  Mr Wilson who is in charge of Cemetery.  Mr Benbow about digging grave, came home and went back in car with Eva Mam Gert & children, all went to Uncle’s.  Gert & children home by express.  John and Riggor bought 68 lambs at 12/4.  drove all night divided them this morning.

JAN 1916

FR 21   Mr McLeod and John brought his (Mc’s) ewes & lambs to be dipped but rain coming on dipping was deferred.  Wire from W Fourneau, coming by express.  We all went in car & phaeton to funeral.  CC Smith there.  Hearse & Cab left at 3.30.  A service in the church.  Rain fell most of the time.  Will went home by 5 o’clock train.  Rechabites acted as pall bearers.  After leaving cemetery went to J Bovairds.  Will read by T Hoskings.  Mr. Hoskings present.  Property left equally between Ella and Willy.  Ella sole executrix.  Contrary to expectations and statement made to me and Willy by his late Father   I am not mentioned as Trustee.  We came home in car and John came in phaeton and drove McLeod’s sheep home undipped.

SAT 22   Much rain today.  Motored with Eva & Miss Williamson to Willie’s in the rain.  Had a talk over farm matters &c.  Mam & Eva attended Andersen’s sale.  Letter from Wms & Kettle, wool sale postponed, weight of 2 bales lambs, 3cwt.3qr.4lbs and 2cwt.1qr.4lbs.  Also account sale of 2 sheepskins realising 12/4 nett and put to my acct in Bank.

SUN 23   Light rain all day.  John rode to Ormlle to see F Selby about small number of lambs.  Did not see him.  Mrs Thodsen jun comes for milk, walked with her and Mam over to see Mrs. Thodsen sen.  Mam Eva Miss Williamson & Mavis Church twice.

MON 24   Motored to Ormlle with Eva John & Miss Williamson, latter went in train Dannevirke.  John got 91 lambs from F Selby at 15/- put them on Flat.  Motored from Ormlle up & saw Willie, back to Orm took Florrie & luggage to railway station.  Then Eva Mam two Mrs Thodsens tos see Satrups and on to Dannevirke.  With John in the evening turned most of the wet oatsheaves.  Hans Nordbye called about dipping tomorrow and also Miss McLeod.  Bert Riggor paid £ s d 20.19.4 as his half of price of 68 lambs.  Cheque to be sent to Williams & Kettle £ s d 41.18.8.

TU 25   Sent letter to Mr Melliken, Palmerston North and cheque for £40-2-0 for drill.  Mr McLeod dipped his sheep – 299.  John helped him drive them.  H Nordbye dipped his ewes- 285.  C Hulena dipped his lambs.  F Selby picked 86 fat lambs.  Drover took them away.  We picked & put on rape 99 shorn 19 woolly put on Flat 109 old ewes.  36 reject lambs.  Some of these for Hughes.  Mr. Thomson called about Mr Baumgarts crop oats.

JAN 1916

WED 26   A very fine day.  C Hulena came and dipped 465 ewes.  paid £2-18-0 he dipped 237 lambs yesterday.  We spent half a day stucking [stooking] on Reserve flat, a horrible job, sheaves badly tied, very long, hard to do anything with, some of it not tied at all.  Mam & Eva brought Rev Mackay up to a presentation to Mrs Bagley and motored him home again.  A drover has sheep & lambs in yards tonight.  Mr. Mrs & Douglas Grant home today.  Children left here for their home today.  Sent cheque to Wms & Kettle for the 68 lambs got at Onga Onga £41-18-8.  Sent £ s d 20.19.4   Riggir’s cheque to Union Bank to be placed to my credit.  Days warm & calm.

TH 27   A thorough wet day oats soaked again.  Mam Eva Miss Williamson Mrs Grant and Mrs Veitch motored to Dannevirke.  Willy Torkilsen called.  The girls gathered mushrooms.  J Riggir called to talk about Ella’s & Willy’s farm.  Receipt from Hawkes Bay Farmers Co op.  Assn Dannevirke for price of drill £40.

FR 28   All hands motored to Dannevirke.  Looked on at sale, sheep dear.  Left letter of explanation with manager of “Hawkes Bay Farmers Co op Asson.”  Paid £ s d 11.19.9 County rates.  Got change for five pound cheque from Mr. Mackie.  Paid £2 and 15/- to Walter Mortinsen and Harold Olsen respectively for 2 pigs and 3 strainers.  All but “we two” at concert tonight.  A “send off” to Mr Swarbrick, enlisted.

SAT 29   A fine day, drying, stooked the lying down sheaves.  After dinner ladies motored to river, went with them to Simpsons & bought 5/- hat.  John went to Anton Svensons and brought home a pup.  Most of them at pictures tonight.  At factory office today.

SUN 30   Nice day.  Rode to Ormlle saw Constable McLeod about Mrs Thodsen & the Will.  He says it is desirable to see a solicitor, more satisfactory &c.  Had dinner and tea at Uncle’s, he had one or two bad attacks, was in bed, got him down to dining room, is very helpless, better before I left.  All the others went to mountains.  Went to Alices late.

MON 31   A drying day.  Turned and spread out many stooks wet & damp in centre of sheaves.  Rose’s sale Norsewood.  John bought cow & weaner bull.  Holstein, running with cow.  All the others went to river and to tennis.  This was a good month.  although a great deal of oats is out in stook and sheaves on ground not dry.

FEBRUARY 1916

MON 1st   A close sultry day and big clouds.  Started to cart oats and make stack, sheaves too wet in middle giving symptoms of decay and would heat & rot.  All hands turned out, cut the twine ties and spread sheaves out.  Between 4 and 5 o’clock heavy rain came on and oats is again soaked.  Got Mr. McLeod’s cheque – 25/- for dipping.  Mr. Love dipped  ewes & lambs.  All but “we two” at pictures tonight.  A gentleman from Takapau called about a horse that he was in charge of belonging to a friend of his at the front, and was pounded and is now in the hands of – Halvert.

TU 2   Another hot day, tied some of the oats with flax.  Earmarked the young bull and put him into Widerups with the young heifers.  Put two of the best looing heifers with cows to be got in calf.  Eva motored and got down W Torkilsen and we tied and got 4 loads to stack, great rough sheaves and a rough looking stack.  Got Gears cheque for 86 lambs at 18/6 each.  If the lambs wool fetches 1/- per lb the lambs will be worth 21/2 each.  Sent cheque to Union Bank.  Eva & Mam at Alices.

WED 3   A very fine day.  Joe, Mr Grant, Mr Long and Willy helping at the harvesting.  Two wagons carting in part of the time, an ugly stack.  Took Willy home after tea and went for him in the morning.  Oats quite dry.  Sent cheque £79-11 nett.

FR 4   Some drops of rain in the morning, but we went on with the getting in of the oats.  We got all in by 11 o’clock, not nearly enough to head the stack which is too big and requires another tarpaulin.  Some rain after we finished, top sheaves damp.

SAT 5   John went early with C Hulena to Onga Onga, did not buy anything, stock too high.  All the others went to Dannevirke, brought back 18 x 15 feet tarpaulin from Ransom’s.  Put it over stack just before rain.  Mam paid Andresen’s bill £5.18.3 out of £16-0-0- cheque, paid “Rose Limited” for cow & calf bought at last Norsewood sale £7-14-0.

SUN 6   After dinner Eva drove me to see Uncle; much better.  After Church she Miss Williamson and Mam after dropping Miss Ganaway at her home in heavy rain came for me.  Thunder & lightning.

MON 7   Got in sheep off Hughes & Flat also rape lambs.  F. Selby Mary & child came in the pouring rain.  Picked out 14 ewes & 64 lambs to be trucked on Wedy.  Put 167 mixed on Hughes and fats on Flat for a day or two.  Miss Williamson left for Napier.

FEB 1916

TU 8   A hot day, no rain.  Eva cleaned out spout of back verandah, swept roof.  Out of a £20-10 cheque Mam paid Mackie’s bill £5-12, Land Rent on Hughes £ s 9-10 and to L Nordbye for Benzine £5-6- she received from H Nordbye 23/6 for dipping.  John rode to Whitson’s and bought 59 lambs at 15/- per head, had an offer to buy at 23/6.  Some 64/60 five year ewes off C Vaughan, turned it over to Mr McLeod.  Picked out 113 lambs this evening and put them on the new corner rape.  118 cull mixed sheep for Hughes & Flat.  On stubbles 78 picked yesterday = fats.  All but one at pictures tonight.

WED 9   Another hot day.  Picked out more ewes for breeding, more than 336 now, and picked out some more ewe lambs – out of Whitsons lambs, more than 87 ewe lambs now.  John took the fats to Ormlle very hot travelling, one ewe died put her in truck with the others, he rode to Vaughans and got back here at dark with 64 ewes bought by W. McLeod from C Vaughan.  “Chessie” went through culvert up gully, is a bit lame.  Fixed up fence in plantation where young bull got through, sheep getting into Flat off ridges there.  Only a slight shower today.

TH 10   Rain in the morning, turned out fine, all hands went to Show came home for tea and at a quarter or ten minutes to 8 o’clock motored back on a wild goose chase, too late for circus, and saw the tail of Mother Goose.

FR 11   Dipped Mr. McLeod’s 64 sheep.  John put them in his paddock, and started to plough stubbles, tried disc instead of plough.  Slabbed gully culvert.  On day before yesterday sent crossed cheque to A Whitson for £44-5 for 59 lambs.

SAT 12   Repaired culverts up gully.  John ploughing stubbles, rain came on in the afternoon.  W Torkilsen called.  Much oats out in sheaf and stook.  Pictures.

SUN 13   A fine day.  Mam & Eva at morn Church.  After dinner John to W Torkilsens, the rest of us to Uncles.  He is well.  Mrs Bengtsen came for Mrs Thodsens milk.  Misses Gordon & Grant at night.

MON 14   A fine warm day.  Cut & bagged cocksfoot in plantations.  John ploughing & at sale.

TU 15   Sledged some gravel with “Chessie”.  Drover left McLeod’s 74 fat lambs here until tomorrow, no truck.  After dinner carted in Gorintzkie’s oats.  At night all but one went to pictures.  Eva lawn tennis at Oldershaws.

FEB 1916

WED 16   The usual warm day.  Sledged gravel to places about stockyard with “Chessie”.  John ploughing till a quarter to ten and then took McLeod’s 74 fat lambs to Railway station, after trucking them, he went to Makotuku sale, 60 ewes he bought there at 18/4 all but 4 at 16/-   Put them on the rape this evening.  Got Gear’s cheque for £72.9 (£72-7 nett) for 58 lambs 17/6 Six at 19/6 (woolly), 14 ewes at 22/6.  All but “we two” motored to C Hulena’s and J Hutchinson’s after.  Arthur in bed.

TH 17   John went early on “Ginger” to Onga Onga sale.  Gave cheque for £27 to Mam going to Dannevirke with Alice and all, to pay C L Neilsen £13-5-3 also Williams & Kettle £10-4-10 and 18/6 to E.E. Prior.  Got home in good time and took Alice home to milk.  Rode to Ormlle met 10 o’clock train to bring away a truckload of rams for neighbours, no rams came.  Saw Uncle, walking about without stick, had dinner there.  Fastened tarpaulins on stacks.  Yesterday Mam had letter from W Baumgart and P. Card from Middleton Beckett.  Takapau Cemetery.  About 9 o’clock John came from Onga Sale, bought 250 ewes at 20/9.  They are in yard.

FR 18   John Eva and Mam motored away for the sheep at 2.30 this morning.  had another sleep after coming back.  John got here with them at 7AM.  After dinner he went to Ormlle and brought here 17 SD rams for Mr McLeod and other neighbours.  Rode “Tricksie” over paddocks.  abundance of grass everywhere.  Earmarked 100 of the bought ewes & put them on Back.  Put 50 on Flat.  50 in Reserve.  45 on stubbles, on island over creek.

SAT 19   A B Hansen, H Nordbye & J Berkhan came for their SD rams.  Dipped 4 for Mr McLeod, he took them home.  Two spare rams amongst the 17.  bought for 3½ guineas one of them.  John carted in Mr. Grant’s 2 small loads of oats.  Earmarked all the 250 ewes.  50 of them on Hughes, 50 in Reserve, 45 on Flat.  Got Benzine from Mr. Mackie, one case one pound, more ordered.  Eva & Mam at pictures.  F Selby called, is to come on Monday.  Eva rode out on Back and drove all sheep away towards Riggirs where the grass is long and wants eating down.

FEB 1916

SUN 20   John went to J Hutchinson’s early and bought 117 lambs at 15/-, earmarked 22 ewe lambs & put them on Flat.  Put 95 on rape.  Eva Mam & Arthur at Church.  In the afternoon motored to Uncles.  Hans Nordbye called, his sheep to dip tomorrow.

MON 21   A warm strenuous day.  Sledged posts & rails to old garden beyond meadow, shut the 12 rams – 8 SD and 4 old Romney – in there and put the Flat sheep in meadow whilst bringing in rape sheep and the sheep on Hughes.  F. Selby & Adamson came, picked out 60 shorn lambs 6 woolly lambs, 32 ewes, 9 wethers, total 107. on Flat tonight.  Picked out 83 ewes, 54 lambs & put them on far rape.  On Hughes 35 ewes 26 lambs.  Hans Nordbye with C Hulena and J Berkhan dipped, former 355 & Berkhan 48.

TU 22   Sent cheque £51-6-8 to H.B. Farmers and £3.4 to Wms & Kettle for sheep bought at Makotuku Sale.  John helped J Todd dip 158 or so.  The rest of us motored to Ella’s and dug a large quantity of potatoes, very good crop.  Dug one half or more, got home at 4 PM.  All but one at pictures tonight.

WED 23   J Todd came early and dipped his second flock, 306 total.  After dinner all but John went potatoe digging, finished, carted one load home with Filly, John finished ploughing stubbles.  Ground fine & brittle.

TH 24   Went with mare & express for remaining potatoes, carted half to Uncles & half home here.  The others motored to Takapau Sale, nothing bought.  Wrote out advertisement for Ellas Farm to be put in “Evening News” by Auntie, tomorrow.

FR 25   All but self motored to Dannevirke Sale J Todd with, latter bought sheep.  He and John drove sheep from Dannevirke Sale to Mangatera paddock for T Fothergill & Fane to be delivered at Makotuku tomorrow.  All hands home here late.  Eva & Mam at a Heron Benefit concert.  Sledged gravel Chessie.

SAT 26   John & Todd went early to Mangatera for sheep.  Bought them as far as J Riggors, are there tonight.  J Thompson dipped his 311 sheep.  J Berkhan 302 counting 48 dipped on 21st.  Mam Eva Grace & Arthur at a childrens Pic show at 2PM.

FEB 1916

SUN 27   Mam & Co motored to Alice’s in the forenoon.  J Todd came with his small flock just as we were about going to Uncles, they are in shed paddock tonight.  Rain this evening.  Sent letter – posted at Ormondlle to Wms & Kettle containing cheque for £259-9-6.

MON 28   Light rain in the forenoon, has cooled the atmosphere, dug some potatoes in little garden.  John did a little harrowing.  Todd came with 180 sheep dipped, with 306 makes 486 total, owes 40/6.  Mesdames Grant Thompson & Mrs Harold Olsen & 2 children called.  Sent sheep cheque (bought) to Wms & Kettle £ s d 259.7.6.  Received Gear’s cheque – £104-15-7.  60 lambs at 17/6.  6 woolly 19/-, 9 wethers 25/-, 32 ewes at 22/-.

MARCH 1916

TU 1st 29th Feb   Drilled the oats in Reserve Flat, mixed superphosphate and blood & bone manure which was used with oats.  “Duke” did not like smell of blood manure, had to be taken out.  Sent Gear’s cheque £104-15-9 (exchange included) to Union Bank.  Pictures tonight.

MARCH WED 1st   Got in ewes off Widerups, ewe lambs with them, dagged & dipped 157 and put them back with 2 SD rams and an old Romney.  Dipped 50 Onga ewes off Reserve & put a SD ram with them, on Flat for tonight.  J O’Hara & B Riggir came to see about dipping tomorrow.  F Smith came & asked about the 40 acres.  Eva & Mam at Aunties with a Dannevirke’s mans letter also enquiring about price.  £28 per acre agreed upon.  A salvation lass called with book & pencil, self denial & the building of a hall in Norsewood.  Mam gave her 2/6.  Mam will deny herself of things she like us all doesn’t want.

TH 2   Dipped B Riggirs 66 sheep, paid 5/6.  J O’Hara’s 108 paid 6/- is to leave 3/- at Mackies.  Dipped 158 for J Hutchinson.  Dipped 85 of ours, put 1 SD ram and one Romney with them on Hughes.  Picked out ewe lambs and put them in Reserve.

FR 3   A school children’s excursion to Napier.  Many vehicles went past.  Eva & Mam motored to Ormlle left car at Uncle’s plantation.  Got in Back sheep, picked out 328 dagged & dipped them, put them on Back with the 50 in meadow and 5 SD rams and 2 Romneys, one ram with the meadow 50.  picked out all the ewe lambs, very big ones & put them in Reserve.  378 on Back now.  Total 620 and 12 rams.  Eva & Mam got up first tonight from Ormlle met vehicles going in.  Gert & Co well.

MARCH 1915 [1916]

SAT 4   The usual dry good day for dipping.  Dipped Anton Svensen’s 232 and our ewe lambs dagged dipped & put in Reserve = 134.  majority of them very big.  Water going down in gully spring water hole, Sledged 240 gallons today out of it.  Mr Lund called to see about dipping his next monday.  Eva & Mam decorating the Church with Harvest Emblems.  Other ladies helping.  Pictures tonight.

SUN 5   Motored to Ormlle in the forenoon.  Eva & Mam at afternoon Church.  At night Presby.

MON 6   John and A Lund bought down and dipped 129 and bought them back home again.  Paid 10/6.  skinned a good ewe lamb found dead in Reserve at creek crossing.  Dug some potatoes.  Mr Lendorph called re Section.  A letter from Williams & Kettle and a sample of our lambs wool & explanation.

TU 7   Light rain has not gone far in the ground.  Answered Wms & Kettle letter.  Got in sheep off Flat, one ewe gone wrong, fixed her up.  Left hanging for a few hours.  Wrote to Ella enclosing T W Smith’s letter stating that £28 per acre was considered by him too much for Section.  Returned lottery tickets to Joseph Lewis Esq, G.P.O Wellington.  A great number of these about.

WED 8   Got in ewes and lambs off Flat.  F Selby picked out 46 ewes/wethers 16 woolly lambs 68 shorn lambs.  Total 131.  John to truck them tomorrow.  60 lambs put on the best patch of rape.  45 ewes & 8 lambs on Flat.  Dug potatoes.  £25-0-0 cheque Mam changed at Mackies, paid his bill £12-16-10½ and enough left to pay others, half holiday today.  Kinross and Stark of “Harvester Co” came.  Paid £3. to them as final payment for drill, and reckoned by Kinross as a deficientcy [deficiency] in former payment owing to his mistake.  At night went with Mam & Eva to Uncles.

TH 9   Good rain today at times.  Dug out some potatoes and docks.  Mam Eva and Ella motored to the Farm and counted the cattle = 9 cows 1 heifer in calf 6 eighteen months heifers 4 weaners 1 Jersey bull 2 pigs 1 horse.  Mam paid £7.10.6 to Bartlett saddler, to Cameron 7/-, to Mr. Simpson £1.0.9.  For Piano tuner 12/6 postal notes to send.  John drove to Ormlle and trucked 131 mixed fats.  A lamb in Curran garden got him out. fence requires a little repairing.

MARCH 1916

FR 10   A hazy sort of day.  John started ploughing rape patch next meadow ground very bare, much rain fell, he rode over paddocks in the afternoon.  Mam and Eva motored with Mrs Veitch included to Dannevirke.  Sent letter to S Ericksen.

SAT 11   Dull day not much rain.  Dug some potatoes, ground too wet, dug out a great number of docks, sorted potatoes in woolshed into 3 sorts eating, seed and small ones to be boiled for fowls.  John ploughed & put sheep up.

SUN 12   Got in Reserve ewe lambs.  Put 13 in potatoe garden.  117 back on Reserve, one died, this count makes 2 short, may have got into another paddock.  John & Co drove up to W Torkilsen’s.  Others of us to Uncles & ladies to Vaughans.  Joe Ennis at Uncles.

MON 13   One of the 13 lambs put in potatoe garden yesterday very lame, unable to walk, marks of dogs teeth in hind quarter, died at midday, after skinning found quarter red swollen & bruised, laid 2 bates [baits] in Reserve, two of our ewe lambs in McLeods, looks as if driven through fence by dogs.  Got them back.  John ploughing.  The lamb that died was bitten by small dog with short teeth, skin not torn, chewed.

TU 14   Fine morning & forenoon.  J Thompson dipped 149 ewes.  J Hutchinson dipped 112 lambs – Fogerty 303 or so.  Paid 25/-.  Rawsthorn helped by S Fredericksen dipped 203, terific rain fell whilst dipping latter.  Will put them through again without payment if any live tick is seen when sheep are dry hereafter.  All sheep dipped today got a terrible washing.  J Hutchinson left his fat mob of lambs here tonight to be trucked by 8AM tomorrow.  He saw Curran chase one of our lambs off his oats with his terrier, this is how the lamb got bitten that died yesterday.  Fence between us not sheep proof, must repair it soon as we can.

WED 15   Left this morning for Pakowhai, country from here to there looks miserable rain much needed.  A three hours trip, stayed a short time in Waipawa.  Gert pleased.

TH 16   At home.  Dipped 453 for D McFarlane, 78 for R Christiansen.  60 for Fogarty.  P 5/-.  Thompson paid 12/6.  D McFarlane paid £1-17-9.  Christiansen is to pay 6/6.  At Pakowhai – went into Napier with Gert and 2 children.  A Svenson paid £1 for dipping his 232 on Sat 4th.  Paid on 14th.  Found dog poisoned.

MARCH 1916

FR 17   A wet day.  John went to D.virke Sale, bought 17 ewes at 18/7.  brought them as far as Matamau, went for them next morning.  At Pakowhai- Motored to Hastings, McKeesicks not at home, called at Sturrocks and saw the family except Dorris.  At night  stayed inside.

SAT 18   At home rain, brought the sheep home.  At Pakowhai, Eva Mam Gert and children went to Napier.  Went with Will in gig to Hastings.  At Stewarts Auction sale, a variety sold.  Showers.  Mam and Co at pictures.

SUN 19   A fine day.  All hands motored through Napier, over bridge, on to “Marshall’s Crossing”, had pic nic, boiled billy, stayed good while back through Napier, called at Whakatu freezing works, saw some of the machinery upstairs, fine looking place.  After tea the others went for grapes to a monastery.  Called and saw the Becketts last Thursday.

MON 20   Up fairly early to pack & leave for home, Bazil not up left at 20 minutes to 7.  stayed a little while at Waipawa & at Waipukurau.  Got home little after 10.  Mr Cantwell called about Ella’s 40 acres.  Offered to give £30 per acre with cattle &c given in.  Went with Mam & Eva to Uncle’s.  Ella accepted offer.  They all motored to the farm.  Stayed with Uncle in their absence.  Letters from Baumgart & Mrs Anderson.

TU 21   Got in sheep off Hughes & put them back 102 ewes & 2 rams.  Got in Widerups 157 and 3 rams.  Counted 127 mixed – old ewes & lambs off meadow and put them in bare rape paddock now being ploughed.  A piece of it ploughed today as rape not likely to come on.  Hill rape looks well.  2½ acres Algerian oats drilled in yesterday next meadow.  In meadow now, one blind ewe and one disfigured lamb.  Pictures tonight.

WED 22   A wet day, sorted potatoes in woolshed.  John went to “house above” and carted totara posts to fence between Reserve & Currans paddock, to be made sheep proof.  Sheep in paddocks, 378 ewes on Back. 6 SD & 2 Rom rams.  Widerups 157 & 3 rams.  Hughes 102, 2 rams. 127 mixed ewes & lambs to fatten, now on Flat.  Either 117 or 119 in Reserve.  2 in Meadow.

MARCH 1916

TH 23   A fine day, put in totara posts between Reserve & Currans.  Had interview with Constable McLeod.  Mr & Mrs Wallace called at midday on their way to sale at Rawsthorn’s.  Mam & Co to Dannevirke, paid Load & Mercantile for ram.  £3.14.10.  Got brake of car repaired at Neilsen’s,  took two pound cheque to change at Mackie’s.

FR 24   A fine forenoon wintry evening digging picking & sorting potatoes in home garden.  John drilling oats for Gorintzkie.  Mam & Eva at Alice’s, left bill for S. Ericksen.  Posted blue paper to Clerk of Court Ormondlle.  Sent cheque for 17 ewes to Wms & K £ s d 15.15.11.

SAT 25   Showers in the forenoon, wintry, too wet to plough.  John went to P.O Savings Bank & to Bank NSW.  and over paddocks to put ewes & rams together.  Sorted potatoes.  All but one at pictures tonight.

SUN 26   Went with Eva & Mam to Uncles.  Cantwell has paid £20  deposit on Farm, and pays £400 down as soon as transfer is arranged by Hosking.  A very fine day.  Mam & Eva at P. Church tonight.

MON 27   A very fine day.  Put in a couple of rows winter cabbage plants house garden.  Dug & chopped out blackberrie briars up gully &c.  Mam paid £6.14.4 the amount of Andresens bill out of a seven pound cheque.  Dis allowed 3/4.  John drilled 5 acres of oats for Mulholland and a small bit for Ted Arthurs.

TU 28   Dug out potatoes self sown and drills, picked & put in woolshed eating potatoes.  Piano tuner called , not required.  John drilled for Ted Arthurs and Christiansen & Co on F Schmidts old place.  All but “one” gone to pictures tonight.

WED 29   A thick fog in the morning.  John brought Anton Christophersen’s 117 sheep across paddocks and dipped them.  After bringing them back went to Makotuku Stock sale, drove some sheep home for Mr McLeod.  J Tod bought 62 lambs at 13/6.  here tonight.  Sledged all small potatoes here & heaped them in garden to pit, large ones in woolshed.

TH 30   A beautiful day.  John and Jorgosen ploughing.  J Mackie brought manure and seed oats and barley.  Peter Johansen and boy gone to Waipukurau hospital.

FR 31   A wet morning turned out fine.  finished sorting potatoes.  The others to Dannevirke Sale, did not buy, nothing suitable, all sheep and lambs dear.  Prices not expected to Come down.  Abundance of feed.  Barclay’s boy came to ask for John to drill a paddock of 5 acres or so for them.  Nearly 900 sheep on the place now.

APRIL 1916

SAT 1st   A beautiful day.  dug out some briers [briars] in Reserve.  Jorgosen & John finished ploughing.  Got in sheep off Flat – ewes & lambs and dipped the lot.  75 on rape to be dipped today & 54 lambs on Flat – ewes & lambs on rape.  Got in Reserve ewe lambs 114 this makes our number 4 lambs short.  Put 44 of them on Flat leaving 70 for Reserve.

SUN 2   A lovely day.  Put 70 lambs on meadow.  None in Reserve.  All but John motored to Mr Wallace’s in Whetukura, after dinner walked over paddocks, nice grounds & place.. Mr Neilsen & J Resimore there with a new phoenix motor car, left at 5 o’clock.  Called at Uncles and got a rooster.  Mam & Eva at Church tonight.  Spent a good day.

MON 3   A beautiful day.  Chopping and rooting out briers.  Rawsthorn dipped 12 ewes paid 1/-.  John bought 43 lambs half of them woolly at 14/6 from J Hutchinson, put them on rape this evening all but 2 woolly ones.  Mrs McCullough and daughter called.  John disced the ploughed piece.  Saw bunny at woolshed.

TU 4   Chopping and digging out briers in Reserve.  Sledged out manure and oats and barley to John to drill, put in 2 bushels to the acre, finished sowing.  Caught bunny under slab near stockyard, Eva has him tethered again.  Pictures.

WED 5   Chopping & digging out all the briers to be seen.  John drilled barley into far divided paddock and into Reserve garden and rounded sheep in paddocks.

TH 6   Every day fine.  Put a seventh wire on fence- Reserve-Curran’s oats.  Curran did likewise.  A poor old ewe died on rape, John pulled off wool & buried her.

FR 7   A dull calm day.  Finished fence – Reserve-Curran.  Mam & Co motored to house above and chopped down young growth of briers, dragged a couple of sledgeloads of gravel to yard.  Put ewe lambs off meadow into Reserve.  Mam paid Andresens bill & blacksmith’s out of a one pound cheque.

SAT 8   Rain & showers during the day.  Thrashed 3 sackfuls of cocksfoot grass and went to see W M Thomson in his office.  John laid battens round turnip paddock.  Pictures at night.  Of course Mam Eva & Grace went.

SUN 9   Grand day after the rain.  Mr McLeod called about drilling his barley and grasseed.  John is to do it on Tuesday next.  Motored to Uncles in the afternoon.

APRIL 1916

MON 10   Drove to Ella’s farm with John & Arthur and carted home here the 2 pigs.  He went to Norsewood sale, did not buy.  Lambs wool returns, 2 bales £ s d 33.9.10.

TU 11   John drilling at McLeod’s, very fine day.  Eva with Mrs. Veitch.  Dug out lifted strainer at angle rape paddock and put it in securely.  Letter from Egypt Messrs Baumgart & Beckett.  Yesterday put 44 ewes and 40 lambs on Reserve oats and put back on rape 33 of the worst lambs.  Mr Allen called, has drilling to do.

WED 12   Fogarty & Ryan dipped 228 shorn lambs paid 17/-.  John finished drilling at McLeods, made a start at Wiggans.  Gave pigs bag of swedes, as well as boiled potatoes and milk.  They eat the turnips and leaves.  Mam & Co at Alice’s.

TH 13   Messrs Ryan and Fogarty dipped 144 ewes paid 12/-.  J Thompson 10/6 for 134 shorn lambs.  John drilled for Wiggins and Jorgosen.  Miss Higgins called.  Fine day.

FR 14   Sledged home turnips and firewood and dug round big strainer at brown gate.  John drilling lime and seed at Allen’s Otaiwa.

SAT 15   A dull calm cloudy day, only a little rain fell.  Eva Mam & Arthur motored John to Allens to drill, he finished.  Received £2.  Eva milked Mrs Veitch’s cow as Mr Widt was in Napier.  Mam carried home & put in basement – spare room, pane of glass, she & Eva invited to tea at Doctors tonight, then pictures.  Dug all round big gatepost footed and secured it to hang gate on.  Mr McGilvray called, is to come middle of next week.  Eva rode Tricksie over paddocks and put sheep together.

SUN 16   Eva motored to Dr’s and milked cow twice today.  After dinner went to Uncles.

MON 17   A dull calm day.  John filled ditch crossing place on roadside opposite stack and gateway.  Stapled on battens on fence – Flat.  Angle rape paddock.  At night went with Eva Mam Mrs and Miss Thomson to Dannevirke to hear Mr Coleman lecture on the war and his experience in it in Northern France.  Much rain fell going and coming.

TU 18   Rain ceased in the morning.  Got in and dagged Flat lambs 100, those off rape stalks dagged & put back 16.  Kept 15 of the best in shed paddock for tonight, no rain.  Eva did not milk Dr’s cow today.  Mr. Widt home.  She Mam and John at pictures tonight.  Killed & skinned Ryans ewe, left at dipping and unable to stand.

APRIL 1916

WED 19   A fine calm day, carted hay from yard shed up to hayshed.  Recd £5-11-0 cheque on Bank of New Zealand Dannevirke from Mr McLeod which he got from Sam Ericksen by giving him a summons from me for money lent (£5) the eleven shillings is for costs.  Walter Matheson agreed to come & cut our chaff tomorrow.  We mustered over 80 good sacks of our own.  Mam & Eva motored to Anton Olsen’s and brought back 22 sacks most of them useless, 6 from W Torkilsen only 2 of them good.  24 from Hans Neilsen’s all good.  Carted wood & sacks to stack.

TH 20   A sunny calm day.  W Mathieson started to cut stack into chaff.  Finished before dark.  Between nine & ten tons of chaff.  Paid him £4.15.6.  His charge is 10/- per ton.  John carted chaff to yard shed & tipped the chaff out and carted cans of water, a busy day.  Two blark boys helped, gave big one 2/- and 1/- to the little fellow.  Was on stack forking most of the day, the boys gave a little help to John.  At night Miss McRae came, Eva met her with car.  Eva put Reserve lambs out on Flat and put the sheep on oats into Reserve.  The oats eaten down bare.

FR 21   Carted in the sacks of chaff left out last night – 80 sacks.  Also the Good Friday firewood left over, ladders, cans &c.  tiered sacks of chaff in cartshed leaving spaces between for cats to get through.  Eva met Miss Williamson at Railway Station at midday.  Tonight she Miss McRae Eva & Mam at Dr Veitch’s by invitation.  John at Gospel Hall.  Got in Flat sheep, raddled wether lambs blue on head 58 and put them on meadow.  Put 130 lambs on Flat.  Sheep in Reserve waiting for Freeze buyer.

SAT 22   Lovely day.  Yesterday killed young gander for todays dinner, we enjoyed it.  Leslie Campbell and Miss Bird with us & left today again.  John carted in firewood and we gathered and sifted scattered oats where stack stood.  At night Eva Mam & Miss Williamson went to Pictures.  Got new Valuation Papers.  Valuation bumped up.  Unimproved an increase of £1525.  Previous £2207 now £3732.  Capital value now £5691.  previous £3818.  Valuation of improvements £1959, before £1611.  This increase of taxation is for War purposes, fitting out reinforcements, providing for wounded Soldiers, pensions, young women married to departing soldiers &c &c.

APRIL 1916

SUN 23 EASTER A dull calm cloudy day.  Eva Mam & Miss Williamson motored to Church and were late, Miss McRae was wise.  All busied themselves making san[dwiches] for a mountain pic nic.  All in the house but one went to the hills, many Ngamoko people joined them, they got home before dark and before the rain set in.  Steady rain tonight.  Eva Mam Miss McRae & Miss Williamson at Church tonight.  Miss McRae brought Eva a pair of doves, they fitted up an enclosure for them in a sunny spot in stockyard.

MON 24   Rain during the day, fine greater part and evening, sports in Ormondville.  Mr McGillvray came and picked out 27 ewes and 29 lambs.  Put 17 ewes and 5 lambs in Reserve, 61 reject lambs in shed paddock tonight.  Fats in meadow.  Miss McRae left by afternoon train.  Lady & 2 little girls escorted to Walkers by Eva and Grace.

TU 25   A spring day.  John & Grace went for a holiday to Auckland & thereabouts.  All hands motored with them to Ormondlle train long & packed, they got plenty room.  Before John went he drove the 56 fats to Ormlle & trucked them, then rode back here.  I spent the day at Uncles and when Eva & Mam came with Miss Williamson to catch 6 o’clock train I came home with them.  Arthur less trouble than with parents.  John posted letter to Longburn describing sheep – 1 wether, 26 ewes, 11 woolly lambs 18 shorn.

WED 26   Another Spring day.  Mr Fogarty took away his mob of shorn lambs from big yards, where they were for the night, to Makotuku Sale.  Crutched our 58 rejects, 3 of them on oats to be crutched tomorrow.  Cut off 7 tails.  A wonderful change in Arthur for better.

TH 27   Fog this morning.  Stapled on battens Flat fence.  Got in 16 lambs off rape stalks and crutched 15 one a ram lamb.  Put 30 on rape, 46 shed paddock.  Crutched & branded 76.

FR 28   Put 30 lambs on Back near Riggirs.  16 on Ridges all crutched & branded B.  Mrs Thodsen called also Walter Mrs & child.  Mr & Mrs Grant.  Eva motored Thodsens to Rev’d Legarths.

SAT 29   Crutched & branded Reserve sheep – 23.  17 of them old ewes.  With Eva carted oats straw &c – for hens to pick at.  Faced battens round turnips.  Hares eating swedes.  Letter from John & A W News.

SU 30   Rain in the morning, some through the day.  Afternoon motored to Uncles Ella G with us & at night to P Church.  This has been a splendid month.

MAY 1916

MON 1st   A wet day.  Went to Norsewood sale.  Lambs down in price fat cattle fetch a good price.  2 fat cows 8 gns each.  Mr P.G.Grant sold a cow for £12. 1 [?] not long calved, run up by 2 or 3 more buyers.  Shorn lambs good condition passed in at 14/- owner wanted 16/-.  Had afternoon tea at Mr Grants.  Bad news in papers.  General Townshend surrendered with 9,000 soldiers to the Turks, the latter say 13,000.  An insurrection in Ireland confined chiefly to Dublin, by the Sein Feins propigated by Germans, a great deal of destruction and bloodshed.  Jewelry and other shops looted &c.  Returns to hand for sheep sent to Longburn, unsatisfactory.  Lambs 14/- ewes         one wether sent not mentioned.  weight of lambs 29 lbs at 5⅞ and 5¾.  Ewes 51 lbs nearly 52 lbs at 4¾.  Cheque £47.12.8 including 1/3 exchange.  Got set of slippers on Trixie. `Mrs Speight called.  Eva saw to the return.

TU 2   Fine forenoon.  Rain in the evening, putting on battens on fence round turnips.  Yards too wet to get in ewes & take rams out.  Pictures tonight.

WED 3   Finished stapling on battens round turnip fence and filling up &c.  Put “Duke” and “Prince” off Flat out on back, too much stock on Flat.  Eva got in a cut of 4 lambs off flat to crutch, put 30 in shed.  She went to Circus at night & Mam to P. Church meeting.

TH 4   A slight white frost this morning.  Car hard to shift Dr Veitch about to rope car to his and give it a run to warm it up, but first we pushed it along and got it to go.  Miss Allen’s car also struck at German line.  Eva took occupants home to Ormondville and she and Mam then went at the usual Soldier-garment sowing in reading ro[om].  Irish rebellion quelled 3 of the leaders shot so far, others likely to follow later on.  Put 30 lambs crutched & branded B in Reserve.  18 in meadow, used lampblack today instead of red paint, the latter spread after the rain.  31 in shed tonight 51 in shed paddock.

FR 5   All lambs crutched & branded except 30 in shed tonight.  Eva got in 101 on Hughes & 2 rams.  This leaves 1 ewe short.  156 ewes on Widerups leaves 1 ewe short, 365 on Back leaves 13 ewes short.  Took out the 12 rams & put them on hill & front.

MAY 1916

SAT 6   Finished crutching the hoggets, all branded and dispersed in paddocks.  Sledged in bundles of wire, staples &c left over after fencing round turnips, has a cold.  John home from Auckland, met with car, brought Arthur rocking horse &c &c.

SUN 7   A heavy cold gasping all night, no sleep, at daylight Mam got up Eva went in car for Doctor, came soon, examined, sounded &c pronounced Asthma went home and returned with bottle of medicine, soon had an hours sleep didn’t die.  Stayed in bed all day by Dr’s orders.  Mam Eva & Arthur went to Uncles.

MON 8   Fine day after yesterday’s rain, not up too early, fed pigs hens dogs helped John saw log on Flat and one on back for stakes to divide turnips.  After tea with Mam and Eva motored to Uncles.  He is looking and feeling much better.

TU 9   John got in firewood and pointed stakes, carted out wire netting, laid and drove stakes, not enough netting.  Mr Round did some slight repairs to Car and left with Dr to do something to his.  Mam & Eva pictures, frosts.

WED 10   A grey calm day.  John drilled 2½ acres oats for Mr Walker & shifted to S Wiggins after dinner, left “Prince” there and rode filly home.  Unstapled & took down wire netting from round hen enclosure at stockyard, nicely rolled up.  Mavis here.  Mr Mackie sent 70 lb bag of sugar and one from J Andresen yesterday.  Killed a longtailed lamb yesterday, not very fat.  Sheep returns 490 breeding ewes 100 lambs 20 dry ewes, 12 rams.  678 dipped, but out of these sent 56 to Longburn. 12 killed for home use during the year.  Mam & Eva home at 12 AM from Danne’ke concert.  Mrs Veitch with [them].

TH 11   Wintry-looking day.  Not much in the forenoon whilst John finished drilling for Mr Wiggins, home for dinner.  Wet afternoon and wintry wet night.  Motored Mavis home.  News from North of France that the Anzacs have had a fight & acquitted favourably.

FR 12   A thorough wet day.  Nothing done except to boil potatoes for pigs.  Feed dogs & horses.

SAT 13   Wet day again.  Out of a six pound cheque Mam paid Andresen £ s d 4.4.0.  Mackie £ s d 1.12.0.

SUN 14   Gray calm day.  Eva & Mam at 2 churches.  Went with them to Uncles in afternoon.

MON 15   No rain until evening.  Finished putting up wire netting across turnips.  Set of shoes on filly.  Flood at Pakowhai.  Miss Higgins called.  After tea Misses Gordon and Grant.

MAY 1916

TU 16   A calm dull day.  Got in lambs off rape stalks – 30.  Put 28 of them on turnips and 2 small ones on barley.  Mrs Todd called and payed for dipping, cheque £2.0.0.  For tea Misses Gordon & Grant, went to pictures with Mam and Eva.  Mr Fulford Sen. at Pakowhai has passed away quietly – on Sunday, to be buried on Monday.

WED 17   The usual foggy sort of day.  Altered pig scalding trough in buggy shed.  Eva & Mam met George & Grace at Station, at night they attended Wesley Sunday school annual meeting in Church.  Mrs McLeod called to say their sheep have been disturbed by a dog from township, one drowned.  John baited &c.

TH 18   Made and hung gate in sheepyards.  Eva Mam & George went to Takapau to see the Becketts, back for dinner.  John rode up to Ngamoko, shot 5 quails.  Rain tonight.

FR 19   Rain last night and greater part of today.  Mud everywhere.  Boiling small potatoes for pigs.  Too wet today to kill.  John rode to Ngamoko to shoot one quail.  We had 5 of them for tea.  Brought in half sack of turnips for pigs.

SAT 20   A fine day.  Eva Mam & George went early to Dannevirke to get car overhauled, a broken rod discovered, car left for repairs, occupants came home by train.  They are at the pictures tonight.  Worked all day at sheepyards.  Killed a fat lamb.

SUN 21   A fine sunny day.  Went with Eva in phaeton to Orm’lle and to Uncle’s, she drove Parson – Rev Martin up to Norsewood and home again when she picked me up.  Mam George Grace & Arthur drove to Alice’s with filly and buggy.  Eva drove Tricksie.  John and Jorgosen went to Ngamoko, got a couple of hares and a pair of quail.  Yesterday when Mam & Co motored to Dannevirke they paid C L Neilsen £7.0.0.

MON 22   A fine dry day.  John got in back sheep – 378 ewes and 29 hoggets.  Put 100 ewe hoggets on oats.  Crutched 126 ewes & put them back on Back sec.  About 70 in shed tonight, remainder in shed paddock.  Picked out the hoggets 30 and put in meadow for tonight, ewes in good condition and look well.  Mr. A Wallace for dinner – Norsewood sale.  Leslie Campbell here tonight, discharged from Trentham.  Good breeze tonight, ground will soon dry.

MAY 1916

TU 23   A drying breezy day.  227 crutched today.  300 on Back.  27 Reserve, 51 in shed tonight makes the number of ewes put on Back at dipping time correct.  Eva put 30 hogg’s on turnips.  58 there now.  She put on Reserve oats 52 mixed Reserve sheep.  All sheep crutched so far branded B.  Alice & Charlie called.

WED 24   Crutched the last of the Back sheep and Eva got in Hughes 101 & crutched them.  Put 70 on Hughes to remain there, remainder in Reserve for the present.  Heavy rain in the afternoon stopped us from bringing in Widerups sheep.  Mr Round from Dannevirke brought home car.  Eva left him at Orm’lle train.

TH 25   A thorough wet day.  Mam Eva & George motored to Pakowhai.  Concert send off to 7 young men who have enlisted.  John Grace & Leslie attended.

FR 26   A light rain in the morning.  Meat nearly done, must kill a lamb or a pig.  Boiled water in wash house copper and 2 kerosene tins on kitchen fire ample for scalding a medium size pig.  A very good scald, scraped him in a few minutes.  Hanging tonight in buggy shed.  Mrs Olsen called about chaff.  Sent A.W. News to G Armstrong Esq. No.9 St Columbus Road Whiteworth Road Drumcondra Dublin Ireland.  News of terrible slaughter of Germans at battle of Verdun.  French hold their own so far, and seem to be able to keep Huns back.  The enemy prepared to sacrifice 200,000 men in the taking of Verdun.

SAT 27   Cut up pig, 129 lbs weight.  Put in salt in big trough.  John found ewe cast on Back, would never get up.  Mam Eva & George back from Pakowhai.

SUN 28   Dull calm day.  Went with Mam Eva & George to Uncles.  Car hard to start.  Dr. Called, saw car.

MON 29   A wet day.  Grace drove Leslie to Orm’lle station.  Too wet to get sheep in to kill one.  Rubbed bacon.  Boiled pig potatoes.  John shot a rabbit.  Mrs. D Grant called.

TU 30   Another thorough wet day.  Eva took George in phaeton to meet express for Wellington.  Mr Round for tea, he worked at car, made it easier to start.  John shot hare, good for dogs tomorrow.

WED 31   No rain today.  Calm, no drying.  Got in sheep off oats and killed a lamb.  All oats sheep fat.  Put the 12 rams in “little orchard” with hay in a rack.  Enclosed them to find if they will take to it.  Yards wet and muddy.  Grass growing.

JUNE 1916

TH 1st   A thorough wet day, at a short interval John carried and threw firewood across gully in far rape paddock.  Firewood here nearly done & paddock saturated and place muddy.  Sent letter £1 enclosed to “Manager Momahaki Experimental” farm for seed potatoes – Up to dates & Gamekeepers.

FR 2   Only a few light showers today.  Pressed the crutchings, bale not full.  Seven skins on top.  John took it to station and phoned to Wms & Kettle.  He afterwards got in a little firewood and saw 2 young rabbits on Back.  Eva can’t start car, hard work.  Dreadful slaughter continues at Verdun.  Huns trying all they know.  French confident.

SAT 3   Frost last night, grass white this morning.  Fine day.  John & Eva half a day trying to get car to go, managed it at last.  J Veale left his gig & pony here until Monday.  John took half a ton of chaff – 14 sacks up to A Olsen’s beyond Nga’ko factory.  News of a Navy battle in North Sea where the British according to present accounts have lost more ships than the Germans, but accounts only vague at present.  Pictures tonight.

SUN 4   Frost again, grass white, sunny day.  Eva & Co motored to Ngamoko, carted John Jorgasen & mate for an outing, met them at night & brought in for tea.  Afternoon went to Uncles.  Eva & Co Auntie & Ella motored to Vaughan’s, no one at home.  At night Mr Round going home from Orm’lle called to enquire about car.  All cars hard to start this frosty weather.  Three hours to start one, two hours for another &c.  Chimney tonight on fire, straw & other rubbish came down into fireplace, must be old birds nest.

MON 5   A nice calm day.  The account from head quarters concerning the North Sea Great Naval battle not so bad as that given on Saturday last.  Although the loss on the British side is great that on the enemies is greater, would be immense if they had not as usual ran away.  John delivered the second half ton of chaff to Anton Olsen and 14 of his empty sacks.  20 of our sacks to be returned.  8 of the full sacks belong to Olsen.  Got in sheep off Widerups after dinner  & crutched 57.  took out the 16 hoggets.  101 ewes under cover tonight, the correct number, looking well.  Eva sold the empty bottles about the place for 3/- a good riddance.

JUNE 1916

TU 6   A very fine day, finished crutching before dinner.  Put in Widerups 158 ewes branded.  Took sheep off Reserve oats, put some on barley and turnips.  Back 300 ewes.  Hughes Flat & Reserve 179.  On barley 55 hogg’s & 17 old ewes.  On turnips 64 hoggets.  On rape 68 hoggets.  On meadow 20 hoggets & 2 little ones = 207 hog’s= 17 old ewes, 637 breeding ewes.  Letter from Wms & Kettle.  Crutchings cwt qr lbs 3.0.18 fetched 1/1½ per lb.  1/3¼ Nordbyes, C.P. Andersens and C Hulena’s crutchings , sold by H.B. Farmers fetched

WED 7   A fine calm day.  Bad news.  Lord Kitchener lost.  He was on board the cruiser Hampshire with his staff going to Russia and off the coast of Scotland the ship was blown up, no survivors found so far, 6 saved on raft, no details as yet, a terrible blow to the Empire.  J Veale clipped Trixie and filly.  John got in firewood and earmarked 3 calves and put young Holstein bull with 3 of the biggest heifers 22 months old to be left on Widerups.  Eva sledged gravel into yard and with Mam & Co motored to Mrs Thomsons.  Sledged some of the sacks of chaff over to woolshed, mice cut & wasted some of it.

TH 8   John went early to ranges and came home late, brought home 3 pigeons left a Kaka in a tree shot but ungetable.  Made a fadge of the crutchings in 2 sacks sewed together.  Shifted most of the chaff into woolshed.  No hopes of Kitchener.

FR 9   Lovely day.  Motored to Dannevirke.  John at home.  Looked on at Sale, big prices for fat cattle, cows & heifers 9 to 12 or 13 pounds, fat bullocks more.  Fat ewes 23/- and more, lambs 16/- to 20/-.  Got home in time to hear the sad news of Middleton Beckett’s death from wounds in France.  Car hard to start in Dannevirke.  Round did.

SAT 10   Good weather continues.  Killed the second pig, good scald.  Mr Mackie came and insured the house, furniture, piano, jewelry for £850 total, the items are respectively £550. 250. 40.10.  John took six sacks of chaff to Willie’s and meant to bring back our pig, but he nor Willie were able to get him into wagon.  An account reaches that that 12 men from the “Hampshire” have reached land.  Mam paid Mackies bill out of an £8 cheque yesterday.  Today paid Church insurance 10/6.

SUN 11   Cut up pig.  Took spare ribs & bacon to Aunties.  Kept half of each here at home.  John a long day in ranges.  Rough up there brought home a pigeon.

JUNE 1916

MON 12   Usual fine day.  Got in sheep off Hughes and Flat, branded & put back 70 on Hughes and 48 on flat, all looking well.  Sledged gravel with old mare to yard and approach.  John brought 2 cows from Billie’s Lankey & Place.  On Friday last got a hundred weight of seed potatoes – Game keeper, from Moumahaki.

TU 13   Got in Reserve ewes branded and put them back = 62 look well.  Sledged gravel with “Chessie” to yard lane.  John carted out manure to meadow from stockyard and gave chaff to rams in little orchard & hay.  Russians smashing Austrians and taking numerous prisoners, guns, ammunition &c.

WED 14   John finished carting manure to meadow, got in lambs & old ewes of barley and turnips.  F Selby came with Auntie in the afternoon, picked 17 ewes the total, none left, at 25/-, 36 lambs at 17/- and 4 old Romney rams at 17/6 total 57.  Put remaining lambs on barley = 40 wether lambs.  111 ewe lambs. 20 meadow.  171 total, no ewes except those in lamb = 638.  Sledged gravel with Chessie.

TH 15   Frosty again this morning.  Knee stiff, bathed it in hot water and rubbed in Embrocation.  We took the 57 sheep to Orm’lle & trucked them, one ram lay down on road we put him in express.  Gave Mam cheques for Andresen £5.  Mackie £3-10 insurance to start on 1st August.  Eva £5-0-6 for Church in lief of the money gathered & spent.  Cleaned out buggy shed and took out all sundries with a view of rebuilding another.

FR 16   Eva’s birthday.  19 years.  Fine day.  Frosty again.  Sledged bacon and trough up to woolshed.  Rubbed bacon.  Pulled down part of old shed.  Gave chaff & bundles of hay tied with flax to SD rams on hill, and some to hoggets on turnips.  John carted wood and shifted hoggets off barley on to turnips.  Mrs Thomson called, letter & postcard from Mr Baumgart, in Egypt.  Also P. card from poor Middleton Beckett.  Sent A.W. News G Armstrong.

SAT 17   Every day fine.  Rode Tricksie to factory Office, saw W M Thomsen.  Got telegram from Gert to say she or rather they are not coming today, letter to follow.  John carting in firewood.  Pulling down old shed.  Pictures tonight.  A child in Otaiwhau died today from Diptheria.  August Andersen died up country, buried in Norsewood.  The Diptheria case was girl aged 12, 13 or 14 years named Drummond, died in Waipuk Hospital.

JUNE 1916

SUN 18   The usual frosty sunny day.  John went early to W Torkilsen’s.  Both late home, lost track.  Mam & Eva to afternoon church, then to Uncles, coming home car came to a stand-still near Makotuku Road.  Eva & Mam walked home and Eva rode back with a tin of benzine and motored home, rode after her.  Ella & Miss Gordon for tea after which they (four) motored to Church Methodist.  John home 11.30 late in the scrub.

MON 19   A cold dry day.  Drove up to Rose’s sale.  Sheep dear.  Cow not long calved £11.  Jersey looking, not much to look at, woolly lambs small some poor little things 17/6.  At night John went in phaeton to Orm’lle met Ted Satchwell & his father, had tea here, Ted staying.  John drove Ted’s father round to where his mother lives.

TU 20   Rain last night, light today.  Rubbed bacon, scoured box to hold bacon.  Gave chaff and bundles of hay tied with flax to hoggets on turnips.  John and Ted rode up to Billies and killed our pig, scraped & ready to bring home tomorrow.

WED 21   A rough day, breezy, a few showers, worked at old shed.  Got cheque £18.3.1 nett or rather Bank slip for that amount from Wms & Kettle for bale of crutchings.  Also Gears cheque for 36 lambs at 17/- 4 Rom rams at 17/6.  17 old ewes at 25/- Cheque £55-7-0.  Sent to Bank this afternoon.  John & Ted brought pig from Willies and cut up, salted and put in trough in woolshed, weight 148 lbs.  Fat enough.  Horses eat great deal of chaff.  School closed again for 3 weeks.  Diptheria again broken out, 2 or 3 families affected.

TH 22   A fine day – the shortest in the year.  Did some to the old shed & dragged a maire upright for doorway, with Chessie.  John & Ted grubbing out half eaten turnips.  Mam & Eva at a concert in F Hall in aid of Navy widdows and orphans in England.

FR 23   Thick fog, then rain.  Got in all hoggets, killed small fat lamb, about 30 lbs weight.  Got in some ewes off Ridges, one ewe has bearing down, put back.  2 stitches, tied up both legs for an hour, disinfected, raddled head & above tail blue.  In shed tonight.  The sun rises & sets at the same hours on the 21st, 22nd & 23rd of this month.  7.5AM sunrise, 4.23PM s set.

SAT 24   A thorough wet day.  Eva & Mam met Gert Bazil & Betty at train, all well.  John gave chaff & hay to hoggets.  Got in ewe off Hughes, bearing too long down.  Killed her.  Eva & Mam at pictures.  Sent Pass Book to Union Bank.

JUNE 1916

SUN 25   A thorough wet day.  All hands stayed inside, burnt big back-logs.  Youngsters rushing about and making things fly.  Rubbed bacon.  Salted sheep for dog.

MON 26   Rain last night and this forenoon.  Culvert near firewood broken down & open.  Hoggets allowed to go from turnips into angle rape paddock.  One ewe found in scrub on Back.  Grace in bed today, ear and tooth ache.  No sleep possible.

TU 27   Mam Eva Gert & Betsy went to Dannevirke fine day.  Sent cheque £6.5.6 to Mr Round to settle his bill of £4.5.6.  John skinned ewe found dead on Back yesterday.  Shifted stakes & netting and took in a square of green turnips.

WED 28   A fine calm day.  John & Ted took 2 fat cows to Makotuku sale.  Big red cow and “Magpie”.  Both were sold.  Red fetched £8.17.6.  “Magpie” £8.16.0.  Pointed some battens and drove them between stakes in wire netting fence, turnip paddock.  All the hoggets on newly fenced turnip patch.  Rubbed bacon, washed & hung flitches.

TH 29   Another wet day.  No work done except to carry in backlogs.  Will came by express, Eva & Gert met him.  “Molly” brought in with dark bull calf.  They look well.

FR 30   A dark dull day.  John & Ted made a start to stump on Flat.  Alice & Charlie called.  Sent A.W. News to G.A. wrote cheque for Mam for £2.  changed at Mackies.  Worked at old shed.  Will & Eva worked at car.  Feed in paddocks up till now.

JULY 1916

SAT 1st   A thorough wet day.  Ground saturated.  Rubbed bacon, fed horses plenty chaff.  Fed dogs plenty of meat.  Fed hens on boiled potatoes & oats.  They also get milk and scraps, 4 or 5 laying out of 25 or more.  A car load of our people went to see the pictures as usual, but picture man did not come this dark wet night.  Paid 5/- to Newling’s butcher for round of beef.  Must kill another lamb early next week.

SUN 2   No rain today.  Motored to Uncles with Mam Eva Will Gert Bazil & Betty.  Anniversary of our marriage.  Forget how many years, must find out.

MON 3   Sent to “Nat Dairy Asso” Wellington for 1 cow cover & 2 horse covers £2.12.3 cheque.  Paid W.M. Thomson for insuring Woolshed 8/8.  Ordered ½ ton B Slag.  John skinned hog on turnips.  On Sat 1st Rec’d from Wms & Kettle for shares and on goods purchased 2½ per cent £3.16.0. almost a wet day.  All hands at ping pong tonight.

JULY 1916

TU 4   John Will & Ted went to the ranges pigeon shooting.  Shot all they saw – nill.  Eva took them up and met them with car.  Mam & Co met Beckett’s at Orm’lle station.  Rode Trixie over back, feed fair so far.  Rec’d fat cow cheque from “Farmers Co Ass.” £ s d 16.19.5.  Wattle flowers out early.  Children brought in branches yesterday in flower.

WED 5   A fine day.  A clearing out to Pakowhai, six of them gone.  A man and a girl called with a “fire extinguisher”.  Bought one paid him cheque £1.0.6.  Gave chaff to the rams.  Paired hoofs of one & put him out into Widerups.  Worked at shed for a bit.  John worked on Flat and gave chaff & hay to hoggs on turnips.  At night Trooper Wilson called & left his punctured bike in shed.  Good news from Front these last few days.  British & French on the offensive, do great work.

TH 6   A fine day after a frosty night.  John stumping on Flat and took roof off old buggy shed.  Made chaff trough with 3 heavy long boards for hoggets on turnips.  Alice & Charlie came.  She gave some eggs to Ted.  Frost tonight.

FR 7   A fine calm day.  Wheeled fadge of crutchings and bundle of skins to yard and C. Schmidt took them to Orm’lle.  John put 12 ewes off Flat on to Hughes.  Got in hogg’s off turnips and killed one, none fat.  Put a few on green turnips to fatten for home killing.  Put 3 poor ones in meadow.  Letter to Wms & Kettle.  Paper to Thos. Warren.

SAT 8   Ted left this morning for home.  John drove him to catch 8 o’clock train.  Took down weather boards off old shed.  Good accounts from Front these last 4 or 5 days.  Allies doing great work.  Russians going strong and taking many prisoners.  British too.

SUN 9   A fine drying day rode up to Mr Grants, had a paper filled on behalf of Mr Beckett.  After dinner went in phaeton to Uncles and brought them their bacon to hang.  Mr Thos Hoskings and Florry [?] there.  Mary also.  John brought out chaff to hoggets, they met him eagerly, will eat 2 sacksful daily.

MON 10   Light rain forenoon.  John posted Mr Becketts letter and got good new mall [mail] from Mr Rickett.  Gave chaff to hoggets &c.  Mam & Eva arrived from Pakowhai at midday.  Worked in the afternoon at shed.  Breezy tonight., tarpaulin over car.

JULY 1916

TU 11   Shifted stakes and wire netting on turnips, gave hoggs a sack of chaff and a fresh square of swedes.  At shed in the afternoon, John stumping.  Crutchings 12½ per lb at yesterday’s sale.  Weight of fadge 3 qrs 19 lbs.  Eva at practice for Concert.  Navy fund.

WED 12   Rain now and then during the day.  Mud again.  Pulled down part of roof of old shed.  John went to sale, O’Brien’s near Norsewood, no sheep sold.  Good accounts from front.  Allies on offensive.  Huns pushed back in all directions.

TH 13   A few days ago 3 covers arrived from Wellington.  C Schmidt’s boy left them here. 1 cow cover for “Molly”, 1 for “Prince”, 1 for “Duke”, all good ones.  Light rain half the day.  Pulling down old shed.  John stumping & blowing on flat.

FR 14   Took down the last of the old shed, removed sheep pen battens, sledged underneath manure & spread it on front.  John stumping on Flat.  Eva rode out to turnips and finds that hoggets will require chaff and hay tomorrow.  At practice tonight.

SAT 15   Another wet day, light greater part of day.  John put hoggs on rape paddock.  Pictures.

SUN 16   Intermittent rain & breeze all day & night, stiff knee got a spell in bed nearly the whole day.  Cow “Molly” has good new cover also “Prince” and filly.  No one came, no one went.

MON 17   Rain until midday.  John gave chaff to hoggets and helped Mr McLeod to bring his three heifers to Norsewood sale, fetched good prices.  Shot hare for dogs.  Eva rehearsal.

TH 18   No rain today.  Got in hoggets.  Killed one SD, weighed 39 lbs warm with head on.  The mob in shed paddock for a change – a day or two, one badly scored died.  Worked at shed, put in houseblocks &c.  John on Flat.  Mam paid bills out of £6 cheque.  L W Simpson £ s d 1.9.11.  D H Cameron 18/-.  J Bartlett 6/6.  J Mackie £1.10.7.  A Hulena not at home to settle with and J Veale not seen to pay for 2 clippings.

WED 19   Sunshine today.  Hoggs put back on turnips.  John gave them hay & chaff and skinned dead hoggt.  Sledged out all manure from old shed and spread it on front.  Misses Gordon & Grant for tea and ping pong afterwards.

TH 20   Nice day.  Mam & Eva to Dannevirke, took 3 lady passengers who paid 18/-.  Worked at shed.  John took out chaff & hay.  A Olsen sent cheque for chaff £5.0.0.  Wms & Kettles cheque some days ago for skins £2.10 nett, not cheque but Bank slip.

JULY 1916

FR 21   Another nice day.  Mr Lee organiser for Dr Barnardo’s Rescue Home called, had an interview with Eva about collecting funds &c.  Informed us that 7.000 of those rescued & brought up in the Home are now in the Navy and at the Front.  All but John went to Dannevirke, had a look on at sale.  Good sheep fetched big prices.  At night Eva sang at Concert “Poor John”.

SAT 22   A fine calm day.  Worked at shed.  John on Flat.  Eva rode round paddocks.  Gave chaff to hoggets.  Alice & Charlie came, borrowed ½ cut wire and hay knife.  Mr Grant at Ormondlle passed out at the age of 85 years.

SUN 23   Motored with Eva to Uncle’s.  Mam & others at home.  At night Eva & Mam at Church.

MON 24   John took in a fresh piece of turnips & carted out chaff.  A fine spring day.  Went to Mr Grant’s funeral.  Eva & Mam stayed at Uncle’s.  At night Eva at rehearsal.  Account Sales.  Wms & Kettle.  13 skins – £2.10 nett.  One 7/- one 6/5.  Rec’d Bank slip.  3 hogg’s 12/3.

TU 25   Rainbow in the morning, Rough day in the afternoon got in turnip hoggets.  Picked out 40 wethers & some ewes for Makotuku Sale.  Freddy for dinner.  John found hogget in creek nearly drowned.  Sledged home, at Kitchen fire tonight.

WED 26   The half drown lamb not able to stand yet.  John & Mr McLeod took the 40 hoggs to Makoku Sale & McL’s 100 ewes.  Latter fetched 35/- hoggs 22/10.  Eva at rehearsal.  Mam & Co to Dannevirke.  She enquired about a 40 acre section.  Sold yesterday to Mrs O’Holleran.

TH 27   Showers & mud.  Eva saw a ewe in Reserve with twins.  More rain tonight.

FR 28   A single on Hughes.  Willy Torkilsen for dinner, motored back with him to factory annual meeting.  Was scrutineer.  D Pecks bonus £241.16.  All but “we two” at concert to raise funds for Navy Widows and Orphans.  Eva takes part.  Sent them £3.3.0.  Mam sent Kirkaldie & Stains cheque £3.5.0.

SAT 29   Very fine day.  Eva through paddocks.  Twins on Back, a single Hughes.  Pictures. Killed lamb.

SUN 30   White frost.  John & gun to Willy Torkelsen’s.  Rode over paddocks.  6 ewes, 9 lambs.  Found ewe dead on Ridges sledged home & skinned, pair of twins.  To Uncle’s in the afternoon.  John bag empty.

MON 31   Dry calm day.  Eva rode through sheep another pair of twins on Hughes, & other singles.  She put a ewe with twins on oats.  John drilled 2 acres Ted Arthurs.  Mrs Pagett called, wants him to drill 2 acres later on.

AUGUST 1916

TU 1st   Rain last night and greater part of today, raining now and likely to.  John through sheep, a few fresh ones.  One ewe on Widerups with dead twins, got in a ewe off back with protrusion, righted her, but requires watching.  Did a little to shed.  Great conflagration and destruction of war munitions in America.

WED 2   A wet day, no very fresh lambs.  John put a ewe with twins on barley & went through ewes in all paddocks.  Afternoon turned out cold with rain & snow coming from east & south east.  Cold rain tonight continuously, poor chance for a fresh – dropped lamb to be able to stand up and suck, never saw a worse night for young lambs.  Got H.B. Farmers cheque for 40 hoggs sold at Makotuku 22/10 = £43.16.9.

TH 3   A very rough day & night, rain & breeze.  John put a ewe & lamb on woolshed battens and one with young lamb in Wellingtonia plantation.  One dead lamb in Reserve, expect more, tonight rough again.  Let dip go with flood.

FR 4   Another wet day, not so bad as yesterday.  John put ewe & lamb that were in shed last night out on meadow, a few newcomers & one or two dead.  £43.16.9 H.B. Farmers cheque sent to Bank.  Received assessment account, sum £14.3.11 new account of Land Tax.  Old amount of tax £ s d 6.10.9 twice the amount now & £ s d 1.3.5.

SAT 5   Fine forenoon, rain afternoon.  John put twin lambs on ewes without lambs, two ewes took at once, one tonight with a lamb penned at 3 gateways.  News of floods down country and damage done, big slips, stock drowned &c.  Andresen’s bill of £4.13.6 paid yesterday with a six pound cheque.  No pictures.

SUN 6   Very heavy rain early part of last night, another pair of dead twins on Widerups and skin-covered lamb died on Flat.  35 or 40 lambs now.  No rain today.  Mam & Eva to Church in forenoon.  Afternoon all but John to Uncles.  Mam & Eva church tonight.

MON 7   A fine day.  Cleared away the rubbish that blocked the water at firewood culvert.  A few more ewes with twins.  John went to Ormondlle with express [?] and carted home ½ton of Slag, and posts from house above.  Williams & Kettles letter came to say fadge of crutchings paid for & proceeds banked £4.12.1.

AUGUST 1916

TU 8   Another fine day.  Worked at shed.  Eva & John rode through paddocks.  He brought from Hughes another load of posts and shifted wire netting fence, took in a fresh piece of turnips.  Mrs Grant & Mrs Fulton called.  Received cheque for £1.3.0 from Mr McGilvray for wool on 11 wolly hoggs not paid for before.  He now allows me 2/- per head for the wool on 11 hoggs and 1/- exchange.  Eva at rehearsal for tomorrow night.

WED 9   John & Eva through sheep, a few more lambs.  All hands at culvert near firewood, put stringers across, 2 maire’s and a hineau, 14 ft long & heavy.  Ground drying a bit but still the paddocks are wet.  Mam & Eva at Concert tonight.

TH 10   Rain 2 or 3 times during the day.  Put decking on gully culvert – 30 totara 3 birch posts one maire sleeper, stapled on 4 wires on ends.  J Riggir called as representative of H.B. Farmers Association.  Some more lambs, one or two more sets of twins.

FR 11   A fine day, worked at shed and culvert.  Put 3 rails on each side, 3 of them iron pipes.  A few more ewes with twins, 3 ewes & 6 lambs on Reserve oats, ewes with twins on barley.  Killed a very good lamb.  Got from factory, interest on 18 shares = £1.1.7.  fine night.

SAT 12   A fine calm spring day.  Mam & Eva to Dannevirke.  John sledged home from back a heavy old ewe bogged a bit at “Poplar Gully”, could not stand.  Killed her, a pair of very big twins inside, a few more fresh lambs.  S Wiggins paid £1 for drilling some time ago.  Had to put old ewe on meadow right again.  Pictures.

SUN 13   A thorough wet day and night.  Some more twins & singles, the ewe on meadow that required so much attention – took away pair twins.  In wash house now after keeping them in front of fire on sacks.  Gave a little milk with teaspoon.  A lamb carried in by John from Widerups was too far gone, after trying to restore him, passed out.

MON 14   Last night and this morning severe on lambs.  3 lambs not able to suck or stand brought in.  3 ewes brought in with plenty of milk.  many ewes with twins now.  Weather looks well tonight, clear & calm.  At night Misses Grant & Gordon called.

TU 15   A fine dry day.  Ground drying up.  Skinned ewe that died in Ridges gully hole.  More twins.  Put lamb on to foster mother.  Eva got in firewood.  Trixie in Bush waggon.  Carted weather boards from cartshed to new shed.  Eva bought possom rug.

AUG 1916

WED 16   Eva up early and rode over her paddocks before breakfast, then rode to Doctors and went with him & Mrs Veitch to Ormondlle, they went to Wellington for holliday and she brought back car.  Many lambs today, seem to be in the thick of it.  John through them twice today.  Three weak twin lambs brought in died.

TH 17   A fine day.  Weatherboarded shed on dip side.  Eva carted boards from woolshed, she also sledged gravel for totara culvert, went over paddocks with John.  In the afternoon he stumped on flat and made big fires.  Lambing satisfactory.

FR 18   Much rain fell again today, a crowd of lambs came today on Widerups.  John & Eva brought in two motherless lambs – 3 now, they drink well.  Went to a meeting in Factory Office, only to confirm former resolution.  At night all but “we two” went to Children’s concert.  Eva performed “Gretchen”.  For the Pahiatua Election, Smith Reform 1st by 83 votes.  Ross 2nd Macfarlane Labor 241.

SAT 19   Showers all day, mud everywhere, put iron on back part of shed.  Out of £6 cheque Mam paid Mackie £3.13.7 and Simpson £1.2.10½.  Eva found a ewe dead on Hughes, a big lamb with her.  John carted out chaff, skinned ewe & put lamb on another ewe with dead lambs skin.  No pictures.  Mrs Gilbrantzen dead.

SUN 20   Very heavy rain in the early part of last night.  Fine afterwards and fine today.  John & Eva through ewes.  He brought ewe in on horseback and put lamb on her.  A pair of dead twins and a single last night.  To Uncles in the afternoon.  Mr Mrs Meeking and 2 children & Miss Schaw.

MON 21   Rough last night and today the roughest for a year past.  Eva found a ewe dead in the Reserve creek up near the corner and John found one dead on back section and 5 or 6 lambs dead, one brought in weak but will not live.  High wind and sheets of rain all day.  The wind has gone down somewhat tonight.  Mr Mrs Fountain J Simpson Misses Grant & Gordon ping pong.

TU 22   A cruel day on lambs, rain & wind, cold & snow, several lambs died some brought home dried at the fire brought round & put on ewes.

AUG 1916

WED 23   Another rough day but not much rain, still windy.  Eva found a pair of twins dead and also a single.  Other lambs put on the ewes.  John got in a good ewe from O’Hara’s with a single lamb dead.  Put the skin on another and she took at once.  He skinned the ewe in Reserve creek, a grand ewe & fat.  Mam sent letter to Mr Baumgart, Egypt.  She & Eva at Mr Fountains tonight.  John brought in from Back 10 goose eggs.  Home about 12 o’clock.  Windy but dry.

TH 24   Breezy but dry, ground drying.  A big strange cat killed Eva’s pet rabbit this morning, John shot the cat.  He & Eva through paddocks, lambs all right today.  He shifted hoggets on to fresh turnips.  Rent paid for Hughes £ s d 9.14.1.  Mam put Arthurs Savings Bank money =£6 to War loan ac/ & £2.5 total £8.5.0.

FR 25   A fine calm sunshiny day.  Eva putting in seeds in small garden.  Put on iron on shed.  Not many lambs today.  Another ewe to be fixed up.  Many twins on barley & oats.

SAT 26   White frost this morning, beautiful day.  Finished putting on iron on shed roof.  John in the afternoon drilled oats for Mrs Paget.  Killed fat lamb.  Mam & Eva pictures.  Eva took Dr Veitch’s motor car to Ormlle and met Dr and Mrs on their return from Wellington.

SUN 27   Fine day.  Put 3 ewes & 6 lambs on oats.  Eva found another ewe dead on Hughes.  She sledged her in and caught her lamb, a good one, put latter on a ewe that took at once.  Skinned ewe.  All but John motored to Uncle’s, about the same.

MON 28   All hands up early.  John got in “Duke” from Back and with Prince started to plough “Island Hill”.  “Duke” works steadily.  A few more lambs.

TU 29   A drying day.  Mr Mulholland called re drilling.  Eva sledged in ewe found dead with twins.  Rode out with John & caught them.  Put one on ewe, the other given to Mr   Ormondlle railway clerk.  Letter & presents from Mr Baumgart.  Romania War [deal].

WED 30   A windy day.  John drilled 3 acres oats for Mulholland.  Worked at shed.  Eva over all paddocks.  Took skins off 2 lambs, ewes took.  More lambs.  16 more goose eggs.

TH 31   A fine day.  Finished flooring car shed, car in tonight.  John ploughing, “Duke” & “Prince”.  Eva over all paddocks, 4 fresh lambs.  One or two cases diptheria near Norsewood.  A great amount of rain this month.  Tongariro steamer wrecked 40 miles up from Napier.

SEPT 1916

FR 1st   A beautiful day.  Eva & Mavis rode over paddocks.  Eva sledged in dead ewe she gave a small lamb to M Gorintzkie.  Pulled up stakes & rolled netting between oats & barley.  John finished ploughing rape hill, we docked lambs off Reserve oats, 28 ewes.  29 ewe lambs.  25 wether lambs.  Good condition no ticks.  Put up wire netting yard on turnip paddock for docking back lambs and weather board small catching yard.  Eva brought in basketful of goose eggs.  Manager of Union Bank wrote for me to send my Pass Book.  Book sent today.

SAT 2   Another fine day.  Mustered back ewes & lambs, got them into temporary yards without much trouble, Eva helping.  Willy Torkilsen for dinner and afternoon helped us.  We docked 242 lambs.  261 ewes.  Many to lamb still.  One lambed in yard, we put her & lamb into Hughes, not counted.  3 left behind when mustering not counted.  264 Back all counted.  A few ewes & lambs on turnips not counted.  Gave a sackful of chaff to hoggets on turnips, they are very eager for it.  All but “we two” at pictures tonight.

SUN 3   A beautiful day.  John & Eva over paddocks, saw no motherless lambs after yesterdays docking, saw many freshly dropped ones.  A ewe with twins put on oats.  Mam & Eva at Morning Church and at Uncles in afternoon.  At Presbyterian at night.

MON 4   A fine forenoon, breezy afternoon.  John drilling 3½ acres for Gorintzkie.  Skinned a hogget on turnips found by Eva.  Burned off limbs & rubbish with Mam & Arthur on Hill.  Rode up to township, called at Grants.  Paid W M T for manure £ s d 3.11.[?].

TU 5   A summer day.  Got in Flat sheep 60 ewes.  50 lambs.  Widerups 144 ewes 136 lambs docked.  Only one tick seen so far.  Total lambs docked so far 482 and 497 ewes.

WED 6   A breezy day.  Got in ewes & lambs off barley & meadow docked 24W 19 E lambs 26 ewes.  Off Reserve 31 ewes 11W 17 E lambs.  Turnips 6 ewes 11 lambs – six & five.  Got in Hughes 66 ewes (7 left out with young lambs) 30 W 35 E lambs.  Put 10 weak hoggets out of the mob into Hughes.  A great advantage to ewes & lambs, dry yards no ticks.  Number of ewes so far 633 and 629 lambs docked.  Some ewes to lamb, some lambs in the paddocks too young to dock for some time.  Mam & Eva at Alice’s today.

SEPT 1916

TH 7   Every day dry now.  Put in a row of potatoes in house garden, our own seed.  Shifted netting on turnips, John ploughing “Angle Flat”.  Mam & Eva took lamb to Alice’s the ewe that was tied up yesterday has twins today, she seems all right.  Mavis here.

FR 8   A fine calm day.  At 4.30 a very heavy shower fell which was required.  Put in 3 rows of potatoes, 1st row “Gamekeeper” next two rows, home saved seed.  All got a little artificial manure.  Killed hogget for home use.  Eva sledged in a good ewe that died in Reserve, could find no reason.  Left good ewe lamb.

FR 8   A fine day after yesterdays rain none of which reached Currants.  John drilled Currants oats – 4¾ acres.  Mam paid Andresens bill with cheque £8.0.0.

SAT 9   Eva & Mavis through ewes & lambs, they fetched home with sledge from Hughes dead hogget.  Skinned & buried same also ewe sledged home yesterday.  Put in a few rows of potatoes in garden & row of peas.  Mam Eva & Mavis at pictures tonight.

SUN 10   Nice calm day, rain threatening.  Eva & Mavis over paddocks, brought in a small twin, John put the lamb of the last dead ewe on a ewe with a dead lamb.  Mam & Eva at afternoon Church.  Rev Whibley preached.  At P. Church at night, this afternoon, extra heavy rain fell, this will do much good without leaving mud.

MON 11   A very fine day.  Sawed some logs with John on flat, he ploughed after dinner.  Worked in garden, put in a row of “gamekeeper” seed potatoes, the row put in before which was supposed to be “Gamekeeper” was home-saved seed.  Put in a row of parsnips and one of carrots also a little rhubarb.  Mam & Eva drove to see Mrs W M Thomson.  Wrote to Murray Roberts & Co about manure.  Eva brought in a very small motherless lamb.  Docked 2 pets, this makes 631 docked.

TU 12   A good growing day.  John drilled 4½ acres or so for Wiggins & Hollis.  Finished the garden for the present, put in a few rows of parsnips & Gamekeeper potatoes.  Eva brought in a skinny motherless lamb, very weak.  4 now, 2 good & 2 weak ones.  Mam paid Mackies bill of £2.7 with a cheque for £2.10.  Some rain fell, a spring shower.  Grass in front just making itself noticable, a green carpet.

SEPT 1916

WED 13   Arthur’s Birthday.  3 years, strong and healthy.  A breezy day and at night extra high wind.  Methodist tea-meeting but all hands frightened to go out.  Eva found 2 docked lambs dead wool balls inside.  John found ewe dead on Back, caught in a lawyer, her lamb close by, put a skin on him & the ewe took.  Good accounts from Front.  Russians British French & Roumanians driving enemy.

TH 4   Dreadful high wind last night.  Gumtree in second draining yard blown down.  Spent greater part of day chopping and sawing it up.

FR 15   A fall of snow last night, ground white until midday.  Youngsters snowballing each other.  Eva made a snow man.  John rode over paddocks and carted out hay and chaff to hoggets.  Docked a lamb a few days ago  = 632.

SAT 16   A fine spring day after the snow.  Sawed & split blown down gumtree, a good heap of firewood.  Carted branches to heap at woolshed.  Pictures.

SUN 17   A fine day.  Eva brought in a docked motherless lamb.  John pulled wool off mother of the lamb on the back.  Went to see Uncle, Mam Eva Auntie Ella Lou & Arthur motored to Vaughan’s.  Not at home.  Yesterday my Mother’s Birthday.  Born 1808.

MON 18   A growing day, calm and warm.  Eva found 2 dead docked lambs.  John finished ploughing “Angle paddock”.  Mr McGilvray called.  H Monteith with him in car.  Sprayed fruit trees in garden.  Simpson paid £1.10 cheque.

TU 19   A very fine day.  Sorted all the potatoes in woolshed.  Kept 2 sacks of eating potatoes and one sack of seed for ourselves.  Sold a sack of eating and some seed to A Olsen.  In the afternoon Mr Grant & family came.  All hands walked over to turnips & about the paddocks, gave chaff to hoggets.  Favourable news from the War, Huns driven back.

WED 20   A fine day, a bit breezy.  All hands and Arthur planting potatoes in rape paddock.  The “island corner” ploughed.  Put hoggets off turnips into the “4 acres” at Hughes = 102.  Got in meadow hoggs & Killed good one.  Mr Whibley called in my absence.  Put in a row of carrot seed in Kitchen garden.  Although the weather is fine the grass seems backward.  Stock in good Cond.

SEPT 1916

TH 21   Put ewes & lambs off turnips into Flat, skinned 2 dead docked lambs for dogs meat and Eva found 2 more, one on Ridges and a very big one on Back = 6.  She brought in W Torkilsens cow “Lankie” with young heifer calf.  John drilling for Gor.

FR 22   A real fine day.  Put ewes & lambs off Flat back on turnips.  Eva found nothing wrong today.  John drilling for Freddy.  Painted end of car shed &c.  “Life” came.

SAT 23   Went with Eva out to turnip paddock with boards to replace those we wanted to bring home from temporary yards.  Put ewes & lambs off turnips on to Flat.  Did some painting &c to car shed.  Eva found a dead docked lamb and saw three new corners.  Master Barclay took away Willie’s cows & calf.  John finished drilling for the three neighbours down the road.  Mam Eva & Otto at pictures, latter interested in [?]

SUN 24   A very fine day.  After dinner went to see Peter Johansen at Hans Mo[?].  He is able to walk and improving.  Mam Eva & Miss Ganaway coming from Church picked me up and we went on to Uncle’s.  He is not so well as he was last week.  John put the hoggets off the “4 acres” at Hughes into the turnips, 10 got with ewes.

MON 25   Calm close day.  John started to plough the “4 acres”.  Jorgonsen with him at the start.  Sledged out 3 sacks of chaff to hoggets, sledged big trough and some boxes to high ground on turnips.  Mam & Eva at Dr’s & tennis.

TU 26   Fog and light rain in the morning.  Mam fired big heap of limbs and leaves &c near woolshed.  Dig not to Lunds to dock.  John ploughing.  Jorgsen helping. Eva as usual rode over paddocks.  2 ewes with singles on Back.

WED 27   Fog and light rain again this morning.  John Grace & Arthur went in waggon to Hughes.  Jorgosen ploughing too.  He fetched home some turnips.  Eva brought home big dead docked lamb.  Put skin on a pet, ewe with on [one] teat only took at once, very fond.  Letter from Mr L Baumgart on sea.  Eva at Tennis meeting.

TH 28   Painted boards.  Showers, good growing day.  John & Gorg ploughing, pair of twins dead, ewe cast but all right.

FR 29   A thorough wet day.  Creek up.  John put 12 heifers and 1 steer on turnips, they look well.

SAT 30   Mam Eva & two Mrs Grants motored to Dannevirke, gave £4 cheque.  Got 2 wheel covers from C L Neilsen.  John ploughing the 4 acres at Hughes.  Grass coming on, a great number of lambs feeding.

OCT 1916

SUN 1st   Rain in the morning and rain at night.  Afternoon at Uncle’s he is looking and feeling well.  Rev. McCaw called and tonight has service in Norsewood, Went with Mam & Eva.

MON 2   Rain again in the forenoon.  Afternoon all except John motored to Grants saw Mr Mrs and little Ronald Grant.  John & Gorgie finished ploughing at Hughes.  Eva through ewes & lambs saw a ewe with a single.  News of many killed & wounded.

TU 3   Anniversary of my landing in Wellington from New South Wales after a ten days voyage from Newcastle in the collier ship Wellington, wrecked two years afterwards in Cooks straits with other craft, leaking whilst I was on her.  Went with John to Lunds and docked his lambs, all good, over 100 per cent, fine day.

WED 4   A dull calm day.  Took the ½ ton of basic slag out of yard shed up to woolshed, tipped out what was lumpy and pounded it to a fine state again, it got damp lying in the shed.  Worked at front of car shed.  John discing.  Eva motored Dr Veitch to Ormondlle on his way to Wellington expecting to go to camp.  J Noble.  Killed.

TH 5   Another cool calm cloudy day.  Dr Veitch in Wellington, goes into Camp later on.  Eva and Mrs motoring in Dr’s car.  Mr H Grant & wife also Ronald & Mrs P.G. Grant called in the afternoon.  Worked at shed, painting &c.  John discing.  Chas. Schmidt & Son brought 2 tons rape manure 32 bags = £15.  75 lbs rape seed = £3.0.2. two bags holding rape seed 1/6.  16 wool packs at 4/0½ = £ s d 3.4.8.  Twine 2 hanks 9/-.  A bill from C L Neilsen for 2 U.S.A covers 30 x 3½ = £8.10.  Dentists bill 7/6.  Cameron 17/-.

FR 6   Dull cloudy calm day.  Painting &c at shed.  Eva carted dog kennel from Dr Veitch’s also the big black dog, and afterwards 6 cases of benzine.  She motored Mrs Veitch to visit a few neighbours who are ill.  She and Mam at a small gathering at Mrs Veitch’s tonight, there is also a send off to some young men who have enlisted.  Killed the last of the Southdown hoggets for home killing.  Docked 4 lambs = 636 total.

SAT 7   Yesterday “Bobtail” was brought in with a red & white heifer calf.  £21.15.4 cheque sent to Williams & Kettle.  To C L Neilsen cheque for £8.10.6. to J Mackie £2.0.0 out of which was paid to D H Cameron 17/- and E M Clarke 7/6.  Eva met Dr with his car at Ormondlle.  Rain fell nearly all day.  John with disc and 3 horses.  No pictures tonight.

OCT 1916

SUN 8   Another fine day, cool calm & cloudy.  Eva & Mam at afternoon Church.  Brought back Mrs Mulholland Miss M Randerson and Miss Winny Grant.  Motored Mrs Mulholland home and then on to see Uncle.  Dr Veitch called & said goodbye.  After tea Eva Mam & the two young ladies motored to Church.  Nice calm evening.

MON 9   A nice day, rain again threatening, none came.  Eva made 2 trips to Doctors for benzine.  She carted home here 18½ cases.  Paid cheque to Mrs Veitch £21.0.0.  Motored Mrs Veitch & Mam to Ormondlle & back home.  Dr went to Palmerston.  Mam Eva & John at circus in Norsewood tonight.  Two Mrs Curran’s called tonight.

TU 10   A thorough wet day.  Eva motored Mrs Veitch to 11.30 train for Wellington, and then at 1 o’clock took old couple Curran’s to Dannevirke accompanied by Henry their son.  Mam went also and took a cheque for £3 to make purchases.  John drove heifers off turnips.

WED 11   Light rain nearly all day.  Mam & Co visited Mrs W M Thomson.  John went out shooting with “Bully”.  Latter pointed out the game for him, shot rabbit and 2 hares.  Eva & Mam gone to Ngamoko tonight to concert.  Not much rain.

TH 12   Rain greater part of day.  Mam & Co attended Red X meeting in township.  Mr Walsh called to say a ewe dead at Hughes.  John skinned & brought meat.

FR 13  A fine day at last.  Got in Flat ewes & lambs, docked 3.  Makes 639.  Eva & Mam at Mrs Higgins.  Yesterday paid Mackies bill £5-1-1 with cheque £6.

SAT 14   A second fine day.  John & Eva mustered back ewes & lambs into the wire netting temporary docking yards.  Docked 53 lambs.  274 ewes counted out.  This makes a total of 692 lambs docked.  Shifted netting and stakes down to barley to divide it off from the oats.  Paid with a cheque for £4- J Andresens bill.  Back ewes thin but paddocks look promising.  Pictures tonight.

SUN 15   A fine day.  Afternoon at Uncle’s.  Mam Eva & Auntie at Vaughan’s.  Filled Census paper.

MON 16   A windy day.  Eva & Mam motored to Dannevirke, took Mrs Pagett in car.  Mr Roper called for Census paper.  After dinner mustered Hughes, docked 17.  now 709.  Left Painter Olsen’s ewe & lamb in shed for him.  John discing the 4 acres.  Painted front of long shed.  Splendid grass on road, 2 cows out for a while and “Tricksie”.

OCT 1916

TU 17   A very fine day.  Eva got in Reserve sheep – 51 ewes, docked 7 lambs, got in Widerups = 135 and docked 6 lambs, the last of the season.  Total lambs docked 722.  John harrowing at Hughes.  At night trooper James Simpson & Ella Grant called.

WED 18   A fine morning, but it turned out a rough windy afternoon.  Fixed on 4 pieces of spouting (13/4) 5d per foot. on back of chaff shed, leaks at joints ought to be soldered.  John drilled in rape on the 4½ acres at Hughes.  Willie Torkelsen came in the afternoon, had a look at the young bulls.  Windy now.

TH 19   Windy forenoon, calm afternoon.  Put heifers off turnips on to back.  Gave chaff to hoggets and drove stakes between oats & barley.  John drilling angle paddock.  Bought a piece of beef at butchers cart for the first time for many months.  Mam & Eva just gone with sandwiches to a send-off to J Simpson & Willie Hansen.

FR 20   Started for Pakowhai with Eva & Mam.  Paid Mr Simpsons bill with £3 cheque.  Stayed at Waipawa for tea & cake.  Cold day.  John finished drilling rape at midday.

SAT 21   A good deal of rain last night.  Today we went to Hastings & at night to Napier Pictures.

SUN 22   A fine day.  Eva in bed all day.  Sick with headache.  All stayed at home today.

MON 23   All but Will left for home here.  A fine warm forenoon.  Fernie starts shearing.  Had tea & cake in Waipawa.  Home before 2 PM.  John drilled 5 acres of oats for Mr Walker.

TU 24   A breezy day.  Mr Walker borrowed harrows & filly and harrowed his oats.  John started to plough turnip paddock.  Put ewes & lambs off Flat on to Hughes with the other ewes & lambs so as to give the Flat a short spell, a big mob on Hughes now.  Put the hoggets and 2 cows into barley paddock for a few hours and then put the hoggets back on the turnips, not much there now.  Sledged a bit of gravel with Chessie and the manure from woolshed to cartshed.  Eva Mam Gert & Betty went to Alice’s.

WED 25   A growing day, not much wind.  Hoggets on oats from 9 to 5 o’clock and the 2 cows also.  Sledged all manure away from woolshed and watered shed floor.  John ploughing with Duke & Prince.  Filled Registration Orchard paper.  A turkey hen with 5 eggs. 2 died being sat on.  3 died second day.  Several geese sat on eggs for weeks, no goslings, no eggs fertile.  2 ganders. 7 geese.

OCT 1916

TH 26   A fine calm day.  Put hoggets on & off barley, turnips about done.  Bazil and Arthur with me when putting cows & hoggets on barley.  Lost them for a while, found them chasing a lamb flat side of fence, ewe on back.  Mr W J Craig buyer for the H.B. Farmers Meat Co called.  Took 10 shares.  Paid cheque £20.3.9.  John ploughing.  A send off for Tiny Olsen tonight in F Hall.  Eva & Mam there.

FR 27   A very fine day.  Hoed up potatoes in garden &c.  Eva & Gert walked through ewes & lambs.  Found 2 ewes cast on back, one not long.  The other old ewe was dead when I went out for her with sledge, a good skin.  Eva Mam Gert & three youngsters went to Dannevirke.  J Smith left hoggs in yard, took away early today.

SAT 28   This is the great day in Australia in which the question of Conscription is to be decided by vote.  Worked in garden.  Put in parsnips beet & potatoes.  Used basic slag and superphosphate, marked the drills in which the different kinds of manure is used.  Dug out all docks &c.  John drilled for Ted Arthurs & Freddie & Gorgie.  Mam Gert & Co visited at P.G. Grants, are at pictures tonight.

SUN 29   Another fine day.  Put hoggets on barley, turnips no longer any use.  Mam Eva and Gert at Church.  Afternoon at Uncles.  Went with F Selby & his driver to farm in charge of B Riggor, walked over paddocks, a nice farm, went on to Adamsons in Waikopiro and back.  Our cows in Ridges today.  Car easier to start.

MON 30   A calm growing day.  Ground moistened with rain, rode over paddocks.  Shifted ewes & lambs off Hughes on to Flat.  Went to 1st Sale of Loan & Mercantile Co in new yards, Norsewood, big entries, big prices, big crowd.  £14.3.11 Demand for Land tax came today.  To be paid by 22nd Nov.  John ploughing.  Gert and bairns left by express 3.30 PM.  Eva & Mam to Ormondlle.  Put in row of peas in home garden.  Conscription not carried in Australia.  A blow.

TU 31   Mam & Eva motored to Dannevirke.  Car being overhauled greater part of day.  Some showers, cold evening.  Shearing nearly finished by Waikopiro settlers.  4 of our ewes & lambs on road.  J Hutchinson brought them in.  Skerman & Thorburn called.  Finished in garden except to replant where Momahaki potatoes failed & rotted.

NOV 1916

WED 1st   A good growing day.  Planted potatoes in garden where Momahaki seed failed.  Eva rode over paddocks.  Painter Olsen came in the evening.  Wants John to drill 4 acres of rape, will try to get some one else.  Sent letter to Manager, Mamahouki State Farm & sample of failed seed potatoes.  Alice & Charlie came at midday.  Case of Diptheria again = Annie Grant.

TH 2   Put in carrot and mangold seed in shady place in garden, doubtful if they will come to anything.  Garden now finished, worked at dip,  John has finished ploughing the 6 acres.  Eva & Mam at a Red X meeting.  Douglas here.

FR 3   A fine day and a good shower at milking time.  John at Palmerston Show.  All hands but one saw him off at Ormondlle and met him & Freddie at night.  Rode over paddocks and cleaned up woolshed and removed sacks boxes &c &c.  Eva with the disc over turnip ground.  Got rates Demand £16.10.6 and  £1.11.10.

SAT 4   Forenoon fine.  Painter Olsen interviewed John about drilling.  Rape coming up seems too thin.  Afternoon wet, a great deal of rain fell.  Sledged in chips and firewood off Flat.  Pictures tonight.  Eva & Mam there.

SUN 5   A fine morning.  Sheets of rain fell.  Creek up in half an hour.  Went to Uncle’s.  John took hoggs off barley paddock – quite bare – in shed paddock tonight, Frost likely.

MON 6   A fine day.  Put ewes & lambs off Flat into Hughes.  Eva disking.  Painter Olsen came with his horse and John used it in drill with the filly and drilled 5 acres at Olsens.  Put hoggets on oats in Reserve except 40.  ten of which I shore this afternoon & put on Ridges.  30 in shed tonight.  Fair condition.

TU 7   A calm dull day.  Shore & branded the 30 hog – in shed last night.  Put them out on Back and rode over all paddocks.  John borrowed Walker’s mare, he & Eva disking harrowing &c.  A letter from Waldie Baumgart.

WED 8   A fine dry day.  John drilling & Eva rolling the six acres.  Hoed the potatoes in rape paddock.  Our seen sown ones look well.  Moumahaki failed.

TH 9   Rain today, not enough to stop Eva & John from finishing sowing & rolling the 5 acres of rape.  Repaired the culvert in Reserve gully.  Eva practising.

NOV 1916

FR 10   A dull cloudy day, a little rain in the morning.  John ploughing the barley paddock.  Put in a row or two of cabbage plants.  Eva lifted 2 ewes.

SAT 11   The usual grey damp rain- threatening day.  Worked at dip, John plough.  Eva went begging for Dr Barnardo’s Home.  Got 1/- in one house.  Pictures.

SUN 12   A wintry day.  Some rain.  Afternoon motored to Uncles,  He as usual.

MON 13   More rain greater part of day.  Mam & Eva left for Palmerston by 8 o’clock train, left car in Uncles shed.  Eva gathered 28/- for Dr Barnardo’s fund.  Made the amount up to two pounds by giving her a cheque for £2.0.6 which she sent today to H.L.Lee Secretary Wellington.  Gave a cheque for £1.0.6 to Mabel Thomson, another subscription list in aid of widow & children of Noble, a soldier killed in France.  John found a dead ewe on Ridges, shifted ewes & lambs off Hughes into Flat.  Mr Thorburn called, entries wanted Makotuku.

TU 14   Very heavy rain fell today.  John skinned ewe & brought in firewood.  Mam & Eva came back from Palmerston in Doctors Car, one car met in gorge, careful drivers.  About 4PM Mr Hunter came, went with him over to Walkers and through new house.

WED 15   73rd Birthday.  A fine day.  A shower in the evening.  Motored all round by Garfield and home by Pettersens road, down to Ormondlle after we picked Eva up here, called at Nicholaisons and at Benbows.  Came back with Eva in our car which was left in Hegh’s shed on Monday last.  This evening again another subscription list for Belgians by Eva.  Gave £1.1.0.  Another hogget on Reserve oats has a lamb, this is the 3rd so far, may be more.  Returns for 21 skins & 7lbs dead wool = £7.4.10, wool 14½.  Skins from 9¾ to 13d per lb.

TH 16   A rough wintry day.  Rain in the forenoon.  Wrote cheque for £14.0.0 and Mam paid Mackie’s bill, Andresen’s and C Schmidts money in hand.  Another hogget on the oats has a good single lamb.  Eva gathered for the Belgians today again.  Mr McLeod called with his gig & left one of our lambs that was on his place.  A letter from A Snook asking me to let him know when I muster as one of his sheep is amongst our ewes on Back.  A wintry night.

NOV 1916

FR 17   Got in hoggets off Reserve oats & shore them, no dags good condition hoggets shorn.  Another has a good lamb, shorn & penned up with lamb =4.  Eva disking barley paddock for rape.  She & Mam at a concert tonight for School.

SAT 18   A fine calm close day.  Hoed up potatoes in garden & rape paddock where Moumahaki State “Game keepers” are growing and look miserable.  Many of the seed rotted in the ground – about one half.  Put in row of carrots and soft turnips in garden where parsnips & carrots sown some time ago refused to grow.  Worked at dip, afternoon.  John & Eva disked harrowed rolled and drilled rape in the barley paddock.  Mrs Miss Mc Collouch & Mrs Lee came.  Mam Eva and Arthur going to Pictures.  There is also a circus of some sort.

SUN 19   Rain again in the forenoon.  Mam & Eva at Church, then we went to Uncles.

MON 20   A fine day.  All hands but John motored to Hughes with stakes and drove them by netting to prevent ewes getting underneath.  Spent greater part of day dragging big logs together on flat with filly & Prince & logging up.  Mam & Co motored to Alice’s.  Mam paid land tax in Post Office £14.4.5.  Shifted ewes & lambs off Flat into Hughes.  Walkers foal in Ridges – being weaned.

TU 21   A fine day.  With John until midday picking up rotten wood roots &c.  In the afternoon worked at dip.  Eva through ewes & lambs, and carted in firewood.  Good War news.  Allies have taken Monastir.  Servians fighting magnificently.  Bulgarians in retreat.  Germans blame them for failure and running away.  Mam has a letter from her cousin T Warren, Leytonstone Essex England.

WED 22   A fine day.  John & Eva made a start ploughing Flat along ridges fence.  Got in Reserve sheep.  Shore 5 hoggs & put them with those on oats.  Number of ewes = 52 shore 17 of them, dagged 35, in shed tonight, in good condition.  Willy Torkilsen called.  Has lost “Little Cherry”, died in bail.  Paid John for bull £6.

TH 23  A dry breezy day.  Shore ewes in shed last night, branded and put back in Reserve = 52.  Rev. Whibley for dinner & Alice & Charlie.  Mesdames Grant & Speig[?].  F Selby called coming from Coast.  John ploughed in afternoon.

NOV 1916

FR 24   A fine hot day.  John ploughing.  Eva got in firewood in bush wagon.  Worked at new aproach [approach] to dip.  Some Norsewood young men drawn in ballot to serve.

SAT 25   A good shower.  Laid some battens in Dip shed.  Eva through ewes & carting.  John ploughing.

SUN 26   A fine day.  Eva & Mam at Morning Church.  Afternoon at Uncles.  He is not so well today.  Mr Mrs & Leo Selby there.  Eva & Mam & Grace motored to Mrs Mulhollands.

MON 27   Mam Eva John & Arthur motored immediately after breakfast, to Mrs Mulholland’s where Grace has a little daughter, both well, born at 10.30 last night.  Dr arrived after the child was born.  Eva shifted sheep off Hughes on to Flat yarded them & picked out 15 hoggets (one of these has a lamb) which we shore.  There are158 ewes on Flat now.  Sledged in & skinned old ewe.  Yesterday W Todd took away to Ngamoko the young bull bought by W Torkilsen.

TU 28   Put the 15 hoggets out on Ridges.  Took the hoggets except 10 off Reserve Flat in shed paddock tonight.  Motored to township with Eva & Mam.  Bushel oats 4/9 at Mackies.  Eva got from J Lean a ploughshare, point of one in use broken.

WED 29   A fine dry day.  Put 50 hoggets out on back branded, one of them with a lamb.  This makes 119 hoggets, one on Back unshorn.  Bertie Engelbretson getting out roots on flat where John is ploughing.  All but “we two” motored to Mulhollands to see Grace.

TH 30   A fine day.  Nov goes out well.  John finished ploughing on flat.  Bertie Eng. came at 10AM to get out roots.  Got in ewes & lambs off Flat.  John dagged while Bertie handed up fleeces & pressed 2 bales of hoggets wool, 61 fleeces in first bale, 60 in second.  38 in box to be finished.  In shed tonight 35 ewes to be shorn tomorrow.  No meat today, butcher called, did not wait for Mam to get purse.

DEC 1916

FR 1st   Started to shear at 6AM.  Did 84 had to get them in off Flat twice all of this mob= 158 in shed tonight (74) they have 206 lambs.  Sent cheque £2.0.6 to Manson & Barr, Palmerston N.  Sent cheque to Mr Simpson for £2.10.0 to pay his bill of £2.0.9.  Discount 1/-.  Mam Eva & Arthur motored to see Baby.

DEC 1916

SAT 2   A good shearing day.  Finished the mob of 158 – Flat & Hughes, branded and put on Flat, ewes in good condition, good fleeces, 9, 10 & some 12 lbs weight.  Very few good mouths amongst ewes.  Mam & Eva met Miss Glanville at Ormondlle.

SUN 3   Motored to Mr Grants with Mam Eva & Miss Glanville.  They would have us to stay for dinner.  Inspected rooms ground &c a lovely well kept place.  Went to afternoon Church, Mrs Grant also.  All came here & then from here the four ladies motored to Dannevirke & said good bye to Miss Glanville.  After tea here the trio went to P Church.  At 4PM got in 51 ewes, dagged & have in shed tonight.  Dagged some lambs too.  Poor Eva had a puncture in Dannevirke.

MON 4   A good shearing day.  Eva got sheep off Widerups we shore 50 and dagged the remainder – in shed tonight.  Eva put flat ewes & lambs out on Hughes, rode over back & found 2 ewes cast.  J Vaughan called.

TU 5   Finished shearing Widerups lot before dinner.  Hugh Barclay picking up rolling &c.  Branded 138 ewes & put back.  21 hoggs with them.  John got in a cut off back.  We dagged and put in shed for tomorrow 55.  Mam John & Arthur went after tea in buggy to see Grace and baby.  Both doing well.

WED 6   Another good shearing day.  Shore 89 of the back ewes, big heavy fleeced ewes, very daggy and hard.  Dagged for tomorrow & put inside 37.  Sent letter to Manager Union Bank for cheques.  and to C.L Neilsen £5.1.6.

TH 7   Shore the 37 in shed last night, branded the mob 126 and put out on Back.  Eva got in remainder of back sheep while we were shearing and pressing a couple of bales.  Bales pressed so far No.1 Hogs = 60.  No.2 Hogs 61.  No.3 XB 53.  No.4 XB 52.  Fine 1.50.  Eva got in 147 which we dagged and put 51 of them in shed tonight.  Bad War news Bucharest fallen, Germans Victorious so far.  British divided, war seems badly conducted, Cabinet reconstructed.

FR 8   Shore the 57 in shed & 40 besides leaving the last 56  which is in shed now.  A little rain last night.  Did not wet sheep.  Belgian concert tonight, Eva & Mam there.  The number of ewes on Back = 273 Reserve 52 Widerups 138 Flat & Hughes 158.  Hogs 119.  rams [?] total 748.

DEC 1916

SAT 9   Up early, a good day for shearing.  Got through the 56 in last night by 11.30 and then branded & put on Back.  R. Curran borrowed wagon to get in his hay.  In the afternoon shore the 6 SD rams.  Gave Mam a £12 cheque to pay Mackies £9 and Andresens £1.9.  Mam & Eva & Arthur at pictures tonight.  Others in bed early.

SUN 10   Another hot day.  John brought home Grace & baby in phaeton from Mrs Mulhollands.  In the afternoon went to Uncles, he is weaker & in bed.  John & Hugh went out on back, shot 3 rabbits, caught a young one.

MON 11   A beautiful hot day.  John started Hughie with the disc on flat and little garden.  Mr Gorintzkie sent his daughter Annie to borrow “Duke”.  We pressed 4 bales, wool looks in splendid condition.  Letter from F Selby re lambs, writing to say will not be fit before Jany & to come then.

TU 12   Pressed the 13th bale good fleeces, good wool, put matted & partly matted in one bale.  Hugh took in bush wagon a fadge of locks & scraps and 5 sheep skins.  Sledged in a dead lamb from Reserve, maggotty at throat and tail, skinned it for dogs.  J Vaughan Alice & Charlie for dinner.  Hugh & John shot a hare on rape.

WED 13   Finished pressing the 15th bale, branded the lot.  Mrs Walker came over.  Got in & dagged reserve lambs, grubs in one, kerosened him.  59 lambs 62 sheep.

TH 14   Eva & Mam motored to Dannevirke, got cheque cashed at Mackies for £6.  Lambs daggy, some very much so and a few fly blown, had to shear & kerosene one.  On Widerups, Ewes & a few hoggets = 159.  Lambs 146.  On Hughes & Flat 155 ewes & Hogs lambs 207.

FR 15   Every day warm now.  Put battens on fence – split ones – between flat & oats.  Joe Vaughan came & borrowed mower.  Hugh still discing on flat.  Many young men about Norsewood drawn in conscription ballot.  Willy Mackie one of them

SAT 16   Up early.  John rode out to bring in Back sheep.  C Smith & Son came with both teame & took 4 bales each to Ormondlle afterwards C Smith took a 4 and a 3.  wool cannot owing to want of trucks get away before Tuesday next.  Dagged lambs 301 and put back.  Rain came on at 10AM & continued for hours.  Got sheep into shed.  Pictures.  We make the number of ewes & hoggs on Back in this count 342.

DEC 1916

SUN 17   Dull forenoon.  Mr & Miss Satchwell came, also rain at midday.  Eva Lizzy & Mam went to Church.  Torrents of rain fell.  Went in car with Satchwells round to their place and after dropping them went on to Uncles.  Much hay out.

MON 18   A very fine day.  Eva rode over to J Vaughan’s & brought back “Prince”.  Borrowed Walkers mare to do harrowing with Prince.  Mare jibbed did not do much work with her.  Re roofing cowshed by nailing on sheets of iron, only laid on before, not nailed.  Messdames Grant and Parsons jun.  Mr Lund & Anton Svensen brought flock.  64 ewes in shed.

TU 19  A fine hot day.  Three shearers got through Lunds sheep.  Boy Hansen picking & rolling fleeces.  Eva harrowed some and rolled the 5 acres for turnips on Flat.  John drilled the turnip seed and some rape seed with it.  After tea Eva took Walkers mare home and led “Prince” over to Joe’s.  Finished nailing on iron on roof of cowshed.  Hugh sledged out manure &c &c.

WED 20   A fine day again.  John got in the back sheep in order to find correct number, they are as counted out at shearing time 343 ewes 300 lambs.  Mr Lund & Inga came & we pressed their 3 bales.  After dinner we laid out fence line on flat along turnip ground.  Wi Torkilsen called.  At night Mam Eva & Arthur making great preparations to go to school concert.  Papers full of Peace offers by Germans on behalf of a late tender feeling towards humanity.  They want a great deal of the spoils & a permanent peace.

TH 21   Light rain nearly all afternoon, set in at 10.30, hoed and pulled weed out of potatoes at rape.  John got in ewes & lambs off Widerups before breakfast 159.  After dinner motored to Ngamoko school.  Mr Hunter gave out prizes before we got there, games going on, vaulting &c.  Went with Mr Hunter in C P Andersens car to see J O’Hara, in bed, looks well, was horned by bull, came on to township, waited for our car.  Mr Mackie changed cheque for £4.0.0.  Eva & Mam at tea – Arthur too – with Rev’ Fountain, all then went circus.  2 & 3 [?].  Rain fell all this night.  Sweeds out to make their appearance soon.

DEC 1916

FR 22   A wet day.  Nothing done.  Mam & Eva went to Alice’s.  Boys shot hare in rape.  President Wilson send out a blustering note about peace.  British indignant, &c &c.  Lloyd George made a famous speech previously, in reply to Hun peace talk, Empire agrees with Ll.  G’s utterance.  Returns from Wms & K for 5 skins, 1 hogg – 7 lb at 13½ = 7/10 total £2.6.3 nett.

SAT 23   Light rain forenoon.  Mended sacks in woolshed, afterwards carried water to dip, put in 400 gallons but 50 gals or so leaked out through a faulty spot.  Got in ewes & lambs off Hughes, ewes = 162 this makes the count all right we thought there were 7 ewes short, lambs 207.  We killed 2 lambs one for Hans Neilsen and W Torkilsen and a half for us and a half for others.  Joe Vaughan got loan of hayrake and took it home behind his cart.  Mam Eva & John at pictures.  Better war news today.  American bluster not so threatening.  John paid Hugh £ s d 2.15.0.

SUN 24   Cut up the two lambs.  Hugh brought express from Ricketts with a pair of new shafts.  He John & Arthur went to W Torkilsens with the two half lambs one of them for Hans Neilsen, they also returned Neilsens 20 empty sacks.  Very heavy rain after dinner, at 3PM we went to see Uncle, seems a bit weaker.  Mr Hoskins there for a while.  Tonight C F Fredericksen called & borrowed tin benzine his car was stuck up on the road at the gate.  Mam & Eva worshipping again tonight.

XMAS   A nice calm cloudy day, no visitors for a wonder, stockings filled all the same.  No soap for me this time, an electric apparatus and nice hankies.  Arthur various articles, baby, a rattle &c Eva a watch and cigarets [cigarettes] also chocolates.  Grace &c Mam & John other things.  He went fishing and got big bunch of trout, Manawatu.

TU 26   A calm cool day.  Rode over all paddocks, Hughes and Flat bare, 4 lambs out on Adrian’s, get under lower wire.  Good feed on back section.  Messrs Rankin & A Snook came and took away wether belonging to latter.  John Grace Arthur and Biddy went Ngamoko way fishing, caught some.  Went with Mam & Eva to Ormondlle sports and to Uncle’s.  Saw Mr Craig at sports.  He may take two truckloads of lambs this week if trucks available.

DEC 1916

WED 27   Mam & Eva motored to Dannevirke, picked up Mrs Grant & two children.  Got cheque for five pounds changed at Mackies.  Mr Craig called to say he had 2 trucks for us at Ormondlle.  John got into yards all ewes & lambs.  Craig came at 3.30 picked out 160 for 2 trucks, amongst them 16 dry ewes.  We drove them to Ormondlle railway yards.  Got in near dark.  Home in car.

TH 28   Eva drove us early to Ormondlle to truck the lambs for 6.30 AM train.  Consigned them to Whakatu 161. a lamb more than was counted here.  John went fishing only caught two.  Got in a ewe from back that required fixing up.  Raddled her and put back.  Nearly finished putting down battens in shed going to dip.  At night Mr Satchwell & Lizzie called.  He goes home tomorrow.  Alice brought mowing machine behind her spring cart.  No rain to speak of today.

FR 29   Mr Satchwell came over early from his mothers place & John drove him to Ormlle to catch the 8 o’clock train.  He afterwards sharpened mowing machine knives preparatory to mowing our meadow when weather permits.  Worked at Dip, put on remaining battens.  Miss Cunningham and Miss McCullock called.

SAT 30   Fine weather has set in.  John carted down 2 strainers and posts from house above for new line along turnips, and cut some in meadow.  Made gate for dip yard out of totara 6×1.  Three of us went to see pictures but there were none I was told, picture man must have met with a misadventure on the road from Waipawa.  A full house had money returned.

SUN 31   A summer day.  John and Freddy went fishing Ngamoko way.  Lizzie came over had dinner with us & went to Church with Mam & Eva.  Afternoon went with Mam & Eva to see Uncle, is in bed most of the time.  Messrs Tripe & Selby there with new car had been visiting their property the other side of Manawatu, well pleased with abundance of feed.  John caught 18 trout gave half to Freddie.  Some for Auntie tomorrow.  This has been a good year for stock and prices, a black year for many.  Many widdows [widows] & orphans and weeping Mothers.  1917 will see the end of it.

JAN 1917

MON 1st   Several light showers today.  John rode to Ormondlle left mare at Uncle’s.  Trained to Dannevirke to Cricket match v Napier made 51 not out in second innings, only one in first.  Late High school boy Macpherson made 48 these two won the match.  Freddy Sturrick and mate called on their way home from a trip to Wanganui in car.  No papers today, lonely feeling.

TU 2   A wet wintry day.  Put up a shelf &c in batten leanto, helped Mr Lund bag his belly wool & pieces.  Mam & Eva motored to Ormondlle did not meet W Campbell.  Got returns for lambs & ewes from Whakatu & weights of 12 bales wool.  Sent to HB Herald for ensuing year payment in advance, cheque for £1.6.0.  A cold wet night.  One ewe called yellow, 61 lbs.  One condemned to vats 62 lbs.  One lamb yellow 29 lbs.  Average of lambs 33. 85 lbs.  Nine ewes averaged 61.88 lbs.  Five average 77.80 lbs.  14 average 67.57 lbs.

WED 3   A wet day again.  Johns birthday is between 28 and 32 often a bit of a [gilloot].  The loud laugh denotes the valiant mind?  Chas Smith came and took away Lunds 3 bales of wool.  Willy Campbell came by coach.

TH 4   Rain in the forenoon, fine afternoon, dug some potatoes in rape garden, some stalks blighted, fair crop.  Alice & Charlie & Joe brought back rake.  Got from Wms & Kettle weight of last 3 bales of wool.  Lizzie came evening.

FR 5   A fine breezy drying day.  Turned hay.  L Jorgosen & F Fredericksen helping, after dinner Gorintzkie carted in and also one of our waggons Freddie raking.  Hugh came in the afternoon and was useful forking in shed.  R Curran borrowed bush wagon to get his oats in.  All hay cut in shed now.  Mam Eva Willy & Hugh at a send-off concert tonight, Chas. Torkilsen farewelled.

SAT 6   John & Hugh downed the remainder of meadow and weedy part of oats and mowed some round standing crop of oats.  Laid henau sleepers in alleyway coming to dip.  Pictures tonight some of us there.  Mr & Mrs Vaughan came.

SUN 7   A fine summer day, and a day of rest, no Church.  Three of us went to see Uncle he is lower, in bed, only about knew us.  Hard to start car, exhausts Eva, must change.  She plays organ in P Church in absence of Organist in Christchurch.  John broke rod caught 2 fish.  Long day.

JAN 1917

MON 8   A fine day.  Mam & the others went to Dannevirke, took a £12 cheque to pay Mackies £4.19 bill and three other creditors who are waiting and wanting.  Car very hard to start, all hands had to give a preliminary push.  Anton Svensen came, wants lambs dipped tomorrow before putting on rape.  Carted rails &c &c for hay stack foundation.  Made stack in turnip paddock, splendid fine hay.  Worked until dark, had to leave one load out and one on wagon unloaded.  Put tarpaulins over hay, looks like rain.  Milly Campbell came in car from D.virke.

TU 9   A wet day.  Not much hay out.  John & Hugh sawed a little, too wet.

WED 10   Rain last night and this morning, remainder of day dry.  Revd Whibley for dinner.  John & Hugh splitting hinau posts on Back.  Did some work about dip.

TH 11   Nice calm day, no rain, spread out the cocks of hay, soon dried, got in enough to head stack, one load put in shed, the last.  More hay than ever before.  Mam Eva & Milly motored to Dannevirke, interviewed C L Neilsen.  £1.19.10 paid to C Smith, to J Bartlett £1.6.0 to A Hulena 14/- and D H Cameron 12/-.

FR 12   Another fine day, dug some very fair potatoes in rape patch.  John & Hugh carting in hay for Hugh’s people.  Milly went to train by coach & to Wellington to see her brother Willy off.  News this evening that poor Allen Grant is killed.

SAT 13   Summer now.  Anton Svensen dipped 234 lambs early paid £1.  John & Hugh helping Jorgesen & Co get in their oats.  Mr Neilsen came with a Chevrolet motor car, went with Mam & Eva to Dannevirke with him.  He drove us back in a Oakland car, both cars first class, very warm day.  Pictures tonight.

SUN 14   A breezy day.  Mam & Eva at Church.  Mr Whibley came with them to dinner after which he was motored to [Te Uri] by Walter Smith.  We three went to Uncle’s.

MON 15   A windy day, boxed up a dozen white Leghorn fowls & sent them to Rose’s sale, Norsewood, they fetched 2/8 each.  Eva had to run down most of them.  Cut with mower, put in sheaves and tied a strip of oats all round crop on flat and cut with reaping hooks and threw out of crop a great number of thistles.

JAN 1917

TU 16   Another breezy day.  Got in Widerup’s sheep and went through them.  130 breeding ewes raddled blue put back and 18 ewe lambs with them.  Reserve sheep got in and 49 good ewes and 6 ewe lambs put back.  On Hughes rape 128 lambs, 10 cull ewes.  On Hughes Section 36 cull ewes & lambs, 25 of them very poor ewes.  Clean fresh feed.  A Adrian came with reaper & binder & cut the oats, he charges for 3 acres.  Owe him 30/-.  Three of us ran before machine with hooks, cut & threw out thistles, many of them.

WED 17   A windy day.  Stooked the oats.  Mam Eva John & Hugh after an early dinner went to Norsewood sports, won naught.  Wind increased, stucks [stooks] blown down.

TH 18   A nice calm day.  Restooked the oats after yesterdays storm.  Wire netted the potatoes from the rape.  John & Hugh carted in the oats, built stack under wattles near totara posts, rain threatening.  Got in last load at 7.25.  Mam & Eva motored to Ormlle saw Mr Hunter he sent a message and – to Ole Gundersen.  Mam walked over & delivered brought back from Ormlle Florrie & Dorothy and Ada and one of her seven sons.  Took them back in the afternoon.  Mr Garrie called on his way home.

FR 19   A good dipping day.  John got in Back sheep early.  Picked out 278 rape lambs, dipped and put in meadow for tonight.  Put 60 cull ewes & lambs on to Hughes.  Put a mob of good ewes and 89 ewe lambs on back, bulk of ewes tonight in shed paddock.  J Hutchinson dipped 232 lambs.  Rev Whibley called.  Mam & Eva motored to Ormlle picked up Auntie & Ada, went to Mary’s and Dannevirke.

SAT 20   The usual warm day.  Eva paid Simpsons £4.10 bill and Andresen’s equal amount with a £13 pound cheque.  Simpson’s discount was twice that of Andresen’s.  John & Hugh went through the ewes, picked out 35 culls & put them on Hughes.  Put 110 lambs on Flat paddock of rape and 168 lambs on Hill rape.  Culls now on Hughes.  Lambs on rape all counted.  Took train 10.15 to Ormondville for Waipukurau, week end ticket 3/9, to attend Mr Gaisford’s funeral.  Canon Eccles held service and Waipukurau minister.  Left for home at 2.10, two hours train journey.  J Hutchinson dipped 109 lambs.  Yesterday. Total 341.

JAN  1917

SUN 21   The usual warm day day.  John & Hugh went to the ranges, mare & phaeton or rather buggy.  Saw no pigs, brought home 3 trout at 10PM.  Remainder of us went in the afternoon to Uncle’s.  Much the same.  At night 3 of us motored to church, good congregation of ladies, carried round net, got 10/6.  Mr Clark & 3 boys went to Ormlle lay-reading took Trixie and phaeton, much religion today.

MON 22   Another hot day, rain threatening, shower in the evening.  Got in Hughes rape lambs and dipped them = 142 put back, this is 4 more than put on.  Dipped and put back on Hughes paddock cull ewes and some lambs = 123.  J Todd came with 89 real good lambs & dipped same.  Lizzie S. here tonight.

TU 23   A warm day.  Showers in the afternoon.  John & Hugh sawed henau log and split some posts got in a little firewood.  Lizzie was motored to 8 o’clock train AM.  Alice & Charlie for lunch.  Car met Milly at express train.  Oat stack heating took off top.

WED 24   A nice day, very close, no rain.  Shifted all the oats into sheds.  Quite hot.  Drove with John to Makotuku sale.  Lambs, inferior 13/= and 14/= up to 22/= for very good.

TH 25   The usual close day.  Cut cocksfoot in plantations and about gully.  RevD Whibley for dinner.  All but 3 of us motored to see Mrs WM Thomson.  Got in the last of the oats into cart and woolshed.  Got in sheep off Hughes.  56 ewes and some lambs picked out and put on Hill rape, put back 68 on Hughes Sec.  Dipped 112 lambs for W Todd.  This makes 201.  Mr & Mrs P. G. Grant called.

FR 26   The usual dry hot day.  John & Hugh firewood – getting on back.  Milly came back from Painter Olsen’s.  Cutting cocksfoot about gullies.  A letter from Gert to say she was coming tomorrow, consequently we ran down & killed the Gobler [gobbler].

SAT 27   A dry day.  Cut cocksfoot in rape paddock and Wellingtonia plantation.  Gert and bairns came by express and met at Ormlle with car, Mam & Eva.  Hugh grasseed-scouting this afternoon.  Put in strainer with John on flat near turnips.  Mam Eva Gert & her two and Arthur drove to Alice’s.  The same lot at Pictures tonight.  7 or 10 German ships sunk two days ago.  Huns say not any at o[?].  A three pound cheque cashed at Mackies.  J Lean to be paid 18/6 out of it.

JAN 1917

SUN 28   A dry day.  John & Hugh went Ngamoko way with rods, brought home five.  The company went up to the potato patch, we dug out some potatoes for Gert, they are splendid to look at and a great number under a stalk, rode over the paddocks, not much feed except on Hughes and flat.  None to spare on Widerups or flat.  Motored to Uncle’s, he is very low, does not recognise.  Mr Clark takes mare & phaeton to lay-read in Ormondlle Church tonight.  Eva dropped Milly at P. Church to play organ for them.

MON 29   A breezy drying day.  Worked at turnip fence on flat.  John at Norsewood stock sale, did not buy.  Gert & children left by express, also Milly motored with them.  Miss Williamson occupied their seats coming back.  Creek not surviving now.

TU 30 A windy day.  Worked at turnip fence, put in extra heavy henau posts.  Hugh scouting, got home here in time to milk.  Eva & Miss Williamson at Oldershaw’s.

WED 31   Light showers today.  Worked at fence, put in very heavy henau posts.

FEB 1917

TH 1st   Light rain in the forenoon.  Worked at fence in the afternoon.  £179-10-0 cheque to hand from the Hawkes Bay Farmers Meat Coy.  Ltd. Bank deducted exchange 4/6 for 16 ewes at 5¾ which comes to £25.12.3 and 145 lambs at 8½ = 173.13.8 = £199.5.11 less £19.15.11 which is 10% deducted at present.  John telephoned to F Selby asking if he can come early next week.  Mary answered “great scarcity of trucks has ordered 36.  big mobs of sheep coming from West coast, lambs at Ormondlle.

FR 2   A cloudy breezy day, no rain, some fell last night, creek up again as before.  Finished putting in posts and ran out wire, not quite enough galvanised wire, had to use a piece of old black.  Sent Whakatu cheque to Union Bank and Pass Book.  Hugh cut thistles on Reserve Flat with Prince and mowing machine.  Note from F Selby.

SAT 3   Rain threatening all forenoon, wet afternoon.  Mam Eva & Miss Williamson motored to Dannevirke, brought back case of Coopers Dip from Williams & Kettles.  Stapled all posts in new fence, 6 wires.  John & Hugh carted stakes & wire netting to back rape paddock and divided it.  Paid Hugh tonight for 4 weeks – £4=.  Mam Eva & Miss Williamson at Pictures tonight.  Rain coming from Ormondlle.

FEB 1917

SUN 4   Rain last night and light this forenoon, got a few lambs in off Reserve put the 7 black face rams off meadow into front, put cull ewes & lambs off Hughes into meadow.  Put rape lambs off Hughes 4½ acres into yard at home and awaited F L Selby.  He came before 11AM and we yarded all lambs off rape.  He picked out 251 lambs all good, expect to have trucks on Wednesday at Ormlle.  All lambs put back in various paddocks, went with him to Uncle’s, the same.  Mam Eva and Miss Williamson came afterwards and at night they went to P Church.  A bit of bad luck this afternoon.  John & Hugh after dinner went out rabbiting with dog “Bully”, he ran after a rabbit and fell on level ground, no stump or log near, the bone in his shoulder is broken, nothing we can think of can be done to relieve him, they brought him home in wagon.

MON 5   A rough wintry day.  John laid battens along new fence and carted in a load of firewood.  Miss Williamson went home by express, Mam & Eva left her at station.  Her sister Miss Williamson for lunch.  Lous Gor or Jorgosen gone to work on a farm at Palmerston at £3 a week and found – for a woman left on the farm, her husband called up to go and fight in defence of such as Jorgosen that he may occupy a comfortable billet in New Zealand.  Gord [god] Save the King!  Bandaged Bully’s foreleg, put on two splints tied with cloth strips.

TU 6   Two deaths today, dog Toby and a raddled fat lamb, skinned the lamb and buried the dog.  A wintry day, heavy rain in the morning dry afternoon.  Stapled on some battens on new fence.  Beautiful feed on flat after many weeks spell, today all raddled fat lambs on it.

WED 7   Summer returned.  Found by telephone from Mackies that 3 trucks were awaiting us at Ormondlle.  Brought down our 250 lambs & trucked them then went to Makotuku Sale, a great number of sheep & lambs yarded, mostly 2nd and 3rd class.  Sheep seemed to be down a couple of shillings.  John brought home to H Mortensen his 50 old ewes bought at 20/7 and C F Fredericksens 50 lambs at 18/- and then put our lambs off rape on to fresh feed on Flat.  Rev. Whibley called.

FEB 1917

TH 8   Ewes & lambs taken off rape stalks and put on new rape – half of the back six acres – 65 ewes and 164 lambs.  Took mare and wagon to upper township and brought back the timber left there from Parson’s mill – 220 ft.  Got a shoe on mare and 3 removed, drove up to Hughes and brought back from heap 8 of the smoothest there.  Paid Mackies bill £ s 3.18 with £5 cheque.

FR 9   A windy day.  Dipped 140 lambs for Todd Bros.  50 lambs for J Nordbye.  Got in Flat sheep, picked out   ewes and    lambs and put them on the rape.  Put up post & rail fence at near end of new turnip fence.  John ploughing stubbles.  “Duke” lame in the forenoon, seems better this evening.  250 ewes & lambs now on rape.

SAT 10   A very windy day.  Mr Whibley at midday.  Mare express 9 totara posts tools 2 stools &c taken up to Church and fence repaired by working Bee.  Two of us, his Reverence, Messrs Evans Speight Chayton Crossland M Mulholland.  Ladies served out tea and cakes afternoon.  Finished about 5PM.  Bought at Mackies 4 lbs 2½ inch nails 2 lbs 4 inch nails 12 lbs oxide paint 6/0.  1 Gal oil 6/6.

SUN 11   A breezy day, wintry evening.  Mam & Eva at morning P service, evening Anglican.  Motored to Uncle’s afternoon, just the same.  John & Bertie shot 2 rabbits.

MON 12   A thorough wet day, nothing done, fire in dining room, good backlog.

TU 13   A fine morning, a very wet afternoon.  Motored with Mam & Eva to Dannevirke in the “hard-to-start Ford” for the last time, had to push it to road.  A puncture near Piri Piri, put on fresh wheel.  Saw new car – “Chevrolet” in garage.  Mr Neilsen motored with us round town and beyond teaching Eva, car goes nicely, he keeps the old one.  Eva drove us home all right.  Car newly painted before put in use, ordered a spare wheel.  Squared with Williams & Kettle £ s d 7.8.9.  Paid for dip.  Got Gear’s cheque for 250 fat lambs = £ s d 299.19.11.  average weight of lambs 33.46 lbs.  231 1st quality 7736 lbs at 8⅝.  19 2nds 0/42 lbs 630 … 8⅜ per lb.

WED 14   Eva picked plums in garden, good crop.  Put rape lambs on Flat for few days.  Sent Gear cheque to Union Bank & letter to Wms & Kettle leaving valuation &c of wool in their hands.  Mam got Mackie to change £2 cheque.  John at Gundries.

FEB 1917

TH 15   A very fine day for the show.  Went with Eva & Mam in new car, good show.  Saw Mr Craig, he comes to pick out lambs on Tuesday next.  Saw Mr Rees Davis, agreed to go to his place on Wednesday next for 2 Romney rams.  Saw Mr Abbot, N.Z. Farmers Fertiliser Co’s Agent.  Took up 10 shares £5 paid.  The shares are £5 each.  On application £5 is paid down, remainder afterwards.

FR 16   All hands except one who was ploughing motored to Anton Olsen’s to enquire about Romney rams.  He cannot give a decided answer.  Stacked the new timber.  A Ladies Committee cleaned church windows &c.  Mr McLeod called and gave us a basket of vegetables, very nice ones.  A warm day this has been.

SAT 17   A warm drying day.  John went to Mr McLeod’s yard to see if 2 stray sheep there are ours, they are not.  He repaired fence near house and shifted fat lambs and ewes off rape on to Hughes sec where there is plenty fresh feed.  Eva rode to Oldershaws.  Mam and others at the church, Miss Williamson came back with her to tea.  Ella Grant also for tea. All of them at Pictures.  Mr Whibley for lunch.  Put up short fence at carshed.  Evangelist lady called.

SUN 18   Motored to Makotuku Church with Eva & Mam.  Mr Whibley & Arch   .  Tablets unveiled by Archdeacon in memory of J Brabazon & W Robinson.  Came home by Ormondlle stayed at Uncles until Eva & Mam came in afternoon.  Uncle same.  At 7PM went with Eva and Mam to Presbyterian Church.  John & Co Ngamoko.

MON 19   Rain in the morning, most of day fine made small gate, hung near car.  Filled loose chaff for horses   sacks and for sheep.  Two Nun ladies called, Mam promised to leave a donation at Convent for them tomorrow.  Gave Mam £20 = cheque to pay Hughes rent £9.14.2.  Rickett £1.15.6.  Simpson £1.6.5.

TU 20   A fine day.  Mam & Eva motored to Dannevirke, left new car to have wheel, an extra wheel fitted on and painted, came home in old Ford.  John made frame for express, got in sheep off rape.  Mr Craig came late, picked out 43, we did not think it worth while to take them to train, leave them for a couple of weeks.  And the rejects – lambs put on rape and ewes on good grass.  Inga Lund called for John to mouth his ewes tomorrow before Mr Gilvray picks out the fats.

FEB 1917

WED 21   John went early to O Lunds to pick out his best ewes to be kept for breeding.  Light rain in the forenoon, drove filly express and cage to Mr Davies for 2 Romney rams.  Went by Ormondlle Papatu & Kopua, a bad road.  Got 2 rams, paid £2.2s each.  One bigger & heavier than the other, both good mouths, came home by German Line.  Very heavy rain all the afternoon, coming from Ormondlle.  Manager wants Pass Book.

TH 22   A wet forenoon.  700 ewes owned by A B Hansen and C P Andersen were drafted and divided in yards here.  John dug out Caln thistles and shot 2 hares.

FR 23   A fine day.  John got in ewes & lambs off Hughes, put back 110 ewes and 3 cull lambs.  Put 182 lambs and one fixed- up ewe on the 3 acres of rape – untouched.  Got in Widerups and Reserve sheep and went through them.  Put 21 2 tooth ewes on Ridges and 20 on Reserve Flat.  Put 24 ewe lambs on Reserve.  Put 14 cull ewes and wether on Hughes.  134 good breeding ewes in shed paddock tonight.  7 cull lambs amongst sheep.  All but 3 of us motored to Dannevirke.  Paid £172.0.0 cheque to C.L. Neilsen, out of which he deducted his account £170.8.3.  The old Ford car suffered a puncture beyond Matamau, had to go on as it was, no spare wheel or any means of rectifying it.  Brought home new car and a spare wheel.  A scout concert tonight.  Mam & Eva there.

SAT 24   Back sheep got in before breakfast, dagged all ewes.  Put on back 350 good ewes and 3 lambs.  On Hughes 125 ewes and 3 lambs.  Widerups 133 ewes 5 lambs.  Reserve 121 ewe lambs and 20 two tooth ewes on Reserve Flat.  91 ewes on Flat.  On rape 182 lambs and 1 ewe.  Total 720 ewes.  314 lambs.  9 rams.  Sold 16 ewes.  395 lambs.  Total before any were sold 736 ewes and 709 lambs.  Rain came on before we could finish dagging the lambs, some of which are very bad.  Alice & Cha. In Pictures.

SUN 25   A fine day.  John & Freddy went fishing to Ngamoko, caught 15. home late.  They milked F’s cows late.  All of us but one motored to Uncles & to Vaughans walked over the paddocks with Mr V.  Abundance of feed, big Romney sheep.  At 7 PM went with Mam & Eva & Mrs Walker to Church, not many people there.

FEB 1917

MON 26   A very fine warm day.  Dipped 86 lambs for Roysthorne.  Paid 7/-.  Got in Reserve lambs dagged & dipped them & put back = 112.  W Torkilsen came.

TU 27   A fine day for dipping.  Mr Hurst and S Fredericksen had 112 of them owned by Hurst, he paid 10/-.  S.F. will pay later on.  We dipped 7 lambs and with 7 others put them on the rape.  Got in ewes of Flat and those off Hughes picked out 12 ewes of the best and put them on Ridges, 145 ewes there now and 5 lambs.  Put back on Hughes 202 cull ewes and a few small lambs.  Heavy shower.

WED 28   Motored to Takapau Sports with Mam and Eva.  Met Gert and Fam.  Sports less than formerly.  Will went back home.  Gert & children came with us.  Went over with Mam to Alice’s yards.  Spotted a pig that we intend to buy & fatten for killing.

MARCH 1917

TH 1st   A fine day.  Mam, Gert and Co motored to Dannevirke, got back early.  John finished ploughing oat stubbles.  Dug potatoes, fair crop of whites.  Mamahaki potatoes inferior.  Hans Nordbye came with part of his flock to be dipped tomorrow.  Sarah- Mrs Satchwell came up by coach.  ½ holiday in D.virke.

FR 2   A very fine day for dipping.  Put through 931 for Hans Nordbye, a third or so of them woolly lambs.  John and C Hulena penning up.  Mam & carload went to Alice’s.  As usual up to their eyes in work, making money and building castles.

SAT 3   A dull doubtful looking day.  C Hulena came and John got in back sheep and dipped, put back and put 2 Romney and 4 S.Down rams with 350 ewes one lamb with them.  Dipped Widerups 167 including 120 two tooths.  Put 3 S. Down rams with them.  Dipped the 9 rams.  3 pets and 2 strange lambs.  Total 531 today.  Mam & the crowd went to Norsewood.  Changed a £3 cheque.  Most of them at Pictures.  Three or four late lambs amongst ewes on Widerups.  Painter Olsen dips on Monday.

SUN 4   A fine day.  John and W Torkilsen fishing up Manawatu.  7 boys spearing up that way.  After dinner Eva Mam Gert & Co motored up there a heavy shower fell, not beyond Lunds.  At night Eva Mam & Sarah at Church.  Wrote a letter to “Superintendant State Fire Insurance.

MAR 1917

MON 5   A fine day.  rain threatening none came.  Gert and bairns flown with Eva and Mam in Chev.  John did some with disc and 3 horses.  We divided lambs.  50 in Reserve.  49 Reserve flat.  13 in meadow.  Sledged sand & gravel to 2nd shed.

TU 6   H Nordbye and C Hulena dipped 845 sheep for latter paid £ s d 3.10.0.  Constable McLeod came and spoke about selling his farm and buying some of Sanders Kopua land, gave particulars in writing as to terms &c.  Took train to Hastings was met at station by Eva and Will, acquainted Will about McLeods place, after talking the matter over with Gert and considering that he may have to go to the war and that it would in that case suit her to live on, agreed to take the place at the figure and terms mentioned.  This decision was come to before Wednesday morning.

WED 7   A fine day in Pakowhai.  All came to Hastings and was Will off in afternoon train after spending great part of day at Autumn Show.  John met him at Ormondlle with buggy.  He paid McLeod deposit £400.

TH 8   Another fine day.  Eva and Mam met Will at Hastings Station.  He brought me Bank slip stating, Williams & Kettle paid in for me £33.16.9 = 15 bales.

FR 9   All motored to Napier, had interview with Manager Union Bank & Logan the Lawyer.

SAT 10   Rain threatening none came.  Weather cool.  Mam Eva & Gert at pictures.

SUN 11   All hands motored out to blackberries and off to see Vic Long & Pop.

MON 12   Still at Pakowhai every day fine.  Mam Eva & Gert at Pictures.

TU 13   Left Pakowhai at 1.20 had tea at Waipawa.  Saw Craig at Takapau got home at 5.30.  Baby has a cold.  Much dipping since was away.  A Olsen 259.  W M Thomson 210.  Rawsthorne 133 paid 11/-.  J Thompson 458, 38/ paid.  Magnusen 153 paid 12/-.  Sam Fredericksen sent cheque £1.0.0.  Hans Nordbye dipped 8 rams & 931 before = 939.  is to pay £3.18.3 later on.

WED 14   A very fine day.  Got in ewes off Hughes and lambs off rape.  Mr Craig came at 11.30.  Picked out 34 ewes and 150 lambs, agreed to let him take seconds.  John drove them to Railway yards at 4.30.  Fell in with Nicholaisons lambs & wethers both lots to trucked at 5AM tomorrow.  Only 40 or 50 lambs left now.

MARCH 1917

TH 15   Up at 10 minutes to four, called John, blankets again and Mam made tea.  John met Nicholaison and man at Ormondlle they trucked the sheep between 5 and 6 AM.  We had breakfast at 8.  Picked out 55 fairly good ewes & put them on Hughes.  94 ewes & 6 lambs on Hill rape.  19 ewes 33 lambs on oat rape.  9 lambs (3 of them pets ) on garden rape total 216 to fatten without counting a few small lambs.  John got down McLeod’s 169 lambs dipped & put back.

FR 16   Motored to Dannevirke sale with Mam Arthur John and “Rowdy”.  Did not see any ewes suitable for Will.  Small pens of good ewes fetched 30 and 32/- some very inferior pens.  John bought 22 poor ewes at 10/- 17 of them have good mouths and bought a Romney ram at 3½ guineas.  Came with M Walsh and his lambs as far as Matamau and home in car.  C L Neilsens men overhauled car.

SAT 17   Saint Patricks day.  Snakes skedadle out of Ireland.  Todd Bros dipped ewes and lambs and J Hutchinson dipped 218 ewes in afternoon a good day for dipping.  John brought the 22 ewe & Romney ram from Matamau and a South Down ram owned by O’Halloran with them, all are now on Flat.  Sent cheque to N.Z. Farmers Fertilizing Co Auckland £2-10-6.  Sent cheque to Dannevirk County Council clerk, both crossed – £18-2-10.

SUN 18   Dry weather continues.  Skinned old rejected ewe and bled & skinned weak lamb.  Got in the 22 ewes bought on Friday and dipped them also the big Romney ram and O’Halloran’s SD ram.  Put ewe lambs off Reserve Flat into shed paddock.  Drove to Uncle’s.  In Mr McLeod’s house.  John & Co Ngamoko.

MON 19   A fog in the morning, turned out warm day.  Motored to Woods Sale nice premises, everything up to date, fine house well furnished, hospitable place.  Good sale, Alf Reid auctioneer, ewes £2.  big prices for young cattle and sundries.  Motored on to Sanders Sale.  Here again big prices for sheep which are of a good quality.  £2 for best.  2, 4 and 6 tooth.  We bought 133 at 33/9 good ewes.  T Bai also bought a mob at 31/ are boxed with ours, driven together are in shed paddock tonight.  Revolution in Russia.  Czar a prisoner.  War against the Huns to increase.

MARCH 1917

TU 20   Another good day for dipping.  Geo Thomson dipped 138.  We dipped the 133 bought at Sanders yesterday, and John put them on New farm and Todd Bros brought theirs at midday and we dipped them = 482.  Mam Eva Mrs Grant Sarah motored to Dannevirke.  Got leak in car stopped at Neilsens.  Got lambs return from Whakatu.  Both lambs and ewes lighter than we expected, not final.

WED 21   Mr Bai came and took his 75 sheep away.  Rode to Makotuku Sale.  Bought 79 ewes at 27/2 and 2 Romney rams at 4¾ guineas, the pick of 10 Romney rams.  A wire from Will to say that he is sending 100 ewes & 4 SD rams.  Two heifers calved on Back today, home too late to do anything with them.

TH 22   John & Mr Lund brought the flock and dipped 157 & brought back.  Paid 13/-.  Mr Lund bought 20 of the ewes bought yesterday at the same price.  Walked over Back, brought in blue heifer & her small heifer calf.  The black heifer has a bull calf.  Both heifers milked without a leg rope.

FR 23   The usual hot day.  Got in load of firewood and dagged the 79 ewes.  They are in shed paddock tonight, put the two tooth Romney rams on back branded B “Darkey” heifer easier to put in bale and milk than “Blui”.  Receipt for £11 from Dalgety & Co Dannevirke for 22 aged ewes and receipt for £3.13.6 for Romney ram from Loan & Mercantile Co.  John phoned to W Fourneau.  A truck of sheep to come.

SAT 24   Mr Ryan dipped 182.  paid 15/-.  Love 39 paid 3/6.  J Berkhan 238 paid 20/-.  Eva & Mam motored to Dannevirke, got drum of Coopers dip at “Farmers” warehouse.  Mrs Satchwell went by early train.  John put the 59 ewes on Farm, & Ewes & rams on Ridges.  Arne Consadine cut his throat with a razor, died in D. Hospital.  Ella for tea and pictures.

SUN 25   All but John went to Uncles, he does not recognise anyone.  Mam & Eva Church.

MON 26   Brieske came with 441 shorn lambs, did not take long to do, will pay 36/6.  John went to railway station and brought back Wills 60 ewes & 5 SD rams & dipped and put them on farm.  Sent cheques to de Pelichet McLeod & Co. £224.8.9 & £ s d 117.5.8 to H.B. Farmers.  F Selby came late & picked out 38 fat ewes at 36/- the tops of 215 mixed to make a truck load with McLeod’s 34 fat ewes.

MARCH 1917

TU 27   Anton Svensen came before breakfast and dipped 183 a total of 357 counting those he dipped before.  McMichael dipped 86 lambs, paid 7/- and 8/10 paid by Jonasen and D Peck for dipping 106.  Mr Adamson called for our 38 fat ewes when going past with McLeod’s 34 fat ewes.  Out of our 167 rejects in yard we picked out 37 lambs for oat paddock rape, 78 ewes for Hughes rape, 52 ewes for Hughes rape, this makes with 9 lambs on garden rape 46 lambs 130 ewes total 176.  Rain whilst we were dipping the last few sheep.  Mam Eva & Auntie went to Sanders crossed Manawatu.  At night Mam & Eva went to Methodist tea or aniversary.

WED 28   A very fine day.  John mustered McLeod’s lambs, threw a weak one into Reserve and another into Widerups, this left 161 which he drove to Kopua.  Chars Hulena dipped a dozen or 14 sheep and Wiggins 43 lambs, is to leave 3/6 at Mackies for me.  Dug and carried home sugar bag of potatoes.  Mam & Eva Alices.

TH 29   A summer day.  John went to search for dog “Rowdy” found him between Kopua and Te Whiti near Bains’.  Got set of shoes on mare.  O Lund paid for 20 ewes £27.3.4 ewes 27/2 each.  Eva at Partie of some sort tonight – Parsons juniur [junior], John at Freddies.

FR 30   Fixed up a ewe got in off back and put her on rape.  Motored to Dannevirke sale with Mam & Eva.  Bought 97 ewes in good condition at 22/2 and half at 22/4.  John and Ole Andersen brought their two flocks as far as Matamau, met there with car.  Came home after sale & milked, then car returned.  Mam & Eva at Ngamoko concert tonight.

SAT 31   Up before five o’clock, called John and retired.  Mam made a cup of tea for him and then resumed.  He met Ole Andersen at the Farm where they ran off their purchases.  Made a new opening going into Gundersen’s at the 2 gates, rode through and up to house, shifted Will’s sheep off Gundersen’s on to hills = 257 including 5 rams one of which is very lame and one ewe (Pakowhai) blind, Picked out 28 of our yesterdays purchases – the fattest and put them on Hughes Section, and 69 of them on back Sec. Rape, getting blighted.  Dagged ewe lambs in shed paddock put 15 in meadow 10 in Reserve flat 36 on Flat.  Willy Mackie called on his final leave.  Mam & Co motored him to Ormondville.  Three of us at Pictures tonight.

APRIL 1917

SUN 1st   A thorough wet day, the first for a couple of weeks, the rain will do much good.  Breezy tonight.  Eva & Mam motored up to Church, no Parson.  John Recd £ s d 68.8.0 last night from Gear Co Wellington for 38 fat ewes at 36/- bought by F Selby.

MON 2   A fine day after yesterday’s rain.  Dug strainer hole at Gundersen’s corner.  Killed poor ewe for dogs.  John at Knut Andersen’s sale bought 2 pigs for £2.  Mam and Eva at Methodist’s children’s annual gathering.  Jensens Hall.

TU 3   A very fine, dug strainer hole at Gundersen’s corner &c.  Will Gert & bairns came by express.  J. O’Hara dipped 156 sheep.  Paid 13/-.  John dagged ewe lambs.

WED 4   Another very fine Autumn day.  Will went to Ormondlle paid McLeod £332-11-1 with my cheque, and £500.  one of his own.  Also sent my cheque for £28 to Sainsbury Logan & Williams.  Napier.  Finished gateway at Gundersens corner, made hurdle and placed it there, strained up &c.  John got in “Marne” sheep 257, branded and put them back.  Carted a few loads of gravel from Hughes road and put same at gateway at Gundersen’s corner.  Mam Eva & Gert at a send-off tonight.

TH 5   We carted 3 more loads of gravel to gateway.  John went through sheep and on back found and brought in dark heifer with Holstein heifer calf.  £ s d 107.18.6 sent to H.B. Farmers Co-Operative Asson this morning for 97 ewes bought on Friday last, got a receipt this evening.  Will grubbing out blackberries near dwelling house and road, a good many there to grub out.  Got a bad cold today, short winded.

GOOD FRIDAY 6th   All hands except one motored and drove to the mountains.  They fell in with W Torkilsen or rather joined him, enjoyed themselves.  Bad cold.

SAT 7   A very fine day.  Got in Widerups and dagged them, not much on them, 160 and 3 rams, took out 5 late lambs from them and put them in meadow.  Ole Andersen came with 151 ewes & dipped them, will pay 12/-.  Will at blackberries over at house, the company motored over with his dinner.  Many of them at pictures.

SUN 8 EASTER   All hands away again on an excursion except one.  No one came.  Until the crowd came back at milking time with some fish.  Mam & Eva at Church.

APRIL 1917

MON 9   A fine day.  Rung the two little pigs.  John took one up to W Torkilsens.  Sledged two totara strainers across Reserve to projected new gateway going into Marne.  A concert tonight at Ngamoko.  Mam Eva Gert Ella G & Miss Gordon gone.

TU 10   A nice cool day.  Eva phoned to Mary asking if Fred was coming to pick fat sheep, “answer yes”.  He came at 2PM.  John got in all fats and lambs off rape & grass.  He picked 41 lambs at 25/- and 201 ewes at 30/- will lift on Thursday, one blind ewe fat enough, passed in, very few rejects, only about 6 or 7 lambs and 26 ewes.  Helped Will rebuild a culvert over his creek, he finished it.  Mrs Gundersen came over at milking time and John & she drove heifer “Darkie” across paddocks to her place to be kept until her cow calves.  Americans at last mean to loose pride and have a hit at the Huns.  A great battle about to start.  Haig will be too many for Hindenburgh.

WED 11   A wet day.  John & Will carted a calf over to Mrs Gundersen’s, she undertake to feed it . They did something towards the culverts.  At night Mam and Eva motored on a goose chase to hear an African Missionary explain why cannibal did not eat him, he did not turn up, more benzine consumed for nothing.

TH 12   Light rain greater part of day.  John got in fat sheep 41 lambs 201 ewes, Johnnie [?] drover came for them at 11AM.  Trucked at Makotuku.  He and Will carted some culvert material down creek.  They went to Norsewood sale did not buy.  He paid R Roake £2 for the two pigs bought at Knut Andersens sale.

FR 13   A dull day.  No rain.  All but 3 in the house motored to Dannevirke.  John bought 88 lambs at 15/9 – 16 each and 25 ewes at 18/-.  Brought as far as Matamau.  Dug some potatoes in patch, fair size but not floury.  Demand from Fertng Co. £2-10.

SAT 14   John up at 4AM went for sheep to Matamau.  Put them in paddock, Wills.  He and Will nearly finished with the culverts.  Digging potatoes, the ground a mass of weeds & sorrel.  At night when the inhabitants were picture gazing, Leslie Campbell came, he has left Featherston factory.  Paid £5.16.1½, amount of Mackies bill with £8 cheque.  2/10½.  Dis allowed.  Stars showing now.  A great battle has taken place in France.  12,000 prisoners, guns past counting.

APRIL 1917

SUN 15   A nice mild calm day.  Walked up gully with youngsters they reported yesterday finding a sheep dead in the water.  Sure enough an old ewe was in the pond on back underneath precipice.  Skinned and brought legs home for dogs.  Motored to Uncle’s, saw F Selby at his yards, took 23 of his cull lambs at 12/6.  John & Will brought them home here.  Mam Eva & Gert at Church twice today.  Will & Gert walked over paddocks.

MON 16   Some rain in the forenoon, a thorough wet afternoon.  Will and John finished their culverts in the rain.  Put the lately bought lambs on rape, ewes left in creek flats.  Freddie put 8 cows to graze Will’s paddocks.  Dug out some Californian thistles on Island corner.  £ s d 353.4.0 received from Gear & Co for 201 ewes at 30/- and 41 lambs at 25/-, 9/- ex. included.

TU 17   A fine day after yesterday’s rain.  John & Will dug out all the potatoes and heaps of sorrel & weeds, in the afternoon all hands picking up the potatoes, about 6 sacks of eating potatoes pig and seed potatoes by themselves.  Wire from George, coming tomorrow.  Sent Gear’s cheque to Bank & £13.16 to Selby.

WED 18   Rain last night none today.  Dug out a great number of Californian thistles.  Will & John drove to Makotuku Sale, did not buy.  Will put an addition in length to dining room table.  Sent cheque to H.B. Farmers Dannevirke £48.2.6 also to Williams & Kettle £5.4.10. to L.W. Simpson £9.0.0 to pay him & Andresen.  Lesley Campbell biked to Smiths at Ngamoko factory.  George came by express.

TH 19   Some showers.  John carted in firewood and sawed more on flat with Bertie Engelbretsen.  Gave Will cheque for £91.1.3 to square up matters regarding 65 sheep sent up here by him.  Sent cheque for £46.8.0 to Dalgety & Co Dannevirke for sheep bought on Friday last.  Mam Eva Gert George and children motored to Alice’s.  Will Gert & bairns went home by express.

FR 20   Mam Eva John & George went to Dannevirke, Mam with buscuits [biscuits] for Wms & Kettle.  John bought 120 sheep 50 ewes at 22/8 and 69 and a SD ram at 26/3.  Sledged a couple of loads gravel to second shed.

APRIL 1917

SAT 21   Another fine day.  John up at 4AM rode to Piri Piri and got the sheep to Will’s by 11 o’clock = 120 a SD ram included.  He put the Whakatu cheque £198 to his account in Bank of NSW Norsewood.  We seperated the ewes in big shed.  Put 69 of the best with ram in small paddock at shed, and 50 in another paddock.  Eva & George mettaling road approach with gravel from near Brown gate with Prince and express.  The 23 Selby lambs and 6 rejects in shed paddock = 29 put in small “Marne” paddock.  Miss McCauly & Miss McPherson for tea & pictures.

SUN 22   A fine calm day.  Eva & George at their little game.  Mam Eva & Arthur at church, afternoon four of us motored to Uncle’s, first time for George for years.

MON 23   A calm cloudy day.  John wired off a piece of rape for lambs & sledged in some matai firewood.  We went to Factory office and Mr Thomson helped us to fill in Income Tax paper.  Sent cheque to Auckland for £2-10-6 for N.Z. Farmers Fertilising Co. Eva & George carting metal to yard &c.

TU 24   A dull calm grey sky.  George & Eva carting gravel.  John discing ploughed ground.

WED 25   Heavy rain last night.  Ground soaked.  Gravelling stopped.  Mr Svensen called to see about dipping tomorrow.  Bagged the potatoes on the battens.

ANZAC DAY   Half holliday [holiday] in township.  Got 12 gate hinge bolts from Mr Rickett.  Drove mare & express round to Hughes, loaded posts, loaded at big shed 3½ cwt manure.  Yarded Hughes sheep and picked out 18 breeding ewes, the best we could find and put them with the 69 and SD ram and 1 Rom ram with the 18 ewes, this makes 87 ewes & 2 rams total.  Put them in another small paddock.

TH 26   A sunshiny day after the rain.  John put lambs on tall 2nd crop rape & took them off at night & put on flat.  He went to Evan’s clearing sale & bought 2 chairs and sofa – very large.  Mam Eva & George motored to Dannevirk, took Mrs Paget to see her little boy in the Hospital who was kicked by a horse, is getting better.  Sent payment for sheep £56.13.4 to Loan & Mercantile and to Wms & Kettle £ s d 92.18.0.  Had to pay 1/6 exchange to Loan & Mercantile, other Dannevirk firms do not charge.  Bought 2 packages Coopers Dip.  J Mackie brought 15 bush’s Alg oats.

APRIL 1917

FR 27   Turned out a fine day.  Killed pig, a good riddance & relief.  John & George scraped and hung a good carcase.  A Swainsen dipped 582 sheep paid £2.8.6 finished before 3PM.  A long way to go home.  Eva & George carting metal.  John helped Freddy shake grasseed.  Skinned fat lamb that died on flat, may be effects of rape.

SAT 28   A nice calm day.  Mr Walsh called to say he wants to dip 500 lambs.  Mam Eva & George motored to Dannevirke & got 2 packages Coopers dip.  John helping Freddy put in 6 acres grasseed.  Eva & George did some gravelling.  Pictures tonight.  Cut up & salted pig in big trough in woolshed.  Light salt at first.

SUN 29   Motored to Marne House with Mam Eva George & Arthur, about time ewes were shifted out of small paddocks.  Mam greased fire range, brought back some nice cabbages.  Afternoon went to Uncle’s, about the same.  At night Mam and Eva went to Church, a congregation of 4 or 5, no Parson.  John at Ngamoko.

MON 30   M Walsh called and arranged to dip his lambs but it turned out a wet day.  Eva Mam & George motored to Kopua bridge and got some fine sand & George put fresh concrete work about back door tap.  John shifted the 87 ewes & 2 rams from small road paddock at Wills on to Hughes.  Eva & Mam at Evan’s send off tonight.

MAY 1917   Bale of Belly sold – 10¾ per lb.  Wms & K to Government.

TU 1st   Rain threatening, some fell in the forenoon.  Afternoon dry.  John & B Engelbretsen drove to Ngamako, shot hares rabbit and quails.  Eva Mam George & Auntie motored to Vaughans.  Painted boards for gate.  Turned and salted bacon, & boarded trough.  Filled in and sent away sheep returns = 162 ewe lambs 510 ewes 5 SD rams 5 R rams 622.

WED 2   A while [white] frost this morning, sunshiny day.  Rode Trixie over Back.  Saw 2 young wild calves with their mothers.  John & Freddy ploughing rape paddock.  George left by express, Eva & Mam motored him to Ormonlle.  Gave the 4 cows hay twice today.

TH 3   John & Freddy finished the ploughing for the present.  Harrowed some, weather changes.  Eva carted in firewood from Flat.  Pulled wild turnip from amongst turnips sweeds – for the second time.  Geese scooping turnips like hares.  Mam & Eva at some sort of entertainment in upper township.  Put splints on broken leg ewe F Ryan.

MAY 1917

FR 4   Dull calm day, rain kept off until nearly dark, set in then, is continuous.  John & Freddy at work, finished with disc and harrows, oats drilled in biggest part of ground, would have finished in another half day.  Sledged out manure and oats with Trixie.  Put lambs off stalks into flat tonight again.  F Selby wire Tuesday com.

SAT 5   A thorough wet day.  Sorted small potatoes for seed and pig potatoes, Eva & Mam Motored Mrs Paget to Dannevirke to bring her little boy home.  An outragous bill of £3.10 was given her for 13 days keep chiefly on milk, child no trouble, the mother has   orphans, milks a few cows on a 40 acre section.  John and B Engelbretsen went up & down Manawatu with guns, saw many ducks, through Berties prematurely shooting the ducks were frightened back to where they came from.  Mam paid 6/6 – a bill to C L Neilsen, bought a Dunlop tyre for £3. 17 and galn oil.

SUN 6   Fine until evening, then rain set in & continued all night.  Motored to Uncles.

MON 7   A bright fine morning, tidied up the oats in woolshed.  Went to Rose’s last sale in Norsewood announced by Mr Roake who thanked the Settlers on the occasion of his last appearance in connection with Rose Limd.  John found one of Wills ewes drowned in creek, went in after water cress.  All but 2 motored Dannevirke.

TU 8   A nice day sunshine and calm, last night for the 2nd time heard dog or dogs yelping as if in the act of chasing something from hill towards road.  Today Mr Gorinskie called to say two of his lambs were killed last night by dogs.  Went down and saw the lambs torn and dead in creek.  Constable sent for, not at home.  Young Gorinskie thinks he knows dogs and owner.  John out tonight with gun as they may come again.  All old ewes & lambs yarded.  F Selby came at midday.  He picked out 61 lambs and 13 ewes.  Most of the old ewes poor.  John this evening put 20 ewes on Hughes 4¼ acres 2nd crop rape.  44 ewes on Hill rape, for turnips 25 ewes & 20 lambs.  Garden rape 7 lambs.  Total 89 ewes 27 lambs.  Hans Nordbye paid dip money £3.17.6.

WED 9   Up early.  John finished oats drilling.  Helped to dip Walsh’s lambs 515 and 20 of ours & 5 old ewes.  He took Selby’s fats to Ormlle a truck there.  Gorintskie found owner of dogs that killed his 2 lambs – J Chicken, offers to pay, lambs valued by me 28/- and 25/-.

MAY 1917

TH 10   Yesterday Mr Walsh got his lambs away in good time.  Paid for dipping 43/-.  Amongst the old ewes dipped yesterday is one of H Mortensen’s, it had ticks and lice.  Today.  Fine and sunshine, tidied up woolshed, John early trucked 61 lambs and 13 ewes.  Shifted the stakes and netting which went round potatoes to top end of turnips which we partitioned off and put on it 20 lambs and 25 ewes.  Took off good tarpaulin and replaced it with old one on haystack.  Mrs Walker helping here today and yesterday.

FR 11   A fine dry day.  Tipped out potatoes in batten shed and sledged trough and bacon to same place.  John got in load of firewood and ewes down from Hughes some lame from footrot, two very bad, doctored them with bluestone & fat and sewed a piece of strong cloth round the bad hoof, crutched 30.  Mam paid bills with a £14.0.0 cheque.  Mackie £10.  Andresen £3.10.  J Lean 15/- not at home.  G Hunter MP called.

SAT 12   Done with Hughes lot for the present = 87 ewes & 2 rams, stitched boots on 2 ewes bad with footrot, put them back on Hughes.  A change of weather.  Pictures tonight.

SUN 13   Rain all day.  No one came no one went except at night, Eva & Mam but no church.

MON 14   Rain all day long, creek up to bridge, floods down country.  Telegram from Pakowhai to say “don’t come road flooded”.  Mam & Eva expected this, so they did not intend to go today.  Freddy & John out in the rain with guns, shot a rabbit on back.

TU 15   No rain, creek down.  Stapled on battens- continued- between turnips and flat.  Telegram from Mr Hunter MP.  Will see settlers in Norsewood on Thursday night.  Tonight Mam & Eva motored Ormondlle, a welcome home to soldier House.  Received £4.0.0 from J Hutchinson for dipping in the past.  A rough dark wintry night.

WED 16   A fine day.  Rode up to township, in Office Mrs Thomson communicated with Mrs Kernahan and she with those settlers who have wires to their houses, letting them know that a meeting will be held in Lutheran Hall Thursday night in which Mr Hunter MP will be present.  Mam & Eva informed many settlers.  John went to Makotuku Sale, prices as usual.  Rode over Reserve and walked over Marne sheep must have a change, some with footrot.  Got Bank slip for £18.3.10. for a bale of bellywool lately sold by Williams & Kettle.

MAY 1917

TH 17   A fine day.  Dug drain behind and through sheepyard.  John & Freddie went shooting beyond Ngamoko, got 2 pigeons and the want of a dinner, home at dark.  At night Mr Hunter MP came and met constituents in Lutheran Hall, a good crowd of citizens, several local and other matters discussed, was in chair &c.  Mam Eva and 6 or 8 other ladies in sideroom at big fire, cold night, hot tea cake &c in abundance handed round and enjoyed, a good & pleasant meeting.

FR 18   Another very fine day.  Mr Hunter was seen walking past to Ormondlle Eva motored him to Nicholaison’s, came back and with Mam & Arthur motored to Pakowhai.  She took with her two cheques for £100 to place in P.O. savings Bank to her credit.  Went with John to Wills, got in little hoggets and dagged them = 23 and six total 29 in small paddock near road at present, with them 5 SD rams and a ewe of S Wiggins.  Mustered ewes – 251 and dressed many of their hooves – the lame ones.  Put 30 in fresh grass paddock front of shed.  100 on Gundersen’s and remainder in middle paddocks, latter wet in many places but grand feed, hill paddocks now to have a spell, bit bare.

SAT 19   Sifted grasseed over in big shed and carted it home in phaeton.  John ploughed “corner” we shook the mixed seed – a little cocksfoot and rye and lucerne with the sifted seed and harrowed it in.  Cold tonight, last night very much so.

SUN 20   Up late milked 3 cows.  John milked hard blue heifer and then went with Michael Gurzinsky to the mountains shooting, game nil.  After dinner rode to Uncle’s, past knowing anyone.  Mary stays there.  Saw Fred, comes coming week.

MON 21   A fine dry day.  Washed and hung hams and bacon shoulders.  Wheeled all manure together about stockyard.  Gave raw chopped up turnips to pig, he is grateful and cleans up his trough.  John shifted the 20 ewes off Hughes rape on to Hill rape – fresh with the other 40 on new 2nd growth.  Freddy for pigeon pie dinner and then all went to Norsewood Stock sale which was duller than usual.  Sent a pound to Tom Fothergill for som[e] Church purpose, usual beg.  A letter from Mam at Pakowhai, they are all well and enjoying life.

MAY 1917

TU 22   A fine bright day.  Chopped 5 wattle rails in pig paddock for temporary gateway going out of Reserve into Marne.  Put a strainer in there, did not finish before dinner, and then a wire from F Selby to say he was coming at 2PM.  Got in ewes off rape and ewes & lambs off turnips.  Five lambs only worth taking and 61 ewes – on flat tonight.  29 ewes back on rape 11 clean lambs on turnips.  6 scoured amongst other (ewe) lambs.  5 ram lambs on turnip tops.  One small bought lamb died last night.  Mr Meeking with F Selby today.  May be able to truck on Thursday.  Freezing tonight.

WED 23   Dark cloudy day, rain threatening, some in the evening.  Completed gateway.  And sledged home tools.  John carted in firewood and took the 61 ewes & 5 lambs from here at 3PM to Ormondlle yards, will not get away until 9AM on Thursday.  News from the Front – Hindenberg’s Line broken with big losses.  Russia backsliding.

TH 24   A very fine day.  John trucked the fats at Ormondlle.  We felled the tree in slope plantation that overshadowed the holly tree.  Got in Reserve sheep, ewe lambs mostly, first dagged them in back shed, 6 small reject lambs   old ewes   ewe lambs.  Alice & Charley.

FR 25   Dagged all lambs except 10 on Reserve flat.  On turnips 49 E lambs, leave 12 bought lambs.  On meadow 1 dogs meat ewe 1 ewe Mortensen’s 6 Bgt lambs.  On rape 31 ewes.  On Flat 51 ewe lambs 6 small lambs.  John got in cut of Back sheep for Reserve 50 ewes 1 ram 1 lamb.  Found a skinny dead strange lamb, skinned it for dogs.  Letter from Eva.  Home Sat.

SAT 26   A wintry day.  A bad cold getting better.  Half a day in bed.  John chopped plantation felled tree, firewood. Turnips for pig &c.  Mam Eva & Arthur home at 5.30.  Pictures.

SUN 27   In the evening went with Mam & Eva to Uncles.  With mam stayed, Eva came back.

MON 28   Eva came to Uncles for us.  John & Freddy drove to Takapau Thompsons sale bought a good double furrow plough for £6.5.  Went again with Mam to Uncles.

TU 29   John crutched 10 ewe hoggets.  Killed fat lamb.  Stayed today.  Mam came with Rev Whibley.

WED 30   Came home.  Mam stayed.  Got Gears cheque £ s d 78.7.3.  61 ewes at 24/-.  5 lambs 20.3.  Mr Fulton & son here last night.  Boy staying.  Mr Highfield takes house at 5/- weekly.  After tea went down with Eva.  Found that Uncle passed out at 5PM.

JUNE 1917

TH MAY 31st   A very rough day.  Cold and showery.  Went to Cemetery with Mr Wilson F Selby and others, obtained a new Plot adjoining the other and instructed R Benbow where to dig the grave.  Evening wet and cold, we stayed the night.  D Moody and Railway porter came with coffin, into which we placed corpse, and placed it in sitting room opposite casement, easily removed into hearse.

JUNE 1st FR   A beautiful dry day after yesterdays rain but cold.  Chopped firewood &c.  Many visitors came some with wreaths.  The ladies admired the beautiful coffin.  Funeral at 3.30.  Mr J Thompson from Clive and Mr Curd came by express.  Mr Fourneau Will and Alf in their car and C.C. Smith in car.  Fourneaus & Curd returned after funeral.  Tom Hoskins and CC Smith stays tonight.  J Thompson Hotel.  We came home with our belongings and had tea here after many days below.

SAT 2   Crutched the remainder of the woolly ewe lambs & put on Flat.  Got in the 30 ewes off back rape.  Butcher Taylor came and picked 16 at 25/- 14 left now on Flat and woolly lambs on turnips.  Went with Mam & Eva to Aunties.

SUN 3   A white frost, cold morning at Aunties.  All went to Church at Ormlle.  Came home at 3.30.  With Eva fed and milked, only 2 heifers at night.  John shot 0.

MON 4   Took 3 pair of geese and 15 ewes to Norsewood Sale.  Geese fetched 10/- each pair, a goose and gander in each box.  The ewes fetched 18/2.  Mr P.G. Grant asked me to afternoon tea, Nelly Martin and Mrs Fountain there.  Very fine day.  Paid J Riggor 1/3, a bill from HB Farmers Co Op Dannevirke.  Butcher took his 16 fats.

TU 5   Frosty morning fine day.  Hollins came to crutch, John got in 251 ewes off Wills – the flock, put them through just before dark and drove them back again.  Got in Rerserve ewes 50.  in shed tonight 30.  Mam & Eva with Auntie & Ella to Vaughan’s.

WED 6   Crutched Reserve 50 and put back.  Ditto Widerups 161.  Got in 299 off back and crutched & put back some.  50 in shed tonight   rams in yard   Romney   SD   lambs.  Our ewes in good condition & not lame.  Mam paid with £4 cheque Four small bills and she & Eva went to Ormondlle to judge lollies.  Sent cheque £6.5 to Williams & Kettle Box 176 Napier for double furrow plough bought at Auction.

JUNE 1917

TH 7   Another white frost and fine day.  Finished crutching the ewes, and 4 Romney rams.  On flat 20 ewes 11 rams- mixed- 2 lambs.  Paid W Hollins £1.10.  H Mortinsen came for his ewe and carted her home.  Mam & Eva motored to Dannevirke.  With £11.0.0 cheque cashed at Mackies she paid C L Neilsen £ s d 4.9.9 Williams & Kettle £1.7.9 and Mackie as Agent for “Phoenix Assurance.  A return from Wms & Kettle for 8 skins or pelts sent with bale of Bellies – 5/5.

FR 8   Moonlight night John up at 4AM and off to the mountains with gun and B Engelbretsen, saw pigeons, too wild to wait to be shot, brought home 0.  With Eva carted gravel from Brown gate to yard, hallow [hollow] places want filling up.  Got in lambs off turnip tops, Killed one.  Mesdames Grant & Clark & Ella Grant called.  O Lund took away his 3 sacks of wool.  Mam & Eva met at train Mrs Fulton.

SAT 9   John dagged and shifted the small lambs over at Wills & split firewood.  Carted gravel to yard and put a load down at road.  Pictures tonight.

SUN 10   A fine dull came [calm] day.  Mam & Eva at Afternoon church & Mrs Walker.  After Church Mrs W & Messrs Whibley Bros had afternoon tea with us.  We then motored to Auntie’s & Ella’s.

MON 11   A thorough wet day.  John got filly shod.  Eva rode down to Aunties.  Recd £14.9.9 from Wairarapa Farmers Co-Op Asso. for 15 ewes at 18/1 and 6 geese at 5/- each.  Danke cheque.  Papers full of great victory – The Messines battle.  N.Z.ers distinguished themselves and Australians too.  Nationalists (Irish) took 1,000 prisoners and Ulstermen 1,000.  The Huns reckoned the place impregnable after 2½ years work, was quickly demolished.

TU 12   Rain all day.  Floods down country, we read of hundreds of dead animals being washed down the rivers, Pakowhai in a bad way we fear and rain continues.  Our creek nearly up to bridge, bad weather for stock. Paid Mackies bill £4.17.11½.

WED 13   Rain again today, creek down, seems to be clearing.  No “Herald”, floods down country.

TH 14   No rain.  Eva rode over paddocks.  Found in Wills a first class ewe drowned in creek.  John skinned and brought meat & skin home also rails from house and carted up there boards &c to repair roof.  Mam & Eva went to Dannevirke, at “Welcome to Lendorf”  Ormlle tonight.  Thousands of sheep lost down country.  Three men missing.  Fearful flood.

JUNE 1917

FR 15   A fine day after a frosty night.  Worked at 4 rail fence near woolshed.  John carted in firewood &c.  Yesterday put the two calves- 2 months old – into the turnip tops we feed them once a day.  Willy and Ella for dinner, came up by coach, Eva & Mam motored them round Kopua way amongst the soldiers settlement, and back to Ormondville.  A letter from Williams & Kettle to say our bale of matted fleeces was sold at 15¼ per lb.

SAT 16   A very fine day.  Got in Hughes ewes and picked out 21 of the worst to be offered at Monday’s sale, put 2 for dogs meat in meadow and 64 of the best back on Hughes with 1 SD  and 1 Romney ram not taken out yet.  99 ewe lambs on turnips and amongst them   lambs for killing.  Took out bluestone needle twine and sacking on flat and dressed ewes bad hoof.  Eva found dead ewe on back, sledged her home, good skin, must have got hurt at crutching, slipped her lamb, very good ewe, she sledged dags &c  on to meadow.

SUN 17   A dark calm day.  A little rain in the evening.  All hands motored to Makotuku Church at 2.30 and Joan Rebecca was babtised [baptised] by Rev Whibley & 2 other children also.

MON 18   A dry breezy day.  John took 21 ewes in lamb and 34 lambs to Norsewood sale.  Sold the lambs – some of them very small – for 10/- each, the ewes brought back home.  Mr Widt came and put barge boards on house, soldered & put up spouting on back of big shed and started to make  door for car shed.  W Torkilsen stays tonight.

TU 19   A dry breezy day.  Mr Widt finished car door and Eva motored him home.  John & Willy Torkilsen drove to latters place, carted home pig.  Motored with Mam & Eva in search of clean shingle – to S Andersen’s Gundries & Manawatu, not easily got.  Got in Reserve ewes, amongst them a SD lamb, the only one there, killed him for h [?]

WED 20   John grubbed out remains of turnips which the sheep left, two pigs to feed.  Worked at woolshed yard, hung small gate &c.  Sent 2nd call to Fertiliser Co. £2.10.  Thomas W Deakes Ltd P.O. Box 759 Auckland.  Mam & Eva motored to Alice’s.

TH 21   A calm cloudy day.  Finished enlarging yard at woolshed.  John carted in firewood.  Alice and Charley came.  At night Mam & Eva at Ormondlle – Mrs Allen.

JUNE 1917

FR 22   A calm still dark day.  Worked at Eva’s garden fence and cut off and carted to shed end of haystack in turnip paddock.  John wire-netted stack end of turnips and put the lambs on it.  Columns of N.Z. names in the papers of killed and wounded, some local ones.  Tonight Mam and Eva gone to hear a woman in top township speak on some peculiar subject.

SAT 23   Dull calm forenoon.  Eva dug some in her garden.  Douglas here.  Steady rain set in.

SUN 24   Rain today. Rev Whibley called & Mam & Eva motored with him to afternoon church.

MON 25   A fine day.  Sunshine.  The shortest days now.  Worked at Eva’s garden fence.  John at firewood getting.  Knut Olsen’s sale.  Joe Vaughan looked on, he Alice & Cha’ called.  Another long list of wounded N.Zealander’s.  A second Benbow boy killed.  Mam & Eva at Allen’s.

TU 26   Another wet day, sudden change last night.  Old Chessie put to sleep by John.

WED 27   A very fine day.  Recd yesterday for 34 lambs sold at Norsewood £17 less 13/= Commission from W. Farmers.  Recd today receipt from Fertiliser Co for £2.10 a second call.  John went to look on at Makotuku Sale.  Riggors farm not sold.  Mrs and Miss Allen called.  John buried old mare and made sheep crossing, Will’s.

TH 28   A white frost this morn, fine day.  Finished fence at Eva’s garden.  Eva digging.  John repairing fence- Ridges – turnips.  He sent another amount of £50 to Savings B by Mam, she cashed the £16-7 Wairarapa Farmers cheque and attended ladies meeting.

FR 29   A fine calm cloudy day.  Rain threatening, came on at night continuous and heavy.  Mam went collecting for red x fund, got a little in most houses, the usual miserable rotter gave nought.  She and Eva at a Patriotic meeting tonight.  Killed pig this morning, light weight, one left, enough to fatten.  Eva’s fence completed. John laid posts and worked at look- out fence.  More Hawkes Bay boys killed in France.

SAT 30   A fine forenoon, a windy wintry afternoon.  Mr Cyril Parsons called and gave Eva her first violin lesson.  She Mam Arthur & Jean motored to Dannevirke and got Mr Neilsen to stop a small leakage in car.  A cold drive going and coming.  Pictures tonight all gone from here except Biddy and her mam and self.

JULY 1917

SUN 1st   A breezy wintry day.  John went to Gundersens and brought home our black milking heifer that the Gundersens had the use of for a few months.  Also brought her well fed calf with her.  Three calves now on the turnip tops & rape.  Mam Eva & Jean went to Alice’s and brought back a boxful of young Matipo trees.

MON 2   Anniversary of the day we were tied for “better or the other thing”.  It was a fine day and a moonlit night also a big crowd.  Today fine, a bit breezy.  John and Eva took to Norsewood sale 7 heifers in calf and a 3 year old steer.  £9.0.0 bid for and refused for steer, heifers sold, four for £10.7.6.  two at £8.2.6.  £67.0.0.  Six heifers brought back.  Auctioneer had no faith in purchaser financially, retain cattle a while.

TU 3   A dry breezy day.  Dug holes in which to plant trees in corner of small paddock in Reserve.  Eva sledged out netting and short totara posts and rode through sheep.  John skinned old ewe that was very lame from footrot.  At teatime Fred Schaare came with chaff cutter, not expected, cuts tomorrow.  Mam & Eva at Allen’s.

WED 4   A busy day.  Prepared chaff shed for holding, laid sheets of galvanised iron on bottom carted 2 loads of oatsheaves or rather straw from cartshed to machine, and forked some in woolshed to machine.  39 sacks of chaff tipped into shed.  Freddy & Michael carted up 3 loads of his oatsheaves and had it cut, carted home 2 loads of chaff.  The mice played havoc with our sheaves very few grains of oats left.  Rain stopped us in the afternoon for more than an hour.  Mam & Eva busy working for tomorrows Red Cross.  Brought up bunches of holly &c.  A letter from Mr Baumgart in England, he would like to be in H.B. again.

TH 5   A calm cloudy day.  A busy morning – Made up a case of mixed trees with spadefuls of earth attached and newspapers tied round most of them – young wattle gums oak and matipo’s.  A goose in a box for guessing her name, 6d a guess, Mam and Eva brought up a bush- wagon load – turnips flowers &c, they spent the day there and tonight all but one gone up again.  Chaff cutting finished at dinner time 2¾ [?] paid £1.17.6.  Freddy’s cut and carted home.  Ours tipped into shed, numerous mice, and 2 rats killed in woolshed, War News – Russians hitting out and doing well.

JULY 1917

FR 6   A calm cloudy day.  Mam & Eva went up to hall with mare & wagon & brought home sundries – my box of trees unsold, brought by ourselves.  Eva’s goose £ s d 1.14.6 brought in by 30 guess’s, name of goose “Biddy” guessed by two and won by Ella Grant.  A cake brought in, by guessing the weight, 6d a guess £2.  a doll £1. 1 guessing name “Annie”.  Two sheep donated by W. Meeking a large amount, and ½ ton of chaff £3.10.0.  The whole affair brought in £50 or more.  Put up netting where trees are to be planted in Reserve and collected stakes &c.  The 10 hoggets taken out and 11 rams put in their places in Reserve flat.  John took in another section of green turnips and killed a lamb.  Eva rode over “Marne”.  She Mam Mrs & Miss Allen visits Mrs Oldershaw.

SAT 7   A spring day, warm and mild, drove stakes, fenced plantation and planted some trees.  Eva rode over paddocks & dug her garden.  John returned Freddy’s goods.

SUN 8   A 70 year old swagman called for a feed.  Mam gave him a blow out.  An outing to Grants & dinner, rode “Trixie”.  Mam & Eva to Church John & famy to Torkilsens.

MON 9   Mam got up late last night or fearful early this morning, washing done before some of us got up.  Very fine day.  Dug up sledged away and planted pine trees, (spare ones) in pine rape plantation, fenced and planted now with gum pine wattle elm oak &c.  John worked at lookout fence.  Eva in her garden.  A warm good growing day.

TU 10   Rain last night and this morning.  Eva found another of Will’s ewes drowned, this makes the 3rd, think they went in after watercress.  Mam and Eva motored to Allen’s.  Better accounts from front.  Russians have made a vigorous offensive.  Americans have stopped food and other materials from reaching neutrals for fear of it reaching Germany.  Hung 2 small flitches of last small pig.  News today that poor Mrs W M Thomson died yesterday.

WED 11   Not a nice day.  Some rain and cold.  Stayed in bed for half a day.  Cold better.  John sledged home drowned ewe & skinned it for dogs, he went to Makotuku sale £ d 9.5.  Received from late Rose Limd for heifer sold, less 7/.  Commission £2.9.5.  Bonus from Wms & Kettle on goods purchased 2 ½% and £1.8.10 Dividend on shares, cheque £3.18.3.  Eva motored to Oldershaw’s for flowers to make wreath.  Geo Thomson called.

JULY 1917

TH 12   The Funeral of Mrs W M Thomson today, was one of the Pall-bearers, 5 others.  A long string of vehicles – the longest seen in Norsewood.  Day cool but dry.  Eva & Mam motored to the house in the forenoon with a beautiful wreath, numerous others.  A Hulena in charge.  Hearse from Dannevirke.  C Hulena’s Sale.  Ewes fetched £2.  John killed a young calf for Gundersen in the forenoon before he went to Funeral.

FR 13   A fine day after frost.  Took down all wire netting from grown plantations to be used now round freshly planted trees to keep hares out.  John blowing up stump top of turnip paddock.  Hoggets eat hay well out of racks in turnip paddock.  £30.10.9. put to my account in U. Bank by Williams & Kettle, proceeds of bale of matted wool, 15¼ lb.  And fadge opened and regraded by them at ¼ per lb.  And put into three sorts.

SAT 14   Another fine day after the frost.  Put wire netting round new plantation.  John stumping.  Eva found good ewe cast far away on Back.  John sledged in & fixed.

SUN 15   A thorough wet day and steady rain at present – 8PM.  Yesterday cow “Molly” was brought in with her red heifer calf.  Also 2 heifers in milk with bull, “Darkie” “Bluie”.

MON 16   A fine sunny day after yesterday’s downpour.  John took the 6 “refused to be sold” or rather delivered, to the returned soldier buyer, heifers to W Farmers Sale.  Four fetched £10.7.6 each.  Two £8.6.0 each.  Glad to get them off the feed.  Mam Eva Grace Arthur & Joan motored to Alice’s.  Sent paper to Thos Warren.

TU 17   A fine day.  Did some concreting about water tank &c.  Hoggets put back on turnips, John carted out stockyard manure on meadow.  Paid Andresen £4.5.3.

WED 18   A mixed sort of day.  Tidied up woolshed and experimented with gravel from “Brown Gate” and cement at tank.  John killed lamb and finished carting out stockyard manure to meadow.  Mam & Eva at red x concert.

TH 19   A calm cloudy day.  Hoggets off turnips for a change, put in shed paddock.  Made a gate in woolshed.  Alice & Charley and W Torkilsen came, John & Willie sawing firewood on flat.  At night Ping Pong, Freddy included.  Eva yesterday pulled a ewe out of Marne creek just in time, poor thing all of a tremble.

JULY 1917

FR 20   Sledged gate out Reserve -Marne, fence, strainer not very good to hang to.  John & Willy Torkilsen sawing firewood on flat, rain at midday stopped all.

SAT 21   Fine forenoon broken afternoon.  Worked at gateway strainer to put it in order to hang gate on.  John & Willy worked until dinnertime, rain set in.  Willy went home in phaeton.  John brought back 2 sacks of river gravel to make concrete.  Mam & Eva motored to Ormlle and to pictures tonight.  Ella too.

SUN 22   A thorough wet day.  Up in time for dinner.  Eva rode through sheep.  If any get drowned it won’t be her fault.  Rev Whibly and the Bishop called.  Eva & Mam motored them up to Church in the rain, had afternoon tea here and Mam & Eva took them to Aunties where his Lordship had tea & was motored to Makotuku Church & back to Whibly’s.

MON 23   A fine day after yesterday’s rain, hung gate and strained up wires &c.  Jemmy Veale clipped Trixie & Filly paid 8/-.  Eva turned handle.  John killed ewe for dogs.  Eva round sheep found ewe cast on Hughes.  Recd from Wairarapa £ s d 50.18.6 nett – Farmers Co-Op. Assn Ltd for 4 heifers in calf £ s 41.10 and 2 at  £16.12.0.

TU 24   A fine day.  Rode “Trixie” to township.  Changed John’s cheque at Mackies for £5.  Sent letter to “Simmonds Lim’d” Hastings with 10/- enclosed for seed potatoes & packet of beans.  Letter to Manager Union Bank of Australia with total 64.14.9 & £ s d 8.18.0.  Letter to Manager Wairarapa Farmer Co-Op Assn – offering 50 ewes in lamb to SD rams for next Norsewood sale.  Sawed overleaning branches on oak trees in Reserve by road.  John went to W Torkilsen’s with mare & express and sawed some battens &c.  Mrs Hoskins and Mrs Duncan came for Rev. Whibley’s horse & gig.  Eva & Mam at Allen’s.

WED 25   A fine day.  Yearly Dairy Factory meet.  Usual business.  Motored up and down.  W Torkilsen for dinner.  John & family phaetoned to Takapau.  After factory meeting, Farmers Union Delegates from Dannevirke attended addressed the meeting &c, about 90 members enrolled.  Paid Secretary Stubbs £1.0.0.

TH 26   Fine calm dull day.  Shook & raked grasseed on burnt patches on flat and on lawn.  Gave hay to hoggets.  John at Torkilsens.  At night Bell Bagley & Ella played ping pong.  Last night 4 Norsewood lady teachers played much.

JULY 1917

FR 27   Rain threatening all day, came on steadily at 4PM cleared at 8 or so.  Mam and Eva did not go to Ngamoko as intended.  Eva gathering for YMCA, has a box for the purpose.  Ella Grant collecting on this road, gave her £1.  Others gathering.

SAT 28   Much rain fell today.  Sent butt’s of tickets to Wellington and cheque £2.10.0.  Got in lambs off turnips and killed a fat one.  Picked out 30 of the worst of Will’s ewes and put them in flat paddock, advisable to sell them at next sale.  Eva collecting up Garfield way for YMCA.  Wrapped up a dozen or more young wattle trees for J Hughes, and a few young gums.  Russians retreating.  Pictures.

SUN 29   Motored to J Hughes Rua Roa could not see the ground for logs and stumps, land fetches big price must be for firewood, and not many miles from Dannevirke, heavy showers, had a good outing for all hands, Biddy too.

MON 30   A thorough wet day, could not think of driving the 50 ewes in lamb that we intended to offer at Norsewood sale.  Eva through sheep, rescued a ewe in Reserve wrapped in long fern near creek.  Saw a ewe in Reserve with a lamb and two on back with singles also, did not expect any for a few more days.  Eva practising singing.

TU 31   July goes out favourably – a spring day – grass – slight growth.  John drove the 20 ewes off meadow on to Hughes 4 acres.  Eva round sheep.  A showman got his car stuck on roadside beyond our gateway.  Charley Schmidt pulled him out.  Stuck up tall bearers inside yew tree for netting to keep horses from pulling shrub.

AUGUST 1917

WED 1st   A white frost and fine day.  Eva found another ewe drowned in Marne Creek.  A lame ewe on turnips has a lamb today.  John at stumping and firewood.  Eva collecting for YMCA.  Finished netting at yew tree.  Sent Wms & Kettle £ s d 5.12.6 for 25 wool packs at 4/6 each.  Sent Mr Thomas Warren a “A.W News” and “Life”.

TH 2   An August day, dark and threatening.  Ewe with single on flat.  Hoggets put on turnips again – 122 looking well.  John skinned drowned ewe, a very good skin, brought meat home.  Rain set in this evening, heavy and continuous, bad for lambs.  Mam & Eva at a “Send Off” to A Andersen tonight.

AUGUST 1917

FR 3   Showers today.  Ground saturated, pressed bale of crutchings.  C Schmidt’s team took it, two bundles of skins (25) and bad of horsehair to Ormondville.  Eva found another ewe drowned, John skinned it, another pair of twins, meat taken home for dogs, decided to fence off creek, the only remedy.  John called at Hollins to engage him to fence, gone away for a week.  Mr Walker has posts, £6 per hundred.

SAT 4   A fine day.  Dug out a dozen or so totara and birch posts for end of Will’s sections – John taking down and rolling up wires, old henau posts not worth taking out.

SUN 5   A thorough wet day, continuous heavy rain, creek up nearly to bridge.  Eva found a ewe with twins, one dead another so brought in and brought round by drying in front of fire, able to suck a good quantity of milk tonight out of a baby’s feeding bottle.  John shifted hoggets off turnips &c.  Luckily not many lambs coming.

MON 6   A fine day after the rain and heavy shake last night, the heaviest for years.  Much damage in other districts.  John took the lamb to its mother on Back, thinks she will take, he carted from Walkers and sledged posts to new fence on Will’s, ground saturated, he split good totara posts near fence line.  Mr Walker is selling us 100 posts – birch and henau – for £6.0.0.  Mr Wragg lectures tonight in F Hall, three of us gone to hear him explain.

TU 7   A day for working, only a few light showers.  John laying posts & shifted the hoggets on to the turnips.  Put in two strainers and stayed same.  Mam & Eva at Allen’s.

WED 8   A thorough wet day, rough on stock, only one or two fresh lambs, but alive.  John found a ewe cast, he put hoggets off turnips again.  Eva round as usual in the rain, over £11 she gathered for the YMCA.  Ella Grant over £13.  other gatherers smaller amounts.  They encountered some very mean shabby people.  One well to do sheep farmers wife with much cash, in receipt of yearly blood-money, no family – just 2 of them, gave 8d.

TH 9   Several heavy showers.  Berty Engelbretsen worked with us, nearly a strain of posts put in and 2 wires on, muddy disagreeable work.  Eva went to Ormondlle with flowers and sent them to Wellington for Patriotic purposes.  A few more ewes on back with twins.

AUGUST 1917

FR 10   A day without rain.  Put in 2 strainers near Le Garths fence with Bertie and posts and ran out some wires.  John killed lamb, shifted netting on turnips and fixed up a ewe on flat – the same one.  Eva through ewes, more twins back.

SAT 11   A white frost and fine day.  John filled the earthquake cracks in one of the chimneys with cement mortar and relayed displaced bricks on top.  He worked at fence in the afternoon, three strains of posts in, two more to do.  Eva sprayed some of the fruit trees and went through sheep as usual.  Mam went to Pakowhai of a sudden.  Mr Mackie gave her a ride in his car.  Mr Mackies bill paid with a cheque of John’s for £11.  Mr Walker £6 for 100 posts.

SUN 12   A dark threatening day, no rain, John & Eva through ewes, lambs coming slowly.

MON 13   Working on the last and nearest strain, all good digging, not many wet holes, a dry day.  very high wind afternoon.  Mam home train and coach.

TU 14   A thorough wet day.  Eva found a 6th ewe drowned, rode twice along creek today.  John found and skinned a two tooth ewe dead in Widerups, ground again saturated.  Several ewes with twins in each paddock except Hughes.

WED 15   Rain during forenoon, afternoon rolled up barb wire and laid required number of wires along first short strain &c.  John skinned ewe – a very good one that was drown’d yesterday and went over paddocks.  Eva rode over as usual and saw some fresh lambs.  Mrs Highfield paid rent to Eva – £2 paid up to 1st  [?].

TH 16   A fine day.  Put in posts in very wet muddy rushy ground – strainer next new red gate, ran out dragged wires &c.  Berty finishes today, 5 days.  At night went with Mam & Eva to spend evening at Grants.  Henry called here today.

FR 17   A fine day.  John found a ewe dead in creek, drownd – the seventh.  Put on wires and strained up two strains of 6 wires.  Eva sledged old gate to new gateway and rode over paddocks, saw many ewes with twins.

SAT 18   A mild calm Spring day.  Finished straining all fence.  Am told Roysthorne lost 8 ewes in Hollins creek, he has leased the paddock.  Eva carted in a month firewood.  All but one of the family at pictures tonight.

AUGUST 1917

SUN 19   A nice spring day.  Lambs coming freely.  John attending to them, remainder of us motored to Aunties.  Called at H Newlings, he paid for fat sheep – £20.0.0.

MON 20   Some showers, with Eva dragged logs to gully’s under new fence sheep barred now from getting to creek.  Skinned the 7th .  Willy Torkilsen went home, here last night.  Mam paid Rickets bill – 13/3.  Sent Newlings cheque to Bank.

TU 21   A spring day.  filling up &c under fence.  Eva found big ewe on Wills cast not for long, very much ailing, unable to walk, sledged her home.  She also found one of our ewes drownd in reserve creek caught by a lawyer.  John busy amongst ewes & lambs, mothering &c.  Killed a lamb for home use.  Mam & Eva at Allens.

WED 22   Hung gate near Rev. Le Garth’s fence.  Filled up great part of fence.  Eva got 2 ewes with their twin lambs into Marne calf paddocks good feed.  Skinned ewe that was drownd in Reserve, 6 tooth fat splendid ewe, all but 2 at Willy’s.

TH 23   A nice forenoon, wet nasty afternoon and night, lambs coming regularly.  Eva has put many ewes with twins in small paddocks at Wills.  She put in 2 rows of early potatoes in her garden.  She & Mam paid £ s d 9.14.4 to Mrs Kernahan as rent for Hughes Section.  All dead mutton boiled for pig.  The big ewe sledged in from Will’s died last night, skinned same for pig.

FR 24   A cold showery day, took wires off two “Marne” plantations, used them on new fence.  Lambs coming steadily.  At night Misses Caughly Brewer Grant, ping pong.

SAT 25   A good day.  Finished fence except to put on battens.  John & Eva put 11 ewes with their twin lambs on the oats.  A letter from E R D’Anvers, Dannevirke Publishing Co wanting receipt for 15/- sent me on 30th June (as interest on 15 shares) and his letter was put away out of my reach.  All but 2 of us at Pictures tonight.

SUN 26   No church today.  Medium forenoon.  Bitter evening.  Motored to Auntie’s.

MON 27   A fine day for lambs and for Norsewood sale, went up, did not buy.  Shook manger grasseed on lawn on 2 or 3 bare looking places & shook manure.  Eva gave two pet lambs to Misses McDonald and Gorintzkie.  A 2 tooth ewe we have penned up with her lamb, takes but won’t allow lamb to suck.

AUGUST 1917

TU 28   Windy and cold in the forenoon, pleasant afternoon, took Trixie and sledge over Marne hills to pick up posts and battens, took load home.  Eva met Miss Oldershaw at railway with car and took her home.  John amongst ewes & lambs and getting double furrow plough ready.  A letter from Mrs Veich and one from Mr A L Baumgart.  Both in England.

WED 29   Eva putting “Marne” twins into small paddocks &c.  Sledged battens off old line on to new fence.  Mr Mackie delivered sack of potatoes & of oats.  Borrowed Mr Walkers grey horse and John & Freddy started to plough rape hill, heavy work going uphill for horses.  At night teachers at ping pong.

TH 30   Repaired Ridges road fence.  John ploughing.  Eva rode over all paddocks on Filly & Trixy, brought in motherless lamb.  At Allens tonight.

FR 31   August goes out well, nice calm day finished repairing road fence.  A South Down ram, good mouth died today, could find no reason.  Sent by Eva to Norsewood P.O.a cheque for War Loan Certificates £100.2.6.  Eva draws money from Saving Bank and lends it for same purpose tomorrow.  A concert and send-off to 3 soldiers – O’Halleron, Halliburton and Hurst.

SEPTEMBER SAT 1st   A nice Spring forenoon.  Rain set in at midday, windy evening, good moonlight.  Shook sackful of manger grasseed on lawn in the rain on barish places.  Skinned SD ram and boiled him for pig.  We have a 2 tooth ewe, very fond of her lamb but will not let him suck unless penned up, has been for six nights running.  Sent to N.Z. Farmers Fertilising Co Auckland a cheque for £2.10.6. crossed.  Sent to H.B. Farmers Meat Co, Whakatu cheque £5.0.6. (ten shares applied for).  Eva received Fifty pounds worth of War Loan Certificates for £40 paid in by her.  She brought me Certificates worth £125 for cheque £100.2.6 paid into P.O. yesterday.  Eva found on Hughes a poor lame ewe with pair of good Romney lambs, she has no milk, John brought both lambs home.  Cow Bobtail has a good red heifer calf looks like a shorthorn.  Pictures tonight.  Two of us at home.  Sent voting paper to Whakatu.

SEPT 1917

SUN 2   High wind last night and this forenoon, then rain set in & continued.  Eva brought in weak lamb from good mother, after recovering took it back.  She sledged in from Will’s 2 done ewes, both too far gone must be skinned.  Mr Whibley called.  Mam & Eva went up to church with him and back for dinner.  The 2 tooth ewe after a weeks penning up, lets her lamb suck, is now good mother.

MON 3   A wet miserable day, bad for young lambs, many twins died last night.  Eva brought in some weak lambs, which were nearly dead, by putting them near the fire and giving them a little warm milk they came round and were taken back to their mothers.  John skinned the two ewes which were sledged in from Wills yesterday, both would have twin lambs.

TU 4   A fine day.  Cut up and boiled 2 carcases for dogs & hens.  Eva through paddocks put more twins in small paddocks and a couple of skins on lambs which were mothered.  John ploughing in the afternoon, finished hill and made a start on 6 acres.  Mam Eva at Allens.  The War Loan of twelve millions required over subscribed, near or up to 16.000.000.

WED 5   A fine day for pig.  Killing, lambing or travelling.  Fred Sturrock motored up from Hastings.  We killed the pig before dinner & John ploughed in the afternoon.  Eva twin gathering as usual, she found one of our ewes drowned in the creek in the ploughed ground.  Should have been shifted days ago.

TH 6   A September day, rain & wind in the morning, very high wind all day.  Cut up pig and put in salt.  Eva over her paddocks.  John also and wire- netted a new piece.  Skinned the ewe – a good one – that was drown’d near ploughed ground.  This morning early Andresen’s store and the Crown Hotel were burnt down, total loss.

FR 7   A fine day after the high wind.  Strained up the last wire on fence and sledged material to broken culvert and to make a small bridge over creek near Pastor Le Garth’s.  Miss Caughley for tea and she went with Eva and Mam to Ormondlle concert.  John ploughing, at night he and Freddy went on Motor bike to Dannevirke to see pictures or some foolery.

SEPT 1917

SAT 8   A fine spring forenoon, wet afternoon, put culvert over creek at Legarths and repaired broken culvert in paddock, laid some battens on fence.  Mam Eva Grace and children went to Dannevirke.  John & Freddy carted in hay and did some ploughing.  Gave Mam cheque for £2 – cashed at Mackies.

SUN 9   A nice dry day.  All at home except John & Freddy who went to the mountains and brought home 3 pigeons, left one hanging up.  Mrs Clark – phaeton.

MON 10   Wet forenoon, afternoon sledged posts & wire away from far end Wills.

TU 11   A fine calm forenoon, rain threatening, John ploughed until dinner time then rain set in and continued.  Rode over Widerups and Back, nice picking for sheep, cattle poor, did not see any fresh lambs.  Gave Mam £11.0.0 cheque to pay Mackies ten pound bill.  She Eva Grace & bairns and Freddy motored to Dannevirke, could not get car- machine cleaned, must appoint a day.  Mr Grant has taken over Mr Simpson’s drapery business.

WED 12   A September day.  Showery and cold.  Freddy biked for home at 9.30.  John walked over back, big dead lamb near Riggors fence.  A pair of newly dropped ones on ridges.  Eva over Wills.  Fixed up ewe on oats all right, 1 dead lamb and one alive.  Mud everywhere.  5 horses to feed about the place.  Civil war in Russia.  John made a fresh rack where hoggets get their hay.  Made new gate in woolshed.

TH 13   Arthur’s Birthday.  4 years today, no more crying to be done, many presents.  John over back, one ewe with twins, ploughing in the afternoon.  Eva over the Marne, ewe with twins also.  Ella & Mavis came, Mrs and Miss Allen.  A fine day.  John swept or rather scraped with hoe dining room chimney, very much soot.

FR 14   Killed fat lamb.  Sledged home from Reserve 12 posts and limbs of oak trees trimmed some weeks ago.  Eva saw a couple more young baa’s, she left dog “Tip” at Oldershaws and brought their dog home here.  Concert tonight.

SAT 15   A very fine day.  Sledged and laid battens on Marne fence, only a few battens and bit of wire left in shed.  Chased ewe & lamb over Le Garth’s oats.  Had to get Eva & dog.  John finished ploughing dry part of back rape paddock.  Pictures.

SEPT 1917

SUN 16   A fine dry day.  John saw ewe with twins on Widerups.  Eva did not see any in her paddocks – late comers.  She Mam and Mr Whibley at church and afterwards at Ella’s.  Gave hay to hoggets.  They surround the rack & enjoy it.  Grass showing up a bit in front and along fenced creek shut up on Marne.

MON 17   A very fine day.  John started ploughing on Hughes rape paddock, double F.  Plough, 3 horses, carted out 3 packs of chaff & some oats, carted hurdles wire netting stakes &c to site on flat for temporary yards for docking.  Eva put ewes with twins from Marne shed paddock, gardens &c into cow & ram paddocks where there is very good feed.  Tonight Mam Eva John Ella Mavis see pictures Dannevirke.

TU 18   A very fine day.  All but two motored to Dannevirke, got car- engine cleaned.  John ploughing the 4½ acres.  Will came up by midday coach.  Walked over paddocks.  He helped me finish temporary docking yard.  Another big lamb passed out.  Allens tonight.

WED 19   A good day for docking.  Got in ewes & lambs off oats, docked 65 lambs, ewes 44.  Got in Widerups – ewes 141. lambs 113. then Reserve 52 lambs, ewes 50.

TH 20   John & Will got in Back sheep before breakfast, docked 316 lambs, ewes 270 left out in paddock 2 ewes, 2 lambs, finished by midday, then went to Marne.  Eva mustered Hill sheep and had them in yards for us and Gundersens in too.  Docked off Hills 67 lambs, 79 ewes left behind 2 ewes. 4 lambs.  Gundersens – 113 ewes, 103 lambs.  Docked small paddocks yesterday 48 ewes 91 lambs.  Put ewes running on Gundersen’s side, on Hills and Hill sheep on Gundersen’s side.

FR 21   A fine breezy day.  Went round to Marne in car with hammer and staples &c and helped Will put on battens, finished before dinner and Will went home by 4 o’clock express.  One of his ewes with a fresh single this morning.  Mrs Oldershaw with a lady visitor borrowed phaeton this morning to go to Ormlle returned it this evening.  John ploughing on Hughes with “Duke” “Prince” & “Filly”.

SAT 22   A warm sunny day.  Eva saw ewe with twins on Marne.  A new single on Widerups and a single on Back.  John finished ploughing on Hughes.  Miss Oldershaw called looking for “Tip”.  John saw him following cart & called him.  Pictures.

SEPT. 1917

SUN 23  A fine sunny forenoon, cold evening and rain threatening.  Freddy for dinner.  John helped him to milk.  Eva removed Will’s ewes into a paddock that is about to be ploughed.  A few young lambs today, a twin lamb brought in, will be all right.  Eva & Mam motored “Tip” home to Oldershaw’s.  Went to Aunt’s & Mam & Eva.  Yarded the two ewes on lawn, docked their lambs and put them into meadow – 548.

MON 24   A windy day.  Shifted stakes and wire netting on turnips, the last shift.  Put hoggets off flat on to turnips, put sheep off oats on to Flat.  Oats eaten down to the ground.  Hung two bacon flitches, went to Norsewood sale.  Much stock entered, all Firms selling.  Mr Meeking booked me a member of Dannevirke A & P Association, must send a pound to Mr Stubs Secretary.  Saw Mr Craig, Whakatu buyer and he speaks favourably about coming seasons fat lambs.  Eva saw 4 or 5 fresh lambs in various paddocks.  She got a letter from Willie Mackie in England.  John ploughing one of Will’s paddocks.

TU 25   Another breezy day.  Docked 2 good meadow lambs – 550.  Killed hog – SD for home use.  Took “Trixie” & sledge out on “Marne”, buried skins, brought home load of old battens, chips, tools &c.  Eva gardening & shepherding, she put ewes in between Marne fences along creek to eat down the fresh feed.  John finished 3 acres “Marne”.

WED 26   Very high wind.  Mr Walker brought his horse over.  John ploughed damp patch in oat paddock.  Eva saw fresh lamb in Hughes.  She gave lamb to boy Beatty.  Drinks well.

TH 27   J Vaughan called, horse lame, rode “Trixie” & borrowed his Dad’s.  Paid Simpsons £4.5.[?] with a cheque for £5.10.  Good rain in the afternoon.  John disced damp patch.  Old ewe died in meadow.

FR 28   John drilled oats in wet “Patch”.  Carted hurdles back to Hughes.  Auntie and Mrs Allen called.  Carted hay from stack for cows and gave hogg’s some.  Afternoon good rain.

SAT 29   Docked Hughes – 59 ewes 1 Rom ram 1 SD.  46 lambs = 596.  some ewes to lamb.  Two front shoes on mare.  John went to dock at Lund’s, but too wet, some rain.  Pictures.

SUN 30   A fine day.  John went to Ngamoko Manawatu stream, brought home a brace.  Mam & Eva at afternoon church, then to Ella’s.  September has been good month.

OCT 1917

MON 1st   A good day to start with.  Digging in garden.  Put in Simmonds 10/= worth of seed potatoes, put sheepyard manure with them.  John docked Lunds lambs.  Mam Eva Grace & Joan went to Dannevirke. baby’s photo taken.  Recd £1.0.9 from H.B.Farmers’ Meat Co Box 251 Hastings – a Dividend on 10 shares £2 paid up.

TU 2   A very fine day.  Worked in garden until going to Hughes in afternoon with filly and sledge to bring home old dead ewe, lamb left.  John ploughing angle flat.  Eva through sheep and gardening.  She and Mam at Mrs Allens tonight.

WED 3   Anniversary of landing in N.Z. Forty four years – from N.S.W.  Breezy today.  Worked in garden, put in potatoes peas, beans.  Sent £1 to Secretary A & P Association.  Dannevirke.  Letter to Wms & Kettle to send ton of rape manure 12 cwt turnip manure 2 cwt potatoe manure.  Letter from Wms & Kettle, crutchings sold, 9¾ per lb.  A stud ewe in meadow with young ewe lamb yesterday.  Wanted a ram lamb.

TH 4   Lovely rain all forenoon.  John went fishing up Ngamoko way.  Bagged 5.  Afternoon got in load of hay with “Trixie”.  Ewe on back, with twins.

FR 5   A fine sunny day.  Mam & Eva motored to Takapau and had car seen to.  Got load of slabs &c at Hughes and carted docking hurdles to gateways from where they were taken.  Paid Bartlett’s bill with cheque for £2.10.6.  Yesterday C Schmidts man & wagon delivered a ton of rape manure    bags, in woolshed.

SAT 6   A very fine day.  Put in posts and strained wires – fence Hill- Gully plantation.  C Schmidt’s teams brought a ton of rape seed manure – much finer manure than Gears.  Also 12 cwt turnip manure and 2 cwt potatoe manure.  Eva found ewe cast on Widerups.  Pictures.

SUN 7   Eva & John got in young horses off Back and took a 4 year old filly to Anton Svensen to break in.  Mam & Eva at Ormlle church tonight and at Ella’s for tea.

MON 8   Carted to Hughes 3 bags manure where John is discing the 4½ acres for rape, with “Duke” “Prince” and Walkers grey.  Carted in small load of hay with Eva.  Only a small quantity left, rough at bottom of stack.  Paid Mackies bill £9.10 and 18 paid to Rickett.  Sent cheque to Wms & Kettle for manure £14.9.  Mackies & Ricketts bill was paid with a twelve pound cheque.  Finished plantation gully fence.

OCT 1917

TU 9   Carted 6 bags rape manure to Hughes – this makes 9, each 1¼ cwt each.  Freddy started to disc at dinner time on Will’s 3 acres.  Put ewes about 40 and their lambs off Flat out on Back and put meadow sheep on Flat.  Meadow now cleared for the season.  Took down last piece of wire netting on turnips.  Hoggets now have the run of the piece, not much on it.  Mam Eva Ella G two Allen ladies motored to see picture in Dannevirke tonight.  Cold breezy night.  Got 80 lbs of rape seed at Mackie’s today, and packet of parsnip seed, put latter in.

WED 10   A calm day.  John drilling rape seed at Hughes, did more than half of the paddock.  Freddy with disc on Will’s.  With Eva put 3 yearlings or rather six month old calves off turnips out on Back.  Put in 2 rows potatoes garden.  Patriotic business in F Hall.  Mam & Eva taking prominent part, a very wet night.

TH 11   A wet morning, rain all last night.  Kept many back from Social £14 taken last night, sheep guessing  – 56 lbs.  Dolls name not guessed – Dora.  9¾ lbs weight of cake, dance followed – all for red x.  John brought bull home from Snook’s paddock.  One of our cow’s round – “Bobtail”.  Rain ceased in the afternoon, growth.

FR 12   Fine calm day.  Finished in garden, shady portion unused, not worth digging.  Eva saw ewe (Hughes) with twins, a single Widerups.  She left sheep for the day between fences, put out this evening.  “All of them” went to Mr Thomsons.  Tonight Allens.  John finished drilling on Hughes.  Freddy with disc on Will’s, used “Duke” and his own horse.  Killed fat hogget.  Sent to Whakatu cheque for £5.0.0.  Allens.

SAT 13   A frost this morning but Eva’s potatoes were paper covered last night.  She Mam & Arthur met Will Gert Bazil & Betty at Ormlle express time.  After dinner Eva mustered Marne paddocks and we docked 15 lambs & 260 total 275.  John and Freddy on Will’s 2½ acres, finished harrowing and drilling.  Pictures.

SUN 14   Frost again very fine day.  Many of us motored with Will to Marne, opened gateway in fence.  John fishing Ngamoko way.  Afternoon all but he and self cleared for Pakowhai.  Mr Clark took mare and phaeton Ormondlle.

OCT 1917

MON 15   Frost again, fine day.  Batching, rode over all paddocks, nice feed everywhere.  John and Freddy started to disc Hill paddock, ground in good order.

TU 16   Another fine dry day.  Went up to Mackie’s & sent wire to Will.  “object to Landtax.  Have mortgage deducted”.  Do not know if Commission of Taxes will agree, no harm in trying.  F Selby came at midday and after dinner John went to Hastings with him.  Freddy at disc for half a day.

WED 17   Usual dry day, milked 5 cows after a struggle.  “Blui” terrible, took a long time.  Gave new milk to two calves, dished remainder, gave them skin at night, one drank.  Freddy half a day again.  Rode over part of Back, saw one of our lambs for the second time on Snook’s side of fence amongst his hoggets, saw the mother on our side with bag of milk, rode over Hughes, places in our fence wants seeing to – Adrians boundary.

TH 18   A dry breezy day, no time to do much work.  Sawed & chopped wood lying behind sheepyard, sledged to firewood heap.  Sledged & laid rails at fence from stockyard to firewood.  Cow “Bobtail” round.  Freddy worked horses half day.

FR 19   A heavy shower early this morning.  Breezy day.  All back from Pakowhai.  Eva rode over Marne.  John went over back.  Got lamb out of Snooks.

SAT 20   A fine day for drilling – hill and angle finished today.  Got in with Eva & Trixie remainder of hay – over two loads.  Half ton of manure used today in this paddock.  Sent 2 bundles of skins to Wms & Kettle by C Smiths team.  Got Bank slip and sale account of bale crutchings, 11½ per lb. Nett amount £ s d 23.18.1.

SUN 21   A windy day.  John & Archy drove up to Oldershaw’s and brought dog “Tip” home to them, he came here yesterday.  Mam & Eva motored Mr & Mrs Grant to see Ella in hospital.  Laurvig’s cottage was burnt down last night or early this morning, he is in Sandon or absent somewhere.  Sent to HB Meat Co Whakatu a fresh call = £10.0.0.

MON 22   A windy day, heard at 5PM that there is a terrible fine in Dannevirke.  Hotels and shops in ashes.  After tea all but Arthur & writer gone to see damage.  After returning a terrible amount of destruction was witnessed.  Got in Flat sheep, docked 12 lambs = 608 = 148 sheep, hog’s included.  Killed one hog.

OCT 1917

TU 23   Breezy drying weather, the topic of conversation is the great conflagation in Dannevirke, started at 2.30 PM yesterday – Labour Day, over 30 houses it is said were destroyed.  No Dannevirke paper published today.  There was plenty of water and Woodville Fire Brigade assisted, this lessened the great loss.  Killed a good hogget yesterday.  John with disc on back 6 acres.  Started to put bridge across creek just above woolshed.  Eva had chase after weasel.  Allens.

WED 24   A calm day sledged load of old henau posts off Marne & finished bridge.  Mam & Eva motored Dannevirke, got oil – 2 drums, one hundred weight of white lead, ordered ½ cwt yellow ochre to come by train to Ormlle.

TH 25   A calm cloudy day.  Rain set in at 10AM and a soaking ensued.  Much appreciated.  Ella left Marne sheep in creek paddock last night and altho much fresh feed there 2 got into creek and one of them drown’d, so they cannot be trusted for one night along creek paddocks.  Sack of oats at 5/11 per bushel from Mackies.  Went to Dannevirke with Mam Eva & Mrs Grant to see Ella in Hospital, improving, thin but looks well.  Saw destruction of town heart burnt out of it, heavy rain.  Paid C.L. Neilson’s repair bill £2.3.0.  Got in Flat sheep, ran off 20 ewes 19 lambs & put them on Hughes.  79 ewes there now, put 4 hogg’s for killing in Reserve.  Put 122 woolly hoggets on Flat.  Some lambs to dock on Hughes & Back.

FR 26   Rain now & then today.  John made a cot for Arthur & did some room papering.  Eva sledged home good big ewe found drown’d in Marne creek, skinned for dogs.  Anton Svenson called to know price of young mare he is breaking in, Answ £16.

SAT 27   Some rain today, good prospect of plenty feed, got in Widerups = 141 ewes.  12 lambs docked, got in Back ewes 316 & lambs 19 longtails docked.  Then Hughes 79 ewes, docked 8 lambs.  A couple of longtails still out on Hughes.  Total docked 647 and ewes 586.  123 Hogg’s.  10 rams in Reserve.  On Hughes 2 rams counted in with the ewes.  At present 723 fleeces all counted.  Pictures.

SUN 28   A calm warm day.  At home all day.  John up beyond Torkilsen’s saw and talked to many neighbours, caught 2 fish for a neighbour.  Mam Eva & Co at Ormondville, two of them at Church afternoon.

OCT 1917

MON 29   A fine breezy day.  Repaired fence – shed paddock – Flat, planted 2 young gums on side of creek in Reserve.  Eva saw ewe on back with fresh twins, she left car with Rickett to repair 2 broken springs and helped John to disc in the afternoon.  She changed two pounds cheque at Mackies.  Archie came back at midday.  Terrible battle on hand between Italians and Germans & Austrians, latter numerous and using a more deadly poison gas than heretofore.  Italians being driven.

TU 30   Calm cloudy day, some rain afternoon.  Did a little in garden – hoed up peas & beans & put in short row of potatoes.  Car not fixed up yet at Ricketts.  Skinned a splendid hogget found dead on flat.  Mam & Eva gone in phaeton to Allens.

WED 31   A good growing day.  Rain in the forenoon stopped intended drilling and rolling.  John & Archie borrowed McDonnell’s roller yesterday evening.  Put stakes and wirenetting round vegetable patch in garden.  Mrs Hansen called in reference to Freddy’s section which is to be offered for sale today in Ormondlle.  Mr Wedt made a start towards painting house, scraping off old paint &c.  This has been a good month for growth, some high winds, but enough moisture.  All hoggets – 122 on flat now, turnips done a week or more ago.  They are all right.  Cows get a bit of hay still night and morning, are very eager for it, 5 of them.

NOV 1917 TH 1st   Took horse waggon posts tools &c out to Adrian’s fence – Hughes, dug a strainer hole and put in a few posts when rain set in, we come home early dinner as promise was made to motor Auntie up to hospital see Mary.  Afternoon showery, did not go back to work at fence.  Good growing weather.

FR 2   No rain, fine warm & calm.  Put in totara strainer & some totara posts.  Mr Widt painting.  Mam Eva & Archie went to Ngamoko concert.  Revd Fountain.

SAT 3   Killed a SD hogget in the morning before going out to Adrian’s fence.  Put in posts & put on battens where required, one day more would make a real good job of our part.  Fruit tree Inspector gave us notice to spray.  No pictures tonight.  Picture man did not come.  Money saved.

NOV 1917

SUN 4   A very fine day.  John & Archie went to Ngamoko, caught half dozen fish.  Mam & Eva meant to take Mrs & Mr Grant to see Ella in hospital, but car immovable.

MON 5   Guy Fawkes day.  Archie took coach for express.  All hands potatoe planting.  Put potatoe manure with each seed, finished by midday.  Afternoon Eva rolling the back 6 acres, John drilling.  Worked at Adrian’s fence.

TU 6   A calm nice day, finished fence – Hughes – Adrian, & carted home left over pieces, chips &c.  Eva rolled rape paddock & late oats, put Marne ewes on creek for the day only.  John drilled 5½ acre rape paddock, not six, back and docked 2 long-tails-twins, on Hughes = 649. and shore ewe that was loosing her fleece.  Found ewe dead on Hughes in natural position.  Red X meeting.

WED 7   John started to plough Reserve flat, double furrow, 3 horses, heavy rain set in and continued into night, good for sown rape, a little paint washed off roof house.  A cold on chest or something causing pain, used bottle lung balsam – Baxters, and Mam put on two mustard plasters, at short intervals, had good nights sleep.

TH 8   Chest seems all right, fine day, painting and ploughing going on.  Young man from C L Neilsen’s came and electrified car, it is all right now and ready to burn petrol.  Pulled wool off dead sheep on Hughes and found dry ewe dead between brown gate and stack, sledged and skinned.

FR 9   Repaired fence – Back-Adrian and carted in some firewood.  John nearly finished ploughing Reserve Flat.  Mam & Co got gooseberries Marne.

SAT 10   Put a good totara post in fence – Back- Adrian instead of a broken and carted home firewood, worked a bit at culvert on flat – repairing &c.  Freddy at work on Reserve flat with disc.  John also with his.  Pictures tonight.  Had some difficulty in starting car, all hands had to push for some time.

SUN 11   Mam & Eva motored Mrs & Mr Grant to see Ella in hospital, she is improving.  Then after coming back had tea at Grants, Church – new Minister Grant.  Mr Clark lay reader went in phaeton to Ormonlle to hold service.  Met Eva & Mam here on return.  Supper.

NOV 1917

MON 12   The usual fine day.  Made culvert on flat – one nearest brown gate.  Mr Holden called and spoke on Hospital matters, is a candidate for Hos. Board.  Will vote for him on Wednesday next.  John & Freddy with disc each on Reserve flat.  Eva round baa’s.

TU 13   Fine weather continues.  F Adrian called to borrow 3 wool packs.  Agreed for him to shear his flock here at end of week.  Eva & John finished the harrowing rolling & drilling Reserve flat.  Traveller Frank H Brett Representative for the National Sheep Dip Co called, agreed to take 50 shares in the Co.  Paid deposit of twenty five pounds.  This mans birthday is on the same date as Gerts, letter from her today.  Cleaned out woolshed & threw four or five bucketfuls of water on floor.  John returned McD. roller.

WED 14   Dry breezy day.  Swept out chaff &c from woolshed, rode with Eva to Marne, footrotted the rams, on [one] in particular very bad & magotty.  One ram dead.  In the afternoon motored with Mam to Library, we voted.  Paid J Mackie’s bill of £20 odd with a cheque for £24.0.0.  John in turnip paddock preparing to plough it.  Eva cut thistles with machine.

TH 15   Birthday, only seventy four.  Got in Reserve sheep, picked SD hoggs and killed for home use, only 3 left.  One of the woolly hoggs on flat has a lamb, hope it is the only one.  Spent greater part of day cleaning up woolshed.  Rain this morning will stop Adrian from shearing in our shed.  At the Hospital election J Holden an easy first.  60 votes for him in Norsewood the others a little over half – any of them.  Chairman Bickford bumped out.

FR 16   No rain, only a little fell yesterday.  John ploughed grass land top of turnip paddock.  Repaired fence – shed paddock-Reserve flat.  Murderer taken in Christchurch – he that killed one & shot another in motor car & took nearly £4,000 miners pay money a few days ago in South Island.  Eva & Mam hears War lecture.

SAT 17   Looks as if dry weather has set in.  Repaired gate at Gundersen’s corner. & fence near stockyard.  John using double furrow plough in turnip paddock.

NOV 1917

SUN 18   Motored to Dannevirke with Mr & Mrs Grant to see Ella in Hospital she is much improved.  Eva brought her a few strawberries which she grew in her garden.  We had tea at Grants and all then went to An. Church & joined Mam.  In the afternoon Mam Grace & children phaetoned to Aunties.  Fine day.

MON 19   A clam cloudy day.  Dragged totara strainer with “Filly” to 3 gateways.  Afternoon went with Eva to Marne.  Foot-paired and dressed hoofs of some ewes that were very lame.  Mr Widt painting, John ploughing.  Eva used mower at thistles.

TU 20   Mr Adrian brought half his flock of ewes & lambs to be shorn by J Veale, Adrian helping.  In the evening Adrian brought the other half, and put all ewes in shed, shorn ones & lambs outside.  Mr Lund called.  John rode to Te Ohu woolshed & saw Charlie Hulena about coming here to shear.  Today I rolled up fleeces.  John found ground too hard for ploughing.  Good rain tonight.  Tonight’s rain will be a great benefit to the rape and grass.  Eva Mam Allens.

WED 21   Rain all last night and today.  All hands helping to cut out Adrians flock of 139.  last nights rain severe on the old ewes & todays.  Finished & took them home at 2PM.  Will have good shelter for them on farm.  Steady rain again tonight.  Account of some shorn sheep having died at Otaiwa.  Two days ago cow “Molly” was round.  John & Mr Walker brought bull over.

TH 22   Another wet day.  Bad for shorn sheep.  All but two of us motored to Dannevirke today.  Had two punctures coming home, but had bought an outside cover on motor tyre.  Eva through Marne sheep after coming home, found ewe cast, sledged her home in the dark, covered up with sacks in woolshed, underneath too.

FR 23   Not much rain today, calm & cloudy.  Marne ewe sledged home last night by Eva, died & was skinned.  War news good, Hindenburg Line smashed [?] through, and 10,000 prisoners taken.  Tanks & Infantry broke through Cavalry at work now.

SAT 24   A fine sunny day – greater part – Painter at work again.  John cut thistles with machine.  Eva & Mam drove to Norsewood in phaeton.  Benzine  [de?].

NOV 1917

SUN 25   A very fine day.  Rode with Eva over Marne.  Yarded two ewes with loose fleeces.  Shore them & brought home their fleeces, many bits of wool lying about the paddocks.  Mam & Eva phaetoned to Church and Ormondville.

MON 26   Good little Joan’s Birthday, strong stout healthy never cries at night.  Walks 1 year old.  Eva found ewe dead on back, was cast and not seen.  John disc, 3 horses turnip paddock.  Helped Adrian Bros press their 3 bales, one of them x Bred fine.  Sack of Bellies ½ sack pieces.  Killed SD hogget.  2 left.  Many blowflies.  Return from Wms & K for 18 skins, 1 pelt 9d.  Three skins £ s d 1.1.8.  Total nett £ s d 4.19.1.

TU 27   Rode over back, pulled best part of wool off dead ewe, most of it useless.  Mam Eva Mr & Mrs Grant motored to Dannevirke & brought Ella home.  Sent cheque to Wms & Kettle for oil paint &c by Mam, their bill paid = £13.8.6.  she got 6/6 Discount, she also bought a tin of Stockholm tar.  John ploughing.

WED 28   Worked at post and rail fence along gully plantation.  Mam Grace and children phaetoned to Alice’s.  Eva tennice [tennis?] John plough.  Rev. Whibley & Mrs Hoskins called.  Tonight all but two of us gone to witness some sort of entertainment.

TH 29   A very close day.  The tailend of a shower in the evening.  Paid Widt £5.0.0 on account.  He motored to Dannevirke with Mam Eva Grace & youngsters.  They got some white lead at Williams & Kettle in exchange for yellow ochre which they took in with them.  Letter from C Hulena to say he cannot come to shear.

FR 30   Got in hoggets off flat and dagged them.  All but John motored Ngamoko after dinner.  Mr Hunter there at the annual school Pic Nic and Sports.  A lovely day and big crowd children and their parents.  21 hoggs shorn and put into Ridges.  Put in shed tonight 56.  they are in good condition.  Fair fleeces.

DEC 1917 SAT 1st   A good shearing day.  Some rain in the evening.  Shore 98 hoggets two outside in paddock got damp – to be shorn.  Hoggs in good condition.  Eva discing.

SUN 2   Rode over all paddocks with Eva.  Got in Reserve sheep, ran off lambs, put 53 in shed.  John fishing up Ngamoko way, brought home 10 trout.

DEC 1917

MON 3   Shore the Reserve sheep & put a hogget & her small lamb with them 54 sheep and 52 lambs & the small one, 3 hoggs amongst the ewes.  Hughes 88 sheep including 12 rams got in, shore 14 of them and 74 in shed tonight.  78 lambs with Hughes ewes.  Pressed one bale Hoggs wool = 50 fleeces and 51 fleeces in second bale in box not pressed.  Adrian took his wool away.  Paid £1 for expenses.

TU 4   Shore the 74 in shed, the 5 romney rams big & heavy, good fleeces.  After putting Hughes mob back got in a cut off Widerups & put 70 in shed.  Pressed the 51 hoggs fleeces No.2 and 63 X Bred fleeces in bale No.3 unpressed.  A big dry ewe near 3 gateways cast and died.  Mam paid Land Tax  £ s d 22.18.1.  9D added for exchange.

WED 5   Shore the 70 in shed and the 18 out in yard = 88 ewes & 80 lambs in Ridges tonight.  Got in remainder of Widerups 52 ewes 45 lambs = 140 ewes, 125 lambs.  The ewes in shed tonight.  Mam & Co called to see Anton Svensen, not at home.

TH 6   Anton Svensen came before breakfast and we shore remainder of Widerups & put all back and the shorn hoggets as well.  Eva got in 122 off the back and their lambs.  31 of them shorn, some dagged ready for tomorrow.

FR 7   Dagged & shore 91 and rain set in and continued well into the night.  Anton has young mare of ours and his gig to come and go in.  filled press 52 fine fleeces No. 4.

SAT 8   A dry breezy day.  Eva rolled turnip paddock.  John drilled it.  4/- per lb paid for seed- Swede- at Mackies.  5 lbs used, nearly.  Acres registered between 5 and 6.

SUN 9   A fine day.  John fishing Manawatu.  Helped Eva get in back sheep 193 total number of Back ewes 315.  total number of woolly sheep 717.  one shorn in paddock 718.  In shed tonight 66.

MON 10   Shore the sheep kept in last night – 100 and with Eva pressed 4 bales put 56 fleeces in each bale today.  Put last of sheep in shed tonight – 93.

TU 11   Anton along early.  Finished & put out the 93 ewes and Eva got in 75 Marne ewes.  Spent greater part of day pressing.  Eva handing up and helping.  Sent a second twenty five pound cheque to William Todd. Wellington and an order for two cases of Dip to be sent to Ormondville.

DEC 1917

WED 12   Shore the 75 in shed last night and 18 of a fresh lot   in shed tonight.  With Eva pressed all the wool and branded bales except bellies now in box.  The 75 ewes and 2 shorn some weeks ago, Eva put back on Marne hills.  Sledged in off flat dead shorn ewe, skinned same for dogs.  Mr Widt borrowed filly express & frame to cart home 2 loads of hay from township.  Bales branded – No.1 and 2 Hoggs – 3 4 5 6 7 8 X BRED FINE 9 10 11 12 13 X BRED.

TH 13   A good shearing day.  One ewe died on board, could see no reason.  John shore dead ewe.  All Marne sheep shorn except 32 in shed tonight.  We make the number of sheep 244, 4 rams included.  C Smith & Son carted 13 bales of wool to Ormondlle.  Napier ladies called.  Mam & Eva tonight Allens.

FR 14   Shore the 32 in shed the last of the Marne sheep.  Eva put them back in their paddocks.  Anton came early with Lund’s ewes & lambs.  Raced off ewes and got them under cover just before rain, several flying showers.  Inga Mr Lund & Harry Fredericksen came at 10AM.  Harry shore 50 of Lunds.  John & Anton the remainder except 25 or so in shed tonight.  Weighed belly wool 86 lbs of Marne sheep 30 lbs of locks & pieces.  Pressed bale of bellies, all put together filled box with Marne fleeces – 60 handed up by Inga.  Mam & Eva motored Gerts.

SAT 15   Finished shearing Lund’s sheep by 9 o’clock.  Anton drove them home.  We got in sheep off Widerups, picked out 116 hoggets and put them on Flat.  Curran sent for John to help with getting in hay.  Worked for half day.  Sick at night from drinking lime-juice water in the heat and sweating.  Mrs Harold Olsen & 2 boys.

SUN 16   Windy last night and this morning.  Mr Lund called to see about pressing his wool.  Mr Clark called for filly and phaeton at 6.30 to hold service at Ormondlle.

17th   Pressed bale of “Bellies” and 4 bales of Marne and branded all.  No.1 62. 2 60. 3 61. 4 61.  In the afternoon Mam Eva Gert Bazil & Betty came.  Cold wet wintry night.

TU 18   A wintry day.  Eva & Gert mustered “Hills” & Reserve looking for Lunds lamb but could not find it.  With Mr Lund & John pressed his 3 bales = 171 fleeces and our bale of Bellies = 14 and pieces dead & skins = 15.  Mam Gert & Co at Alice’s & concert tonight.

DEC 1917

WED 19   Got in Back ewes & lambs, dagged lambs and branded ewes until rain came on.  314 ewes, 397 lambs.  Put all back in the rain which kept on steadily.  John and Bertie Engelbretsen went out with their guns and shot a rabbit & saw three.  Yesterday Mam paid J Mackie’s bill £6.6.8, Ricketts £ s d 2.7.3 and £3.0.0 to C Widt.  Too wet for C Schmidt to take the bales of wool – 9 to Ormondville.  Yesterday 11 Germans – prisoners on an island near Auckland made their escape in a launch, things were made nice & easy for them to get away.

TH 20   A fine day after the rain.  Sawed and split up enough maire firewood to put us over xmas.  C Schmidt & Son took our wool to Ormondville 1 bale of Bellies 14.  a bale of pieces locks dead and skins 15.  4 bales X Bred Marne.  3 bales 3 bags OL.  With John hoed up the potatoes, patches of sorrel, terrible.

FR 21   A windy day.  Worked at 4 rail fence – firewood to stockyard.  John helping Curran cart in his hay.  At night wind, rain, winter.  In Australia Anti Conscription carried, Pro Germans SinnFin & I W.W.s.

SAT 22   A windy day.  All but two of us motored to Dannevirke in high wind.  John got in Hughes sheep, dagged lambs & put back, three lambs short since shearing time.  George came back with them in car.  Fence nearly finished.

SUN 23   Finished up riding over Marne to see that no woolly sheep were bogged.  Motored to Aunt’s with Gert & George, Eva of course.  Killed fat lamb 44 lbs.

MON 24   Still windy and wintry.  Eva & Co met 12.30 train with Will on board.  Afternoon a crowd walked over to Marne, took quarter lamb to Gundersens.  Brought bag of potatoes back from G’s.  At night all but one went to township extra heavy rain fell.  Children tired out.  George John & Will came back dripping.

Tuesday Xmas Day.   A nice cool day.  Youngsters made a rush towards the toys, old ones too.  A variety and abundance of toys, no war going on.  Dolls books guns &c my usual lump of soap – after shearing I suppose.  In the afternoon a game of “Rounders”.  Will went by express.  Mam George Eva to Alice’s at night Anton Svensen called, will shear Thursday.  His lambs went 33.93.

DEC 1917

WED 26   A summer day.  John and George chopped down half big oak tree near house.  All hands motored and drove to river near Thompsons and had pic nic children went into water.  Motored George to Auntie’s and train left by express.

TH 27   Motored to Ormondville and met Mr Hunter.  Called at several houses on road, dinner here, then Norsewood, Te Whiti, back to Garfield.  There was light rain in the forenoon, increased later.  Sent to Vacuum & Oil Co £12.

FR 28   A long wet day.  Mam Eva & Gert motored to Dannevirke.  Paid £13.13 to C.L. Neilsen and got something done to stop leak in car water tank.  Paid £1.19.5 to Williams & Kettle.  An accident on Otaiwha road.  J Vaughans horse’s leg broken by car.

SAT 29   A damp day, much rain, loud thunder, John not well, not eating.  H brought in two loads of firewood before heavy rain.  Eva & Gert phaetoned to township.

SUN 30   A very fine day.  John & Co drove to Ngamoko.  All the others to Church.  9 of a congregation counting a baby that Revd Whibley babtised – George Leonard then motored to Ella’s.  Messrs Tripe & Selby there.  Latter wires end of week, re lambs.

MON 31   Rain threatening none came, cloudy and breezy afternoon.  In the afternoon went with John to rake and cock Walkers hay.  Eva helping.  A very good crop, much oats amongst it, raked & cocked more than ½ paddock.  A bad season for harvesting, rain comes regularly.  Bloodshed as usual in Europe.  Enemy supposed to be on the decline but still intent on submarining.  Russian collapse and withdrawil, wants a seperate pease – one party, but there are many parties and no stable government, symptoms of Chinese and Japs coming in to assist Allies.  Turks defeated & nearly outed.

JANUARY 1918 TU 1st   Went to Walkers and helped him get his hay in, John finished raking Ted Arthurs, Billy Leopold & Tommy helping and Jimmy Arthurs in shed.  All hay in except rakings.  Mam Gert & Co called on Mrs Mulholland.  Wrote cheques for Herald £1.6.0.  Fertiliser Co £5.0.6. letters not posted yet.

JAN 1918

WED 2   High wind all day, impossible to load hay.  John mowed half of the meadow.  Walter Hollins called in his uniform and dined with us.  Drove with Mam in phaeton to R Mulhollands Funeral.  Short service in Church & at grave side.  Had afternoon tea at Mr Grants old homestead.  Gert and children left for home by coach, Eva accompanied, could not get the car to move.  Not much wrong.

TH 3   Finished repairing sheep yards coming to Dip.  John finished mowing Anton Svensen called, helped to get in cattle from back and dock two young bulls.

FR 4   Yesterday John’s Birthday, age varies, sometimes eight years old, again 12.  Anton Svensen came early with his sheep.  Peter Johansen came at 9.30 very heavy ewes, splendid wool.  Shore about 130 out of 215, all in shed tonight.  Eva raked Mr Walkers left out hay.  One of the young bulls docked yesterday dead got too much knocked about yesterday, was too old, left too long, neglect.  Mam has a touch of pleurosy.  Mrs Walker kindly attended to her tonight.

SAT 5   Another fine day.  All up at 4AM.  Anton & John skinned and cut up young bull.  Peter came again to shear, finished at 3PM and then helped Eva & Mr Walker who has been at the hay all day to get it in.  All hay – 9½ loads in shed, a little scattered to be raked on Monday next.  Mam better today, rubbing & pain killer helped her.  John & fam at circus tonight.

SUN 6   Anton came early – 6AM for his sheep, got all away after factory carts had gone home.  Mam & Eva at Ormondlle church.  Bertie & Arthur Engelbretsen and John out on Back, killed 2 rabbits.  Wrote to W Todd Wellington.  Sent £1 to Dinwiddie Walker & Co in addition to £1.6 sent a few days ago.  Price up.

MON 7   Got in ewes & lambs from each paddock and kept them seperate.  117 lambs from Marne at £1 each and 7 ewes at 30/-.  Rejects put back on hills, 239 lambs of ours picked out and 14 ewes.  Lambs 21/- and ewes 31/-.  Tonight 102 of ours at Railway Station and 124 of Will’s.  Remainder of our raddled sheep in paddock until trucks procurable.  Mam Eva & Mrs Walker went to Dannevirke.  Got case Dip and drum of liquid.  F Selby had big day picking.  Adrian came with reaper and binder.

JAN 1918

TU 8   Anton here early.  John went with him to Ormondlle in his gig, they trucked the sheep and back for breakfast.  Pressed Anton’s 5 bales = 44 fleeces each.  1 bale of bellies & pieces, not finished, waiting for skins, branded bales.  “Romney”.  Got in all sheep & picked out raddled lambs & ewes – 138 and 13 in yard tonight.  Adrian finished cutting the oats.  Got 2 cases “National Dip” from Wellington.  Soaked 5 packages.  One package supposed to dip 125 sheep.  Dammed creek.

WED 9   Up early.  Anton and John drove the lambs to Ormondlle & trucked them befor any road trafic.  Picked rape lambs and dipped them in new Dip all well dagged.  120 on Hughes rape.  167 on Hill & angle rape.  9 ewe amongst lambs on Huhges.  60 ewe lambs on Back to be kept, and many lambs too small to be put on rape now.  Mam & Eva at “Welcome Home” in Hall to Berty Gundersen.  Some ewe lambs with their mothers in various paddocks not counted yet.  Poor account of Makotuku sale today.  Nothing except fats salable.

TH 10   Warm close forenoon, cloudy.  Anton carted his 6 bales of wool to Ormondlle in 2 trips.  With Eva & John dagged all Marne lambs, picked out and dipped 80 of them for rape.  25 or 30 big lambs raddled red on head left with mothers to get fat also small ones left with mothers.  21 dry ewes dipped with the 80 lambs as leaders.  These are on the flat tonight, hoggets in bare shed paddock.  Cows in meadow today.  After dinner stooked oats.  Mr Walker helping.  Finished just before a thunder shower set in and kept on for a long time, every thing soaked.  Anton lost his watch amongst the stooks.  Berty Englebretsen called after tea, he & John gone fishing to Makotuku.

FR 11   Rain last night, fine for a while this morning.  John & Bertie caught many fish last night.  Anton and all the others except Arthur motored to Dannevirke.  Extra heavy rain fell in the forenoon.  Lambs & sheep very cheap in Dannevirke.  Paid C Smiths bill – £2.7.6 and Mackies £10 – with cheque £15.

SAT 12   Another wet day.  John & Eva emptied big tank, scrubbed& cleaned it out.  Anton came at midday, we had a squaring up, he buys young mare.  £2.0.0 allowed to him – he gives me a cheque for £12 as ballance.  Everything complete.

JAN 1918

SUN 13   Rain again today, light but constant.  Put hoggs out on Ridges for the present.

MON 14   Put Wills lambs on rape.  22 ewes put in small shed paddock for a day or two.  2 of the 80 lambs ran away down paddock, one lamb walked through fence off rape.  With Eva repaired fence as well as we could in a half day round rape.  John at Norsewood sale, he and Anton Svensen agreed with Jas Riggor and Castles to go out tomorrow to the latters place and see 400 rape lambs that Castles wants to sell.  Anton staying here tonight.  Circular from Wms & Kettle re valuation of wool agreed to leave it in their hands.  More rain, wet night.

TU 15   Another thorough wet day, rain unceasingly.  John & Anton breakfast at 6.30.  J Riggor called for them, his car punctured going to Ormondlle and refused to go any further, lost two hours at Ormondlle waiting for another car.  Got 330 lambs at Castles, small ones thrown out, offered at 6/- each not taken.  Reached Ormondlle with them at 6.30 put in Gear & Co yards for tonight.  Eva met them with car, after Anton  went home wet through.  F Selby & Cam called going from Waipukurau to Ormondlle, says our lambs fetched more than we expected and Will’s also.  Must wait until returns & cheque comes.  Bought a pair of strong boots at Mackies – 23/6 oiled them for this horrid weather.

WED 16   Rain last night and greater part of today.  John & Anton after breakfast went to Ormondlle where McGilvray after picking out lambs from six settlers picked out 97 of those bought from Castles to sell by weight.  Brought balance here to be dipped if weather favourable.  Got Gears cheque – £296.4.6 this included 7/6 exchange.  Lambs fetched 23/- and ewes 30/-.  Letter from Income Tax Commissioner – 15/- to pay as Income Tax – payable on 15th Feb.  My Land Tax was £22.18.1 paid long since.

TH 17   Foggy dark close & rain threatening in forenoon.  Anton took home 118 lambs his share of them – Johns 117 on flat, these lambs carries a great deal of bidi-bidi.  Rain set in at midday and continues.  Sent Gears cheque £ s d 296.4.6 and £12.0.0 cheque of Anton Svensen’s to Union Bank.  Paid Grants bill £3.16.  Boyle £ s d 4.10.3 & 15/ to Rickett out of £10 cheque.  Recd 4 copies “Weekly Irish Times”.  Mam & Eva at Allen’s.

JAN 1918

FR 18   Rain nearly all day.  Spent most of the day on a sofa with a paper &c.  Telegram from Williams & Kettle re valuation of wool.  2 bales hoggs 14¾.  6 bales X Bred fine 15¾.  5 bales X Bred 14¾.  Not much skirting done, mats included these prices are lower than last season and much less than the season before.

SAT 19   Rain Rain Rain.  9.30 and continuous.  Sofa again and Sydney Bulletin.

SUN 20   No rain to speak of after 10 days wet.  John & Freddy fishing, Ngamoko, got 2.

MON 21   A dry day.  Put all stooks down to dry Mr Walker helping.  Afternoon stooked all sheaves Mam & Eva helping – finished late and tired.  Mr Lund paid £1. to me & John for helping at his shearing &c.  Sent to H B Farmers, cheque £123.15.0.  Got in Castles bide bide lambs and dagged most of them.  42 yet to do.

TU 22   Anton Svensen came with his 20/- lambs, dipped by 9 o’clock.  Worked at the oats nearly all day.  Mr Walker helping and Eva.  Cut the bands and spread out the sheaf.  In the afternoon Eva & Mam motored old Mrs Curran to Dannevirke hospital.  John went to Manawatu for flax to tie oats.  J Thompson called about dipping his lambs tomorrow.  Letter from Williams & Kettle, they had a revaluation of wool got ¼ more for two bales of hogget wool.  Lambs return of weights &c and cheque £ s d 102.8.9 from Longburn.  41 lambs at 8d per lb.  56 lambs at 7¾ average weight 32.23 lbs.  Average per head 21/45.  Killed a lamb for home use, not very fat, only fair.

WED 23   J. Thompson & sons came at 6.15 AM with his 30/- lambs, after these were dipped we dagged remaining mob of our lambs and dipped the lot = 114 after which John Mr Walker Freddie Widt and later Eva flax tied the oats.  Went with Mr Grant in his gig to the funeral of Mrs O’Hara, Ngamoko, a very long procession of vehicles cars and riders, was with 5 neighbours pall bearer, after coming home found that Mr Walker had a piece of very bad luck in loosing one of his best cows in a drain.  We all went over and with tackle and mare got cow out, we skinned cut up and dragged away carcase [carcass].  About three parts of oats tied today.  Eva rode to Manawatu for more flax – after tea.  John helped Freddy milk.  Sent Longburn cheque to Bank.

JAN 1918

TH 24   Yarded the Castles lambs dipped yesterday.  Found dead ticks none alive, put them on hill & Angle rape.  Oats tied carted in & stacked, more oats to go on top, not cut yet, today Messrs Walker Widt Svensen & Freddy helping.  Eva also.  Gave Anton cheque for half proceeds of what lambs fetched at Longburn = £ s d 51.4.9.

FR 25   A fine dry day.  Cut cocksfoot in pine plantation.  John went in train to look on at Dannevirke stock sale.  Came home in Anton Svensens gig with him.  Anton paid for the dipping of his lambs = £1.  took half only, allowed for yesterdays work done in getting in oats.  Got return from Wms & Kettle for sale of 9 skins £3.1.?.

SAT 26   Mr James Thompson called and paid for the dipping of his    lambs = 30/-.  Got in Reserve sheep and Hughes, picked out 26 ewe lambs and put them in Reserve.  Put the rams = 11, in meadow, put a number of wether lambs on Hill rape.  Put 57 ewe culls except 5 or 6 good ewes amongst them on Flat, tarred the hoofs of lame ones.  Miss Julia Ericksen and Miss Ethel came today.  A very warm day.  Fine weather set in.

SUN 27   Another warm day.  Stayed at home today.  John & Freddy went fishing up Ngamoko way.  All the others motored to river, had their pic nic and bathed, paddled.

MON 28   Got in Back sheep picked out ewes mostly culls raddled blue over tail, the few good breeding ewes to be kept, raddled blue on back of neck.  427 ewes and 6 small lambs put on Back.  Put ewe lambs together = 111 dagged and dipped them, found many dead ticks on them after dipping, used 150 gallons water, one package of powder dip and half gallon Coopers concentrate fluid dip.  Put the lambs in Reserve.  Eva & Mam took Miss Ericksen’s to Dannevirke.

TU 29   Much rain fell last night.  Today dull.  Eva gone with Misses Ericksen’s, John gone with others mountaineering.  Sent to Fitchett Bros years subn and 1/- over for “Life”.  Killed lamb.

WED 30   Hans Nordbye dipped 297 lambs and Fierabend 309 good day to [?].

TH 31   A dull calm day.  Cut remainder of cocksfoot in Pinus plantation and sledged it to woolshed in sacks, spread it out to dry.  Opened gates for lambs to come off rape, stalks on to flat where there is lovely feed.  John home from ranges trip went as far as second rabbitters whare, foggy thin, unable to see far.

FEB 1918

FR 1st.   A cloudy dark day.  Repaired a couple of panels of fence in sheep yard.  Rode Tricksie over Widerups and part of back, plenty of feed.  John and fam trained to Dannevirke.  Dr Beedie saw Arthur gave medicine & advice, nothing much wrong.

SAT 2   Nice forenoon, wirenetted a piece of rape on Back.  H Nordbye came with his second mob of lambs, Brieske helping, lambs very daggy.  John helped to dag and dip.  323 today.  620 altogether.  Rain in the evening.  Sent to Widt cheque for £2.16.0.  No letter from Craig buyer for Whakatu.  John phoned Selby to come on Tuesday.

SUN 3   A cool day inclined to be wintry.  Mam to 11AM church.  Went to funeral of old Mrs Curran who was aged 96.  Afternoon F Selby called.  wires tomorrow and may pick lambs.  Poor little Joan dull and feverish from attack of chicken pox.

MON 4   Registered 3 dogs with Mr Walsh = 7/6 a wintry day.  Called at Office of Dairy Factory.  In the Evening F Selby called to say he will come on Wed at 7AM.

TU 5   Cut a couple of sackfuls cocksfoot round stubbles & put it in woolshed.  John bought in load of firewood and sheep off Widerups, picked out 50 and put them on back- ewes except 4 or 5 wethers, 477 sheep now on back & a dozen lambs.  Put 200 two and four tooth ewes on Widerups, there are a dozen good ewes on back.  Got in cut of lambs off Flat & killed a fat lamb for home use.  John put Marne sheep together for tomorrow’s operation, and all our rape lambs on Flat.  Letter from Williams & Kettle with account sale of 13 bales of wool = £340.8.3 made up = 2 bales X B hogget = £48.6.3.  Six XB fine = £157.10 and £140.2.6 for 5 bales X Bred.  Hoggs fetched 15d per lb.  XB fine 15¾d and XB 14¾.  1 bale of Bellies to be sold still and small bale of locks and pieces.  Expenses £5.10.6.  Railage £4.10.10.  Insurance from sheeps back 14/8.  cartage haulage on 15 bales at 4d.  £ s d 5.10.6.

WED 6   Up at 4.30 AM.  Very fine day.  Milked with Mam.  John yarded lambs & got in all Marne sheep across Flat.  F Selby came at 7.30 & picked out 145 lambs and 2 of our ewes.  Picked put 59 lambs and 16 ewes of Will’s = 222.  John drove these to Ormlle this evening.  We put 267 rejects on new back rape.  We dipped 316 all of the Marne flock that is left.  In shed paddock tonight.  No trucks at Ormlle tonight.

FEB 1918

TH 7   A warm calm day.  Cut some cocksfoot adjoining stubbles.  John could not truck lambs today, but can do so in the morning, trucks in Ormlle tonight.  Lambs in Gear Co’s paddock.  Afternoon cut some of the late oats with mower.  Mr Walker helping to remove sheaves from standing crop out of mares road.  Put Marne flock = 316 back into Gundersen’s – 97 lambs.  Todd Bros brought lambs.

FR 8   W Todd came at 5.30 AM and Jack his brother a little later.  Dipped 357.  Jack Todd went to Ormlle with John and helped him truck the sheep – 222.  trucks came in irregularly, sheep did not go by 9 train but went by a later one – 11.30.  John went to Dannevirke by train and home in Todd’s car.  Cut a bit of cocksfoot.  Mam paid a handful of bills out of a cheque for J Mackie for £10 = Hulena 19/6 Boyle – £2.15.9 P.G.Grant £1.16.8 J Mackie £3.8.10.  Fruit Inspector called.

SAT 9   A calm close day.  Oats cut Mr Walker helping.  Afternoon yarded Marne sheep.  Ran off lambs.  Put 60 of the best on rape and adjoining paddock with splendid feed.  Put the small 36 lambs in small paddock of clover & beautiful feed.  Ewes on hills where feed is fresh and not long.  One ewe & lamb left out, missed, will get later.

SUN 10   Some showers today.  John went to Ngamoko and brought home some trout and an Ayrshire heifer calf from W Torkilsen’s, about a week old drinks by itself.

MON 11   Rain greater part of the day, heavy at times.  John got in Reserve lambs and picked out 16 SD’s for rape.  Put all rape lambs on Hughes for a short time.  Put 94 back in Reserve.  A sore hand these last few days.  Blood not in order.

TU 12   W Todd came at 8 AM with his 303 lambs and dipped them before Brieske came with his 273 which we dipped by dinner time, Mr Whibley too.  Turned the oats to let it get dry for tying tomorrow, got in cut of rape lambs and killed a forty pounder.  A Father Xmas show in Norsewood.  Drove up in phaeton.

WED 13   A fine day for tying and getting in last of the oats.  Mr Walker helped all day.  We finished at 3.30 and put tarpaulin over stack.  Eva came up by coach after enjoying her holiday.  Mam paid Income tax and rent for Hughes out of a £10.10.3 cheque no exchange deducted or required to be added to a Napier cheque.

FEB 1918

TH 14   Motored to Dannevirke show, a very fine day, good outing and good show.  Picked up J Beatie near Gundersens, left his bike inside fence, picked it up on coming back, also gave Mrs Wiggins a ride back from show.  Saw Mr Prior and got bottle of liquid.  Mr Founeau and three boys at show.  Mam & Eva saw them, I didn’t.

FR 15   A wet day, rain set in before midday and continued, Got Gear cheque £ s d 160.15.6 in this is included 4/3 exchange.  145 lambs at 21/9 and 2 ewes at 28/6.

SAT 16   A thorough wet day, much rain last night.  Mr F Selby and his uncle Mr Selby (horse jumping judge at show &c) came at 9AM.  John got in lambs off rape and he raddled 78 lambs and 4 ewes, we put them back on flat for a few days until a truck is available.  Put rejects – 200 along with them.  Gave £3.0.0 cheque to Mam to go shopping with.  Sale at Mr Grants.  Bargains, less than cost &c.

SUN 17   Calm & cool after the rain.  All but John motored to Aunt’s in the afternoon.

MON 18   Fine day.  Hand seems better, did not use it much.  Picked up fallen fruit.  John got in and dagged Reserve sheep – 94.  put back with them 31 rejects out of 200 of F Selby’s rejects.  169 the best of the Selby’s rejects put on back fresh rape.  Eva telephoned to Ormlle but no truck.  Must keep lambs on.  She paid 14/2 to Chas Smith carrier and a few days ago James W Arthur was paid £1.5.10.  Mrs Grant & Ella called.  Eva has got a little pup from H Crossland.

TU 19   John fetched two loads from Hughes old shed site 24 nine feet iron lengths and 24 six feet lengths also totara big studs and dressed slabs.  Killed a good fat lamb for home use.  News from Ormlle that a truck will be there tomorrow.

WED 20   Usual weather, cool calm cloudy.  John drove the 78 lambs and 4 ewes to Ormlle at 8AM.  Would not leave Ormondlle until after 2PM.  He saw very poor sale at Makotuku.  Thrashed the cocksfoot in woolshed.  Sent to Wms & Kettle Dvk £6.18.0.

TH 21   A fine day.  John drilled paddock of oats and with oats grasseed clover &c and manure, afternoon he dug potatoes, good where our own small seed were planted, poor crop where large seed was used.  Cut cocksfoot in plantations, rather thin.  Agents for Gane milking machines called.

FEB 1918

FR 22   All hands motored to Dannevirke, and to the stock sale, yards crammed with sheep, good 2 tooth ewes 32/- and 33/- the highest, no demand for small culled lambs, poor demand for poor old ewes, 2 tooth wethers 30/6.  fair lambs not near fat 10/-.  One pen lambs near fat passed at 17/3.  Home at 6 o’clock.

SAT 23   Yarded shed paddock lambs.  Picked out 4 good ewe lambs and put them in Reserve.  Put the others 26 or so on back rape with the others there.  Put cattle off stubbles out on back.  Put 200 young ewes and 8 lambs off stubbles into Ridges.  Yarded Marne ewes, picked out and put by themselves 98 good enough for breeding – one lamb.  Culls – lame &c put in best paddocks.  Mr Love came with 49 big ewes and big lambs and had them dipped.  Paid 4/-.

SUN 24   Like a spring day.  Mam Eva & Mrs Walker motored to church & later to Aunties.

MON 25   A hot day.  Repaired floor outside carshed.  At Norsewood Sale.  John bought 2 SD rams at £1.1 each.  4 weaner steers £ s d 1.13.6 each, 131 woolly lambs 18/ each.  Put 114 of the best on Reserve rape.  14 and 2 SD rams on flat.  4 weaners on Hughes.  On Saturday last gave Eva 10/- for Dr Banardo, she gave me £ s 1.10 for cheque £ s d 2.0.6.

TU 26   A fine dry good dipping day.  Brieske dipped his mob paid 47/- cheque the total number is 563.  J Hutchinson dipped 168 paid 14/-  Adrian 17/6 dipped 212.  left one of our ewes here.  Mrs West and her boy called.  John and Mr Walker put 3 horses – “Duke” “Prince” and Grey in double furrow plough and ploughed stubbles – part of.  Horses went all right.  Mr Walker lent us 12 cwt lime.  Got in rape lambs and killed a small fat one.  Mob on Flat tonight.  Sprayed fruit trees with arsenate of lead according to instructions.

WED 27   A dry breezy day.  Mam & Eva went & saw Dr Beedie in Dannevirke, got remedies for Eva there.  Put rape lambs back = 176 and 33 mixed on Hughes.  Gears cheque £85.15.3.  lambs 78 at 20/6, 4 ewes 28/6.  John ploughing stubbles.  Salvation lady called, gave her 4/=.  Eva & Mam Tennis.

TH 28   A great month for grass.  Sent cheque to U Bank.  With Eva doctored lame ram and cull ewes – 86 on Marne, opened small paddocks to them.  30 on big island, 116 culls.

MARCH 1918

FR 1st   Gerts Birthday.  John rode to Dannevirke sale, did not buy.  Whakatu cheque £17.9.4 due as 10% kept back and received today – account sales &c for a year ago.

SAT 2   Showers today.  S Fredericksen wants to dip, too wet, also Roysthorne and others.  Cut Californian thistles at “corner” and John cut & grubbed in Reserve rape, ploughed big piece of stubbles, 4 cows on Hughes long grass.  Mr & Mrs Walker.

SUN 3   Fred Smith unable to dip his 28 lambs on a week day put them through today.  Afternoon saw very heavy rain.  Earmarked the 4 small steers.  John called at Rawsthornes.  Sent payment to “Wairarapa Farmers” £8.16.0 and H.B. Farmers £117.18.0.

MON 4   A thorough wet day and night.  Motored to Raysthorne, saw McGilvray.  He came in the afternoon and picked out 145 lambs, one half SD and one half longwool, some of them late Todd’s 18/- bought a week ago, most of them our own about the same number of rejects as fats left.  Could only get 24 at the Marne.

TU 5   Another whole wet day.  No trucks today.  Lambs in, killed fair one.  All on Flat now.  Eva got shoes removed on “Trixie” at Ormondlle good and satisfactory work done there.

WED 6   A wet day again, mostly light rain.  Trucks at station, did not know about it until evening or lambs could be got away at 2.30.  John got Marne 24 lambs over and we raced ours off and the lot – 169 he took to Ormlle to be sent tomorrow.  145 rejects put on Flat, one of them a ewe lambs meant to be kept.  Tonight Mam Eva & John motored to a Takapau Concert.  War News.  Russia dead prostrate.  Peace with the Hun signed at the latters dictation, & cut up into fragments.

TH 7   Motored to Ormlle and trucked the lambs, put 42 in each floor & 43 in one.  A wire from F Selby to say “coming at 2 o’clock”.  John got in Back ewes, picked 54 ewes 2 lambs and 1 SD ram.  Ewes worth less than 30/- not to be taken.  427 ewes amongst them a few small lambs put on Back again.  118 good lambs put on Reserve rape and 2 ewes and 51 small lambs put on Back rape stalks.

FR 8   The usual sort of day, but no rain until night.  John rode to Dannevirke Sale.  S Fredericksen dipped 121 ewes.  Dug nearly all potatoes in garden.  At night with Mam & Eva spending the evening at Walkers.  Bale of Bellies 11d per lb.

MARCH 1918

SAT 9   Rain in the forenoon, Mam & Eva motored to Dannevirke, but did not get anything done to car, as the mechanic required a whole day to repair & overhaul where a leak is taking place.  John shifted cattle out on Back where feed is plentyful, and sledged in load of maire.  Eva collecting for YMCA, is successful today one settler gave her 25/-, on German Line.  A neighbour of ours gave her 2/-.  A miserable creature in receipt of £300 a year & allowances whined at parting 5/-.

SUN 10   The usual day, dark calm wintry-looking.  Skinned old ewe on Flat.  Mam, Eva at Aunties.

MON 11   John trucked sheep for Gear Co to go by 9.15 train, 54 ewes 2 lambs 1 ram = total 57.  Paid out of a Nine Pound cheque Mackie £5.13.7. and J Bartlett – £1.12.0.  Paid to YMCA £1 and the same to Church Army.  Left Norsewood at noon, 4.30 Pakowhai.

TU 12   Late getting up at Pakowhai.  Will got Longburn cheque for 25 lambs, brought only 17/7.  Afternoon motored to Hastings, saw W Sturrick about sacks, Warren’s sells their empty sacks at 10d each.  Spent some time in Library.  At night all but one Pictures.

WED 13   Another fine day, all stayed at home, walked amongst fruit trees, some decaying.

TH 14   Got letter from John at home and Longburn’s disappointing cheque = £143.8.5.  145 lambs average price 19/9, average weight 29.80, one lamb over weight = 43 lbs.  50 1st quality 8⅛.  94 2nd quality 7⅞ lamb overweight 7⅞.  Motored to Napier, went to Chevelray [Chevrolet] car Agent and got leak in car stopped, paid 7/6.  Called at Amners about Lime.  Manure bags will do to send for lime, got all particulars &c.  Called at Union Bank saw Manager, lodged Longburn cheque except £3.0.0.

FR 15   Read Herald at Mr Fourneau’s.  After dinner motored to Hastings.  Gave £3.0.0 cheque to Mam to knock down, took two 2/- tickets 1/- each on Palmerston Art Union.

SAT 16   Motored to Taradale with Gert to get meat – 8d per lb.  Wired to John “coming home on Monday”.  At night as usual the family motored to see pictures, all but one.

SUN 17   St Patricks Day.  No snakes allowed in old Ireland except they have legs.  The whole crowd motored to C C Smiths and spent the afternoon.  Fine place.  good  sheep country, rich flats not far from the sea, good house woolshed &c.

MARCH 1918

MON 18   Packed up this morning and took leave after a fine week & good outing.  We managed to get 10 cases of Benzine from Will brought home in car 3 cases.  Benzine difficult to get.  30/- per case.  Paid Will cheque for £15.0 for cases.  Had tea &c at Waipawa, got home before 2 o’clock.  dipping in full swing, many sheep dipped here last week, today G Christiansen 300 paid 25/- G Thomson 200.  Yarded rams, SD rams lame.  Dressed & booted hoofs.  Put 4 SD rams with 200 two and four tooth ewes on Widerups.  Mrs Walker here tonight.  Eva helps her milk.

TU 19   A remarkable day, the atmosphere filled with smoke, darkness set in at 3PM.  Bush fires raging on trunk line, townships destroyed, railway bridge burnt.  Mr Walker cannot get home here today, wired “railway line blocked”.  Got in sheep bought on Friday last at Dannevirke 72 ewes good at 24/-, 196 at 23/6.  Picked out off these 169, the remainder lame, and put them on Hughes with 4 Romney rams and a SD ram.  Put 1 Romney and 1 SD ram with the 72 ewes.  Killed a good lamb for home use.  Ole Jonasen dipped 120 ewes paid 10/- Larson helped.  Sent to Manager Wairarapa Farmers Co-Op Assn cheque for Walkers cow £8.5.0.

WED 20   Put 99 ewe lambs and an old ewe out on back out of Reserve and put 72 ewes into Reserve with 2 rams a Rom & a SD.  Dressed the hoofs of 27 lame ewe picked out of the 196 bought in Dannevirke last Friday.  Put 3 more sheep in Reserve with the 72 ewes.  All but one motored to Ormondlle sports.  John won 3 or 4 events.  Mr Rawsthorne paid £2.1.0 for dipping 493 sheep.  Sam Fredericksen 569 paid £2.7.  Hirst dipped   paid £1.3.0, H Brieske paid 13/6.  H Escreet paid 1/-.  A.B Hansen dipped 402.  Painter Olsen 426.  Two young ladies for tea – Miss Essie Randersen and Miss Rowley.  A wintry day & night.

TH 21   A fine day after yesterdays rain & breeze, went to Marne with Eva, put 2 rams not lame with ewes on hills, put out 2 ewes with them to make 100 breeding ewes – doctored the hoof of one ram in small paddock with a useless poor ram and a 2 tooth stranger.  Put 73 lambs in flat paddock.  113 ewes in different small paddocks fresh feed.  Cheque £ s d 86.5.3 from Gear Co for 56 ewes 30/-, 1 ram 15/-, 2 lambs 29/- each.  John bought 2 good SD rams Makotuku.

MARCH 1918

FR 22   Harry Fredericksen and Hirst dipped 150 of S Fredericksen’s sheep and ten of Harry’s.  John got in Widerups 200 ewes and dagged them, too late to dip them.  There are 4 SD rams with them.  Many SD rams lame this season & bought ewes.

SAT 23   We dipped Widerups lot and put back.  A.B.Hansen came with 194 which we dipped before dinner.  We then got in Hughes 176 which we dipped and put back with 3 SD rams and 4 Romney’s amongst them – total 176.  that is 169 ewes.

SUN 24   The finest day of the season.  Mam & Eva went with Revd Wh. to Church.

MON 25   Could not wish for a finer day.  Milked with Eva.  John got in back sheep.  Picked out and put back the best with the ewe lambs – 399.  Picked out 37 young breeding ewes which we dipped & put on Hughes.  Picked out 39 crocks which we dipped and put on Hughes 2nd growth of rape.  Killed good fat lamb on the light side.  Mr Walker helped us all day with the sheep.  Mr Michael came with 122 lambs & dipped them, are in shed paddock tonight.  Leslie Campbell and young Bird called.  Tea man called.  Mam paid him for a tin of tea – 11/3.  Received from Williams & Kettle Bank slip for £21.4.5 nett proceeds of bale of belly wool sold at 11d per lb.  Received from Vacuum Oil Co Wellington £12.0.0 refund, could not supply benzine.  Receipts from Wms & Kettle for £230.6 and £86.8.0 from NZ Loan & Mercantile Co for cheques sent them for ewes bought at Dannevirke Sale and letter from East Tamaki with half amount owing.  Great battle raging in West.

TU 26   Beautiful day.  Mr Michael took away his lambs & paid 10/- Hayes dipped 258 and C Feierabend 410 and with lambs dipped before, paid £3.  Wiggins 40 lambs paid 3/6.  Sent to Union Bank a twenty pound note, a five and a Vacuum 12 pound cheque.  Letter from Mr Baumgart in France.  Grace & Joan went by train & met Milly Flora & Mrs Campbell.  The greatest battle the world ever saw and the biggest slaughter going on now in France.

WED 27   All but one gone from here to L. Campbells wedding.  Home in good time.  5/- paid to N Gurr for insuring house on Hughes.  J Berkhan dipped 30 lambs paid 2/.  Carted Mr Widt’s ladder home to him and carted home here Mr Christiansen’s pet lamb.  Wms & Kettle’s return for small bale of locks & pieces, regraded into 5 sorts – 211 lbs = £6.19.2.

MARCH 1918

TH 28   A fine forenoon rain threatening, came on at midday just as John & Freddy carted out oats and manure to ploughed paddock, it is on a door and well covered over.  Mrs Campbell and Flora came before the rain which continued all evening & all night.

GOOD FRIDAY 29th   Nothing much to write about.  John & Freddy shot a hare for dogs on back section.

SAT 30   A big day.  Back section ewes brought in and all rape lambs.  AB Hansen came over from his place with Mr Pallhill North British buyer and picked out 150 and 86 lambs to be sold by weight.  Eva had the Marne sheep mustered by the time John A B Hansen and Pollhill motored over there, they picked 75 ewes & 15 lambs.  Rejected ewes put on Back – 96 lambs on stalks for a few days.  Picked ewes put on Flat, picked lambs on Hill & Angle rape.  Dipped 75 for Tehern, paid 6/-.  Fat sheep to be trucked on Tuesday next.  Milly Campbell & Miss McPherson for lunch.  Mrs Campbell and Flora motored to Ormlle by Eva, they go on to Hatuma & home Monday.

EASTER SUNDAY 31   Dull cloudy day.  Wet wintry night.  Went with Eva & Mam to Ormondlle church, dinner at Auntie’s, went to Vaughan’s, Joe & Alice there.  Anton Svensen here.

MONDAY 1st APRIL 1918   A fine day Mam & Eva motored to Waipukurau races, picked up Inga Anton Svensen & James Thompson, got home at dark.  From here went with John Grace Arthur & Joan in phaeton to see Mrs Campbell & Flora off home in second express after their visit to Hatuma.  Afterwards rode to Marne raced off 75 ewes 15 lambs drove them across Gundersen’s to Flat & picked up our 150 ewes & 86 lambs and boxed them with Hans Nordbye’s mob at end of German Line, & John drove them to Ormondlle.  W Todd called tonight, wants sheep dipped tomorrow.  Put 2 packages Coopers to soak.

TU 2   Motored to Ormondlle with John & Eva, trucked all sheep, our 150 ewes 86 lambs Marne 75 ewes 15 lambs & a number of Hans Nordbye’s, went by 10 o’clock train to North British.  John & A B Hansen went with them in Guards van.  Dipped 174 ewes for W Todd.  Brieske helped.  heavy shower in the afternoon.  Mam & Eva motored to Te Ohu, saw Mrs & Miss Matthews.  A cheque from A.H. Hayes for £1.1.6 for dipping.  A wire from Will F saying he will meet John in Napier.  Mr Wahl buried today aged 88 years.  Mam & Eva at Walkers tonight.

APRIL 1918

WED 3   A very fine day.  Motored with Eva to Marne, we dagged the flock 39 ewes 54 lambs and 2 weak lambs left with ram and strange 2 tooth.  Put them on fresh feed.  In the morning we put 96 lambs of ours on Hill & angle rape.  In the afternoon dug some potatoes with Eva, ground a patch of sorrel.  Brieske’s £2.7 cheque returned.  W Todd came tonight with sheep to be dipped tomorrow.  Eva has letter from Mrs Veitch.

TH 4   A good day for dipping.  W Todd & nephew came early & put through 154.  With Eva got in the 27 lame ewes off meadow, doctored & dipped them and put out on Hughes.  The lame ones getting better, not many lame now.  Sent by C Smith 2 bundles skins and a medium hide for Wms & Kettle’s next sale.  Better accounts from the Front.

FR 5   Heavy rain last night fine today.  Afternoon dug potatoes with Eva amongst a mass of sorrel.  Mr Walker found bull in Freddy’s paddock.  Eva & Mam at concert.

SAT 6   A beautiful day.  dug & picked some potatoes.  John came home by coach & train.  Was present at N.B  freezing works & saw lambs & ewes killed & weighed.  Lambs 82 1st at 8¼, ewes 150 at 6⅛ only 4 lambs 2nd at 7¾, ewes 51¾ average weight, lambs = 29.16.  Motored to Ormondlle with Mam & Eva paid C W Smith blacksmith £ s d 2.7.6 met Mr Anderson & Miss Anderson on platform – came by express.  After tea Mam Eva Mr & Miss anderson went to Norsewood pictures, a failure.

SUN 7   With Mam Eva Mr & Miss Anderson went to Church and to Aunties, a wintry evening.

MON 8   Got in oats and grasseed – latter a mixture of rye a little cocksfoot and cowgrass, Freddy helped.  Got in Marne ewes & lambs rejects.  50 of the best lambs on shed paddock or flat tonight, doctored and put back ewes & 5 small lambs, one lamb killed, a couple of ewes & a lamb on big island and 2 heifers.  Saw Mr Brieske.  Got returns from North British for sheep = 150 ewes 26/6 lambs 86 first class (£ s d 284.2.8) all but four, no 2nd amongst ewes.  £1.10 for droving & trucking included in cheque.

TU 9   Went to Factory with Mr Anderson saw Mr Thomson, he paid £1.10.6 for the dipping of his sheep and those of Mr West.  Hayes the other day paid £1.1.6 by cheque for the dipping of his sheep.  John ploughing with Freddy.

APRIL 1918

WED 10   A lovely day.  Took in Marne lambs off flat, picked out 25 of the best and put them on Marne, second growth rape, put the others with ewes.  Put all our lambs 96 on end of back 2nd rape.  Mended bridge on Hughes.  John with Freddy.  George came by express.  At night all in the house went to see pictures except Arthur and another.

TH 11   A wet day.  Burnt a big matai backlog.  Killed a lamb off rape.  John put in P.O. his North British sheep cheque and two small ones.  At night 6 of us at Walkers.

FR 12   Mam Eva George Mr & Miss Anderson motored to Dannevirke.  Paid £1.17.9 to Williams & Kettle.  Got Boyle’s receipt for £3.9.5.  Paid into P.O. for War Certificates £100.  With John mustered ewe & lamb rejects, put 26 Marne lambs on our rape, skinned dead lamb.  Left 4 or 5 scrag lambs with ewes = 39.  At night Mr Mrs Walker & soldier Lincoln came over, there were all sorts of games indulged in, Freddie here too, until 12.30.

SAT 13   Eva Mr Mrs Walker & Mr Lincoln motored to Dannevirke.  Mam & George phaetoned to Alice’s.  John finished drilling Freddy’s oats.  Mrs & Miss Matthews called.  Pictures tonight.

SUN 14   A beautiful day.  All but one individual left here to pick-nicking at Parsons sawmill back of Te Ohu.  Freddy put his horse in our buggy.  McLeod’s family went also the Walkers & soldier Lincoln, all got home before dark.  Mam Eva Mr & Miss Anderson at P. Church.

MON 15   Got in rape lambs, picked out 18 ewe lambs and 1 wether lamb good woolled, picked out 1 SD lamb for killing.  Mr Anderson & Miss Anderson we motored to Ormondlle express.  Soldier Lincoln left by same train for Rotorua.  Train again full, our departing guests had to stand, Mr Mackie called re patriotic.

TU 16   A beautiful day.  Out of an £18 cheque paid Mackie £8 odd.  W.M Thomson £6.10, Hulena 13/6, P.G.Grant £1.11.0.  Came home & helped John dag the ewe lambs off Back which he got in early 109 ewe lambs, 13 wether lambs, 6 two tooth wethers. 190 ewes.  Put 3 young breeding ewes on ridges, rest Back.  Much uneasiness felt for some days on account of the terrible German drive on West front.

WED 17   Finished digging & picking potatoes.  Motored to Ormondlle – met Mr Beckett.  John at Lunds earmarking & branding their ewes = 169.  All except one individual at the pictures tonight.  Better news from front.  Eva has letter from Mrs Veitch.

APRIL 1918

TH 18   A very fine day.  James Thompson came with 399 ewes & his son & dipped them.  Eva motored Mr Beckett to Ormondlle.  He went to Takapau was disappointed in not meeting one who promised to see him and had to return here.

FR 19   Another nice calm day.  Eva Mam George & Mr Beckett motored to Dannevirke.  Mam & George went on to Eltham.  The others back & brought back a drum of Coopers Dip.  Mr Thompson dipped 262 lambs.  He paid cheque £3.10.  of this amount £2.15 for dip, 10/- Church, 5/- Arthur he also left 2/6 for red cross.  John dagged Reserve ewes = 74.  3 Rams 2 wethers.

SAT 20   A thorough wet day & night.  Eva motored Mr Beckett to Ormondville to meet lawyer & do business in Takapau.  Miss McAlister came up by coach, here.  Cow “Louie” had her 2nd calf three days ago – a heifer, was milked the day before she calved, she was very hard to milk, but since she calved is much easier.

SUN 21   Light rain, cloudy & threatening.  Church at 2.30.  Eva attended.  Miss McAllister left.

MON 22   A big sheep day.  Got in rape lambs.  But Mr Pollhill took only 12 lambs.  Got in back ewes and he took 77.  Got in Wills ewes & lambs, he took 14 lambs 13 ewes.  This left 26 Marne ewes 4 small lambs.  1 stranger 2 tooth ewe & on our rape 11 lambs besides 26 put on back rape on 26th March.  Put 50 of our ewes on Marne small paddocks.  100 rape lambs on flat tonight.  69 rejects besides the 50 on Marne.  On Reserve 122 ewe lambs, amongst them 13 wether lambs make up the 122.  No trucks until 2.30 tomorrow.  A big mob in our shed paddock tonight.  Todd’s Roysthorne Nordbye Hansen Lund ours make 478, to be trucked tomorrow.  Eva & Mrs Walker motored to Dannevirke after tea, brought back Mam & George.  Put on Back 74 ewes 2 wethers 2 SD rams off Reserve.  Off Hughes 239 and 4 Rom 3 SD.

TU 23   John drove the big mob of 478 fat ewes & lambs owned by various Norsewood farmers to Ormondlle and with the assistance of AB Hansen we put them in trucks for 2.30 train.  John went with them to Napier, 34 on top & 34 in bottom of truck.  George left by express.  A hawker called, Mam bought cloth from him, paid him £9 cheque.  Tonight Mam & Eva at Methodist Sunday School Annual meeting.

APRIL 1918

WED 24   Very high wind today.  Drove up to hall in express with Mam & Eva & Mr Walker.  Took 2 sacks firewood a variety of goods for a jumble sale & 2 roosters from Freddies.  Took charge of a sheep for guessing purposes, a 2 tooth wether, weight 60 lbs won by 2 people & balloted for, 57 guesses.  Cake guessing doll & kitten guessing &c.  Brought   for Red Cross.  Pictures at night.  Children asleep came home befor the others.  Drove up a second time for Mam Eva and parcels, home not until after 12 o’clock.  Drove up to Hughes and carted home load of firewood.  Sent Land Tax paper to Commissioner.

TH 25   Calm again after yesterday’s storm, John came up by coach, was at Gerts.  Picked out 34 of the best old ewes left on Hughes 4 acres – 39 of them, and put them on Gundersens.  Put 35 of them on meadow, one ewe unable to stand, killed for dogs, in good condition.  At night all but Grace & kids went to see conjuror in hall, 2/-, 3/- and 4/- good entertainment.

FR 26   Dagged and dipped (a second time) 97 rape lambs, on flat tonight.  Kept out of them 2 for killing undipped.  Dipped Reserve lambs = 123.  fourteen wether lambs amongst them.  Another puppy from Lunds, 5 dogs now.  Mam & Eva at Allens.

SAT 27   A beautiful day, sawed some rimu on Flat for chaffcutter expected here on Tuesday next.  Put dipped mixed lambs – 97 on back rape and got in Widerups 202 ewes & 4 rams SD.  Raddled 2 tooths red on head and put them on Back.  Put Reserve dipped lambs on Widerups = 123.  mended some sacks in woolshed.  John carted in load of firewood.  Another terrible attempt of the Huns to break through.  On Back now 203 off Widerups 196 bought.  74 bought.  37 picked out of Back – young.  510 ewes.

SUN 28   A fine calm day, only Miss McAllister & Freddy with us for dinner.  After dinner Miss McAllister & Eva rode to Mill track & along tramline.  Inga with them.

MON 29   Grace and 2 children motored to Ormondlle for Pakowhai, 10 o’clock train.  Filled 7 sacks chaff in chaff house.  Killed lamb in very good condition.  At night with Mr Walker and Mr W M Thomson joined Patriotic Comtee in Library.

TU 30   Trixie & Filly shod at Ormondlle yesterday.  Rain forenoon, fine afternoon.  John & Bertie went shooting – this entry is wrong, meant for 1st May.

MAY 1918

WED 1st   Rain forenoon.  John & Bertie Engelbretsen went Manawatu way shooting got 2 ducks each.  Very fine afternoon.  Killed & skinned Romney ram that was unable to stand in meadow.  Shifted Marne sheep, mob from ram paddock to small shed paddocks.  North British cheque came £110.9.9.  77 ewes brought 25/3.  12 lambs about 20/-.  Droving & trucking 30/-.  Mam John Eva at Pictures.

TH 2   We dagged dry ewes on Marne and put mob 80 – 4 lambs included – with another mob of 35 and let them have the run of all small paddocks at shed.  Shifted the 100 breeding ewes off hills on to Gundersen’s. but on big island today.  Alice and Charley came in the afternoon.  Mam delivered red cross funds = £50.  Better news from the front, good stand by Allies, great slaughter of Huns & defeat.

FR 3   Rode over Marne.  Saw breeding ewes in big island = 100.  3 rams.  2 Wiggins.  Skinned ewe lamb on Ridges.  Anton Svensen for dinner.  The others motored Dannevirke.

SAT 4   A light frost.  Anton Svensen with flock before breakfast.  Paid £1.0.0 for dipping 251 sheep, fine sunny day.  John got in load of firewood.  Sent 5/2 to Secretary Rabbit trustees Herschel St Napier.  Skinned Marne lamb.  Miss McAllister Mam & Co at pictures.  Better news from front.  Austrians would like to withdraw.

SUN 5   Dull calm cloudy day.  John & Freddy out for a shoot, got nought.  Eva & Miss McAllister for a ride up Ruahina [Ruahine?] way.  Motor car eratic [erratic], goes in fits and starts.

MON 6   A busy day.  Had a difficult job to get in cattle from back, a cow which has a calf running with her was not broken in made away with her calf, the latter is wild and could not be brought to the sale, was left behind.  Although cattle was very much down at the sale we got good prices for 5 head.  A steer £12.  fat cow £9 – 2 heifers 18 months or so £11.5.  one small heifer £4.0.0.  Sent to Fertilising Co a call of £5.0.6.  At night Mr Brieske came & paid £2.7 for dip.  Killed a good fat lamb and a big murdering gobbler that tried to do for me.

TU 7   A very fine day.  Put Marne ewes off big island into middle paddock and 34 old ewes into Reserve.  Cow “Whitetail” has bull calf on Flat.  Eva and John trying to get car to go greater part of day, managed to make it move.

MAY 1918

WED 8   Preparing for chaff cutter which came at 2.30 from Gorinskie’s.  Cut over four tons before knocking off.  Mr Walker and Arthur Lincoln helping Eva forking with me on stack, she got Trixie clipped at Ormondlle.  3 at Pictures.

TH 9   A beautiful Autumn day, sunshine and calm.  Finished the stack at 12.  Freddy helped also Mr Walker & Arthur Lincoln.  Shed chock full and sacks in cart shed tiered up.  F Selby came at 12.  Eva had lambs yarded & ewes too.  He is not taking lambs, works full, he agreed to take all ewes as they stand and we are to get whatever is in them, suits us splendidly, put lambs back on rape stalks.  F Selby is to get McGilvray to take a truck load next Tuesday.  The ewes go from here then.  Put 40 ewes in Reserve, 40 on Flat and 96 on Gundersens.  A Dannevirke boy overhauled car did something, paid 5/-.  Chaff cutters shift to Selby’s farm and make a start today.  Paid Martin £6 for cutting our 8 tons, reckoned to be worth £8 per ton.  At night Mr & Mrs Walker Arthur and 3 school teachers also Inga came & played ping-pong.  In leaving the girls at home the car stopped at Walkers hill and John & Eva pushed it back.

FR 10   Beautiful Autumn weather.  Sifting oats from the chaff where chaffcutter stood.  Eva shifted Marne ewes from 10 acre paddock to shed small paddocks.  She and John succeeded in getting car to go.  She ran him to F Selby’s oat stacks where he worked today with chaff cutter, he Mam & Eva at “Orphans” concert tonight.

SAT 11   Still fine.  Mam Eva Auntie Ella Walkers McLeods and Thompsons Cave hunting.  John and Freddy finished chaff cutting at F Selby’s.  Met Grace & children with phaeton they came by express.  Finished sifting oats.  At night Mam Eva & Miss McAllister pictures.

SUN 12   Calf in shed a record drinker, gulphs [gulps] the milk without finger.  Carved a big fat turkey cock for dinner.  Eva & Miss McAllister rode Ruatakaki way.  Inga with them.  Arthur Lincoln for tea and he then biked for Ormondville.

MON 13   Got in Back sheep, dagged & picked out lame ones.  Put back 509 all counted, SD and Romney rams.  15 lame & mixed ones in shed paddock.  Recd £34.17.1 for cattle sold at Norsewood.  Fat sheep bought by Pollhill here tonight.  Big game ping pong.

MAY 1918

TU 14   John up at daylight, went shooting with W Mortinsen beyond Te Ohu sawmill, got 3 pigeons each.  Mustered ewes for drover Halford = 176, he took them to Makotuku at dinner time.  Put rape lambs in hill paddock.  Sent to Bank £34.17.1.

WED 15   Got in lame ewes and dressed their hoofs, used Coopers liquid dip – a little more than half, and water, and tarred hoff[hoof] after a minute’s soaking sewed pieces of sacking over two or three bad hoofs, they are on battens all night.  Wrote to McGillvray about taking a truck of lambs, but Eva saw him in Norsewood and he promised to come.  She shifted Marne ewes out of small paddocks.  John carted in two loads of firewood.  Paid Mackie’s bill with £5 cheque.  Killed a SD ram for dogs, was bad with footrot.  Mam & Eva at Pictures.

TH 16   Put lambs on Reserve rape = 105 amongst them 36 Marne lambs – 4 poor lambs with lame ewes on Flat.  A few fat ewes and 6 wethers with lambs on rape.  Got in ewe lambs and dagged a few – killed a middling lamb for home.  Sledged gravel to gateways.  Filled sheep returns.  500 Breeding X Bred ewes 109 lambs 13 wethers 6 SD rams 4 Rom rams.  950 dipped 23 Feb & 25 March.

FR 17   Mr McGillivray came at 9AM.  Picked out 72 lambs at £1 and 33/- for one 2 tooth ewe.  Put them back on Reserve rape for a few days.  Ella B and Miss Allen called on some cat business, gravelled and concreted at tank.  Alice brought half a pig.  John concreted chimney.  Patriotic Meeting.

SAT 18   John took 2 horses to Anton Svensen’s and drilled his oats.  Will Gert Bazil and Betty met at express with car and Eva.  Afternoon all hands walked over paddocks and yarded ewes, dagged the ewes that required it and doctored some hoofs, took the 3 SD rams out, 58 days in.  Pictures, most.

SUN 19   Anton Svensen brought his 57 ewes and put them with our 72 lambs and one ewe.  Total 73.  John drove them to Ormondlle.  Eva and Will got in the young filly from Back, roped her but she pulled down fence, cut rope and let her go.  Will met with a misfortune, slipped on a piece of timber and injured his ancle [ankle] seriously.  Eva & Gert took him to Dannevirke Hospital, is there now.

MAY 1918

MON 20   Trucked the sheep before breakfast = 72 lambs 1 ewe = 57 Anton’s ewes.  Motored to Hospital.  Gert was allowed in, nothing done by Dr to Will’s ancle so far.  Visiting days Tuesdays Thursdays and Sundays.  Stayed a while in Dannevirke’s splendid library.

TU 21   Repaired fence at stockyard broken down by unbroken filly.  Motored to Dannevirke with Mam Eva Gert Betty & Bazil all went to see patient in Hospital, nothing broken about ankle, can leave in day or two.  Had a puncture on road.  Got something done to car at Neilsen’s.  Rain in Dannevirke.  Got two woolshed pen door springs at Williams and Kettles.  Freddy brought up three young beasts, 2 heifers and a steer bought by John.  He bought 15 sacks of chaff and some tipped out on that in shed.  £73.15.0 cheque from Wm McGillivray for 72 lambs at £1 and ewe 33/- and exchange 2/-.  Tonight at 7.10 Mam & Eva went to great concert in Dannevirke, they pick up Mrs and Miss Mathews at Te Ohu.  Anton Svensen called, his dog has strayed.

WED 22   A showery wintry day.  Tidied up woolshed, put springs on two pen doors.  Got Gear & Co’s cheque for the last sheep of the season – 176 ewes at 23/- a satisfactory price for class of sheep, most of them good for butchers, but many poor and lame.

TH 23   Burning backlogs, a wintry day.  Mam Gert & Eva motored to see invalid not to come away before end of week.  Sent the 2 cheques to Union Bank.

FR 24   Put 5 horses off Flat into Back and Freddy’s 3 weaners into Hughes.  Winnowed the oats, got a sack and over of clean oats.  Killed good lamb and turned back on Reserve stalks – 31 lambs, 9 of them Wills.  Wintry showery cold evening.  Anton Svensen came at night, was pig killing today.

SAT 25   Another rough wintry day, much rain, creek up.  Anton Svensen brought a pig dressed, weight said to be 171 lbs.  Cut up and put in salt.  Anton took away filly to break in.  Mam & Eva at Pictures.  Bank slip to hand for £276.1.0 and one from Williams & Kettle – a slip for £2.2.2 for skins.  2 skins 12/6.  9 lambs £1.15.0 one skin 3 lbs – fetched 9d. and one 1/- one hide not sold yet.  Train fare 2 bundles 1 hide 3/7.  Several wintry days now, but animals well off for feed.  Not overstocked.

MAY 1918

SUN 26   A breezy day.  John and Mr Bellamy went prospecting Makeretu way.  After dinner Mam Eva Gert and 3 children motored to Hospital, a few days more stay.

MON 27   A fairly good day.  Got in firewood from back and got 2 sackfuls for kitchen fire in Hall.  Got in lambs off Reserve stalks.  Killed a 35lb one put the others into fresh feed.  At night went with Mam Eva & John to a concert given in honour of returned soldiers, had to speak on the subject, there was a supper 6d and dance 2/- for Gents.  Money collected was over £12.6.0.

TU 28   Eva & Gert motored to Hospital and brought Will home.  John got in firewood.  Carted some gate timber from Hughes.  Must hang gate on back of sheep yards.  The Germans have started another try to break through line & get to Paris.

WED 29   A backlog day, nothing doing outside made a gate in woolshed.

TH 30   No encouragement to work outside.  Got in lambs and killed fairly good one.  Not good news from front.  Germans pushing back Allies &c &c.

FR 31   With John Grace & Joan drove to Ormondlle station to catch 9.15 train to Dannevirke, return ticket 2/10 second.  Attended Farmers Union Meeting.  John went to sale, good lambs 22/- came back by express.  Ada 2 children and Ella came up here and back in our absence.  Miss Mathews Mam Eva at Concert.  Bad news from front.  Germans pushing Allies back several miles.  Allies outnumbered.

JUNE 1918

SAT 1st   Got in Back sheep.  Crutched and put on Hughes 60 ewes all rams, 1 lamb owned by Adrian – total 73.  put in Reserve 50 ewes crutched.  Eva Mam Gert pictures.

SUN 2   A wintry day.  John Ngamoko way.  Put in shed 28 ewes 1 lamb may dry tonight.

MON 3   Crutched 28 ewes, 1 lamb, put them with lambs on Ridges.  Killed a medium sort of lamb.  Hung gate in sheep yards.  Disinfected &c &c.  Very bad War news.  Huns driving everything in front of them – on to Paris.

TU 4   Mr Walker unroofed Eva’s room, placed Rubberoid on boards & put iron on again.  Mr & Mrs Fourneau came and went back by express.  John bought at N sale 89 ewes in lamb at 27/- for Will.  Better War news.

1918 JUNE

WED 5   Made a place in hayshed to hold chaff, tipped 8 or 10 sacks into it.  Got in all sheep off Back, crutched 100 in the afternoon, branded & put them back.  103 in shed tonight, remainder uncrutched in Hill paddock.  Better war news.  Huns stopped from reaching Paris.  American ship torpedoed.  A Bank slip from Williams & Kettle – 6 lb horse hair 4/- this with small hide 19/2 nett.

TH 6   Anton Svensen came with hand shearing machine and boy we finished the ewes = 258 done today, got in lambs off Widerups = 109 and put them in shed.  After tea Mrs Ludvigsen Miss Annie Olsen & her brother John.  Mam Eva and Gert motored into Dannevirke, left car and came home express.

FR 7   Finished the lambs and the Marn ewes = 100 put wool in press.  Anton brought his flock late, yarded and put some in shed.  Paid £7.10 cheque to Mr Boyle out of which he is paid his account £3.10.2 – deduct 6d exp.  Paid C Smith’s bill = 2/8 for carriage of skins & hide.  Huns taking another rest.

SAT 8   Killed lamb yesterday.  Will drove Mam Gert Eva & Betty to Ormlle for train.  They came home in car.  Finished crutching Antons 191 flock by dinner time.  Put his crutchings 110 nett lbs with ours.  Crutched our meadow flock of 13 ewes and 7 lambs – latter small, total breeding ewes 509.  lambs 109, and lambs for killing and small 30.  Mrs D Grant called at tea time to say good bye.

SUN 9   The usual fine Autumn day.  Mam Gert Eva & boys motored to Alices, back quickly as Mr & Mrs Wallace were expected to call, they stayed only a few minutes.

MON 10   John carted in 3 loads of firewood, rata roots &c.  Hung bacon in kitchen and hung fresh salted under verandah.  Filled & sent to Wellington Income Tax paper.  Mam Gert Will Eva & Betty motored Dannevirke and the Hospital Dr removed the plaster from Wills ankle.  Paid Wms & K £4.19.3.  Killed a medium lamb, no good lambs left, must put them on turnips.  Anton Svensen left 2 cows here tonight, purchased by Mr Wallace of Waikopiro £12 & £14.  Wrote cheque tonight for £10 to pay Insurance on hous [house] furniture & piana = £3.13.8 and Mackie’s bill for £5.9.2.  Insurance due on 10th of this month.

JUNE 1918

TU 11   Got in a load of firewood, wire-netted off a piece of turnips and put 26 small killing lambs on it.  Paid Mackies bill and Insurance money.  Many married men called up, some have appealed hardly any allowed.  light rain set in during the afternoon.  Rawsthorn’s 15 fat lambs in yard tonight.

WED 12   Light rain.  Spent an hour or two with W M Thomson.  John & Will had a look at newly bought sheep on Marne – 89.  Will sent cheque tonight to “Wairarapa Farmers” in payment for same.  John went to Makotuku Sale did not buy.  Paid R Fredericksen – Freddy” £5 for 3 young cattle bought.  Mam Gert & Eva at pictures tonight.  The most terrible battle going on now.

TH 13   A backlog day, nothing doing.  At night Mam & Eva went to young Vigors send off.

FR 14   Another backlog day.  John went copper mine hunting.  Mam & Eva Ngamoko concert.

SAT 15   Rough morning.  John pressed bale of crutchings and bundled 17 skins.  Got in Reserve sheep and killed old ewe for dogs meat.

SUN 16   Eva’s Birthday.  21 today.  In good health and spirits.  She takes War Certificates.  At night Mr and Mrs Walker for tea, we had a nice evening party.

MON 17   A fine day, did some work about the place.  Lambs on turnips thriving a bit.  Got them in and killed a fairly good one.  John went to N. Stock sale, did not buy anything.  Will able to get about without a crutch for a bit.  Two days ago, Cow “Blui” seemed to be round, bull with her.  Eva at surprise Party.

TU 18   Sent by C Smith’s express 2 bundles of skins and bale of crutchings to Williams & Kettle.  John & Will went to Tehern’s [?] sale.  At night Miss’s Lund Mr Belemy.

WED 19   A doubtful sort of day.  Mr Riggor called to ask about sheep brands earmarks &c.  Mr Bellamy & John up first river coalmine hunting and sampling minerals.

TH 20   Mam Eva Gert Will and Betty motored to Dannevirke.  Paid £7.3.6 to C L Neilsen out of a ten pound cheque.  Will returned his crutches to Hospital nurse.  Something done to car.  John rode over to Riggors, crutching going on, none of our sheep there.  Killed a very fair lamb off turnips – one of the 25 or 30 rejects.  They are doing very well on a corner of turnips.  Mam Eva Allens, Joe Alice and Charley came afternoon.

JUNE 1918

FR 21   Rain in the morning, showers all day.  A clearing out.  Will Gert children Mam and Eva motored away at 10AM.  War News.  Italians repulse Austrians.

SAT 22   Another rough day.  John poulticing middle finger.  Bale crutchings cwt qr lbs 4.0 5.  Received from Dannevirke Pub. Co the sum of 15/= as interest on shares valued at £15.

SUN 23   A breezy sort of day.  No one came no one went.  Milked 2 cows twice, drying off two.

MON 24   Went with mare and wagon to Hughes, carted away rubbish from shed site to heap to burn, carted home load of washing wood.  At night rain, drove with Mr Walker in phaeton to reading room where the annual Patriotic meeting was held, a committee of 15 appointed.  5 a quorum.  Messrs Chicken & Speith Chairman & Secretary.  Self and A B Hansen elected Delegates to Soldiers Asso held monthly in Dannevirke.  Better War news.  Italians defeating Austrians.

TU 25   A fine day, sawed some henaus on Back for posts and carted home load of firewood.  Mam & Eva got home from Pakowhai at midday.  Dried off and put out on Back cows “Molly” and “Bobtail”.  War news still better.  Cow “Whitetail” in company with bull today.  May or may not be round.

WED 26   Sawing & splitting on back and got home firewood.  Killed good lamb.  Eva at Mrs Allens tonight, protecting Miss Allen from Ghosts, has tea there.

TH 27   Anton Svensen brought Eva’s filly home here broken in yesterday.  She is quiet to ride.  We sawed at totara stumps until dinner time, afternoon went out again but rain came on and we had to return.  Eva at Allens tonight.  Yesterday Frank Hutchinson came collecting for Red Jersey.  Mam gave hime 10/-.

FR 28   A wet day, reading in big chair.  Eva riding young mare.  Miss Mathews & Miss Banton called, Mrs Walker came over with phonograph repaired.  Eva at Allens.

SAT 29   A fine day sawing & splitting on Back.  Killed lamb for dogs.  Recd £3.6.10 from Wms & Kettle – Dividend & Bonus Warrant.  Mrs & Miss Mathews called.  Mam pictures.  Eva Allens.

SUN 30   A fine day, frosty morning.  Eva & Miss Mathews went for a ride ranges way.  Rickett dug out rabbit on Flat.  Anton for tea, took home one of his flitches of bacon.  Eva at Allens.

JULY 1918

MON 1st   John and Berty Engelbretsen getting firewood, matai roots &c Ridges.  Killed lamb off turnips, medium only, 20 left, in shed paddock for a change.  Miss Mathews here tonight, came with us to farewell concert.  W Hansen comes home and receives his medal on stage.  L Andersen & Eggleton farewelled, dance followed.

TU 2nd   Anniversary of our marriage    years ago.  Sawed and split posts and rails on Back, afternoon turned out wintry and wet, snow fell at night 6.30.  Eva put sheep off Flat on to Hill paddock an [and] put most of Hughes on Flat.

WED 3   Very heavy rain last night and tonight, not much today.  Anton brought a good dressed pig, bought at Philips’s, in salt tonight.  John drove the dried off cows “Molly” and “Bobtail” to far end of Back where there is good feed and other cattle.  Eva rode to Fothergills with Church money £6 – took with here [her] £3.6.10.  Warrant order from Williams & Kettle out of which she paid on my account £2.  Mam Eva & Grace at Pictures tonight.  Killing lambs on Reserve flat for a change.

TH 4   Rainy still, ground saturated.  Eva rode over paddocks.  John over Marne.  Allens.

FR 5   A white frost.  Nice day, sawing & splitting first class rails on Back.  Gundries cheque for £1 – Church money returned for Eva’s signature.  Eva Brabazon instead of Miss Brabazon as written on cheque by Gundrie.  Gave Mam cheque £2.

SAT 6   Fair forenoon rain evening.  All hands and the cook motored to Dannevirke.  Attended Patriotic Meeting held in Mr Stubbs Office, Ward St.  Much business gone through by Sec Quigley and Chairman Ransom – men of great ability.  Mam Eva & Arthur at afternoon pictures in hall & Red X Orm.  Mam Eva.

SUN 7   A fine cold day.  Afternoon with Mam & Eva motored Aunts.  Freddy for dinner & afterwards he & John over paddocks shot 2 hares.  Methodist Church they went at night.

MON 8   A showery muddy day.  John carted home 3 loads of firewood.  Recd £ s d 4.2.4 cheque from Mrs Todd.  Killed a fair lamb – 21 left.  Visitors Mesdames Grant Clarke Walker.  Misses Mathews Grant & Pettersen.  Mam & Eva motored to Methodist church to hear a lecture by Rev’ Foster on South Sea Islands affairs, no others turned up.

JULY 1918

TU 9   A fine day.  Crosscutting on back, got good posts & rails.  Mam & Eva at Dannevirke, home by dinner time, at Allen’s tonight.  Married men with two children medically examined today, many from Norsewood.  War news says Von Mirback, German Ambassador, ruler of Russia assasinated.  Austrians smashed by Italians and driven out, 25,000 prisoners taken &c.

WED 10   Another fine day.  Crosscutting & splitting posts & rails on back.  Eva drove the 3 young cattle – 2 heifers & a steer bought off Freddy, from Hughes on to Back.  Quiet on Western front, daily expectation of tremendous onslought by Germans to break through.

TH 11   Big rainbow in the morning, terrible rough day, wind & rain.  Eva met Helen Beckett at express coming here from Levin.  Nothing done today.  Several men called up.

FR 12   A dry windy day.  John split rails near 3 gateways, mustered & mended lime sacks.  Miss Mathews Mam Eva Grace & Helen Beckett at concert tonight.

SAT 13   A fine day for outside work.  Helen Beckett motored to 10 o’clock train.  John & Mr Walker sawed off and carted away limbs & branches of oak tree near house.  Knocked over one of the white rabbits, they destroy flower buds.  Burning logs.

SUN 14   A dull calm day, rain when night fell, with Arthur planted 2 young gums in Wellingtonia plantation gap.  At church with Mam Eva and Arthur.  Mam took Arthur to Presbyterian S. School but he would not remain without her.  After church all but John went to Aunts.  Mr Lee from Onga Onga called, stayed a while.

MON 15   A rough day.  John went to Norsewood Sale, bought 39 hoggets at 15/10 for Will, put them on Marne.  Anton Svensen helped him.  Killed fair lamb for home use.  Alice & Charlie called on their way home from Eltham.  Joe joined here.

TU 16   Not a day for working outside.  Breezy cold and showery.  John split firewood at 3 gateways, went up with wagon, rain set in, brought home load.  Allens.  The great German-prepared push started and Marne crossed.  All depends on who wins here.  Italians continues to drive and defeat Austrians.  Signs of Russia gathering strength.  Mr Boyle yesterday delivered bag flour here – 19/6.  everything dear now, pictures 1/1.

JULY 1918

WED 17   A fine day.  Frost after the rain.  Dragged wood with mare to big log at three gateways, burning well, got home load of firewood, afternoon John and Anton Svensen went to Alick Hegh’s sale.  Bought 2 pieces of wood for swingle trees for 3/- and Anton bought big coach for £5.  Return from Wms & Kettle £4.9.3 for 17 sheepskins – 13 at 12d = £3.19.0, one 9/7 and one 3/6 &c.  Mam Eva Anton pictures.

TH 18   A good burning day.  Sawed & burnt logs &c at 3 gateways.  Sent £ s 5.5.0 cheque to pay Mackie’s bill.  John grubbed up turnips buts with adze for hoggets.  Killed a poor lamb for dogs.  Great German drive going on, as yet not successful.

FR 19   A fall of snow last night, thick heavy flakes this morning ground covered.  All hands went over to Walkers, much snow- balling, plenty of hay for cows & bull in sheltered places.  The 3 calves enjoy the sweet hay under the trees in front.  The three hacks, one of them harness – get hay and chaff, are covered.  Plenty of meat for dog.  War News good, French & Americans defeat Huns, take prisoners and guns & drive back.

SAT 20   Snow almost gone John grubbed out turnip butts & shifted ewes off hill paddock.  Made fires near 3 gateways.  Eva visited Oldershaw’s, at Pictures tonight, rain & wind.  More war news.  30,000 German Prisoners and 100 guns taken by French & Americans.

SUN 21   Another fall of snow last night, blue sky, half ground covered, very cold.

MON 22   Cold wintry day.  Much snow on ground.  At night Misses Caughley & Brewer and Freddy spent the evening with Ping Pong games &c.  John killed a good lamb.

TU 23   A breezy bitter cold day.  News of snow-falls all over N.Z. it has disappeared here.  John chopped down big rosebush at entrance from road.  Sent cheque £ s d 30.17.6 to N.Z. Loan & Mercantile Co Dannevirke for 39 hoggets.  Telegram from Bazil to say “Daddy passed C W [?], writing tonight”.  War News good.  Huns driven back.  Allens.

WED 24   A cold dry day.  Motored to Meeting in Lutheran Hall, big attendance, two or three loud aggressive characters.  1/9 per lb paid for butterfat, it was said that 1/10 was paid at Otaiwha.  £100 donated to dependants of Navy men.  Willy Torkilsen and James Veale came to dinner.  Motored both ways.  Changed cheque £3.0.0 at Mackies.  Names of Hawkes Bay men called up in Evening News.  John’s not there.

JULY 1918

TH 25   A mild day.  Helped John cart his belongings to Marne house.  With Mam and Grace & children – all went with last load, laid linoleum & put things in their places.

FR 26   Frost this morning.  John fixing up his furniture.  Mam walked over to the Marne and back in the forenoon and Motored to Alice’s afternoon.  Cow “Darkie” brought in by Eva yesterday with red & white heifer calf.

SAT 27   Frost this morning.  John over here with mare and express at 8AM.  We sawed and split posts & rails at 3 gateways.  Fetched home firewood, got lambs in, killed one – only midling.  John took mare and express home and a few things.  Yesterday Alice gave Eva a little rut [runt?] pig, drinks off a spoon.  Better War News.  General Fosh laying it on the Huns, hope for continuance.

SUN 28   The hardest frost of the season.  John and Arthur came over and with Eva drove cow “Blui” and the white calf over to Marne.  Rev Whibley called and we three went to evening church.  Afterwards went with Mam over to see little Joan.  She knew us at once and was delighted.  Nice place for children, home for tea.

MON 29   John and Arthur came over.  Got in Widerup’s sheep, picked out 108 hogg’s and put them on turnips after netting off a piece.  Got in back ewes = 358 took 112 out of them and put them on Widerups.  Put 272 ewes on Back all in good condition.  Sometimes snowing and sometimes sunshine and warm with coats off.  At night a fall of snow, rode up to Patriotic meeting only a quorum of 5.  Funeral today of Mrs Gribble Sen. who passed out in Dannevirke aged 83.

TU 30   A rough forenoon, fine afternoon.  John killed & skinned good fat ewe with bearing down, twins.  Ernest Parsons left bushel wheat for hens from Boyles price 9/-.  Eva sledged manure to her garden in afternoon.  Mam walked to Joan’s in afternoon.  War intelligence remain good.  Huns retiring and being slain.

WED 31   Nice forenoon, cold evening.  End of the roughest and wettest July on local record.  John and Arthur, carted in load of firewood coming across paddock laid posts & rails at 3 gateways.  John carted home 4 hens and a calf to drink his spare skim milk.  News that Turkey has broken off relations with Germany.

AUGUST 1918

TH 1st   A fine morning but turned out one of the roughest days of the year.  Sawed a rimu log up the gully, got some posts & rails out of it.  Storm at night.

FR 2   A great storm last night.  A gum tree in second yard blown over against macracarpa.  John lopped off some limbs and in sawing off a heavy one it fell against the ladder, broke it in two and John fell from a great height and came on his back, was unconscious for a time, with mam got him into house, felt very bad for some hours, could not remember how it happened.  Mam walked over and brought Grace and children to stay the night.  Eva sledged home the drownd hogget and rode over back to see springing cows.  Sledged away gum limbs to bushy heap and chopped into firewood lengths gum limbs.  Windy forenoon, very nice afternoon.  Not cold today.

SAT 3   A windy day.  Attended Patriotic meeting in Dannevirke.  Mam & Eva.  Going to Dannevirke John & Co came round with us, coming home all had tea at John’s.  Paid Gibbs 10/-  for 40 trees.  At Ross & Co was measured for suit.  Very high wind tonight again.  Mam and Eva at Pictures.  £5.13.9 cheque paid to C.L. Neilsen & Co.  A three pound cheque written out for Williams & Kettle Mam did not change.  Recd for factory shares cheque £1.1.7.

SUN 4   Rode over to Gundersens and helped John & Mrs Gundersen kill little pig.  Very big wind.  Eva has a cold.  War Anniversary meeting in hall, we did not go.  Wind.

MON 5   Snow & hail in the morning, afternoon fine.  John came over, got in lambs.  Killed a good lamb.  Saw Mr W M Thomson about Mr Highfield removing to another house.  John saw Mr Walker about building.  Grace & children came.

TU 6   Wind all day long and cold.  Freddy for dinner, he and John repaired bridge over Marne creek.  Letter from Wms & Kettle Saturday re crutchings – fetched 11½. [Alle].

WED 7   A calm day at last.  A sickly ewe hogget nearly dead, bled it for skin’s sake.  Mam and John preparing a front room.  Gert and Betty came up by coach unexpectedly.  Not much news from front.  Huns torpedoed hospital ship and many patients drownd.  Germans much on the decline, the corner turned.

AUGUST 1918

TH 8   John and Mam finished papering front room.  Put in small strainer at brown gate and strained up wires.  Bagged 60 sacks for lime and bundled 18 sheepskins, gave chaff to cows tonight instead of hay.  Mam Gert Eva to Dannevirke.

FR 9   Light rain forenoon, heavy in the evening.  John & Mr Walker inspected empty house at Hughes.  Gert & Betsy left by express.  Mam & Eva motored to Ormlle.

SAT 10   A fine day.  All hands motored to Dannevirke, was fitted by tailor Ross.  Had photographs of three taken- Father Son and Grandson by Mr Egerton.

SUN 11   A fine day.  Mam & Eva motored to Church, none.  Then to Aunts & home early.

MON 12   John & Eva took cow “Whitetail” and red cow running on Marne to Norsewood sale.  “Whitetail” small, giving milk.  Killed good lamb.  Fetched £6, two others in full milk, not enough hay for more than two.  Red cow, not fat quite fetched £7.9.6 in calf, not wanted.  At night all hands at red cross concert carried out by Ormondville people, Norsewood patriotic people helping, big crowd, took £22.

TU 13   Sent by C Smith’s team 2 bundles skins – 18 to Williams & Kettle and 3 bundles sacks = 60 to W.A Amner & Sons Napier for lime.  Worked at post and rail fence (for plantation) with John and Freddy, strong & rough.  Eva found a hogget drownd in Marne creek and one a few days ago this makes three in a short time, she shifted them today.  They must be sold.  Eva rode over paddocks, saw a few ewes with lambs, one ewe slipped 2.

WED 14   A very rough day, wind rain and cold.  A poor chance for lambs just dropped.  Eva found on Wills a ewe with twins, one dead and one nearly so.  She brought the live one home, heat from the fire restored it, she put the skin of a dead twin on it & shut it up with ewe and then found a ewe with triplets, 2 dead brought live one home, is tonight walking about.  John chopped firewood and went over back, several ewes now with lambs.  Freddy for dinner but day too rough for fencing.

TH 15   High wind and cold forenoon.  Dug holes for trees at 3 gateways.  Recd cheque £6 from J Smith Waikopiro.  C L Neilsen’s car stopped at our gate.  Eva had to motor to Dannevirke the driver, Mrs Thackery and two bank clerks.  Grace & two children called.  Mam went.

AUGUST 1918

FR 16   Frosty morning, fine calm day.  Finished plantation 3 rail and 2 barb wire fence and planted 42 trees, half macrocarpa and half pine.  C.L Neilsen’s man took his car home from here.  Paid Boyles bill £3.16.0 yesterday.  Paid insurance on woolshed – 8/8 to Mabel Thomson.  Drenched “Bobtail”.

SAT 17   A fine day, John and Freddy getting houseblocks.  All others motored to Dannevirke, got some repairs done to car.  Got suit of clothes, paid £7.12.6 to Mr Ross he makes a splendid fit.  Got 1cwt potatoes, called Australians 13/= got pocket knife – one blade 3/6.  Bought axe at Mackies – 10/= same in Dannevirke as regards price.  Recd cow cheque from Wairarapa Farmers Co As. £7.2. Comn 7/6.  Arthur came with us, sleeps in cot in our bedroom.  Mam and Eva at Pictures.

SUN 18   Last evening after coming from Dannevirke Eva sledged from Marne one ewe and 3 hoggets, skinned them this morning and after Mam and Eva motored to Ormlle Church, sledged the 4 carcases over to Walkers for their pigs.  Rode “Trixie” over Widerups and Back.  Eva today found another hogget drownd in a Marne gully.  John went to Te Ohu sawmill with Berties second hand roofing iron and got in return some pieces of timber.

MON 19   A dry breezy day.  Carted out to meadow stockyard manure with Eva.  Miss Higgins for dinner, came up by coach and Mam & Eva went home with her.  John and Freddy taking down old house at Hughes.  Killed nice lamb.  Mam paid Mackies bill – £3.10.1 out of cow cheque of £7.2.  Dis 1/9.

TU 20   Finished carting out to meadow stockyard and other manure.  John and Freddy taking down old house.  Some more lambs.  Spring day.  Mam Eva at Allens.

WED 21   A very fine day.  Spread most of the manure heaps, at midday after lunch motored to wedding of Mr Belamy and Annie Lund, Revd Poole clergyman.  Picked up John Grace & children at Mackies and motored them home afterwards.  Numerous nice presents.  Miss Theobald for tea, she Mam & Eva went to Ormondlle concert.  Class C men Expeditionary Force called up.  John’s not amongst them.  Eva gave a comic song in Character, received a boquet [bouquet] – cauliflower & red ribon [ ribbon].

AUGUST 1918

TH 22   Finished spreading manure heaps in meadow.  Mam paid £9.14.7 Hughes rent to Post mistress.  Received Bank slip for crutchings £20.12.6 from Williams & Kettle.  110 lbs of this wool belongs to Anton Svensen.  Mrs Grant and Mavis called.  John & Freddy taking down bricks of chimney in old house.

FR 23  Every day fine now.  John brought in “Prince” from back and with “Ginger” Eva drilled 3 bags manure on meadow.  Mam working at flower-beds.  John & Freddy taking down chimney’s at old house.  Sledged tools up to 3 gateways and fired a log.  “Life” came today, none came last month.  A farewell concert tonight for Private Murphy.  Eva & Cyril Parsons in character.

SAT 24   Cow “Darkie” with bull.  a drying wind, not good for young trees lately planted.  Eva harrowed meadow.  Lambs coming slowly, ewe with 3 lambs one taken away and put on ewe with dead lamb, she took easily.  Very good war news these days.  Huns being driven back, big hauls of prisoners.

SUN 25   Calm day, nice rain for meadow in the afternoon.  Eva & Mam church.  Motored to Aunts.  Eva sledged home hogget from Marne – the 4th.  Saw Manager of Te Ohu sawmill at hotel, gave him order for timber for church.  Slow lambing.

MON 26   Fog this morning indicating much rain, which came on in the evening and poured all night.  John found ewe dead on back died through being unable to lamb.  Sledged her home with another ewe & lamb to be penned up, she soon took.  Took big lamb from 2 tooth ewe on Widerups got both in, she also took, sledged 50 yards of wire netting to 3 gateways and stakes to put up temporary yards for penning ewes with lambs, made a couple of hurdles.  At night Misses Archibald Caughley Brewer & Gibbs came.

TU 27   An unlucky day.  Rain last night and today, very heavy now at 10.30 no chance for a lamb born tonight being able to stand up, must die.  John and Eva brought in many dying lambs and put them in front of fire several recovered, 2 with their mothers under cover, giving cows milk to three.  Eva found one of Wills ewes drown’d in creek near Pastor Le Garths.  At Allens.

AUGUST 1918

WED 28   Rain all last night, and light today, raining now at 11PM.  Mam & Eva in Hall at Red cross business.  Some dead lambs seen today.  John brought in 2 two tooth ewes off Widerups, one with dead lamb and one with dying lamb, latter brought round in front of fire is now sucking a good mother, the other ewe has taken to a twin lamb with lambs skin on, both on battens and dry tonight, 2 tooth ewes in good condition and have plenty of milk.  Good War News these days.  Huns being driven back & many prisoners taken.

TH 29   No rain today, cloudy & sunny.  John & Eva through ewes & lambs, a few lambs found dead but many twins.  Anton for dinner, squared up for pork & crutchings.  Gave him cheque for £12.8.10.  One pig at £4.10.  half pig of 171 lbs at 7d per lb.

FR 30   A fine day, with John put up temporary netting yard at 3 gateways put in 2 tooth ewe unable to lamb, he took the lamb away, penned her with it and she is a splendid mother.  Dragged a few logs with Prince and made 2 hurdles.  John shifted hoggets from turnips on to 6 acres rape paddock.  Good War News.  Huns on the run.  Eva does not feel well this evening.

SAT 31   August goes out well, beautiful day.  More ewes & lambs coming.  One fine ewe again with bearing down, seen to.  Sent to Thomas W Deakes £5.0.6 being a call on shares by Fertilising Co.  Dragged logs together & heaped them at 3 gateways and sledged posts to site of new yards.  B. Engelbretsen helping John & Freddy unroof old house.  Carted load of the iron here tonight.  Raked in manger seed on burnt ground at 3 gateways.  Mam & Eva at Pictures.

SEPT 1918 SUN 1st   A fine calm day.  Mam Eva Miss Theobald & Miss Craig motored to the Ranges, car went bung, had to leave it there, came home in Walker’s gig.  After tea Misses Theobald & Craig came and spent the evening.  In the afternoon went out on back with John and we put 24 ewes with twins on to flat and then on the oats – 27 ewes there now with their twins and room for more, many twins on the back near Riggirs.  A noticeable growth of grass in paddocks.

SEPT 1918

MON 2   Dull calm day, rain threatening.  John skinned ewe that he took 2 dead lambs from yesterday.  he put skins on other lambs, ewes took to them.  He and Mr Walker worked a while at old house.  Did a little at 3 gateways in the afternoon, but rain came on.  Killed nice lamb, put 11 left on turnips.

TU 3   A fine day but foggy in forenoon.  Shook manger seed about new yards.  John Berty and Mr Walker at house-pulling.  Arthur here tonight.  CL Neilsens motorist came and with Eva took our car to Dannevirke towed to his.  She came home in C.P. Andersen’s car driven here by him.  For tea & cards Miss Theobald.

WED 4   A fine day.  A ewe that was ailing on Ridges, with John took away 2 dead lambs after a deal of trouble.  Left a small mother less lamb with her, she seems to take to it, a 2 tooth ewe that will not take to her lamb is penned up in netting enclosure.  Put up 6 pannels [panels] of fence at new yards.  Eva got Prince shod.  John Berty and Mr Walker house pulling.  News that young O’Leary is killed at the front.  Terrible fighting going on.  Germans being killed & prisoned.

TH 5   A very fine day, worked at top yards.  Eva & John amongst ewes & lambs.  John Berty and Freddy pulling down.  At night Misses Theobald Caughley and Miss Brewer for tea and cards.  Two days ago Eva got slippers put on “Prince”.

FR 6   A dull calm day, rain threatening, came on heavy in the evening.  Sledged posts and rails to new yards.  Eva shook rye grasseed on burnt patches on back.  John Freddy and Mr Walker board shifting.  Berty examined & turned down.  At night Miss Theobald for tea and spent the evening.  Very heavy rain.

SAT 7   Almost a wet day.  A Romney ram and a ewe dead on Hughes.  John skinned them and penned up a ewe on turnips that had a dead lamb, put a motherless one with her, many lambs saved this way.  Mrs Wiggins called.  Eva met Miss Macallister at Ormlle express.  Mam & Eva at Pictures.  Fine night.

SUN 8   A fine day.  Mam not feeling will in the morning.  Eva at Church alone.  John mothering lambs.  Miss Theobald for tea and spent the evening.

SEPT 1918

MON 9   A spring day.  Sledged some rails to new yards, sledged home from enclosed pen at 3 gateways ewe and lamb, both penned in shed tonight.  Killed a fat small lamb.  John mustered Marne hoggets, dagged and sold for 26/3 32 of them in Norsewood Sale, 2 left behind in paddock.  Neither Freddy or Mr Walker worked today at house- pulling.  Eva searched & found Walkers mare.

TU 10   Another spring day.  Sledged posts & rails to new yards.  John and Mr Walker carted timber from Hughes.  John saw Fierebend about leasing Currants – part of it, this side of road.  Cow “Bobtail” round, on Widerups with bull.  Entertainment in hall.  Mam Eva and Miss Theobald after tea went there.

WED 11   A very fine day.  Worked at new yards.  John agrees with Fierebend to to take Currens house & garden for 12 months.  He Freddy & Mr Walker carting the house timber and stacking near stockyard.  Miss Theobald for tea & evening.

TH 12   Another fine day, worked at yards.  John helped Mr Walker kill his pig and they with Freddy carted the last of the timber.  The 2 bundles of skins £4.3.11.

FR 13   A perfect day.  Worked at new yards.  John & Mr Walker stacked up timber near stockyard and covered same with iron sheets.  Timber carting finished now.  Arthur’s Birthday – 5 years.  A beautiful Birthday cake with his name &c on it.  Made by Mr Edkins and ordered by Granny.  Eva gave him 2/6 [Vafather] 5/=.  Yesterday Whakatu returns of lambs & sheep frozen came to hand and £32.2.7 cheque, ballance of percentage kept back.  No fresh lambs.  Miss Theobald came.

SAT 14   A beautiful day.  John got in “Duke” and “Blui” off Back and made a start to plough Reserve flat.  in the evening “Blui” was ailing – griped or something of that sort, lying down and restless.  Mam kept moving him about until she and Eva drove in the phaeton to the pictures.  Went over to Walkers to tell him about horse at 9.30, in bed, no lights.  Kept moving horse until 11.30.  seems better.  In one respect good war news, Germans being driven back and thousands of prisoners taken, but at great expense to New Zealanders.  Poor Walter Hollins killed, the latest sad news.  Heart breaking for his mother.

SEPT 1918

SAT 14 cond   Worked at yards.  Molly brought in with jet black bull calf.  Recd £ s d 40.14.9 nett from Wararapa Farmers Asso. for Wills 32 hoggs – sold at 26/3 last sale.  Norsewood.

SUN 15   A dry breezy day.  John rode over paddocks.  Mam walked over with eggs – thatched heap of timber with iron, timber and slabs for weight &c.  Eva not well today, stayed in bed.  Complains of her head & limbs, a cold.  Miss Theobald called.

MON 16   A windy day.  Did a bit of work at new yards.  John ploughing Reserve flat.  Afternoon shifted wire netting on turnips, and put hoggets off ploughed Reserve flat on to fresh feed.  Killed a midling lamb, light.

TU 17   A breezy day, at new yards.  John finished ploughing Reserve flat.  Mrs Higgins and Blanch called.  Eva over Marne a few fresh lambs.

WED 18   A rough September day, rain and a little snow.  John brought in two motherless lambs – twins.  Eva went to a football match in Ormondlle sold some homemade sweets, won nail-driving competition & spent the evening at Mrs Allens.  These sports were got up on behalf of “Coppertrail”, “Red Cross” and brought in about £14 or 16.  John got Military Telegram to prepare to go up.  Sent cheque to Williams & Kettle Napier for £7.10 and Wms & K Dannevirke £1.3.2.  Paid out of Ten Pounds cheque for J Mackie, latter £4.16.2½.  P.G. Grant £2.15.9.  Eva also paid to Berty Engebretsen for work done at pulling down hosue 35/=.

TH 19   Auction Sale at Currens.  Has sold out and cleared out, and gone for good.  Will came up by coach and went back by coach after riding over Marne.  Mam & Co. drove up to hall to attend a WCTU meeting on behalf of Mine Sweepers.  Collected amongst a small meeting about £5.  Paid R Fredericksen £3.12.0.

FR 20   A very fine day.  All hands at Walkers potatoe planting.  John ploughing them in.  After dinner there, went to 3 gateways.

SAT 21   A September day.  Windy and cold.  Mam and Eva went by train to Dannevirke – Eva to get car which she brought home and Mam to buy potatoes and do business, a sack of potatoes costs     .  John took away horses to plough 4½ acre paddock on Hughes.  Rode over Widerups, no young lambs coming. Pictures.

SEPT 1918

SUN 22   A nasty September day.  Motored to Methodist Church.  Commemoration Service in memory of Walter Hollins and then on to Aunts, back again to Anglican Church and a congregation of six.  Miss Theobald came back with us.

MON 23   John went all over back, saw a ewe with fresh twins, about the last.  Eva found two ewes cast on Wills and a hogget on turnips, put them right.  Killed a big lamb not very fat.  Made three hurdles near stockyard.  Good War news.  Turkish army smashed, killed and taken prisoner.  Huns being driven right back, beaten but bad weather favours them.

TU 24   Fine forenoon, rain in the evening.  Finishing up at new yards.  Eva Mam Mrs Hollins and Mrs Satchwell motored to Alice’s.  At night Mavis Douglas and Miss Theobald spent the evening, something about a hen.

WED 25   Put in henau strainer at new top gateway, dreadful hard and slow to bore.  All the others old and young went to Ormlle football match.  Ormlle won, rain came on in the evening, much rain during the night.

TH 26   High wind and cold, did not finish digging strainer hole at three gateways, too windy.  Joe Alice Charley Mrs Satchwell and little girl for dinner.  At night attended Patriotic meeting.  Difficult to find items.

FR 27   A lovely day.  John working with me at 3 gateways.  Put in totara strainer gatepost &c.  Eva put skin of big dead lamb on a small house pet.  At night all hands at concert.  Dannevirke performers.  Soldiers Institute, about £5 clear.

SAT 28   Worked with John at new yards.  Put in big totara strainer – gatepost, fence complete past old gateways.  Sledged away rubbish, chips &c.  No young lambs.

SUN 29   A beautiful day.  After dinner, went accompanied with Miss Theobald to Vaughans.  Mrs up and about.  Mr in bed.  Called at Aunts.  Wrote W A Amner Sons, Box 1.

MON 30   A summer day.  John mustered Reserve found ewe drownd in creek.  Docked Reserve = 40 ewes, 1 Hog, 6 wethers, 53 lambs.  Oats = 27 ewes, 1 Hog, 53 lambs.  Hughes 60 Ewes, 10 Rams, 64 lambs.  Widerups = 121 Ewes, 1 wether, 110 lambs = total 248 Ewes, 280 lambs.  Mr Walker helping.  Eva met Will Gert & children at Ormlle.  Will helping afternoon.  Killed good lamb.

OCT 1918

TU 1st   A summer day.  Mustered back and yarded them easily, had a 50 yards wing of wire netting.  With Will held the lambs, all good = 287 and 245 ewes, big per centage, the 2 tooths on Widerups = 90 per cent, average all round 115.  finished back by dinner time, then mustered Marne = docked bought ewes, lambs 75 ewes 88.  Sanders = 97 ewes 115 lambs all good.  2 hoggets.  Good War news, Bulgarians surrendered.

WED 2   A breezy forenoon, fine afternoon.  Skinned ewe found drownd in Reserve.  Will mended tank at Marne.  Afternoon all hands went to see football match in Fred Smith’s paddock.  Norsewood won, 5 points to Nil.  At night all hands went to concert.  Oliver Christophersen and J Fredericksen presented with medals.  Walked home after concert with Will Gert & bairns.

TH 3   Anniversary of my landing in Wellington N.Z. felt fearful cold.  1873.  All hands planting potatoes in Marne rape paddock.  At home docked 2 calves.  A summer day.  Will Gert & Co went home.  News from Front keeps good.  Allies progressing.  Prisoners and towns taken.

FR 4   A nice calm day.  Sledged earth to gateway at new yards and brought home odds and ends.  Eva rode over all paddocks, saw ewe with young single on Marne.  Got posts ready for new fence in front.  Cheque paid Boyle £3.2.0.

SAT 5   A breezy day.  Motored to Dannevirke, attended Patriotic meeting.  £ s d 9.5.6 cheque paid to C L Neilsen for car repairs.  To Photographer Eggerton £1.12.6.  Four pounds patriotic funds paid into Bank of N.S.W. and cheque to Soldiers Institute.  Charley Smith and Walter carted 3 tons of lime for us from Ormondlle.  Three more tons at Ormondlle to be brought up.  Eva found ewe cast in Reserve.

SUN 6   Another pair of twins on Back and an undocked lamb on Hughes.  Eva rode over paddocks.  Afternoon all at church.  Miss Theobald evening.

MON 7   Shifted gate going out in front, and converted totara studs into posts.

TU 8   A wet and dry sort of day.  Worked at fence in front when not raining, Mam at Red X meeting.  John & Freddy shifted tank from Hughes to Currans.  The Germans and Austrians want Peace.  Allies not at all eager.

OCT 1918

WED 9   A good growing Spring day.  Got in sheep off rape hill paddock docked 9 lambs, this makes 576.  a few undocked not counted.  10 ewes, 6 Hoggs this makes 503 ewes.  113 hoggets.  7 wethers.  10 rams and a few killing hoggs.  the hggets on turnips taken off today and distributed – 70 on Back.  20 Widerups, 15 on rape hill = 105.  Worked at fence in front.  Mam Eva & John at Takapau football match.  Takapau won.  Some Norsewood & Makotuku did not attend.

TH 10   Arthur has made a start for school in company with Paget children.  Dull calm forenoon, afternoon wet.  Worked at fence.  Sent Amner £ s d 5.4.9 crossed cheque – W.A. Amner & Sons.  John carted in firewood and chaff home.  Left Biddy here while her mammy is at a bargain sale in Ormondlle with Mrs Paget.  Jimmy Arthur’s selling off the contents of his big store.  After tea Eva and Miss Theobald rode round block.  Mrs MacDonald came late to tell us that our bull was with their cows, he jumps fences.  War news tonight says Cambrai has fallen.  Kaiser fallen on his knees to pray.

FR 11   Eva went early for bull to McDonalds and put him in Reserve.  John at bargain sale, bought hayfork, branding fluid, curry comb &c.  At night Eva and Miss Theobald rode round by Kopua.  Recd Whakatu cheque £ s d 2.2.7.

SAT 12   All hands except one motored to Dannevirk for John’s examination.  He was turned down owing to broken collar bone affecting muscle of left arm and toe of right foot being injured at one time.  7 out of 8 would not appeal, the 8th underwent a strict examination.  Paid Mackies bill £ s d 2.1.11 out of Whakatu cheque of £2.2.7.  Fence in front completed & well done.  Chas. Smith & Son carted up more lime and stacked it in cart shed.

SUN 13   A lovely day.  Went to find number of posts required to repair fence between Will and Feirebend.  Eva and Miss Theobald after dinner did the Te Ohu sawmill ride.  John went fishing up Ngamoko way.  Mam in the afternoon had a delightful tea and gossip with several other women at the Marne.  Pet lamb has disappeared, whereabouts unknown.

OCT 1918

MON 14   Sledged out posts and tools and repaired fence between Fierebend and Will – end next Reserve.  Killed big wether lamb, heavy skin, put on turnips 15 hoggets and a dry ewe.  Eva found pet lamb on Ridges.  New Post mistress arrived.

TU 15   A rough day and a rough night.  Miss Mathews called with her car, called for Mam at 7.30 and they went on to Hastings and Pakowhai.  Eva disced Will’s piece of ploughed ground.  John docking Inga’s lambs.  Tonight, a picture show in aid of Coppertrail, Eva & Miss Theobald there.  Hung gate at small yard near dip.  Salvation woman called, gave her 5/=.

WED 16   A rough day, windy and showery.  John harrowed Wills & brought disc’s here.  After tea Eva and Miss Theobald rode to A B Hansen’s & spent the evening.

TH 17   John with disc half a day on Reserve flat and Eva half day-afternoon.  Put on gate fastner [fastener] at new gateway – hill yards, and sledged away left pieces.

FR 18   Eva harrowed on Reserve flat until midday, too windy to do more.  John drilled Wills rape paddock and part of Hughes, had to knock off through storm.  Mam & Miss Mathews arrived from Hastings at midday, suffered in terrible storm.  In the evening heavy rain set in.  Mam Eva & Miss Theobald motored to hall to find that School concert was postponed, came back to big fire & cards.

SAT 19   Four sorts of climates today, cold, hot, showers and a fall of snow in evening.  Miss Theobald left today, departed from Norsewood deeply regretted.  Mam & Eva motored her to express at Ormondlle.  Evening too rough and cold to go to picture show.

SUN 20   A fine day after last nights snow.  Rode to Bert Riggirs, talked, no go.  Mam & Eva at Church.  Mr Whibley for dinner, after which went with Mam to Marne for an hour or two, paddocks drying up fast.  Three cows on road tonight.

MON 21   A working day.  Eva window-rubbing.  Mam buzzing about.  John started to plough back six acres.  Eva took bull off Marne and drove him to Mr Walkers.  Weaned “Bluebird”, took down & rolled up wire netting on turnips.  Killed lamb.

TU 22   Ground too wet to plough.  John & Freddy got 2 loads firewood on Widerups.  Let water go out of dip, a fresh in creek.  Mam & Eva at ”Hard up” social for Red X.

OCT 1918

WED 23   A day quite hot in forenoon, too hot to last, wet evening.  John ploughing 6 acres not ploughing weather.  Walter Smith left a ton of rape manure in woolshed ordered from J Mackie.  Rolled up wire netting at new yards and improved place on hill where calves are fed out of buckets.  About £12 taken for red x last night.

TH 24   A thorough wet wintry day.  Creek up to near bridge.  Rain all last night.

FR 25   Rain ceased at 9AM.  Fine afterwards.  Eva got filly shod and put “Bluebird” weaner heifer and 2 Marne heifers out on Gundersens.  She & Mam Allens.

SAT 26   A dry breezy day, roads dry again, paddocks wet, sledged a bit of gravel gateways &c.  John ploughing six acres.  Eva rode over paddocks.  Afternoon Mam & Eva met Miss Theobald at 4.30 train from Napier, at pictures now.

SUN 27   Some showers, not a bad day.  Mam Eva & Miss Theobald motored Whetekura in the afternoon.  Eva & Miss Theobald milked whilst two of us went to see Biddy & Arthur.

MON 28   Some light rain forenoon, nice sunny afternoon, John ploughing 6 acres.  Narrowed gateway between the two plantations.  Killed hogget, only fair.  Plenty of turnips left for the remaining 14 on now.  Miss Theobald left by express.  Today is called “Labour Day”.  Motor bike Sports in Dannevirke.  Some Norsewood’s went.  Sent 2/- worth Australian stamps to T Shaw Fitchett 376 Swanson St Melbourne for Sept. “Life”.

TH 29   Sunny morning, a bad sign these times, thunder & rain later.  John started to plough rape hill, came in wet.  Grace & Biddy came with him in express later, he fetched some firewood to Currans, shifts in this week.  Mam & Eva Allens.  Letter from J Jameson new manager “National Sheep Dip Co” enclosing 1st class testimonials.  Company in liquidation, a take-down fraud.  New manager makes great promises.

WED 30   The usual breezy cold day with showers.  A little ploughing done.  Fixed up bush wagon, floored, side-boarded, and end boarded, cows on road evenings.

TH 31   Rain Rain every day, the wettest month on record.  Got key of Currans house from Mr Fierebend.  Visited house with Mam, quite dry.  Louis Nordbye helped Eva to rectify car.  She & Mam at Soldiers reception meeting in Ormlle tonight, dark & wet.  Rape seed drilled a fortnight ago not up yet.  May have to sow again, too cold.

NOV 1918

FR 1st   A most eventful day.  First and of greatest importance, the Turks have surrendered unconditionally and the Austrians defeated and over run by the Italians.  Chaos in Austria- Hungary.  Germans at logerheads [loggerheads].  All prisoners in Turkey free today.  Helped John shift his furniture from Marne house to Currans, he drove Ginger and express, drove Prince & wagon.  Last load in by four o’clock.  Mam also attended in forenoon, after dinner she and Eva motored to see Mrs Ellis, Kopua way.  We spent evening at John’s.

SAT 2   Providence allowed a fine day yesterday for shifting, the usual thing today, more showers.  All hands from two houses motored to Dannevirke.  Attended Patriotic meeting, the usual applications for aid, some to start in business &c.  Bought small bag Australian potatoes for 15/- some of them rotten.  No pictures, influenza.  Mam window gazing, gave her a £5 cheque, she paid Williams & Kettle bill £2.2.5.

SUN 3   Another wintry day.  Mam & Eva motored to Church and back again, no one there, then on to Ormondlle.  John brought cow “Bluie” over from Marne.

MON 4   A fine day at last but ground too much soaked to cultivate.  Went to sale, only one mob of sheep, not sold.  At night attended Patriotic meeting resolved to commemorate today’s good war news of Austria’s unconditional surrender.  A circus tomorrow night made some members wish to postpone the public meeting in hall until Wednesday night but patriotism oozing out of so many members the meeting must be held same night as circus.  Meeting to be free to the public.  Members tonight contributed 3/- each for use of hall.  Killed fairly good hogget.  Eva found hoggt on back cast, put it right.

TU 5   Guy Fawkes Day.  Dry enough for John to drill rape seed in Reserve flat and Eva harrowed and rolled it.  Will came up by coach, went back with him.

WED 6   Fine day at Pakowhai, reading war news and dodging about.

TH 7   Another fine day.  Will sold his section to Henry.  Went to Napier lawyer to have it transferred, went with him interviewed Miss Theobald.  She looks fresh and hearty, she had a man killing microbes all round her.  Some influenza patients in hospital.

NOV 1918

FR 8   A misleading Peace Proclamation.  Madness seized Napier people and other places went frantic, no harm done.  A New York telegram did it.  Workers at Napier Hastings and other places willingly downed tools.  Auctioneers in Dannevirke unable to speak sell or lie turned out stock unsold & so on.  Norsewood had their procession, Kerosene tin music, crackers, bells, speech is in hall and deeply offended the Patriotic chairman with so much din.  John Mam & Co motored to Dannevirke intending to buy sheep, but excitement barred it.  They then met me at Ormondlle station having been driven to Tomoana by Will to catch quarter to one train, 5/8 fare to Ormlle 2nd class.  Fine day at Pakowhai but very high wind last night and heavy showers, here at home extra high wind and heavy showers.  Limbs of trees blown down.  People in expectation of early peace.

SAT 9   A windy rough forenoon, John with disc on 6 acres, then to Dannevirke with Mam and Eva.  Did a few jobs about the place.  Pet lambs fleece 11 lbs weight besides Bellies and pieces.  Shore her on Tuesday last.  Sent back sheep skin account to Williams & Kettle, a mistake made.  Credited me with 12 skins, I sent 18 or 20.

SUN 10   A lovely summer day.  A boy came for John to go with others towards ranges.  After dinner rode over paddocks, found ewe cast in Widerups.  Rape not up on Hughes.  Mam & Eva motored Aunts, after tea to Alice’s, feed on back for sheep, not much Hughes.

MON 11   Another fine day.  John with disc on 6 acres.  Eva got in ewes & lambs off flat, dagged them.  Killed hogget – the last for the season, good enough meat.  Pulled wool off dead ewe on back seen by Eva.  Put in row of potatoes in garden.  Used lime and old ashes.  C Smith carted up from Station 25 bales, 2 hanks red twine.  At night attended Patriotic meeting.  Ngamoko people there.  Peace expected to be proclaimed tomorrow.  A program decided on.  Thanksgiving and other items and a procession day following.  During absence in Pakowhai ½ ton manure got.

TU 12   A most eventful day.  News came about 10AM that Peace was declared.  A meeting in library got up program for tomorrow, children’s sports, tug of war &c.  Meeting tonight barred by health officer.  Schools, picture shows &c, influenza deaths in some places.  John & Eva harrowed rolled & put 2 acres rape.

NOV 1918

WED 13   One of the greatest days ever Norsewood saw.  A great procession started from Mackies corner – motor cars and all sorts of vehicles decorated soldiers in uniform, boy scouts, salvation band, civilians men & women marching tabl      Britania and representatives of allies, all marched and met on school grounds.  Tea and lollies served out, children’s races and prizes for all little ones, more money prizes for older boys and girls, tug of war, men & women Norsewood v Ngamoko, former won.  Speeches made at end and thanks to all.  Rain- light set in at finish and increased, continued all night.  In the forenoon before starting for procession John and Eva got back 5½ acres into rape just in time.  At night Mam & Eva motored to Ormlle Mrs Allen’s – a procession held there.  Not much noise or rejoicing in Dannevirke, too much influenza and deaths, many deaths it is said in Trentham camp Wellington and other places, Robertshaw, lawer [lawyer ?] dead.

TH 14   Much rain last night, took up this forenoon.  Paid J Mackie £33.16.6 out of a Forty pound cheque, also W M Thomson for 5 cases of benzine £7.10.6 ex.  Then Mr Grant £4.13 and received 3/- discount.  Mam & Eva motored to Dannevirke.  John took lime out to paddocks where rape must be sown again.  Gurzinski took bull away for a few days.  News of a Miss Jonasen in Waipukurau hospital dead.

FR 15   A summer day.  John and Eva harrowed, rolled and drilled Hughes 4¾ acres a second time, seed of first sowing did not grow.  Sutton’s seed used this time.  Chopped down thistles – tall wing – on turnip paddock to be ploughed.  Found on Wills paddock a good ewe dead, skinned and took shoulders home for dogs.  Found in Marne creek a hogget unable to get out of water.  Mam bought 25 lbs tea, 2/2 per lb from a travelling tea seller.  None of us troubled with influenza so far.  Birthday 75.

SAT 16   A fine day.  John & Eva harrowed rolled and drilled Wills paddock a second time, used 4 bags lime, used manure before.  Finished fairly early.  Docked 6 on Wills.  Cut down all big thistles on turnip paddock, Put all sheep off flat on to turnips.  Many bad cases of influenza about.  Jim Riggir F Schaare ____ Newling, Jerry’s son, all leave wives and children.  And Munroe another young man out Weber way.

NOV 1918

SUN 17   A fine day.  Rode “Trixie” over every paddock – Marne included, Hughes barest of feed, put the 3 calves – two heifers, one bull out on Flat.  Good feed on Back.  H Mortensen called, he lifted a cast ewe on back.  Another influenza victim – Ethel Veale that was, now married – Mrs Burgan and also late Mr Newling’s wife.  Mam and Eva at Aunt’s.

MON 18   A summer day.  Digging in garden and put in a few rows of potatoes.  John ploughing.  Eva motored for Mrs Allen & Mrs Sheilds but Mrs Allen in answer to an urgent telegram went to Wellington or camp where her son is seriously ill, many deaths everywhere from influenza.  Mrs J Riggor & young Adzett at Wms & Kettle Dannevirke the latest.  Eva put all sheep off Hughes out on Back.  Hughes wants a few weeks spell.

TU 19   A fine forenoon, afternoon thunder lightning and hail big as marbles.  Went to funeral of Mrs Burgan.  Vehicles and people waited at Boyle’s for hearse to come from Dannevirke.  Gin said to be a preventative, bought a bottle 15/6.

WED 20   Fine forenoon.  John finished ploughing “angle” & started turnip paddock.  Eva mowing thistles until midday when rain came on & continued.  Put sheep off Flat on to turnip paddock.  Influenza still prevalent, many deaths.

TH 21   Last night at tea time Mr Love told John that he sent us word by someone that F Selby was not expected to live (influenza) the someone did not tell us so we three motored to Ormll and saw Ella, she is getting some one to stay with her.  Auntie is with Mary and not much hopes for Fred.  Eva tonight with Miss Allen.  Eva motored home here from Allens after breakfast and then we three went to Ella’s.  One cow she could not get into the bale to milk, we helped her and Eva milked the cow.  No word or message from Selby’s before we came home.  Showers today.  John ploughing turnip paddock, Eva over Back, found hogt cast.  In tonight’s paper some more deaths in Dannevirke, after tea we motored to see Ella, no letter or message from Aunt, a message from Mr Hunter that F Selby has taken a turn for the better, after bringing me home Mam went back to stay with Ella – she not feeling well, and Eva to stay with Miss Allen.  Yesterday paid C Smith’s bill for carrying lime, skins &c – £2.16.8.

NOV 1918

FR 22   Many deaths from influenza.  At Dannevirke, Knight Karitania [Karaitiana] Moari [Maori] young woman, at Te Ohu Moari father & daughter & Tronson manager of sawmill – Welwood.  Mr Love called this afternoon to say F Selby is not out of danger.  Mam & Eva came up this morning and soon went back to Ella Mam was with her last night.  Rain last night wind tonight.  John ploughing turnip paddock in the afternoon.  Milk seperated twice.

SAT 23   Went with Mam & Eva to Ella’s.  She has influenza and in bed.  Eva at Allen’s.

SUN 24   Eva milks Ella’s cows night and morning, comes from Allen’s before breakfast.

MON 25   Laid slabs in Ella’s stockyard where cows go into bales.  Ella’s temperature 102.

TU 26   The only news from F Selby’s is that he is still alive, has a good nurse, hopes.  Mr Murrow brought us a fowl ready to cook and a leg of mutton.  Ella improving.  Mam & Eva motored home, brought me tools to repair gates.  F Selby improving.  News has come that T Hoskings has died from influenza.  Mrs Allen able to get up.

WED 27   Auntie arrived by 5 o’clock train, left Fred with hopes of getting well.  We decided to come home and go back tomorrow.  3 deaths at Mungatera today.  Eva & Mam came home after dinner.  I stayed with Ella.  Eva shifted sheep on Marne, got back and paid Land Tax in Ormondlle £22.18. 1 besides exchange 9d.  Boy in P.O. charged 1/-.  Anton Svensen came after tea.

TH 28   Heavy showers today.  John tried to do a little ploughing, had to knock off.  Mam & Eva motored to Aunt’s & back.  John put 60 sheep mostly ewes on Hughes.

FR 29   Mr Love had trouble here on road with his car.  John & Eva put him right.  Killed an old S.D. ram for dogs.  Motored to Aunts and with her took train Mungatera.  Saw F Selby in bed having his dinner, looks well, came back by 4 train.  Much rain today.  At bedtime Eva heard sheep disturbed, rode out back.  “Rowdy” hunting loose.

SAT 30   A fine day at last.  The wettest month on record, no shearing can be done thousands of sheep shorn early died.  Put in a short row of Australian potatoes in kitchen garden.  John got in 2 loads firewood and with disc in turnip paddock in afternoon.  Mam & Eva visited school, inmates Maori woman & children, Mrs Smith Ngamoko.

DEC 1918

SUN 1st   A great deal of rain has fallen today.  John and Mr Rickett drove to beyond Gundrie’s and Magnusen’s, shot 6 rabbits and 2 hares.  Mam & Eva motored to Aunts, had dinner there.  Ella up.  Arthur with me most of day.

MON 2   Cow “Molly” in Gorintzki’s paddock with bull, rain now & then today.  John & Freddy put in seeds in Marne cultivation paddock.  Eva took her turn in attending to patients in school up to 9PM.  Went round sheep one cast.

TU 3   A fine day for a wonder.  John & Freddy with two disc’s and harrow finished angle flat.  John helped Freddy milk morning and evening.  £5.12.6 paid by Mam – amount of Rickett’s bill.  10/- deducted for bricks.  Mam and Eva motored to see Ella, she is up now – Mr Rawsthorne borrowed drill, his broken down.  Mam taking her turn nursing in school tonight, Miss Hilda Olsen with her.

WED 4   A second fine day.  John and Freddy discing turnip paddock.  Eva got in Widerup ewes lambs and 22 hoggets picked out latter, put ewes back.  Got in Reserves and picked out 7 hoggets, ewes put on Widerups, 159 there now and 29 hoggets on Reserve.  Will came up by express, went back by 3.30 train.

TH 5   Sledged stakes battens &c from 3 gateways, repaired hurdle going from Flat out on Back.  John with disc, had to get Rickett to repair a break.  Heavy rain set in at eventide.  The big henau roller broke down with Freddy on road.

FR 6   A breezy cold day.  Mam and Eva at Aunts whilst she was with Mary.  Fred had a bad turn a few days ago, is better now.  John harrowing.  Anton Freddy Douglas Arthur and John for dinner.  News of Mrs Walter Parsons death.  Anton & P. Johansen finished shearing Fierebends sheep.  Paid Bartletts bill £3.2.6.

SAT 7   A dry windy day.  Mr Walker rolled hill and Angle, John drilling, sledged out manure for them with “Trixey”.  Mam went by express train to see Will on business.  Eva left her at train and motored Julia Ericksen to see her sister in school, she is seriously ill.  Mam got £2 cheque changed at Mackie’s.  Wms & Kettle’s Dannevirke bill to hand, Woolbales 5/6 each besides carriage.  Wind tonight and cool enough.  Mrs Smith passed away in School at 5 PM.

DEC 1918

SUN 8th   A terrible rough day, high wind, rain driven, too rough to go in phaeton to the two funerals of Mrs Walter Parsons and Mrs Clarence Smith.  Went in car, took two wreaths, John did likewise.  Rev. Mr Oliver had a service in house at Parsons and a short one at each graveside in cemetery, coffins taken in two motor cars, many people for such a rough day.  Jimmy Lean gone too.

MON 9   The usual wet day.  J Lean buried today, John went to funeral with wreath.  Eva met Mam at railway station, better weather in Pakowhai.  John went over paddocks, found 2 hoggets cast and one ewe, sledged latter home.

TU 10   Much rain fell last night and heavy showers today.  The ewe that John sledged in yesterday he has got round today.  No death about today.

WED 11   A fine day.  Ground too soft to drill, cleared up and washed out woolshed.  Got in Hughes sheep, picked out hoggets and dagged all also those in Reserve, put Hughes ewes & lambs back 38 and 51 well dagged hoggets into Reserve, the 25 bales got from Wms & Kettle Dannevirke the wrong sort too short.  Freddy used drill in afternoon to put in Gorinskies crop.  £15.5.0 cheque sent to Mackies to pay his bill of £13.14.11 – allowed 6/11 discount.

TH 12   Turned out a fine day.  John got in back sheep, we dagged 103 they are very daggy, in good condition, put back 200 not dagged, picked out 123 hogg’s from amongst all ewes they are by themselves in Reserve, the total count is 623 sheep besides 10 rams.  A few undocked lambs.  Mam & Eva motored Dannevirke they brought from Wms & Kettles 10 three quarter bales = 50 inches or 48. the shorts 42 or 44.  Sent to Napier a bundle of 10 skins by Walter Smith, a few small ones left.

FR 13   Rain last night a drying day.  John drilling Eva rolling until Freddy came at 11AM.  Then John got in Widerups ewes & lambs, and we started to dag.  Anton came in the afternoon with his 70 ewes he helped us dag and we three finished Widerups at 7.10 and put back in their paddock, very bad to dag.  We got in Reserve hoggets at midday – 123 and finished dagging them and then put them on Flat, Reserve for cows now.  Antons 70 ewes in shed tonight.

DEC 1918

SAT 14   The finest day of the month.  Anton and Peter Johansen shore the 70 in shed last night, sheep big, good clean fleeces, well shorn by 3 o’clock.  John dagged back sheep in new yards – 200, their hoofs must be seen to when time permits.  Mam & Eva motored soon after dinner to Pakowhai, gave Mam cheque for £12.0.0 to pay Mr Grants bill of £ s d 8.16.11 and Boyle’s £1.14.0 wheat for turkeys thrown away.

SUN 15   A beautiful day.  Miss Allen and Mrs Allen drove up & doctored Eva’s horse’s leg, and Miss Allen & Ella in the afternoon.  Anton came with his flock of ewes & lambs in the evening, put 80 ewes in shed and 71 outside.

MON 16   A good shearing day.  John had cows in bales at 4AM.  We milked before making a fire.  Anton Peter & John put out the flock – 150, took them all day.  Peter did not wait for tea, Anton took his ewes & lambs home after tea.  We filled a sack with Antons pieces & locks and put his bellies in a bale, put 48 fleeces in press before dark, got in the hoggets – 123 and more than half in shed tonight.  Mam came home by train and coach.  Eva stays with Gert a few days longer.

TU 17   Another good shearing day, put out the 123 hoggs in Reserve now.  Good fleeces and sheep fat, got in Hughes 37 ewes, shore some of them, remainder in shed tonight.  Pressed and branded Anton’s 5 bales.  W Smith carted four of them to Ormondlle.  Pressed one hoggs of ours, 43 fleeces filled press.  Mr Walker working in shed today.  Anton staying here tonight, good moon.

WED 18   Good shearing weather, shore 155 Peter    Anton    John    and did some mustering of Widerups lot in shed tonight, sheep fat and cutting good fleeces.  Mr Walker helping, pressed and branded 4 bales, one hogg 43 and one 45 one 41.  One X bred ewe 54 Eva Gert and 2 children came in afternoon.

TH 19   Weather continues good, John & Anton mustered back early, before sunrise.  The 3 of them shearing, back sheep in good condition, and good fleeces.  50 in shed tonight.  Mr Walker pressing.  Bale No. 5 – 47 fleeces, No.6 – 43, No.7- 47.  Eva Mam Gert & young ones went to Dannevirk, brought back 15 woolbales.  sent cheque £5.0.6 to Farmers Fertilizing Co.

DEC 1918

FR 20   The three of them shearing away, the end of mob in shed tonight = 34.  Pressed & branded No.8 48, No.9 48, No.10 55.  two more bales of fleeces to be pressed & branded and a bale of bellies.  Mr Walker great help.  4 bales carted to Ormondlle by W Smith.  Killed an old SD ram for dogs.

SAT 21   Finished our sheep soon after breakfast.  Eva got in Marnes 190 and shore until ¼ to six.  82 left for Monday.  C Smith & son carted 7 bales in the forenoon and Walter 2 in afternoon = 13.  a bale of bellies to be pressed yet.  Bale No. 11 55, No.12 48, No.13 46.  two fleeces on hand before shearing.  £2.15.6 cheque sent to W W Martin, tea man Wellington.  Pressed one Marne bale 48 fleeces.

SUN 22   A dry day, all stayed at home.  Ella Grant home for her hollidays, tea with us.  Got in sheep of flat after milking – 81.  All in shed tonight.  A breeze springing up.

MON 23   The 81 sheep shorn just before dinner, light showers in the forenoon, heavier afterwards, enough to prevent Lund bringing his sheep.  Pressed two bales, Mr Walker helping until midday.  Paid P. Johansen £5.10.6.

TU 24   No chance for Lund getting his sheep shorn before Xmas.  W W Smith £1.13.6 paid by cheque for blacksmithing work done.  Will came by 2nd express.  Eva met him.  At night stayed by the fire with Gert.  All others went shopping for toys &c.

WED 25 Xmas   A dry cool day.  The floor strewn with toys and presents for old and young.  Arthur and Biddy had their stockings filled here as well as at home, came down with their Dad & Mam after breakfast all had dinner together and games on lawn.  John & Will shot hare on Back.  Mam went over to Walkers and took a five pound cheque to Mr Walker.  John & Will went over Reserve and put hoggets off it on to flat.  They shot hare & rabbit Magnussens.

TH 26   A fine forenoon, with John & Will pressed and branded his fourth bale, then pressed a bale of bellies, then all hands got ready and motored in two cars to Methodist pic nic Te [?] Whiti Park.  Young people played rounders & other games.  Rain at 3 PM and home.  Skinned big lamb that John & Will pulled out of Back creek yesterday.  In evening J Veale called and I am to give away Bride tomorrow.  Pictures.

DEC 1918

FR 27   A beautiful day.  Motored to Church with Rev Whibley Eva and Mam.  Met Mr J Veale and his bride Miss Roberts had the pleasing duty of giving away the Bride.  A cheerful wedding and much rice.  Something wrong with the axel [axle] of our car, had to leave it at the church and afterwards C P Andersen brought home carefully for us and as he had to motor to Dannevirke on business he brought the axel cap that was required for our car.  Mr Lund brought his sheep and Peter John Anton & Harry Fredericksen shore more than half of them.  Remainder in shed tonight.  Our last 2 bales pressed.  No. 14 Bellies.  No.15 Bellies at bottom pieces on top.  Pressed one bale of Lunds – 45 fleeces.  At night attended patriotic meeting in reading room.  A concert to be held on New Years night.

SAT 28   A good shearing day.  Harry John & Anton finished & Lunds gone.  Pressed his 4 bales of Romney, 2 bags bellies, 1 bag pieces, 1 bag dead all branded and in shed ready to be carted away.  Walter Smith took our 2 bales – 14 Bellies.  15 Bellies at bottom, pieces on top, and Wills 4 bales X Bred Fine.  John in the afternoon carted in a load of firewood.  Eva Mam Bazil at Pictures.

SUN 29   A wet day.  Mam & Eva at Church and at Aunties.  John got in cows and we milked.

MON 30   Fair in the forenoon, much rain in the afternoon.  William Todd motored here with his nine woolbales, too short for press.  Put in a false bottom to suit bales.  John noticed a lamb daggy and maggotty, got in mob off Widerups, dagged all the lambs that required it, kerosened and tarred the maggotty one.  Mam & Eva motored Dannevirke with car wheel.  Brought back fixing which is unsatisfactory, must incur more expense to do properly.

TU 31   A fine day.  John got a load of firewood up to Currans and he & Mr Walker  repaired cricket shed.  He got in a cut of ewes & lambs off Widerups – 54 ewes 49 lambs and put them on Hughes.  He communicated with F Selby by phone re fat lambs &c some to go next week.  Eva cut Gundersen’s meadow and Widts.  Miss Cushon & Ella Grant for tea and spent the evening.  Last day of old year and bloody war ended.

JAN 1919

WED 1st   A dry day, breezy at times.  All hands went to see cricket match – Ormlle v Norsewood, latter won by one run.  W Todd came late with hoggs.  120 or more in shed.

TH 2   Breezy in the forenoon, wet afternoon.  John and W Todd shore before breakfast.  Peter started after breakfast, the mob – 199 hogg’s – shorn except 16.  Jack Todd called and shore 8.  Wool logstained and broken rubbishy fleeces.  Shore until nearly dark, got weights of wool, satisfactory.  C Smith and T Ryan took to station Lunds 4 bales and 4 packs of wool.  Last night Mam Eva and Bazil went to concert in hall to welcome Soldier Nicholsen, big crowd £13 taken, medal as usual presented &c.

FR 3   A fine drying day.  Johns birthday.  After shearing the 16 in shed Todd went home and motored a load of hoggs fleeces to be pressed.  John & Freddy hoed and earthed up potatoes on Marne, used horse and implement.  Fence shed paddock near dip – reserve, repaired and made lamb proof.  At night attended meeting in reading room, committee formed to work Gymkhana at end of month – 29th – to raise money for returned soldiers and other purposes.  Was made V President, promised them two guineas.  £2 cheque given to Mam to buy butchers meat and go to picture show.

SAT 4   A very fine day.  Peter John & Will Todd shore something over 200, hoggets mostly.  Pressed but did not sew a bale – 58 fleeces.  J Todd shore 6 or 8 and handed me the fleeces.  W Todd took his shorn sheep home.

SUN 5   A dry day, breezy.  After tea Mam Eva and children motored to Aunts.  In the evening W Todd came with the last of his sheep – 112 big ewes.  23 each pen.  43 on battens.

MON 6   Peter John & W Todd finished the 112 soon after dinner and pressed three bales – 5 pressed now, many hoggs to be pressed, much rain.  Will came & went back.

TU 7   A dry day.  Gear buyer Mr James came at 7AM or nearly so, John had back sheep in yard and was mustering Widerups.  Eva fetched over Marne sheep.  Picked 74 of our lambs at 20/6d.  22 ewes at 27/6.  Marne 71 lambs at 21/-.  11 ewes at 27/6.  John drove to station at 4.30.  Mr Adamson trucks them tomorrow.  Eva started to mow meadow.  Mrs Sinclair and Miss Halliburton called.  Today one of our ewes jumped through fence into Marne.

JAN 1919

WED 8   Fairly calm in the morning, very high wind greater part of the day.  Helped Mr Walker to get his hay in, John raked and forked, Eva loaded Tommy with horse and wagon, had to cease at dinner time owing to high wind.  W Todd came with wool in car, helped him press one bale, he worked greater part of day at Walkers hay.  Mr Morrow came to see about a mowing machine &c.

TH 9   A very good harvesting day.  Eva raked remainder of paddock and then with Gert and young ones took train to Dannevirke and brought home here the Dr’s car.  loaded with hay with John and got in all Walkers hay.  Eva and John in the afternoon cut some of our meadow.  Eva enquired in Dannevirke the price of Dip at Wms & K and Farmers.  90/- per case.  9/6 a gallon.

FR 10   Calm morning, windy afternoon.  Mr Walker came over, helped me press Todd’s wool and turn hay, also to put 4 or 5 loads in shed.  Eva & Freddy carting in John loading after cutting remainder of meadow.  Wind rose at 4 PM and loading impossible.  After tea John Freddy and Mr Walker carted in the dry hay.  Attended Gymkhana meeting, money and trophies donated, next meet 16th.  Mr Morrow today returned the sacks that he borrowed when chaff cutting.

SAT 11   Breezy weather, got in some hay and all raked into windrows – prepared two bales at end of shed to receive hay, Mr Walker helping.  John got in load of firewood.  Will came up in afternoon.  Miss Mathews for tea and gone to pictures with Mam Eva and Bazil.  Sent cheque to C W Smith for wool cartage £ s d 2.14.3.  Received cheque from Gear Co for 74 lambs at 20/6 and 22 ewes at 27/6 = £106.4.9.  ex 2/9.

SUN 12   A very fine day after last night’s heavy showers, John went fishing, and caught some, left two here.  Mrs Walker brought us two young ducks and peas.

MON 13   Breezy forenoon, calm evening.  John and Mr Walker took bull up to saleyards, he fetched £8=15.  Will went home by express.  Eva and Bazil at Auntie’s tonight.  Ella & Mary gone to see Florrie.  Mr Walker John and Eva, Will helped, crammed the shed full of hay.  Made a stack near shed.  4 cocks only out.  Eva changed Gears cheque, put £100 out of it in Savings Bank.  £6 home.

JAN 1919

TU 14   A summer day.  Got in last load of hay, rakings – stuffed it into shed.  Arthur has a sore mouth.  Mam Eva Grace & children motored to Dannevirke and Mr Prior prescribed for Arthur, they got drum of Cooper’s fluid Dip at Wms & K.  Eva & Bazil with Auntie again tonight.  Ella Grant and Miss Bingham called.

WED 15   Nice day, got set of shoes on Trixey and drove her to Ormondlle.  Mam Gert & children came to Station, took train with Bazil to Hastings 8/2 single.  Will met us at Hastings, he is batching and busy with the fruit.

TH 16   Will took a big load of fruit to Hastings and Bazil and me, dropped me at Tomoana, took train to Napier, had a conversation with Mr Kettle in his office.  Then went in car to Port Ahuriri wher[e] thousands and thousands of bales of wool is stored most of it left over since last year.  Valuation started today.  Saw our wool opened up, 3 bales of Hoggs – look well, ewes also good.  Four bales of Marne looks well.  Wool should be always classed at least coarse & fine or X Bred and X Bred fine, train left Napier 25 minutes past 3 – came to Hastings and drove to Rosebank with Will, he interviewed J Curton and latter agreed to go with him tomorrow & see a lawyer to transfer property.

FR 17   This morning Bazil felt seedy, had no breakfast, decided to tak[e] him home.  Will drove us to Tomoana before going with J Curtain to get the business of land sale fixed up with Mr Logan.  Rain at Waipawa, heavier in Norsewood – was met at station by Eva Mam Gert and Betty.  John had dagged all lambs put rams in meadow, was about to cut Marne meadow but rain prevented got in load of firewood and went to see Peter Johansen about shearing lambs.

SAT 18   A breezy day.  Showers in the night and early morning.  John got in ewes & lambs off Hughes early.  Raced off the long wool lambs, shore and returned them Eva and Charley got in cut off Back.  P Johansen came at 8AM.  Started at 9 shore 106.

SUN 19   A Lovely day.  Liver & bacon for breakfast, killed fat lamb yesterday.  Charley killed rabbit on back.  John got in back sheep, raced off 140 long wool lambs, in shed tonight, the last lambs to be shorn, many of them infested with ticks.

JAN 1919

MON 20   A summer day.  With John and Peter shore the 140 lambs and left ewes and lambs on Flat tonight with the view of dipping tomorrow lambs ticky and rape on Reserve flat ready for eating off.  Mr Walker got mare and rake and raked the last of his hay.  Letter from George to say he is coming tomorrow.  Letter from Will to Gert to say he has dealt with J Curtain and procured his section at Pakowhai.  Paid Peter £2.0.0 for two days shearing.  Mam and Eva at Allens tonight.  Dr and Mrs Veitch kindly called to see me, but Mam told them I was too greasy to come in contact with and not at all presentable, they are gone to Wellington.

TU 21   Got in ewes & lambs off Flat, picked out 95 rape lambs SD 3 ewes all hands could not get them away from woolshed, broke 5 or 6 times, had to mix them with half of the flock, and hand draft them at dip.  Put them on Reserve rape when dry, afterwards dipped 509 ewes & lambs, amongst them 33 woollies SD.  Put these out on back.  Mam & Eva, Mrs Miss Allen Mrs Sanders &c craw-fishing or pic-nicking Kopua way.  Mr Lund & Miss Inga paid £3.5.0 expenses of his shearing.  Gert and youngsters met George at Express.  We used Coopers non poisonous fluid dip.  Got bull cheque £8.6.3 nett.

WED 22   Another good dipping day.  3 stages before breakfast.  Hughes 381 dipped today.  124 of them woolly lambs, all put back on Hughes.  Went with Eva to see cricket match at Ormondlle latter won.  George & Charley walked to Alice’s, house empty.  The family at a neighbouring pic nic.

TH 23   A summer day.  Mr Gorintzkie cut our oats.  Mr Walker tilting.  We shifted the sheaves as cut.   finished by 3PM started at 10AM.  Paid for work 10/-.  Eva motored to Ormondlle met Dr and Mrs Veitch, met them here for the first time since they came home, both look splendid.  The Dr called on little Biddy, her mouth and gums sore.  Dr sent her a bottle.  Attended with Mam & Eva, Dr and Mrs Veitch’s welcome home in hall, a packed house.  A medal brooch presented to Mrs Veitch, a medal to the Dr and one to Pr. Hurst.

Continued   JAN 1919

TH 23   Much grass and trefoil amongst oats, buts of sheaves heavy.  Got return of wool valuations from Wms & Kettle.  3 bales of Hoggs 16d.  10 bales ewes 15¾.  1 bale of Bellies 11¼.  Mrs Todd’s cheque for shearing £ s d 6.10.[?].

FR 24   A bale of Bellies 11½.  A bale of pieces bottom and locks, bellies on top to be regraded and sold later on.  Marne wool 15¾.  Lunds 16¼.  Got in rams – 3 Romneys and 7 SD.  And dressed the hoof of one, put them in Reserve.  At night attended Gymnkhana meeting in Library.  John cutting Marne meadow today.  Charley forking it back from machine.

SAT 25   Still summer.  John finished cutting Marne meadow then helped us – Eva Mr Walker and Charley to tie the oats with flax.  Did not finish tying all the oats.  Will came by 4 o’clock train.  Gert met him.

SUN 26   All hands tied the oats before 12.  then carted in.  Will & Mr Walker working until all was finished.  First time the oats was harvested and got in dry.  Unbelievable.

MON 27   Got into shed all the Marne hay, a big days work, had to rake it.  Mr Walker, Charley Berty and Arthur Engelbretsen John Eva Freddy & horse and wagon after coming from factory.  Eva borrowed Mrs Paget’s horse & wagon.  A big crop of very good hay.  Will went by 10 o’clock train.  Mam hoarse, in bed, a cold.

TU 28   The boys out all night fishing in Manawatu – John Charley Oliver Christophersen Arthur and Berty Engelbretsen, caught many eels and trout.  Very heavy rain about 10 o’clock.  At night Ella Mavis and Miss G Gordon called.

WED 29   An immense amount of rain fell today.  Gymkhana postponed till Friday.

TH 30   A fine day after yesterday’s downpour.  Motored to town with Eva.  10/- paid to Arthur Engelbretsen, to Mr Grant as a donation to Gymkhana £2.2.0.  Got a dozen tickets from W.  Chicken for all in the house, Arthur & Biddy 1 each.

FR 31   A fine calm cool day.  At the sports ¼ to 11.  had charge of sheep for guessing.  Took over £2 carcase included.  Eva had pea guessing, took £3.0.3.  John had bad luck, fell near tape in 240 yards, winning easily.  Walker had a bad fall earlier rough track.  This has been a lucky month for us, crops in dry, also shearing &c.

FEB 1919

SAT 1st   Fine forenoon, much rain afternoon.  Motored to Dannevirke with Mam Eva & Charley.  Attended meeting at Soldiers Club, many applications.  Got four short woolpacks at Wms & Kettle’s and paid their account = £ s d 11.6.5 with a cheque for two pounds more, ballance drawn by Mam.  Called at F Selby’s to say a truckload of lambs ready soon.  Killed SD lamb for home use.

SUN 2   Dull calm day.  Mam & Eva with Mr Whibley motored to Church, no congregation, short service.  John & Charley shot 2 hares and one rabbit.  F Selby & boy Jack and Miss Shaw called, F.S. will come on Tuesday and go through lambs.

MON 3   A dark dull calm day.  John repaired fence along road at Hughes rape.  Dug out and sledged in posts off Flat, erected some for wire netting brake to get lambs away from yards.  Mam & Eva motored Charley to train on his way home.

TU 4   Bazil starts for school.  A big sheep day.  All ewes and lambs got in, off Marne too.  F Selby came at midday, went through all ewes & lambs and Reserve rape lambs too.  Got 64 lambs from amongst ours.  Got 52 lambs and 4 ewes amongst Marne lot.  20/6d for ours 21/- for Marne lambs and 27/6 for ewes.  Picked out 303 rejects and put 110 on Hughes rape, 4 ewes included.  Put 130 on Back rape.  63 lambs in yard tonight for Reserve flat rape.  All ewes with shorn ewe lambs in yards and shed paddock tonight.  Fats in stock yard tonight.  Found wire netting fence from woolshed to dip yard very useful today.

WED 5   Mouthed all ewes.  Raddled on back of neck with red or blue 296 good ewes, with them 126 ewe lambs and put on Back.  60 cull ewes on Reserve 11 cull ewes with 63 lambs, woolly and shorn on Reserve rape.  171 cull ewes, meadow.  When coach went past John took the 120 fats to Ormlle.  Return for 9 sheep skins from Wms & Kettle.  2 fetched £1.1.9 (13¾) 1 at 6/5.  Nine fetched £3.7.11 nett.  Bank slip.  Weaned 3 big calves, 2 of them steers, put out on Widerups.  Mam & Eva at Pictures.

TH 6   Drove to Ormlle with John trucked ours and others.  38 and 37 in truck.  3 trucks.  We cut cocksfoot round stubbles, too much soft meadow amongst it.  Yesterday paid Berty Engelbretsen 10/- for a days help in getting in Marne hay.

FEB 1919

FR 7   A harvest day.  Cut cocksfoot round stubbles and pine plantation bagged and carted it home.  Put on stubbles 60 ewes & 2 lambs – culls and 162 on Hughes.  John partly wirenetted Marne potatoes & helped H Nordbye dip 342 lambs.  At night attended a Patriotic and Gymkhana Sports meeting £90 nett in hand.  Received wool cheque for 14 bales – 3 hogs 16d – £ s d 81.14.8 nett.  £371.3.11 10 bales ewe fleece 15¾ = £ s d 273.14.5.  1 bellies 11¼ = £ s d 21.5.8.  1 bale bellies & pcs to be sold.

SAT 8   Paid County rates £19.4.9.  Neilsen & Co £ s d 17.8.10.  Wms & Kettle £5.10.0. to P.G. Grant £9.3.9 and Boyle & Co £6.15.11 with cheque to P.G. Grant £16.5.0.  Mam Eva Ella and Jean Grant motored to Dannevirke.  Ella’s Birthday.  21 years.  John finished wirenetting Marne potatoes.  Will came up by train and coach.

SUN 9   A lovely day.  Mam & Eva and Ella G motored to Aunts and to Vaughans.  Mr Cyril and Mrs Parsons and children called to see Eva on Music lesson business.

MON 10   Got in Marne sheep, took out lambs and dipped them, 72.  and put them on Reserve rape.  Put back the ewes = 160.  Kept the 3 SD Marne rams here and doctored the hoof of one.  Went to Norsewood sale, young cattle down but fat cattle and bulls a fair price.  Will left by 10 train.  At night with Eva attended welcome home to 4 soldiers – J Lund W Christophersen and 2 others.  Mam and Eva motored to Dannevirke, something wrong with car, time to part with it, 2 years in use and repairs beginning to look formidable.  Mam & Eva fell in love with a new one in Neilsen’s Garage, but very expensive.  The weather now is all that can be desired.

TU 11   C Feirebend with Harry Fredericksen dipped 417 lambs, John helped and then went to Cha’s Smith’s clearing sale, did not buy.  C.L. Neilsen came with a new Hubmotor car.  Eva went with him for a spin, satisfactory.  Price high, agreed to take it, he takes our car, valued at £200 in part payment.  He requires new car as an exhibit at Dannevirke show tomorrow & next day.  Doctored hoof of a Marne ram and put the 3 on meadow with our 10.  Cut some Californian thistles on Reserve flat, 3 or 4 patches growing amongst the rape.

FEB 1919

WED 12   A cool calm day, rain threatening, secured oatstack in case of heavy rain.  John carted in a good quantity of firewood.  Cut two patches of Californian thistles on Reserve rape flat.  Mam Eva Mrs Veitch and Mrs and Miss Allen motors to Dannevirke to witness some sort of entertainment tonight.  Recd Gear cheque £ s 65.12.0 for 64 lambs at 20/6.  And exchange added = 1/9.  Light rain has set in tonight.

TH 13   Much rain last night, Scotch mist nearly all day.  With Mam Eva & John motored to Show.  A good show and big crowd, many more if the day is fine – numerous side shows, in one only, saw Pat O’Connor Irish giant, tall well-built man very intelligent to speak to, left for home at 5PM.  Did not milk, long grass wet, not nice to go through for cows.  Mam & Eva at Pictures tonight – my 4 yrs in Germany.

FR 14   A nice calm sunny day after yesterdays rain.  Pressed a bale of lambswool when pressing the 2nd bale a link in levering chain broke and wool scattered and top box leaning back, must unpack wool and get a proper link put in.  Sent £65.13.9 Gears lamb cheque to Union Bank.  Cut some more Californian thistles in Reserve.

SAT 15   A beautiful day.  Mr Love dipped his 58 sheep at 10AM.  Paid 7/6 used 1 gal dip.  Finished cutting Californian thistles on Reserve rape.  John played cricket at Norsewood v Dvk High School boys, N. won game.  Mam paid Hughes rent £ s d 9.14.9 and Income tax £1.6.3.  Eva drew out of Savings Bank £150.  Pictures, two & Bazil.

SUN 16   A summer day.  Between 3 and 4 o’clock C L Neilsen came with new Hupp car, Messrs Sarjeant accompanied him.  Paid him cheque for £235.0.0 and Eva’s £150.  He took Mam & Eva for a spin to near Ormondlle.  He took our late car away with him.  Late went in new car as far as Nordbye’s.  John milked.

MON 17   James Thompson came with his 300 lambs and dipped them before dinner and again blistered young mare’s leg, she is still very lame.  Got new link put in press chain by blacksmith and finished pressing second bale of lamb wool, filled two sacks with lambs wool – 2nd class.  1 bag of fleecewool 1 sack of ewe belly wool, one bundle of 7 skins, all branded and bags of wool labelled.

FEB 1919

TU 18   Shifted the haystack that stood against oatstack, crammed it into hayshed.  Put lambs off Reserve rape – 137 into Marne rape.  Cut some Californians.

WED 19   A fine calm still morning.  Cut and bagged cocksfoot in Reserve plantation, rain came on at 11AM.  Got seed in before rain.  John footrotted some ewes running on Flat.  Mam & Eva at Methodist Bazaar day and night.

TH 20   T. Ryan carted our 2 bales of Lambs wool – 2 sacks of lambs wool 1 sack of bellies.  1 bag of fleece wool, 1 bundle of skins to Ormondlle, wrote to Wms & K.  Thrashed all the cocksfoot that we had bagged.  John carted to Currans load of firewood and pared hoofs of some ewes & rams.  Shifted stubble ewes on to Gundersen’s.  Mr Walker pulled away worn step at end of verandah and put up a new one.

FR 21   F. Adrian and son dipped 167 big sheep, paid 21/- 1½d per head.  Paid 9/6 by Mr Polson for dipping 76.  Cut Californians in two places.  Much more to be cut.  Sifted cocksfoot seed in woolshed, filled two cans with clean good seed.

SAT 22   Something wrong with new car.  Mr Neilsen’s man came here with our old car and took new one back with him.  Mam & Eva motored to Whetikura Sports.  Douglas rode Trixie.  John hand-drafted lambs on Marne and put them on the rape.  We put in a strainer near creek, shed paddock-Reserve.

SUN 23   Light rain for a short time then fine.  Afternoon motored Aunts, saw Willy returned yesterday, looks well, has a months free railway travelling over N.Z.

MON 24   Finished fence at creek-Reserve-shed-paddock, fired logs and heaps near new yards, patch of Californians there.  John at Norsewood Sale, bought store cow – £5.10 and 3 Jersey heifers (Freddy’s) 35/- each – now on Marne.  Letter from Mr Campbell.  At night attended Patriotic meeting in Library.

TU 25   Sledged firewood from beyond creek in shed paddock, sawed maire log for a bridge – in Ridges gully – T Ryan took ton of lime out of shed to M. Walsh at Garfield 13 bags, and 104 lbs over the ton.  M. Walsh called and registered 3 dogs – paid him 7/6.  Mr Neilsen sent new car back here, new number 838.  took old one away.  Mam & Eva motored to Allens tonight.  Got weights of Lambs wool – No. 16  cwt qr lbs 2.3.25.  17 cwt qr lbs 3.3.15.

FEB 1919

WED 26   A good warm dipping day.  Got Mr Mackies signature to Official Assignee’s paper.  Paid Mr Mackie’s bill of £6 = with eight pound cheque.  F Adrian dipped his flock of    ewes & lambs, is to pay £1.11.  Polson paid 17/= for dipping his flock =   .  John shifted lambs off Hughes’ rape on to meadow on Marne.  Cut Californians on rape paddock and back.

TH 27   Thomson Bros. came early with their flock of    has paid 31/=.  F Adrian paid for his dipping £1.11.  T Touhy dipped    and paid 23/=.  John in the afternoon cut blackberry vines.  Fired logs on back & cut Californians.

FR 28   Mr Hurst dipped 306 big ewes, F Reid helping, paid by cheque £1.18.  Made more fires near new yards and cut Californian’s – they are spreading fast.

MARCH 1919 SAT 1st   Gert’s Birthday.  Many happy returns.  Motored to Dannevirke with Mam Eva John and Walter Mortensen.  The 2 latter to play cricket against High School boys.  Paid Mrs Gurr 5/- insurance on Hughes house.  Paid Wairarapa Farmers Co-op Assn £10-15-0 for cattle bought at Norsewood Sale.  Paid Williams & Kettle balance of acnt 6/3 carriage of woolpacks from Port Ahuriri.  Attended meeting in Soldiers Institute to hear applications for assistance.  Will came by train and coach.

SUN 2   All at home, nothing to disturb.  Bert Riggor came to see about dipping his flock tomorrow.  Mam & Eva to Church.  Will walked across paddocks to Marne.

MON 3   Light rain in the morning, no dipping.  John and Will picked out 34 ewes to keep for breeding from amongst Marne ewes.  Took lambs off rape, on flat tonight.  Will went home by 25 minutes to four train, seen off by crowd from here, hupped down.

TU 4   Strained wires and repaired fence – meadow – Reserve.  A ram got through.  C Feirebend dipped    ewes.  Harry Fredericksen and John helped.  We afterwards dipped Widerups lot 111 two tooths amongst them 5 lambs.  Mrs Hutchinson buried today, motored to funeral in cemetary.  Revd Whibly officiated.  Mr Thomson paid for dipping – 31/=.  F Selby called.  Promised to come next week.  Welcome to 4 soldiers in Hall.  Mam & Eva going there.

MARCH 1919

WED 5   Dipped the rams.  3 Romneys, 7 SD and 3 Marne SD.  Made fires round and away from new yards.  John went to Makotuku Sale, bought 24 ewes at 16/9 – 28 SD lambs at 12/=.  3 Romney rams at £2-10 each.  All but three of us going to a circus at Norsewood tonight.  4/= and 3/=.  Pronounced good.

TH 6   Bert Riggor brought his 472 sheep across the paddocks, he and John dipped them, took them home by road.  He paid for them by cheque £ s d 2.19.0.  We dipped and put on Widerups 19 as breeding ewes (bought ones) dipped 3 Romney rams (bought).  Killed a bought S.D. lamb for home use, 32 lbs.

FR 7   Light rain in forenoon.  Anton came with his flock of 240 lambs, mostly only a few ewes and 3 rams, many ticks dead and alive seen on the lambs after dipping, must inspect them a month or 3 weeks hence and if any ticks found alive must use another brand of dip instead of Coopers.  Strained up wires round meadow.  Put the 3 Romney rams in meadow – 16 now.

SAT 8   Got in all back sheep, did not finish dagging before dinner time.  Mr Walker helping, dipped in afternoon = 402 breeding ewes & shorn ewe lambs very hard to get up to dip, ewes had to be dragged up, this is a second dipping for these ewes & lambs.  Besides this number we picked out 20 ewes & lambs, culls &c.

SUN 9   All on the premises except one drove in two buggies to Manawatu through Adrian’s land, three Grants and Miss Theobald joined the company.  Put ewes off Flat into Hughes and lambs off Angle rape into Flat.

MON 10   Doctored the hoofs of some ewes – 12 and put them in Reserve.  Dagged the bought lambs, 28 and with one more dipped & put on rape.  Dipped for W. Fierebend 25 woolly lambs, he paid 3/-.  Went to N Sale John bought 51 good ewes at 23/7 in shed paddock tonight.  Tried to ring up Selby so that we may get our fat lambs away, no word from him.  Our lambs on grass, the rape paddock done.  F. Selby took 500 fat sheep from Te Ohu on Saturday last cannot take our lambs.  Late Ole Andersen’s farm sold by auction today.  £25- an acre run up to.  Bought by T Tehern.  John paid Feirebend £3 as rent to Marne.

MARCH 1919

TU 11   Out of the 51 ewes bought yesterday (culled 3) for Reserve, dipped 48 and put 38 of them on back and 10 on Widerups, 140 on latter now and 5 lambs.  Wirenetted off a piece of Flat rape and put 347 lambs on it after we dagged them, put 25 lambs on Reserve flat rape with the 29 already there.

WED 12   Mam Betty Arthur and Gert stayed at home, all others motored to Takapau Sports, fine day, windy coming home, good big crowd, sports not much.  Horse events numerous, many dog trials.  In the morning put lambs off rape into Flat for a day or so.  At the sports W Mortinson won the thread- needle race, he won a nice teapot and gave it to Eva for threading the needle so quickly.

TH 13   John went for Mr Lunds flock, he and John Lund dipped them 224 and took them back home.  We put the lambs on the rape this morning and this evening took them off, on flat now.  F Selby called, he can only take a small draft from each client owing to want of space at works, confined to 1500 a week.  Is to come here on Saturday – 3 o’clock.  Shipping better after this month.

FR 14   Put fat lambs on rape again, on grass last night.  Got in rams 16 and doctored the hoofs of one or two.  Got in off Hughes and Reserve all store ewes – future potters, picked out 17 of the best as breeding ewes, dipped them.  Got in Widerups 2 tooths and other good ewes amongst them = 135.  Put back on Widerups 133 good culls and 15 lame doctored ones with them – 148 a few ewe lambs with them not counted.  Put 50 culls in Reserve a few lambs with them not counted.  There are some wethers amongst the cull ewes, 200 or thereabouts, total.  Mam Eva Mrs Veitch Ell & Sivvy Parsons at R.C. concert, Makotuku.  Got in lambs off Reserve rape, killed a small one for home use in good condition.

SAT 15   Got in back ewes & lambs, picked out 364 breeding ewes for back, put 4 SD rams and 4 Romney rams with them.  Put 107 two tooth ewes with 2 SD rams on Hughes.  Put 120 ewe lambs on stubbles for a day or two.  John cricketing at 11.  Te Rehunga.  Will came up by coach.  F Selby came at 3 PM.  Picked 210 fat lambs.  29 of them shorn, must keep for some days, 135 rejects in Reserve, woolly lambs 23/7 shorn £1.0.0.  Eva Mam Mrs Veitch in Dannevirke.

MARCH 1919

SUN 16   With Mam Eva John & Will motored to F Selby’s at Mangatara, saw the ewes he had for sale, took them to railway yards and raced off the lame ones, agreed to take a hundred of them at a pound a head, they are not well-wooled sheep, have been short of feed and thin, good enough mouths, must do for a season.  Got home for dinner at one.  Mam Eva and Miss Theobald motored to Aunties.

MON 17   Saint Patricks Day.  No snakes in Ireland.  A brand new Republic.  Will up at 4AM, got breakfast ready for he and John, they drove in phaeton as far as first river when dog Rowdy was missed, they came back for Joss, Will stayed and John rode mare and got to Marne with sheep about 1.30.  Will went home by express.  Wrote many letters this morning.  £4.0.0 J Mackie’s bill paid.  £9.14.6 to CL Neilsen.  £60.2.9 to Loan & Mercantile Ag Co.  £10.3.4 to Williams & Kettle.  Sent printed form to Official Assignee, my signature witnessed by Miss Theobald, letter sent to Alfred Addison and to Hugh Campbell.

TU 18   John & Eva brought in the 100 bought ewes and some others off the Marne.  125 of these ewes dipped and put into Widerups.  Mr Walker helped.  Put on top untouched rape 135 or so reject lambs.  Got in potter ewes off Widerups, picked out 17.  remainder 182 put on Marne hills, wethers amongst them.  The 17 on battens to be dipped tomorrow.  Creek dry.  Carted water in wagon and 5 cans, 2 trips from stockyard gully.

WED 19   Hot weather continues – dipped 17 ewes and with one SD ram are on Ridges.  142 on Widerups now.  Mam Eva John two of his also Mrs Veitch motored to Makeretu Sports.  A big gathering, no one killed.  One at home put logs together with “Trixie”.

TH 20   Put out the remaining SD rams.  5 now on Back, 3 on Widerups.  Dragged logs together near new yards and plantation on Back with “Ginger”.  Pulled cut and “Rowdy” killed 5 young rabbits, from nest in bank.  F Selby called.  Drover comes for lambs on Sunday next.  Bad prospects for freezing stock, no space in freezing chambers.  John repaired fence round Back and put lambs off rape for a day or so.  Dragged logs with “Trixie” and made up fires round new yards.  A crowd of Norsewood ladies gone eel fishing tonight.

MARCH 1919

FR 21   Some rain last night and this morning, not enough to do any good so far.  John put 2 cows – “Bobtail” and “Bluie” out on Marne dry found a lamb drowned in angle- hill creek, skinned for dogs.  Yesterday got returns for 2 bales of lambs wool sold at 15½ and a bale of mixed wool regraded and valued from 12d to 7¼ per lb, brought £13.18.11 nett, lambs £ s d 46.15.8.  Two mares shod today – “Ginger” and “Leg”.  A gentleman in search of farm called.

SAT 22   A rough windy day.  Got in Reserve rape sheep – lambs and killed small one 29 lbs.  Marked 43 off them for top rape on flat, 14 small ones for grass paddock at present.  John got in load of firewood, shifted a couple of strainers with mare & wagon, dug strainer out near road and publican’s paddock.  Made up fires near new yards.  Mam Eva Bazil and Douglas at Pictures, sent to Anton Svensen his share of wool £6.

SUN 23   Got in and counted fat lambs – 210.  F Selby and drover Halford came at 11AM and took them away, could not get more than 22/6 all round – 29 of them shorn but very heavy lambs, or 23 for woolly and £1 for shorn, took latter although only a penny or so per head more.  Motored with F S to Mr Morrow’s walked over paddocks, every paddock dry, turnips not a good prospect.  Dinner at Aunts, Willie there.  Eva & Mam came & took me home – John went fishing.  Paid F.L. Selby for the hundred ewes £100.2.6.

MON 24   A breezy drying day, no rain, much wanted.  Sent to H B Farmers £ s 4.10 for case of Coopers dip and letter to Fitchett Brothers, Melbourne.  John carted from Huhges some 6×1 gate timber, shifted 2 tooth ewes 107 and 2 SD rams off Hughes on to Flat and went to Norsewood Sale a poor one.

TU 25   Eva & Mam to Dannevirke, took G Christophersen, Old Man Curran and Mrs Pagett, latter to see a friend in Hospital, two former on House purchasing business.  Ewe lambs shifted from Angle on to Marne, 60 of them in Reserve.  Painted boards for making 10 ft gate.  Mr Walker set new tubs in Wash house.  Rain fell in afternoon, not enough.  C E Petersen collecting money for Mrs Lean 5/= donated.

MARCH

WED 26   Got Gear & Co cheque for 210 lambs – 29 at £1.  181 at 23/= , = £237. 3 exchange 6/- added.  A breezy day, clearing up and made fires round new yards, back.  John pulling docks and cutting Cal thistles.  At night Mam & Eva at Soldiers Concert.

TH 27   Anton Svensen came before breakfast with a mob of J Thompsons sheep.  We carted water in cans from stockyard spring.  James Thompson came later with another mob = 312 altogether and 302 lambs dipped before = £3.16.9 it came to which he paid by cheque.  Painter Olsen came with 487 ewes and a few lambs amongst them, T Hurst helping, all dipped by 3.30 – to pay later along with his last seasons dipped sheep.  A beautiful warm calm day.  Much water carted.

FR 28   Three flocks dipped today.  John and Anton Christophersen brought latters flock of 128 across paddocks and back again.  Anton Svensen dipped 43 some of them owned by neighbours.  S Wiggins dipped 30, paid 3/6.  I put ewes together on Widerups, got in rape lambs and killed small one.  Eva Mam & Gert at Alice’s.  Charley started today for school.  Mam paid saddler Bartlett’s bill £2.9.0.

SAT 29   A calm warm day, made up fires on Back, and saw Cricket match Norsewood v Ormondville, latter 1st innings 49.  Norsd 132 Ormlle 2nd 68.  Norsewood won by an Ings and 13 runs.  Lambs put out of shed paddock into Flat and rape.

SUN 30   The usual warm calm day, Mam & Eva Church then with Miss Theobald and Ella Grant to Aunts and tea.  Ella said Good bye.  Away tomorrow to Christchurch.  Walked over Widerups, saw where fence requires to be repaired.

MON 31   C Feireband dipped 211 before dinner total 861.  D McFarlane dipped, paid 30/= paid.  Made up fires on Back with mare chain and sledge.  John blew up big log and we rolled it against another one.  There is talk of a butchers strike in Longburne, McGilvray has refused to take any fat stock in the meantime.  Our lambs look well and are fit to go, there is not much rape left.  Ewes too – a great number are fit to go.  F Selby promised to come but has not done so.  John sent in Gerts letter to Will, Gears fat lamb cheque on account = £237.3.9, 6/- exchange included.  A temperance lecturer in Hall tonight.  Mam and Eva gone to take it all in.

APRIL 1919

TU 1st   No fools today except the usual ones, hot day and calm.  Dipped for Hans Nordbye, this with 342 dipped 7th February previously makes 710.  Made up fires on back and made hurdle at home for “Marne Red Gate Corner”.  At night attended Patriotic meeting in Reading room, afterwards Public Meeting, some Ngamoko people present.  Much talk and palaver about future “Peace Celebration”   Another big “Public Meeting” to be held a fortnight hence.  Miss McDonald came.

WED 2   Mr Snook with his flock of 260 ewes came across paddocks, John helped him bring and take back, then put fat lambs on second rape on back.  At night the “Eel Club” ladies went fishing and caught half a dozen or so.

TH 3   Put in strainer at Marne red gate and opened gateway.  Good rain came on in the afternoon, had to leave the gateway unfinished.  Mr Bell manager at Te Ohu sawmill called taking Andrew Stephensen to get pension.

FR 4   Rain last night but not enough.  Finished at Marne new gateway.  Shook grasseed and raked on burnt patches on Back.  John took roller to owner, got in rape lambs and killed one.  F Selby called, takes truck load of lambs tomorrow, comes about 10AM.  Mam and Eva at Presbyterian S.S. meeting.

SA 5   Fine weather again.  Motored to Dannevirke with Eva Grace & Biddy attended meeting in Soldiers Institute, got case of Coopers Dip at H.B. Farmers.  John yarded fat lambs and F Selby took 46 shorn at £1 and 28 at 23/= total 74.  Will came up in evening train.  After coming from Dannevirke lining of tyre burst in shed.  The 4th time Gears buyer has been through our lambs, total taken so far 422 & 22.

SUN 6   Dry weather again, all at home, John drove up to Willies’s to see about getting his cattle to sale tomorrow.  Rode over Hughes, feed not bad, sheep look well.

MON 7   Anton Svensen came with 181 of M Nicholaison’s sheep before breakfast and Will helped us dip them.  John went to Norsewood sale, bought cow £6 from W Torkilsen, put her on Marne.  Drover took the 74 fat lambs away.  Sent £15.1s cheque to P.G.Grant to pay his bill of £6.3.9.  Boyle £2.15.9.  £2.17.6 Rickett.  Balance to be squandered by Mam.  Made up fires on Back.

APRIL 1919

TU 8th   Filled and sent to Wellington Land Tax Paper.  Got in lambs & killed one.  John went to Christophersens funeral.  Eva with Miss Mathews to Dannevirke.

WED 9   With Will made a gate in woolshed, sledged out and hung in Eva’s gateway in place of awkward hurdle.  Made up fires &c.  Burning well.  John discing Reserve flat with “Duke”, “Prince” and “Bluie”.  Went with Eva to concert.

TH 10   Went up to schoolhouse to vote for rising generation with Eva Mam Mr and Mrs Walker.  Eva motored Wowsers and waterdrinkers until evening when the supply was exhausted – they counted 175 and beer people 119.  Pictures tonight attended by the two, returns from other places will be screened.  Rain fell today but not enough.  John nearly finished discing Reserve flat.  Cold night.

FR 11   A white frost this morning, water very cold but ahead of Beer by over 12,000 votes, this is not decisive.  Made up fires on back, all burning well.  Hans Mortensen and Peter Johansen dipped their sheep = 236.

SAT 12   An eventful day.  The barrel is in front of the teapot.  Owing to the New Zealanders in England and their drinking wives the Prohibition majority of 12,000 or 15,000 has come down to 568.  At midday Dr Veitch and Nurse McDonald brought us a little boy.  Gert all right.  John discing angle and hill paddock.  After killing a good lamb put the others on Marne second rape.  Paid Mr Mackies bill with a £3.10 cheque.  Both of them at Pictures tonight.

SUN 13   Nothing of importance today.  Mam & Eva at Church and at Aunts.  A puncture.

MON 14   Anton Svensen came early and dipped his 194 sheep.  John with disc.  Made up fires on Back.  Motored to Ormondlle and met Mr Baumgard at express.  Has joined the “Eel Club”.  Pulling them out of Butchers Creek tonight and at A Svensens.

TU 15   Sent letter to Mr Craig Takapau.  Mr Rankin came with his flock, 364 in this was included 100 lambs owned by Gray who helped, also another man.  Rain which threatened came on at 11 and 12 o’clock and continued.  He paid £2.5.6 by cheque.  Will went home by express.  Mr Baumgard rode out to see friends and has not returned by bed time.  Steady rain.  Recd Gears cheque £78.4 & sent to Bank.

APRIL 1919

WED 16   A breezy cool day.  Shook and raked grasseed on back burnt patches.  John & Freddy harrowing and drilling seed mixtures in angle-hill paddock.  Got from J Mackie 9 bushels oats at 8/= per bushel.  2 sacks 1/= each.  16 bushels English Rye grasseed @ 9/6.  7½ cwt grain manure @ 11/3 per cwt.  9 lbs cow grass seed @ 2/= per lb.  8 lb trefoil @ 1/6 per lb.  2 lbs white clover @ 3/= per lb.  Mr Baumgart motored to catch train for Hastings.  Mam & Eva saw Magic Lan.

TH 17   Shook and raked grasseed on burnt patches on back.  John killed lamb and brought cow “Blui” her from “Marne” with a good black B calf.

GOOD FRIDAY 18   No work done today except to mix grasseeds in Woolshed, Rye, clovers &c.

SAT 19   Rain threatening.  John went out with drill but the rain drove him back.  He did some sheep-shifting.  Demand from H.B. Board of Rabbit trustees for 5/3 – sheep 632.  Return for 4 bags of wool from Williams & Kettle and Bank slip for £8.16.7.  Bellies and crutches of lambs called “3rd Lambs” = 115 lbs fetched 11½.  Other bags regraded.

SUN 20   A breezy day.  Mam & Eva at Church, Afternoon with Eva & Miss Theobald at Aunts.

MON 21   Races in Waipukurau and Sports in Ormondlle & high wind everywhere.  John finished drilling oats in angle & hill & then went to Ormondville.  Eva Miss Theobald Mrs Veitch and Inga motored to W. Races, home late in the wire.  Drs Veitch and MacCallum came and saw baby, he is all right.

TH 22   Another breezy day.  Finished raking grasseed in burnt patches.  John and Eva drilling and harrowing oats in Reserve flat.  At night meeting R.[?].

WED 23   Calm day after a frosty night.  Shaking grasseed on Reserve Flat with John and Freddy.  Finished at midday then shook “Angle and Hill”. Had to go twice to Mackies for more seed.  Got in out of meadow two Romney rams a fat lamb and a lame lamb, killed the fat and put the others out on Ridges.

TH 24   A stormy day.  A little of Reserve flat blown away as John harrowed in his grasseed.  Finished that and “angle & hill” paddock.  Gate at stockyard and Ridges broken by the wind.  Sent 5/3 to Rabbit. Trustee.  £4.10 to H B Farmers.  £7.6.6 to Williams & Kettle – mostly for Dip.  James Thompson called to see about Dip.

APRIL 1919

FR 25   Anzac Day.  Went with Mam Eva Mr and Mrs Walker to Service in Hall a fairly big crowd.  Revd Poole Le Garth Mercer.  2 Salvation ladies took part.  In the forenoon John got in Marne ewes and ran off lambs that got mixed.  Put back ewes – 140 and one ewe left in paddock 141.  two ewes got drown’d.  Put 96 lambs on rape.  Put 41 of our ewes in Reserve and 41 on flat.  129 on small paddocks on Marne.  Put 15 mixed with ewe lambs, a few ewes amongst them on stubbles and meadow, this makes about 216 fat & store ewes to get rid of.

SAT 26   Still dry breezy weather, no growth.  Repaired gate at stockyard going into ridges and fence also.  Miss McDonald left by 10 o’clock train.

SUN 27   A beautiful day.  No one came no one left.  Yesterday Will came Miss Theo’d left.

MON 28   Messrs Thompson and Murphy dipped their 100 sheep.  Paid 12/6.  Eva went gathering money for “Peace Celebrations” gave her £1. and £1.18 she gathered without going on German Line which is still to do.  Will and John digging potatoes on Marne, dug about half, rain stopped it, picked up 3 sacksful.  At night attended Patriotic Meeting.  Program decided when Peace is declared.

TU 29   John and Will finished digging the potatoes and picking up the seed and the eating potatoes, carted home half a dozen sacksful.  McCauley family for dinner.

WED 30   A hot calm day, mustered sheets of iron with Will and John and put two lengths in frames to be taken to Pakowhai.  After dinner motored with Will and Eva and Ernest Parsons to see football match in Ormondlle.  Norsewood won.  There was some rough play on Ormondlle side.  Walter Mortensen’s knee injured.  Mam & Eva at a Norsewood concert – show- welcome home for three soldiers.  One returned Soldier – Alen Woods and his brother stay with us tonight, no room in Junction Hotel for them and upper hotel not open for public although drink is sold in an adjoining small building, and this going on for months.  This has been a dry month, no heavy rain for four months, being obliged to keep so many fat sheep on hand so long, feed is getting done now.

MAY 1919

TH 1st   The usual dry calm day.  All sheep and lambs got in.  F Selby came at 11 AM.  Picked out 78 lambs, about one half woolly SD lambs, he took 92 ewes, and 109 of Wills ewes.  Drover Halford took ours away, he takes Wills tomorrow.  We have 92 reject ewes left on Marne now, over 20 lambs for home killing.  Will has 30 reject ewes on Marne.  We have 5 killing lambs on good second crop rape.  John put 50 ewes and a ram off back on to Flat.  Tomorrow must further rectify sheep.  Eva drove Will and the two Wood’s boys to Ormd to 10 o’clock train.  Mrs and Miss Speight called.  The Marne 109 in shed paddock.

FR 2   Put Cow “Darkie” out on Gundersens with other cattle.  Picked up and carted away all potatoes off cultivated patch on Marne.  Halford took sheep.

SAT 3   High wind tonight, dry day.  Put fixture on car door so as to keep it shut.  John carted in firewood and shifted sheep on Marne.  Mam Eva & Bazil pictures.

SUN 4   The usual sort of day.  Mam & Eva to see Aunt & Florrie.  John honey gathering.

MON 5   Sale day in Norsewood.  Mam caught the turkeys.  John boxed and took them to sale, also took Mr Walkers little pigs.  Latter fetching 9/=, turkey hens 11/=, Gobbler 22/6.  Four big totara posts bought for 5/= each.  At night attended Patriotic meeting.  A welcome home concert on Wednesday Week.

TU 6   Dry weather continues.  Ewes shifted off Flat on to Reserve and Hughes-Flat gate left open for Hughes 107 ewes to come out.  Mr Walker and John picked timber over and took ceiling boards &c over to Marne.  Mam Eva Grace & Biddy motored Dvirke.  Paid Mr Stubbs £1 sub to Farmers Union.  Paid Mr Little £1-16 for Motor car tube.  Sent bundle of skins – 11 and a piece by T Ryan for Williams & Kettle.  Got £5 cheque changed at Mackies – £2 for Grace and £3 for Mam & Eva to church [ab?].

WED 7   Another load of timber taken to Marne.  Mr Walker working there.  Made a wheelbarrow.  All the others motored to see Aunt and Florrie.

TH 8   Nice mild calm day.  John Mr Walker and part of day Mr Widt worked at Marne.  Got Gear cheque – 13 weths 31.  79 ewes 27/=.  33 wooly lambs 22/6.  45 shorn 18/6 = £205.16.3.  5/3 exchange.  Made a barrow for Arthur.  Killed one of the 5 lambs off rape.  Yesterday Mr & Mrs Baumgard.

MAY 1919

FR 9   Sent Gear cheque to Union Bank.  Dagged the few killing lambs & put on rape.  John Widt and Walker worked at Marne house.  Fog rain all day – came to nothing.  Mam and Eva also Mrs Veitch (motored here by Dr) went to returned Social Ormon […]

SAT 10   A lucky day, money to my credit in Bank, Morning fog, no rain, it has turned out fine.  With Mam & Eva motored to D.virk, attended Patriotic meeting.  Much money voted to assist needy soldiers.  John & Walker making house habitable.  Mam & Eva helped others to decorate church for “Harvest Thanksgiving”.  Eva met Will at late train.  He put cheque sent him to my account £238.0.0.

SUN 11   The usual dry day.  Will & John picked over timber and heaped what they required.  At 2.30 went to Church with Mam & Eva, Church decorated.

MON 12   A summer day.  Went with Trixie and wagon and helped John to shift his furniture from late Curran’s house to Marne house, he drove filly and express, got everything away except tank.  Will went home by 10 o’clock train arranged with Ryan carriers to take his timber and iron to Ormondlle train.  Mr Walker and C Widt working at Marne house.  Paid Mackies bill of £ s d 27.17.8 with cheque of £32.  Eva gathered for Church £2.10.  She & Mam at Dr Veitch’s tonight.

TU 13   All the household except me has motored to Pakowhai.  Gave Eva cheque £8.  Telegram from George, met him at Ormondlle with phaeton.  John & Baumgart here.  Went with John & George to Marne.  Got some houseblocks down from Hughes to set tank on.  Ryan & Son took two loads of Will’s timber to Ormondlle is on ground waiting for a truck tomorrow.  This afternoon all hands came in express from Marne and are staying here.  Mr Walker & John put 4 heifers in Widerups to be wintered they have arranged about the grazing of them, at present they belong to Walker.

WED 14   John and George shifted tank from Curran’s and set it on prepared stand at Marne.  Football in F Smith’s paddock – Ormondlle Norsewood, latter won by many points.  Bill-hooked blackberries at Hughes, and carted home some old boards.  Ryan & Son took remainder of Wills timber and iron to Ormondville – is on ground, no truck.  George and Grace at Picture entertainment, 3 or 4 soldiers.

MAY 1919

TH 15   John and George sawed and carted home firewood for chaff-cutter engine.  Got in rape lambs and killed one.  John went to Bank and put in cheque £109.3.  At night attended Patriotic meeting in Library.  Social next Wednesday week.

FR 16   The usual warm calm day.  Drove George to catch 10.10 train to Hastings.  Timber still at Ormondlle.  Porter promised to forward it as soon as possible, today if he can.  Rode across paddocks to W M Thompson’s sale.  Big crowd, good prices, bid 2/- each for 50 totara posts.  Another bid 2/1d and got them.  Anton Svensen paid for dipping £3.11.0.

SAT 17   John took timber to Marne with mare and express and worked with Widt.  Gathered up straw about stack and carted load to Eva’s garden.  W Torkilsen for tea.

SUN 18   Rain at last after months of dry weather, some last night, a good deal today it has not come any too soon, outcry about empty tanks, our back door tap good as ever and tank not empty, creek running altho dry some time back, paddock dry but some rough feed left, stock in good condition.  Willie Thomson called at tea time about getting 300 sheep dipped as he cannot get McGilvray to take them although he has taken a few days ago 217 from Anton Svensen, hundreds from Tods and Chris Andersen has disposed of breeding ewes 28/= and replaces with cheaper ones 4 or 5/=.

MON 19   Rain all day, hacks and cow covered.  About 4 PM Mam Eva & George arrived.

TU 20   More mist and light rain.  Mam John Grace and kiddies drove in express to Marne.  Papered room &c.  At night meeting in room in Hall, Mr Hunter there.

WED 21   Motored round with Mr Hunter and C.P. Andersen in latter’s car.  No room in hotel for Mr Hunter last night, so he stayed here, and after breakfast he visited many settlers.  We called at Painter Olsen and he paid £4.16.4 as Dip money for last season and this.  Roy Thomson dipped 300 or more ewes.  Paid £1.18.0.  John helped and Berty Gundersen got them away before dinner time, a very heavy frost tonight.

TH 22   A white frost.  John working with Widt at his wash house.  SD ram amongst ewe lambs on Gundersen’s, mustered sheep and pulled him out.  Found ewe dead by fence on Marne with head between lower wires.  Mam Eva and George motored to see Alice.

MAY 1919

FR 23   Anton Svensen came in the morning with dressed pig, was about to cut up and salt but Martin Nicholaison and Walter Mathieson came with chaff cutter and we put the stack through, and also sawed firewood into short lengths.  Put 70 sacks of chaff into shed will tip remainder tomorrow, it is covered tonight.  Mr Walker helping.  Mam and Eva at Dr Veitch’s tonight by invitation.

SAT 24   Chaff cutter men and horses left here early for F Selby’s.  With John cut up and put in salt pig brought yesterday by Anton 165 lbs, then John left to help Mr Widt.  Worked where oatstack stood, removed coarse chaff, rejected sheaves &c.  Mam and Eva cleaned up Church.  Visited Mrs Allen – she has a touch of Bronchitis or pleurisy.

SUN 25   A shower today.  Mam & Eva at 2.30 Church, then floated to Aunties.

MON 26   John and Bertie sawing firewood in stubble paddock.  Killed fat lamb.  Sent a line to F L Selby and dipping account to Mr Snook.  Makotuku.

TU 27   A wet day.  Burnt some good backlogs.  Eva got “Trixie” shod at Ormondlle.  Sent a third call to Whakatu Freezing works – cheque for £10.0.6.  Anton Svensen came after tea and he and Mam motored to a “Duck Show” in hall.  Eva to Miss Caughlie.

WED 28   Anton came before breakfast with a second fat pig weighing 160 lbs.  Cut up & salted.  Anton takes when cured one half of the first mentioned pig.  Paid for pig and ½ £ s d 7.1.6 cheque for owner – C Andersen.  Anton pays for his half pig – £2.8.2.  Price of pork – 7d per lb.  F Selby called at midday, will take two truckloads of ewes next week, the sooner the better.  A concert and welcome home in Hall for returned soldiers.  Mam Eva & Mrs Walker up there.  Sent the usual bag of firewood to boil copper.  John & Bertie getting & carting in firewood.

TH 29   Drops of rain often.  Mam & Eva motored to Dannevirke by Florries.  Gave Mam £5.8.5 cheque to square up Red X affairs.  Killed lamb for dogs.  John & Bertie at firewood.  Mam & Eva at Dr’s. FR 30   Motored with Mam & Eva to Pakowhai, came unexpectedly.  Will building hen house.  A good road and fine day, nice journey.  At home John & Berty getting firewood.

SAT 31   Another very fine day.  White frost morning.  Will wirenetted all round his fowl house.  At night Mam Eva Miss Theobald at Play in Napier.  Miss T came home with Mam.  At home John took both cows and calf over to Marne.  Freezing again.

JUNE 1919

SUN 1st   A heavy frost last night ground white, warm day.  Will & Co motored out with Gert & Jim Eva & Miss Theobald.  Vic came over, his right arm in sling, very sore.

MON 2   Eva motored Miss Theobald to Greenmeadows, and as soon as she came back we left for home, lunch in Waipukurau going and coming.

TU 3   The Kings Birthday.  A fine day.  Rubbed bacon – two pigs.  Killed a lamb and put on rape.  F L Selby called to say bring 2 trucks of sheep to Ormondville tomorrow evening to be loaded on Thursday morning.  John & Berty getting firewood and Freddy and his mate splitting firewood on Widerups – Matai & Rata &c.

WED 4   Much difficulty in getting car to start, with Mr Walker’s help we pushed it to road and it started.  Mam & Eva motored to Dannevirke and left car there, came home by last coach.  Got in sheep off Marne Hills and ran off old ewes and shorn lambs – 125 of latter put back.  Ewes 123.  wethers 5 & 2 old Romney rams we drove to Ormondlle – total 130.  two trucks waiting there.  We took mare and express in case of any lame ewes wanted to be carted.  We mustered Widerups and took out the two old Romney rams and 2 SD.  The Romneys we are sending with the ewes.  Put back on Widerups 143 ewes/lambs.  Mustered Hughes and put back 107 ewes 1 ram and 1 lamb.  Bertie splitting Freddy and mate splitting on Widerups.  Sold them tonight ½ lamb = 7/- to pay.  Eleven sheepskins sold 15th of last month.  Four of them fetched 4/6 each.  Total £1.17.10.

TH 5   Started early, drove in phaeton to Ormondlle put 130 sheep in 2 trucks for 9.15 train.  Berty finished splitting firewood.  John carting home and heaping up.  Freddy and mate splitting for half a day.  Sledged the greater part of potatoes from woolshed and tipped out eating one on battens leading to dip.  Spread the remaining eating potatoes in wool bins in woolshed.  Mr Walker put up cup board.

FR 6   Every day calm fine and frosty. John still carting in firewood.  Mr Walker’s successor’s arrived today at lunchtime.  Takes possession of everything inside and out.  Mr Win Napier with the bag.  Made up and sent away Income Tax return.  Martin Nicholaison and Walter arrived with chaff to cut wood tomorrow.

JUNE 1919

SAT 7   Rain last night and this morning, no wood-cutting.  Drove Trixie in phaeton to Hursts went from there with A B Hansen in his car to Monthly meeting in Dannevirke.  He could not leave before 4.30.  home late.  Mrs Satchwell here for an evening call also Miss Mathers, all went together to see the Norsewood pictures except one who remained at home.  Sent 3 letters re dip-money – Nordbye, Snook and Fierebend.

SUN 8   Mr Walker carted his luggage over and put it in Woolshed, went over in the afternoon with mare & wagon and carted over remainder of luggage, and a small pig.  Possession given by Walkers to incoming Soldier – furnished house, bedding, chairs, lamps, sewing machine, knives, forks, spoons, jam, flour, potatoes &c &c.  Cows, pig, horse, hens, ducks – Eva & Mam at evening church.  Mr & Mrs Walker here tonight.

MON 9   Messrs Nicholaison & Mathewson cutting our heap of firewood into short lengths.  Mr Walker and John helping, did not finish.  Mr & Mrs Walker went by coach 8 min to 3.  Eva went to Dannevirke by coach and train and brought back car in good order.  Paid Mr Walker for grey horse, cover, some harness the sum of £20.0.6 cheque.  John paid him for some work done at his house and a days chaff cutting £3.0.0.  Killed a nice fat lamb yesterday and put 10 back on rape.  Man left tea today 25 lbs, the price is £2.15 which is to be sent to Wellington.  Paid T Ryan £1.11.7 carriage.

TU 10   A breezy day.  Finished cutting firewood by 12 o’clock.  Paid M Nicholaison £7.0.0 for chaff and woodcutting.  Carted down from hayshed the heap of sacks of chaff lying there and tipped same in chaff shed, tidied cart shed and bundled good sacks.  Cleaned woolshed.  Made gate, ready for hanging.  Mam & Eva & Mrs Veitch and John at Ngamoko, cards &c.

WED 11   High wind all day and last night.  Clearing away debris from bridge beyond woodheap where a chaff cutting horse walked over and broke it down.  John at Ormondlle football match, Te Rehunga played and was easily beaten.  Mam & Eva at Welcome Home for 4 or 5 soldiers in Hall – Thomson, the Brothers Simpson.  T Olsen absent.

TH 12   Crutched Hughes 2 tooth ewes 107 and 1 lamb.  Widerups 48 and 1 lamb.  95 in shed tonight.  143 and 1 lamb has been in Widerups.  All in good condition & no ticks.  £ s d 4.8.9 cheque from H Nordbye for dipping.  Sarah and her man driven to Alice’s by Mam.

JUNE 1919

FR 13   The usual frost and very fine day.  Cow “Darkey” brought in from Gundersen’s and her bull calf.  Crutched the 95 in shed before dinner.  Now 116 in Widerups branded B.  The sheep on Hughes 107 and 1 also branded.  Got in and crutched Reserve sheep and put back 50 big ewes branded.  Put 27 of the poorest ewes & 1 lamb on meadow.  In shed paddock tonight 1 Romney ram and 14 wether lambs crutched and branded.  Otto Hansen dipped 11 very ticky lambs.  Florrie Ella & Miss Allen called.  Mrs Barnes called & J Thompson with a hammer.  Mam & Eva at Dr Veitch’s tonight, cards.

SAT 14   Got in all ewe lambs = 126 and put these after being crutched with the 14 wether lambs – 140 altogether – shorn lambs out on Hills also the 27 poor ewes on Hills where feed looks fair.  Mam & Eva motored to Dannevirke.  Mam paid Bertie £2 and he leaves £2 to be taken out in meat.  Paid J Mackie’s bill of £4.11 and Insurance on house piana and furniture £3.13.8 with a twelve pound cheque.  McDowell & Power £ s d 9.7.6.  Boyle & Co £1.3.9.

SUN 15   Some rain last night and some today, fine tonight.  We spent the afternoon at Mrs Veale’s.

MON 16   Eva Victoria’s Birthday. 22.  Born in the week of Queen Victoria’s Jubilee.  A lovely Birthday Cake from Hastings, most beautiful invigorating scented soap from Dannevirke.  A summer day although a white frost this morning.  A good Sale in Norsewood, sheep up and dairy heifers fetching good prices.  John got in Back sheep – fat.  Total 323 out of which comes 2 for Feirebend, 1 for B Riggir and rams.  In shed tonight 101.  remainder in shed paddock.  New milk seperator not workable.  Got Gear cheque for 130 potters.  37 ewes 26/- 5 wethers 27/6 88 culls 15/- total £ s d 121.2.9.  Exchange 3/3.

TU 17   Some fog and first this morning, good day for crutching.  Finished mob.  320 amongst them one ewe lamb, ewes heavy, in good condition.  Peter Johansen helped.  Paid 14/- well earned, nearly dark when we finished.  Mam and Eva motored cream seperator back to Williams & Kettle.  Mr Williams tried it, found it unworkable and sent it back to maker or firm in Palmerston.  Mam & Eva at Dr’s tonight, cards or other frivolity.

WED 18   Waterloo.  Yarded and branded ewes and put them on back – 280, one or 2 lambs.  Put 34 on flat.  Sledged home dead ewe out of creek far end of Marne.  Eva John Mrs Veitch motored to Dannevirke – two at Golf, one at football.  Nice calm day.  Feed for sheep.

JUNE 1919

TH 19   The 34 ewes on Flat put out on Marne.  At night attended Patriotic meeting not a big meeting – the same individuals on new Committee.  At home a party ping pong and cards – Simpson boys, Miss Mathews Walter Mortensen, Miss Brewer &c.  John went to Norsewood Bank – N.S.W. and placed to his credit Gears cheque £ s d 121.2.9.  Deduct 3/3 exchange.

FR 20   Mam Eva John Grace and Biddy motored to Dannevirke.  John to look on at Sale.  Worked at little bridge.  Feirebend took home his 2 hoggets.  At night.  Mr W.M. Thomson called to say good bye before going for a 6 month holiday.

SAT 21   Mrs Paget’s boy borrowed Filly to drive cows to Takapau.  Rain came on at midday and stopped us from finishing bridge.  Mam & Eva went to Allens and to Pictures tonight.

SUN 22   A rough uneventful day.  Grace walked over paddocks with cream.  Mam & Eva Church.

MON 23   A winters day, fleeting showers all day and night.  Eva got “Leg” shod in Ormondlle.  Got her Music lesson and paid 30/-.  Got in rape lambs and one Killed.

TU 24   A fine calm day after the rain.  Cut up lamb – light, quarters only 8 and 7 lbs.  John carted from Hughes timber for bridge and we finished it.  Mabel Veale for dinner.  She presented Eva from Mrs Veale a beautiful knitted shoulder garment.  Mam & Eva at Allens now.

WED 25   A memorable day.  Snowing first thing in the morning and continued all day – flakes as big as half crowns, seven inches of snow on the ground tonight, limbs of trees falling under the weight of snow.  Cow and hacks covered and well fed, plenty dogs meat.  Welcome home to Soldiers postponed.  Brieske & Widow Hayward married in P church.  Germans have signed Peace Treaty under protest – their signatures not worth much.

TH 26   Snowing in the morning, turned to thaw.  Snow falling off trees limbs of which are broken down.  Wire from Mr Hunter.  Eva rode to Ormlle for horse, none there.  9 inch snow on ground.

FR 27   A slow thaw.  Eva brought up young black mare from Ormlle.  At night Willie John Girlie Mc & D & Mavis.  Received from Wms & Kettle Dividend & Bonus £1.8.9 and Bonus 2% on goods purchased, total £3.9.5.

SAT 28   Porangi jumped gate.  Did not go far.  Mam & Eva saw Alice & baby.  Miss Kernahan took her goods.  Pictures.

SUN 29   Much snow still, rain tonight.  Mam & Eva motored to Aunties.  Dull calm short day.

MON 30   T Ryan took bale of crutchings 6 skins on top & 5 skins seperate bundle to Wms & K Ahuriri.  Killed lamb off rape.  Snow melting.  Much on flats.  John at N. Sale, poor sale.

JULY 1919

TU 1st   A very fine day although snow still on the ground in places, none on hills.  Spent the day with John chopping broken limbs of trees and dragging away same.  Mr C Feirebend sent a cheque for dipping his sheep – £5.7.6.  Sent £2.0.9 cheque crossed to Kirkcaldie & Stains Wellington.  Mam & Eva at Soldiers Welcome home.  Harry Christophersen. – Halliburton.  Willy Mackie & Arthur Ericksen absent.

WED 2   Anniversary of the Knot, a fine day and moonlight.  Chopped & dragged to heaps more snow-broken limbs.  John foot-balling in the afternoon at Ormondlle.  Skinned poor hogget for dogs.  Many clearing sales off farms the owners of which have sold, cows up to 20 and £25.  Sheep not so dear in proportion.  Trains curtailed from today, only two trains running on some days.  H.B. Herald came as usual.  “Evening News” came – thrown off from coach at 7.15.  Mam & Eva at exceptional pictures tonight.  Two cows and 3 hacks live on hay & chaff.  Archie “Pool” married.

TH 3   Much rain last night and this morning, a July day, tidied up woolshed &c.  Eva has a stiff neck but able with Mam to spend evening with Dr & Mrs Veitch and also with Mam visited Alice.  John Arthur and Willie Campbell came across the paddocks.

FR 4   Hung new red gate at Marne with John.  Bitterly cold afternoon.  Received dividend or interest on 15 shares- “Evening News”.  H Mortensen paid Dip money 1.9.6.

SAT 5   Motored to Dannevirke, picked up Arthur and Willie Campbell.  Attended Patriotic meeting, good attendance.  Came home at 2.30.  Paid A Brown 8/8 insurance money on Woolshed.  Paid Boyle the monthly account £1.2.1.  Dis 7d.

SUN 6   Dull dark cold day.  Some rain.  Mam & Eva motored to Afternoon Church.

MON 7   Rode over to Hughes and Marne.  Put in with John corner post at garden.  At night with Mam and Eva attended a Patriotic “Peace Celebration” Meeting in Library.  Former program upset through Government decision to celebrate on one day only – the 19th.  A big meeting, men undecided, women, about 20 cackling.

TU 8   A very heavy white frost.  “Bobtail” has a B calf.  John & W Campbell on mountain.  Eva Miss Allen Mrs Veitch & Miss Mathews Golfing at Takapau.  Dug a bit in lower end of Eva’s garden, much couch.  Both of them at cards at Allen’s.

JULY 1919

WED 9th   A warm day after heavy frost.  Sledged out to new yards blocks and iron for shed.  The boys at football in Dannevirke.  Mam & Eva cards in Hall.

TH 12   Rode over to Hughes and with John gathered and fired all blackberry vines and rubbish.  Rectified gateposts at Marne house, evening carted home door, house blocks and Gundersen’s calf for dogs.  At night attended meeting for Peace.

FR 11   Sledged material to new yards to erect shed.  Put in and footed big mairi as corner post against high wind.  Mam & Eva tonight at Dr Veitch’s at Cards.

SAT 12   Rain in the forenoon, fine afternoon.  Mam paid C.L. Neilsens bill £ s d 2.16.3 out of a five pound cheque.  Got 20 Macrocarpa trees at Gibbs nursery for 5/=. A Hockey match played at Dannevirke.  With the Ormlle players went John & fam W Mortensen Mam & Eva.  Ormlle won.  Brought the trees home in car.  Did a little at shed.  Pictures 2.

SUN 13   A dry day.  Transplanted 2 small gum trees in a gap in Wellingtonia plantation.  Mam & Eva at Aunties.  The Marne’s walked across paddocks & back.

MON 14   With John swept our 3 chimneys, then went to Marne to do likewise but too windy to finish.  Sent to Mr Gibbs for Macrocarpa trees 5/=.  Sledged home from Hughes a sledgeload of timber.  Mam Eva & Mrs Veitch at Aunts.  At night attended the final “Peace Celebration” meeting in library.  Killed lamb, only 30 lbs.

TU 15   Dull calm cloudy day.  Put in a few trees in Reserve plantation to replace missed ones.  3 Macs 1 gum.  John brought over B wagon, greased axels of express & brought it back.  Mam & Eva motored to Ngamoko to play return card playing game.

WED 16   Eva washed vehicles and sawed big limb off pine tree, preparing for “Peace Celebration” – procession.  Mam making outfit for “Father Christmas” – [?].

TH 17   A July day.  Cloudy and cold.  All hands erected a Christmas tree in an oil drum well ram’d with earth and stayed and secured, mounted on Bush wagon.  John & his mother decorated it with holly.  Made gate in woolshed.  Mam & Eva cards Allen’s.

FR 18   Preparations and decorations for tomorrow.  W Torkilsen helping to load material for bonfire.  Mam & Grace decorating phaeton.  Wire from Miss Theobald, coming tomorrow.  At night ping pong. 2 Mc Willy & John.

JULY 1919

SAT 19   The great day has come and is fine, sunny and dry.  A busy morning.  Gave the finishing touch to the vehicles.  Tied numerous toys on the Christmas tree in bush wagon and took the part of “Father Christmas” dressed in red robe &c.  Trixie in wagon.  Mam John and Co went in phaeton.  Eva and Mrs Veitch decorating car at Doctor’s in a most elaborate manner, it was awarded a special prize.  Our bush wagon got a 1st prize for four wheeled vehicles.  The muster took place near factory, procession went round Mackies and Engelbretsens to upper township, round oak tree and into school ground, lunch here, Miss Theobald came up by coach and joined in Games on cricket ground (school paddock).  Norsewood won tug of war after an exciting pull with Ngamoko.  Married men’s race – Mr Grant.  Hop step & jump John 1st.  High jump Nicholson.  Sheaf tossing, G Neal.  A very cold evening.  At 7pm rockets and bonfire and then a terrible crush getting into hall to see the pictures.  Mam Eva & Miss Theobald went.  One stayed at home by a good fire.

SUN 20   An uneventful day.  Mam & Eva at Church and afterwards with Miss Theobald Aunts.

MON 21   Today kept as a holiday.  Muster of children in Dr Veitch’s paddocks running and other games, a breezy day inclined to be cold, showers in evening.  Mam attended Children’s sports.  Eva Mrs Veitch and Miss Theobald motored to Dannevirke where they took 1st prize for best decorated car.  They left Norsewood early so as to finish decorating in Dannevirke.  We rose at 5AM here this morning.  Mam & Eva saw Miss Theobald off at Ormondlle, last train, then at Pictures.  Killed lamb.

TU 22   Cut up lamb, light.  Freddy & Berty had share.  John started stumping sledged timber to top shed.  Eva Mrs Veitch and Miss Mathews golfing at Takapau.

WED 23   A July day.  John carted load of timber from Hughes to new yards, then went footballing to Dannevirke.  Planted   Macrocarpa trees in “Top plantation” where misses took place from last planting.  W Torkilsen for dinner went up with him to Annual Factory meeting for a few minutes.  The heifer calf he gave us was found dead in gully on Back.  One of W Fourneau’s heifers has calf.  Allens tonight.

JULY 1919

TH 24   Sledged up timber to top shed and did some work there, cold showers.  Paid some bills out of £16 cheque.  Makie £ s d 1.14.6.  P G Grant £ s d 4.5.10.  Other creditors not at home when Eva called.  At night meeting in Library – Return Soldiers expected.

FR 25   Sledged timber and did some work at “top shed”.  Eva paid A Brown £ s d 6.13.7.  Received from Wms & Kettle return of 11 skins and Bank slip for same £2.8.4 nett.  Two skins fetched 6/3 each.  One fetched 6/10.  Paid W W Smith. Blacksmith.

SAT 26   A spring day.  Put in blocks &c in “Top shed”.  John picked out 23 of the Marne hoggets, the poorest and put them in small paddock.  Eva found ewe dead in Reserve.

SUN 27   Sledged home from Reserve the cast ewe seen by Eva yesterday a good skin, a nice pair of Romney twins lost, much inside fat in ewe.  Found a second ewe dead at bottom of creek in Reserve caught in blackberry vines.  Too wet all this afternoon to sledge the sheep home, will be difficult to get out.  Mam & Eva motored to Aunts, sent potatoes to Florrie.  Much rain falling.

MON 28   A thorough wet day.  Eva rode “Leg” over paddocks, nothing wrong.  She got in lambs off rape paddock, helped Miss Mathews move her car down the road.  Killed a fairly good lamb, not many left.  T Ryan carted to Ormlle Walkers 5 boxes.

TU 29   With John dragged dead ewe out of Reserve creek with rope.  A pair of twin lambs this ewe would have also.  Cut up lamb, light, to Berty & Freddy only 6 lbs each.  Afternoon sledged a bit to new shed, put in one block and came home.

WED 30   First lamb of the season seen by Eva on Back.  Wet morning, she rode over paddocks, saw a dead lamb and a live one, supposed to belong to one mother.  A rough night, wind and rain.  A welcome to 4 soldiers in hall, sent bag of wood.

TH 31   Another wet day, stockyard muddy.  Eva rode over Back, found in Reserve a ewe on her side unable to get up. She sledged her home, is in woolshed, on battens covered over.  Skinned old SD ram, died in implement shed.  A letter from James McIntosh. Sec Art Union, asking for return of butts of tickets of book which he sent me.  Am writing him that I sent book back to him day after getting it.  Letter from Wms & Kettle.  Bale of Crutchings cwt 3.0.27 lbs fetched 11¼.  Last year 11½.  Mam & Eva at Allens.

AUGUST 1919

FR 1st   July went out rough.  August comes in no better, light rain all day.  Skinned the ewe that Eva sledged home yesterday, would have twins.  Six lambs and 3 ewes gone in six days.  Boiled meat for animals.  John came across.  At night W Mackie John & sister at ping pong &c.  Eva ordered 5 cases benzine at factory.

SAT 2   A fine day after all the rain.  Motored with Mam & Eva round by Ormondlle and Makotuku to Patriotic or Branch Meeting of “War Relief Association” held monthly at Dannevirke.  The usual applications for assistance from returned Soldiers.  Went to Mart “Best Sale” bought 3 golf sticks 1/- each 3/-, a shovel & rake 1/- each.  Speaking to McGilvray.  Longburn stores cramfull of carcasses.  Other works also.

SUN 3   No one came, no one went except Mam & Eva to Aunt’s.  A shower in afternoon.  Grass giving indications of growth where there is shelter and sun.  No grass for cows to speak of, some rough feed on ridges but cows and horses prefer hay & chaff.

MON 4   A fine sunny day.  Miss McDonald borrowed “Leg” to help drive their herd of cows to Matamau on their six days journey to Palmerston.  Mam Eva Dr & Mrs Veitch motored to Dannevirke where car was improved and the Doctor got his after undergoing repairs.  Mam paid Wms & Kettle £10.18.0.  Shook and raked grasseed on burnt patches on back where it did not do well last Autumn.  Killed a very midling lamb, the few left in poor condition.

TU 5   A wet day again.  Eva rode over paddocks, found a dead ewe in Reserve and one on Back.  John skinned them and will bury them, enough boiled meat on hand.  John got in ewes off Marne hills, very poor, put them in small paddock and will try if he can get them to eat hay.  They would not touch it when ground was covered with snow.  Got in Reserve ewes – 46 left.  Put 10 on Ridges and 36 on back.  The Reserve is bare and ewes very poor.  Anton Svensen called, will buy young mare for £20.  Will take her home when weather clears.  Steady rain tonight, hard on sheep.  Mam & E. Drs.

WED 6   Worked at shed forenoon, wet afternoon, miserable weather.  At night we attended a small meeting in Library, called to decide what form of memorial would be erected for Soldiers dead and alive.  Meeting postponed.  Mrs Higgins died in Hospital.

AUGUST 1919

TH 7   A showery miserable day.  Eva rode over paddocks, sledged in ailing ewe.  Killed ewe for the sake of getting a good skin, a four tooth, would have twins.  Mice barking skins in woolshed, put up wire length of shed, hung skins on it.  Mam over at Marne, John skinned a ewe that would have twins.  At night Mam & Eva motored Makotuku to concert in aid of Anglican Church.

FR 8   Today as usual, rain greater part of, steady tonight, Mam & Eva at Doctors.  A wobbly ewe poor and heavy in lamb put in shed paddock with the remaining five small killing hoggets, an experiment to see if she will pull through.  A £6.10 cheque given to Eva to pay Mr Mackies bill of £5.5.9 ( John hockeying at Dannevirke.on 9th).

SAT 9   Today turned out fine and sunny after all the rain.  Eva found 5 ewes & 6 lambs on Back and Flat, one of the ewes poor and weak, did not trouble about lamb.  Many of them will be like this.  Eva Miss Allen and Mrs Veitch motored to Golf at Takapau.  Did no work today, wheezing, must have caught a cold.  Motor Car Insurance man called.

SUN 10   A thorough wet afternoon, forenoon dry.  John and boy Gundersen got in draught horses from Back and took unbroken young mare up to Antons.  She followed John on filly and boy behind.  All of us inside this afternoon.  Very wet.

MON 11   A dry cold day.  Eva over paddocks, about 20 lambs now.  She found ewe tied up in a lawer [lawyer] bush in a bad state, unable to stand up.  Sledged her into top yards, is there tonight.  Worked at shed.  Mam & Eva at Alice’s, tonight they are at a Horticultural meeting and Tennis meeting in Library.  This evening killed a lamb, not fat, they are about done, no turnips, lambs poor.

TU 12   A breezy cold day.  With Mam and Eva had a difficult job to drag a ewe up face of precipice from lawer bunch in creek, sledged her out on front where she is doing all right.  Ewe in top yards unable to stand yet.  Nailed on some weather boards on shed.  John came for gelegnite [gelignite] to blow up stumps.  The £20.0.0 cheque given him by Anton Svensen he brought over tonight.  He says the Marne paddocks quite bare, the 140 hoggets and 50 odd ewes on short Commons.  Tonight Mam & Eva at Allens.  Latter going on holliday [holiday] tour tomorrow.

AUGUST 1919

WED 13   The ewe that Eva rescued out of the lawyer bush died last night.  She found another one tied up in the blackberries in rabbit gully.  Sledged her home, she will go the same road.  Will not wait for her to die, so as to have a good skin.  Sent the twenty pound cheque to Union Bank.  Napier.

TH 14   One good sunny growing day at last.  Eva found dead ewe on Back, went out and skinned it, also killed and skinned the ewe found in blackberries and sledged home yesterday.  Took Trixie and sledge to Hughes and brought back some weather boards.  Joe Alice and Baby for dinner.  John came with mare and express for chaff after tea.  Mam & Eva at Salvation Hall.

FR 15   Another fine day, this makes 2 in August.  Repaired laurel hedge fence, calves put their heads over and eat leaves and prevent hedge from becoming thick.  Worked at shed on top.  Eva found dead two tooth ewe on flat died in act of lambing against hurdle at plantation, a place hard to see.  Received from Williams & Kettle proceeds of bale crutchings – Bank slip £ s d 16.0.10.  At night with Mam & Eva attended meeting – business to erect a Monument to Fallen soldiers, small meeting.  Committee appointed to carry it out.  £10 each to be given by 20 settlers for a start, then maybe lesser amounts, site not exactly decided on, somewhere between P.O. and hotel, or near oak tree.

SAT 16   A change in the weather, some rain this morning but a day for working.  Eva found ewe on Back with big dead lamb, tried to yard her and put a twin lamb on her but she was too wild and cleared out, she took twin motherless lamb home for a pet.  She motored singly to Takapau and won trophy at Golf.  She paid Mr Grants bill – £2.0.5 and Boyle & Co 18/ 10 out of a cheque for £5.10.  Saddler Bartlett not home, will pay his bill on Monday – £1.12.6 amount.

SUN 17   Dull gray forenoon, wet afternoon, heavy continuous rain tonight, newborn lambs cannot stand up against it.  The little pet snug in his house.  Mam and Eva at Afternoon Church.  Rev Whibley called after Church.  Expects Bishop next Sunday week.  John called.  Nearly finished his stumping.

AUGUST 1919

MON 18   A working day.  Three climates, sunshine, cold, warm and rain.  Last nights heavy rain killed pair of twins on Hughes.  Took away dead lamb from ewe on Back.  Worked at shed.  Freddy got load of hay at Marne.

TU 19   Fine forenoon showers afternoon.  Wire from Will.  Gert not well and asking Mam to come.  Decided at once to go in car.  Miss Mathews kindly agreed to go with them and motored here, she goes so that Eva will have company coming back.  Later.  Both of them got here at 9.15.  Poor Gert has rheumatic fever.

WED 20   A rough day.  High wind and rain.  Sent 24 skins, 3 bundles by Ryans express to Williams & Kettle Napier.  Eva paid Factory Secs for Benzine £ s d 14.14.6.

TH 21   A slight frost and fine day.  Killed a small lamb, not fat.  Eva found ewe dead on Back, in the act of lambing rolled against fence, got on her back and died – a good ewe, sledged home and skinned for dogs.  Eva brought in 2 took ewe unable to lamb, took it away, is penned up tonight.  Wire from Mam.  Gert about the same.

FR 22   A cool breezy day.  Eva saw several ewes with twins, got in one ewe and lamb and penned them up.  Worked half day at shed, sledged from Hughes light quantity of timber.  At night meeting in library.  Oak tree to be left standing, monument to be erected near it.  Mrs Mathews £50.  Miss M. £25.

SAT 23   A cold windy day, ailing two tooth ewe in shed paddock drownd in trying to cross creek or drink.  No more sick or ailing ewes to be left in shed paddock.  Eva motored John to Dannevirke to play hockey.  After dinner went with “Trixie” and wagon, two totara posts, four 4×2 rails, tools, bought at Boyle’s 3/- worth of nails, repaired fence.  Messrs Speight & Roper repaired roof – put on barge boards.  Paid to Post Mistress Six months rent due on Hughes £9.14.11.

SUN 24   A fine day, skinned 2 tooth ewe that got into creek.  Got into Reserve off Marne 2 ewes with 4 lambs 1 ewe with 1 lamb, 2 ewes without lambs.  John & Eva got in off Widerups 3 ewes & 6 lambs, put in Reserve also with Eva 1 ewe & 2 lambs off back.  John & Eva put ewe with dead lamb into new yards, skin of her lamb on a twin, she took at once.  There is a growth noticeable on the grass, wattle blossoms out.

AUGUST 1919

MON 25   A little frost, dry day not much wind.  John got in the 3 draught horses from Back, are in shed paddock and being fed on chaff & hay.  Eva up early and did the washing.  Tonight she attended Spinsters meeting.  Several fresh lambs.  Worked at shed for a while, trimmed 2 apple trees.

TU 26   A drying harsh breezy day.  Evening high wind and bitterly cold.  Worked at shed, nailed on dressed totara slabs, sledged home to sheep yards the poorest old ewe on the run and her good lamb, will try to bring her round.  John through all paddocks.  Freddy and his brother carted 4 sacks of chaff to Marne.  Lambs coming slowly.  Eva at a welcome home in hall tonight.  A letter from Mam, she has a cold, sleeps in a fireless bedroom, misses her own.  Poor Gert has to stay in bed for 3 or 4 weeks.  Her legs and feet swollen, powerless.

WED 27   A mild calm day.  John through ewes and in the afternoon took “Duke” and “Grey” to Marne.  Put rafters &c on shed.  Eva at Takapau golfing.  Tea man called, left tea for Mam at Ricketts.  There is a possible rise in tea.

TH 28   A thorough wet day and at 10.30 PM heavy and continuous rain, now cold.  John got in two tooth ewe unable to lamb, put her right, a big lamb, will take well.  Eva rod [rode] “Rangi” to Aunties, saw station Master, can travel with anything to show.

FR 29   Another dreadful day, heavy rain and wind from Ormlle and cold.  No newly born lamb can stand up against it.  The good lamb that John took away from the 2 tooth ewe dead this morning, bad judgement should be left on battens last night.  Ewe on dip battens tonight, her lamb near fire, will get strong.

SAT 30   Lighter rain today, anxiety about ewes & lambs.  Motored to get cheque for £3.0.0 cashed at Mackies.  Sent telegram to Pakowhai.  “Coming five train”, should have added Ormondville.  Will expected to meet five train at Hastings and met me too soon.  Got to Gerts at 9.30 train an hour late.  Gert in good spirits, arms legs & feet swollen & stiff.

SUN 31   A fine sunny day.  Went with Will to Taradale for medicine and oily application to be put on swollen parts, did much good.  J Howard Mrs Fulford Mrs Petersen & Miss Fourneau called.  Walked over & saw the Fourneau family.

SEPT 1919

MON 1st   Up at six AM.  Will milked two cows lost no time in putting horse in gig & started immediately after breakfast for Hastings, got Permit at station to travel on railway.  Lovely day at Hastings and past Te Aute at Waipukurau wind, at Takapau storm.  At Ormondlle and Norsewood very rough day, evening high wind and rain.  John sledged home from back, cast ewe & her lamb to be nursed, and penned up ewe with her lamb to get her to take.  I left Gert a good lot better than she was yesterday, she can use her hands the swelling having left them, she can move her toes, is not in pain, can eat, the Dr calls the complaint “Acute rheumatism”.  Today posted to Thomas W Deakes Sec. N.Z. Farmers Fertilizing Co £5.0.6.

TU 2   A dreadful looking morning, snowing and Reserve Flat covered, after a couple of hours it ceased, sun showed and snow disappeared, old ewe sledged in by John got on her legs and can walk & feed in little orchard.  Other ewes & lambs brought in two ewes wont take to their own lambs, are penned up.  3 lambs in boxes to be fed on cows milk out of bottle with teat.  Skinned ewe that John found dead in “Spring Ridge gully”.  A “Basket Social” in Hall brought in over £7.  Eva stayed to help wash up, home 12.30 AM.

WED 3   John still bringing in motherless lambs and weak ones and skinning to put on ewes without lambs, busy all day.  Message from Mrs Paget to Eva, she wants to see a sick or newly calved cow at grass near South Makeretu.  Eva motored her and her boy to cow and picked them up at Thompsons coming home from Golf.

TH 4   A calm day, not much rain, John skinned a ewe from which he took a dead lamb yesterday, he did not know or suspect a second lamb was to come or else he could have saved her, another ewe on her side in Widerups unable to get up.  Sledged her home, is able to eat and move, under fruit trees.  More than a dozen lambs saved these last few days.  Eva ping-ponging at Mackies tonight.

FR 5   A fine day after a light frost.  John over all paddocks, a few fresh lambs.  Most ewes on Back have lambed, Widerups paddock bare, grass coming very slowly.  A ewe in top yards and one at home unable to stand, can eat & drink, not rise.  Killed a very midling lamb, turned out to be a young ram.

SEPT 1919

SAT 6   A fine day after the frost.  Motored to the Monthly meeting, good attendance.  Grace and children came.  Paid CL Neilsen & Co his bill of £3 out of £5 cheque.  John round sheep and then Hockey in Ormondlle.  At night Eva at Pictures.

SUN 7   A fine calm day.  Eva motored to Aunts for dinner, church at Ormlle and also to Makotuku where the Bishop held service to big congregation, many unable to get into Church, many returned Soldiers, the names of five fallen ones on window, the occasion was one to which the presence of the Bishop and assembly referred.  Eva motored the Bishop after the service to Mr Speights.  Norsewood where we attended at 7 o’clock, after the service here Eva motored him to Ormlle to Mr Whibley’s.  John in the evening came for chaff, brought in a 2 tooth ewe with lamb, the latter will not live.  Slung ewe in garden for a while, unable to stand.

MON 8   A fine day after a frost.  John working disc on Back six acres.  Eva after doing the washing went over paddocks.  Skinnned an old ewe in new yards that was unable to stand.  Worked at shed, ready to put on iron.

TU 9   Another fine sunny calm day.  Eva over paddocks.  John with the horses up to midday, then Eva harrowed and John went with others to D.virk to practice at Hockey.  Last night John and W Torkilsen took load of hay up to Willies shed with moon-light, his cows very poor, he gets 2 loads, has paid £5.0.0.  Put iron on shed roof today, just enough lead-headed nails to finish roof.

WED 10   A bitterly cold squally forenoon.  Afternoon and night heavy cold rain.  Eva over paddocks, bulk of lambing over, coming in driblets, saw ewe & twins on back.  Afternoon she carted up to Hall wattle blossoms, a Spinsters & Bachelors Ball.  John working horses.  Some of the ground too wet to plough on Back six acres.

TH 11   A heavier nights rain than that of last nights is not on record.  Water today pouring down every gully and incline.  Creek up bank to bank.  Luckily no lambs last night.  John over all paddocks.  Eva motored up for Music lessons and paid Mr Ryan’s bill – 6/6.  Wired to Mam to “come home at once”.  Ewe that was covered with sacks last night stiff and half dead this morning.  Put her on straw in scalding trough.

SEPT 1919

FR 12   Another wet day and raining tonight at 10.30 account of floods down country.  A poor chance for Mam to get home tomorrow.  John over paddocks, brought in lamb that was lying beside its dead mother on back, drinks well out of bottle.  He with others has motored tonight to play Hockey at Napier.  Got to Clarindon Hotel at 12.30 at night.

SAT 13   A dry day after all the pouring soaking rain, half day at shed.  In the afternoon Grace and children came and stays the night.  She Biddy and Eva at Pictures.  In forenoon Eva rode over paddocks, only one ewe with single there.  Arthurs Birthday.  Six years.  Forgot all about it today.  Slept well alongside Granfa[…]

SUN 14   A fine sunny day.  After milking, breakfast and washing up Eva motored Grace & children to Marne, John there, came at 10.30 from Napier last night.  A drawn game of Hockey.  Two each.  Eva over paddocks put 2 ewes with twins in new yards where there is much feed.  Rode over Marne hills & round over Hughes, near shed a ewe just dropped a single, left it to go on feeding, did not mother it.  In the afternoon rode back with Eva, she picked up the lamb near road, mother in another direction.  After putting them together and manouvering a while she let the lamb suck.  When on Back pulled the wool off a dead ewe seen by John 4 or 5 days ago.

MON 15   A sunny dry day, cold on the hills.  With John sorted the potatoes, picked out eating, seed and pig potatoes, he rode over paddocks, took a lamb away from ewe good mother, another ewe with single.  Carted from Marne to Woolshed all potatoes except small bag of eating ones.  Eva paid C Parsons £ s 1.10.  Boyle £ s d 1.7.10.  J Mackie £1.9.3 out of a five Pound cheque – W Torkilsen’s.  Mr Newling in trouble with his motor car tubes, 4 burst today, borrowed one or two here.  At night with Eva attended meeting in Library, few there.  Welcome to soldiers tomorrow night week.

TU 16   A September day.  Cold breezy forenoon, afternoon cold windy and rain.  John took a second load of hay to W Torkilsen.  Eva got both hacks shod at Ormondville.

WED 17   A cruel Sept forenoon, cold wind, heavy showers.  John found one of Walkers heifers dead in boggy gully leading to Riggors.  Took the other 3 heifers off Back.  Wire from Mam coming home on Friday.  Eva & John put ewes with twins off Widerups into Reserve.

Continued

SEPT 1919

WED 17   Eva & John found ewe caught in lawyers in Reserve with twins, put her on oats paddock, expect her to come round, lambs in shed.  Willie Mackie came with goods early.  1 cwt bran 10/6.  1 case Kerosene 22/- 100 flour 19/6.  2 laces 1/- total £2.13.0.

TH 18   The first fine day for a long time.  John did some ploughing but had to get in a ewe off Hughes with dead lamb and put the skin on our month old pet, they took to each other.  ewe caught up in lawyers not right yet, one of her lambs died of hunger, the other lively so far.  Eva over paddocks, 1 or 2 fresh.  A letter from Mam, bad news about poor Gert.  We must hope & pray for her.  After tea Mr & Mrs Grant came down and stayed an hour or two, roads dry.

FR 19   The finest day of the season.  No rain, no wind, sun and warmth.  Eva met Mam and Betty at express train.  Gert a little better than when I left her.  John ploughing.  After tea Mam Eva & Betty motored to see Dannevirk Hort show.

SAT 20   A third fine day.  Spent the day sorting potatoes, plenty of seed and pig potatoes, not many eating potatoes, may be enough.  John ploughing on back.  He took Freddy’s disc home to him.  Eva Mam Arthur & Betty motored to Alice’s.  Eva handed Mrs Gaw Postmistress a cheque for £80 for War Loan Certificates due 5 years hence.

SUN 21   A fifth fine day.  The ewe found by Eva & John caught in a Reserve lawyer dead this morning, one of her twins died of hunger, the other John put with a ewe whose big lamb died on back and the skin used.  Are in top yards.  Mam Eva and 2 children motored to Marne, Church, Aunts & Methodist Church.

MON 22   A fine day, only a few light showers.  Carted 3 bags seed potatoes to Norsewood sale, they fetched 10/- each.  John drove up his cow purchased from W Torkilsen last Apr 7th and she was auctioned at £17.15.0 bought & well fed and today in good condition – bought for £6 when dry.  Mam & Betty left.  Bought at Mackies 11¼ cwt Gear Manure at 11/3 per cwt £ s d 6.6.7.  17 bushels oats at 7/ per lb.

TU 23   Grass showing up a bit, lambs nibbling at it.  Eva saw 3 fresh singles on Widerups, twins on Hughes.  She is at concert to returned 2 Adrian’s one Eggleton.  Eva spoke to Bertie Mc Nutt at Ormondville, on his return.

SETP 1919

WED 24   A white frost this morning.  Fine day.  John finished ploughing on Back.  Worked at shed and top yards.  Put up wire netting as a brake to yard ewes & lambs.

TH 25   Up early, a doubtful morning, cloudy and rain threatening.  John & Eva after breakfast mustered and yarded Back ewes & lambs.  Willy Torkilsen helped to catch and hold lambs.  Ewes not in good condition, no ticks to speak of.  Docked 322 lambs.  301 ewes 2 hoggets.  one ewe left out with new-born twins & 1 old ewe.  Lambs look well except 4 or 5 weeds.  finished at 4PM.  Florrie baby and Ella called.  Eva worked horses an disc.  John has load of hay on his express at Marne for Willie.

FR 26   A cold wintry day.  John brought up a load of hay to Willy Torkilsen.  When riding over bridge on Hughes the mare’s hind leg went through and she was in a most dangerous position, he had to leave her there and come for help.  Mr Keane across the road came with us and by removing decking & stringers we got her out, not much the worse, must give her a few days spell.  Eva Mrs Veitch and Miss Mathews motored to Takapau Golf Links.  Cold.

SAT 27   A very fine day.  Skinned ewe with broken shoulder, took her lamb home.  Rode over all paddocks.  one fresh lamb on Hughes.  carted out 3 bags manure and 2 sacks oats for John to drill on back paddock.  Eva Mrs Veitch & Miss Mathews Golf. at Takapau.  Grass showing up a bit for sheep, too short for cattle, latter thin.

SUN 28   A very fine day.  Mr Keane called at 8AM to say his wife was taken bad suddenly, was suffering from great pain and would Eva fetch the Doctor, which she did, Dr thinks it is a case of appendicitis, will call in afternoon, he did and Eva is to take patient to Hospital tomorrow.  Keane’s Mother & Brother motored up and the Grandmother took the year old only child home with her.  “Molly” cow has a B calf today, a big one, is very thin as usual but not weak.

MON 29   Eva took Mrs Keane to Waipuk Hospital.  Keane & his Brother accompanied.

TU 30   Mixed forenoon, rain & fine.  Septr goes out with a storm tonight.  Eva & Mrs Veitch Golfed at Takapau.  John docked Lunds lambs – 111, Ewes 150.  Ewes died, about 20.

OCT 1919

WED 1st   October comes in with a high wind, John finished drilling in the oats on 5½ acres on Back.  Eva through all sheep nothing wrong with sheep but another of Walkers Jersey heifers dead in stubble gully, two left, John to take them to Marne feed them on hay for a while and sell them.  they were poor when brought on this place before Winter set in.  The highest wind tonight I have ever felt in N.Z.

TH 2   A windy day, high wind and heavy rain last night.  high wind tonight.  John did a bit of ploughing this afternoon.  At night Misses Caughley Brewer Mathews Mavis and Messrs Keanes (2) Mackie Freddy had ping pong Cards &c Eva motored them.

FR 3   Anniversary of my landing in Wellington NZ from New South Wales in the year 1873.  felt the cold very much coming from a hot Climate.  had a belt round my waist with 60 sovereigh’s [sovereign’s] in it, if money in notes would loose a shilling in every pound.  Today docked Widerups lot Ewes 103 lambs 92.  one Ewe lambed in yard – a single not counted, also one hogget and an old ram.  Docked Hughes two tooths – Ewes 107 lambs 81.  Reserve Ewes 20 lambs 33.  two motherless lambs on Ridges not counted.  a few ewes to lamb.  So far Ewes 531 lambs 528 and 3 lambs without mothers.  100%.

SAT 4   Calm day.  Mr Speight came and motored with us to Dannevirke, also Grace.  Much business done at meeting, much money paid out, left at 12 o’clock as Eva & Mrs Veitch had to motor to Takapau, where Eva won a match and 2 golf balls, then pictures.  Last night Patriotic meeting in Reading room £7.  Seven pound cheque paid to Eva out of which she paid me back £2.0.0.

SUN 5   A thorough wet day and night, flood rain.  feeding Walkers heifers on hay.

MON 6   Fine sunny forenoon, rough afternoon.  John over paddocks, saw 3 singles in 3 separate paddocks.  Eva washed basketful of clothes and got most of them dry.

TU 7   A fine day.  John ploughing stubbles.  Wms & Kettles representative and Harry Smith Sheepskin buyer called.  Gave order for 24 wool packs ¾ size.  £ s d 3.6.1.  Interest on shares in H.B. Farmers Meat Co received.  Letter to Mam from Mrs Walker.

WED 8   A fine day.  Docked Marne lambs – 41, and 43 ewes, a few ewes may lamb yet.  Docked “Molly” calf and one for Mr Widt.  Saw J Chicken.  Gave Mr Pettersen £1 for Flower Show.

OCT 1919

TH 9   Got in ewes = 4 and 7 lambs off oates and docked & turned back.  £3.6.1 Whakatu cheque sent to Union Bank Napier.  John ploughing.  Eva at Lunds tonight, called at Keane’s tonight, he goes in car to Waipukurau with Eva tomorrow.  Letter from Mam and Telegram from Mr Hunter to see me tomorrow train.  Number of lambs docked so far, 576 and 578 ewes, some lambs not docked yet.

FR 10   Eva motored to Waipukurau Golf hunting with Mrs Veitch & Miss Mathews took Mr Keane’s in car to see his wife in Hospital, she is doing well.  John finished ploughing stubble paddock, part wet.  Met Mr Hunter at Ormondlle he wants to form a committee in Norsewood.  He will advertise for meeting to take place.

SAT 11   A nice day.  Planted potatoes in corner of rape paddock behind Oak plantation.  two sorts of seed white and blue.  J Keane helping.  Mam & Bazil came by express, met by Eva at train.  All at Pictures.  Arthur here.

SUN 12   A very fine day.  the two boys running about all day long, bird-nesting &c.  John put 3 ewes and 6 lambs on Reserve oats, must put more on.  Mam Eva & the boys motored to Aunts.  Willy Br. there.  Feed for sheep now, short for cows & horses.

MON 13   John put 20 ewes off Reserve and 33 lambs on to Reserve oats and 81 ewes and their lambs onto Reserve, some to be again taken off.  Cow “Darky” round John took her & “Bobtail” over to Marne young bull & back again.  Meadow shut up nearly a week ago.  rams & a few hoggets on rape paddock.  J Keane ploughed a bit in his small paddock with one horse.  John finished it with double furrow plough.  Mam and Bazil gone again.  Eva took them to Ormondlle express train.

TU 14   A breezy day.  Eva rode over all paddocks nothing wrong.  At night tin-kettling.  John finished at Keane’s – put in his small paddock of oats.  Sent to Gear Co £ s d 14.18.0 for a ton of Rape manure and half a ton of turnip manure.  Bag of potatoes from Mrs Larsen.

WED 15   Walkers 2 heifers entered with W Farmers for next sale.  John commenced ploughing on Hughes.  carted round with mare chaff &c.  John & Grace at Cricket Concert Eva brought Arthur & Biddy here for the night.  Return from Wms & K for 25 skins = £5.18.5 nett.  Got a few early Rose seed from Keane and planted them in far end of Eva’s garden.

OCT 1919

TH 16   Fine weather continues, Arthur motored to Mackies and gone to school.  Biddy motored home.  Mr Mackie communicated with Evening News people and rectified advertisement.  Eva rode over paddocks, found ewe dead in creek near Riggor’s fence, pulled most of the wool off in the afternoon.  Out of £26.0.0 cheque paid J Mackie £ s d 7.13.11.  P.G. Grant £ s d 3.18.10.  A Hulena 1/3.  John ploughing Marne rape paddock.  Anton Svensen called for his ham & shoulder of bacon.

FR 17   Fine day after some rain last night.  Put 41 ewes with their lambs on Reserve oats.  Mr Morrison brought Mr Hunter here in his car.  We went over to see J Keane.  Mr Hunter came for the purpose of forming a committee.  A meeting was held for the purpose in Lutheran Hall at 8PM as advertised in Evening News.  After tea Eva motored me and Mr Hunter to see Mr Walker and Leadly, then to Mr Chicken and G Gilbrantzen and Mrs Fredericksen.  all came in car to Lutheran Hall where meeting was held.  Mr Hunter gave a short address.  Big committee formed – C E Pettersen Peter Neilsen J Chicken Secretary.  J Keane, Berty Gundersen C Christiansen &c J O’Hara H Mortensen Hans Andersen C.P. Andersen G Gilbrantzen & others – 15.

SAT 18   Mr Hunter walked to here from hotel and Eva motored him to Ormondlle and later motored Mrs Veitch and Miss Mathews to Golf at Takapau where she tied with a lady there for a prize.  Willie for tea pictures and stays tonight.

SUN 19   Extra high wind this afternoon.  Eva motored Willie to Aunts, afternoon.

MON 20   J Keane drove Walker’s 2 heifers to Sale, the springer fetched £10, the yellow empty one £6.  both poor, yearling heifers brought £5.10.  steers less.  Got two front shoes on “Trixie” – paid 5/-.  T Ryan   left ½ ton rape manure in shed ordered from Mackie.  An old cow bought by John last Autumn died last night the fate of all old animals purchased.  Eva saw ewe with young lamb.

TU 21   Wind again.  Cow “Bobtail” we had to take to Marne Holstein and left her there for the night.  John ploughing and discing at Hughes 4½ acres.

OCT 1919

WED 22   Another windy day.  rode over and brought “Bobtail” home to milk from Marne.  With Eva put Reserve ewes = 30 out into Marne hills – 73 there now.  Put Reserve oats ewes = 75 into Reserve paddock.  Put Flat ewes, 42 into Angle oats = 49 there now.  left one ewe with lamb just dropped on Flat.  Eva rode over all paddocks, none cast.  Repaired fence – Hill – Widerups.  Eva at Concert now.

TH 23   Dry weather continues.  Did a bit of work at “top place”, made a couple of hurdles &c.  At night Patriotic Meeting.  A final flair up on November 12th.  T Ryan carted up and put in woolshed 8 bags Gear manure.  left 16 at Marne.

FR 24   A sunny calm day.  Sledged from Hughes shed load of fencing boards.  and did a bit of work on “top”.  Eva found ewe short time cast on flat.  Wilson borrowed express to bring lime from railway.  Eva learning her horses to jump.  19 ewes off Flat on to Back.

SAT 25   Dry weather continues.  Eva motored Takapau Golfing, was 2nd = won button.  Wire from Mam, not understood.  Killed good hogget off rape.  John got 8 bags lime for Hughes.

SUN 26   Put the young sheep (2 tooth ewes & their lambs) off oats on to Flat and put Reserve ewes & lambs into oat angle oats.  Freddy Sturrock and Friend called and had a cup of tea.  Cut up hogget & salted a fore quarter.  Last hog killed on Sept 5.

MON 27   Started for Pakowhai with Eva, had a puncture going down Te Aute hill, put on new wheel, no more trouble, arrived safely, everything looking nice.

TU 28   Nice weather at Pakowhai.  Gert able to get about a bit with the aid of a chair in front, is improving slowly, looks well.  went in car to Hastings.

WED 29   Went to Hastings and Sturrocks with Mam Eva Gert and Tim.  they are baking and doing a good business.  At home John put hoggets in rape paddock to take feed down before ploughing it, is putting Hughes into rape & small Marne paddock.

TH 30   Eva and Gert went to see Doctor at Taradale.  gave her oil to put (not rub) on knees.  At home J Keane helped John to get in and roll rape paddocks.  Ground dry & hard.

FR 31   An early lunch and a start for home, Mam takes Tim, came by Hastings, called at Sturrocks.  At Waipukurau called at Vaughans.  Mr & Mrs Jones there.  nice place.  Calm at Hastings, blowing coming from and to Takapau.  In time to milk.

NOV 1919

SAT 1st   A windy day.  Eva and Mrs Veitch with car to Takapau, did not go to Dannevirke monthly meeting.  rode over paddocks, wind very strong.  Mam at home tonight with Tim.  Eva at Pictures.  Wrote Wms & Kettle, 2 bundles skins & bag wool sent a few days ago.

SUN 2   Windy day, hurican [hurricane] night, fires raging from Matamau to far beyond Ngamoko.  Robinson’s cowshed and machines burnt, second River bridge burnt, first one nearly so.  John Grace Arthur & Biddy for tea.  Arthur had from Granny a nice Birthday Cake.  Eva motored them home, wind too high to drive.

MON 3   Nice rain last night, wind gone down much.  John with disc on the middle cultivation paddock, he did Keane’s bit on Saturday.  Cleaned out spout at back verandah and made last hurdle at top yards, finished there at last.  Put hoggets off rape paddock into Gundersen’s.  Ewe on Flat with single good lamb.

TU 4   Fine forenoon.  terrific wind and rain afternoon.  took refuge in new shed.  did not finish putting in big henau footed post in fence below new yards.  A few days ago B Gundersen & Miss Magnusen were married in P Church then hall.

WED 5   Guy Fawkes Day.  A miserable day this high wind and driving rain, no work.  Another wedding in Presbyn Church – Adrian and Miss O’Hara.  Another spread hall.

TH 6   Fairly good forenoon, afternoon cold and rainy.  repaired fence – Widerups Back below yards.  John ploughing Flat rape paddock.  Eva through sheep 1 cast.  saw ewe with fresh single lamb on Back.  Harold Crossland & Miss Forward married in P Church.  Cows up to three days ago enjoyed their hay, now they turn their noses up, refuse.

FR 7   A fine day at last neither wind or rain.  removed netting and stakes where John is ploughing flat rape paddock with “Duke”, “Blui” and old “Prince”.  Two telegrams came today.  Bertie McNutt and W Baumgart coming to see us.

SAT 8   Shifted the ewes – 77 and their lambs from “Angle” oats on to Reserve oats.  Docked 2 lambs and pet = 3.  docked to date 579.  Got in Reserve sheep = 4 Rom rams 5 SD rams 3 hoggets.  Killed a fat hoggt and put 11 back.  Sprayed the apple trees with arsenate of lead – 8 teaspoonfuls of the material – in bottle, to Kerosene ful of water.  Mam Eva Arthur and Douglas with John jun motored to Township.

NOV 1919

SUN 9   A very fine day.  W Todd and his little boy called at breakfast time to ask if he can shear 200 sheep in our shed.  In the late terrible fire he had 200 mixed dry sheep burnt and also cattle, his house, uninhabited was burnt.  Mam Eva & Tim motored to Aunt’s Bertie McNutt there.  Todd’s sheep here tonight.

MON 10   Todd Bros 3 and Peter Johansen and John in the late afternoon shearing Todd’s sheep – 196 or so, did not finish.  Bertie McNutt came at midday, looks well.

TU 11   The three Bros shearing, finished at midday and took sheep home, they were bad to shear, matted &c.  Dug a big amount of weeds out of garden and earthed up self-sown potatoes.  At night called at Mr Pettersen’s.  Peter Neilsen there.

WED 12   Enough rain today and tonight to wet the surface.  Enrolled Mr and Mrs Wilson as electors.  called at Fabrins no proof of him being naturalised, so he and wife cannot be put on the electoral roll.  Got wire from Mr Hunter to engage Hall for Tuesday night and school at Ngamoko for Tuesday at 2PM.  did both.  Put ewes & lambs off Reserve flat on to Reserve paddock.  At night all hands went to final concert in Hall, took up bag of firewood and boiled copper – Eva took cakes all ladies did so.  Plenty of provisions.  Pictures and dance.  Mam came home early with Tim.  A big crowd.  Eva Bertie W Torkilsen & Mrs Grant cards.  home after 1AM.

TH 13   Turned out fine day.  Joe Keane helping John in rape paddocks, two teams.  Mam and Eva motored Bertie to Aunts.  Sent to Wellington Tea Co cheque for £ s d 5.18.0.

FR 14   A very fine day.  put in a little maize and a few pumpkin seed and parsnip in house garden.  Eva over paddocks, one ewe cast and one dead on back with twins.  Skinned ewe and sledged home skin and some meat, buried carcase.  John and Joe rolling and drilling in seed.  Circus in Norsewood tonight.  Eva Grace & Arthur there.

SAT 15   Was seventy years of age six years ago.  J and J finished putting in rape.  John went to Ormondlle to play cricket.  Worked in garden getting out weeds &c.  Pictures Eva.

SUN 16   A warm fine forenoon.  lovely rain in the afternoon, welcome and much wanted.  all rape sown just in time, at Hughes it is making its appearance over ground.

NOV 1919

MON 17   A warm day, rain threatening none came, did some weeding in garden went to stock sale.  cattle very cheap, young steers low.  At night Messrs Mackie.

TU 18   The usual dry day, did some work in garden.  Out of a cheque for £24 paid J Mackie £ s d 11.11.8.  P.G. Grant £ s d 7.10.6.  J Bartlett £ s d 1.8.0.  Boyle & Co £ s d 1.0.8.  On his way to township Mr Hunter called, C.P. Andersen’s car, midday.  At 7PM motored to Junction Hotel where he stays.  At 8 o’clock he addressed a fair number of people in town hall.  got vote of thanks and confidence very quiet orderly meeting.

WED 19   Mr Hunter called before going in C.P. Andersen’s car to visit a few people in township and Otaiwha before going to Takapau.  Rain in the afternoon and a heavy shower at night.  Mr Selby called with Mary and Les.  He sent lambs to freezing works on Monday last, 28 lbs weight, 8½ per lb.  he wants to get the mothers fat.  Ours are to go middle of next month.  Pictures tonight.  Mam Eva & Tim there of course.

TH 20   Rode over Marne, no more than enough feed for stock, John doing a bit of stumping, means to plough a piece tomorrow for turnips, he came with express for chaff.  Eva Mam Grace & Biddy & Tim motored to Ormlle to meet Mr Baumgart, is here tonight, looks well.  Garden over run with weeds, pulled some out.

FR 21   Weeding in garden and giving sowthistle &c to pig.  For te John & Fam.  At night young people – three Mackies.  had ping pong cards &c, a good shower.

SAT 22   A dry breezy day.  did some work near top shed, pulled out of the hole two young rabbits.  Eva rode over paddocks on “Rangi”.  Mr Baumgart on “Leg”.  Norsewood Cricketers met at Norsewood.  Ormondlle ones could not raise a team.  Started at gatepost in sheep yards.

SUN 23   The usual dry day.  W, and J Todd pressed their 3 bales of mostly black wool.  Put 31 ewes with their lambs off Reserve into angle oats, leaves 46 in Reserve.

MON 24   Put in henau gatepost in sheep yard and hung gate on it.  Land Tax £ s d 22.19.4.  Paid to Post mistress Gaw.  Mam Eva Mrs Grant Tim motored Ormlle.  Mr Baumgart went to Hastings.

TU 25   Worked at sheepyards & sledged in material from Back.  Mam & Co Grace & Co motored to Dannevirke.  Got at Wms & Kettle 14 bales 48 inch.  10 to come.  Got at Neilsens a cover and tube £9.14 and

NOV 1919

WED 26   Showers today and heavy rain at night, much needed.  Biddy’s Birthday Three years.  Granny gives her a wicker chair brought from Hastings month ago.  Mr Lawson tuned piano.  took much fluff and dirt out of it.  Eva at Pictures.

TH 27   All motored to Pakowhai, no mishap.  Gert able to walk about but knees stiff.  Delighted to see Tim looking so well and strong.  Mam Eva Phoebe pictures at Hastings.

FR 28   A nice day.  Motored to Napier with Gert and Tim.  Saw Manager U Bank left in his charge War Bond Certificate for £100 Five years hence.  Supreme Court sitting.  A Norsewood case going on – Barnes v Rawsthorne assault.  not finished.

SAT 29   Took our departure from Pakowhai.  At Te Aute rain commenced and increased as we went on.  Picked up Mr Baumgart in Hastings.  Tea &c at Waipuku.  All but one motored to Ormondlle with Douglas, boy scout sports, much rain pictures.

SUN 30   Nice day.  cut up fat SD hogget that John killed yesterday.  he took part of it home today.  Rode “Trixie” over paddocks.  Top wire broken on Snook’s fence, our part.  After tea all hands motored to Arthur’s.  This has been a dry windy month.

DEC MON 1   A dry breezy day like the days of last month.  Put ewes & lambs off angle oats out on Back.  Sledged gate and tools to Gundersen’s corner.  John drilled 6 acres of rape for Painter Olsen and left drill to new settler in Husrts place – Mr Ericksen.  Sent note to Mr Lund – woolpacks here, shed ready.  Eva got bushel wheat Mackies 10/=.

TU 2   A windy day and cold, evening rain and light snow.  John work turnip paddock.

WED 3   Snow low down on the hills, windy and bitterly cold.  3 at Pictures now.  Put in a package of peas and a few cabbage and cauliflower seeds.

TH 4   A fine sunny day.  hung gate at Gundersen’s corner, and put hurdle at gateway at oats corner.  A musical evening, lady teachers.  Messrs Leadley, Hall, Fredy Bros, Inga, Mavis, John and Fam.  Arthur in cot tonight, to bed at 1.30AM.

FR 5   The usual breezy drying day.  did some work in woolshed and pulled wool of dead ewe that got bogged at pond.  Paid Mackies bill £ s 7.14.  Boyle 11/4 out of a Ten Pound cheque.  At night attended Comee meeting in room at Hall.

DEC 1919

SAT 6   Windy forenoon.  All hands motored to Dannevirke, called at Wms & Kettle.  Got 10 woolpacks – 42 inch, this makes 24.  Attended W.R. Asson meeting a large amount of correspondence.  much money paid out by way of relief &c.  Cricket at Norsewood.  Dannevirke High School Boys – game not finished.

SUN 7   A wheezing forenoon.  Afternoon all motored to Aunts, amongst the widows.  At night all went to Methodist Church.  Rev Foston preached a brilliant sermon.

MON 8   Another stay-within forenoon, washing not long out this drying weather.  Eva rode over paddocks.  After tea, she Mam and Mr Baumgart at the Allens & [cance]

TU 9   Some showers in forenoon.  hoed some drills of potatoes in afternoon.  After tea a fishing party of girls and boys came, caught a couple of eels in creek.

WED 10   Another drying day.  most of the potatoes hoed up now.  J Keane came and we ground and fixed up new pair of shears for MacDonald.  German Line.

TH 11   Hoed potatoes till 12 o’clock.  John waiting for Bishop to bring back drill then he will put in his turnip seed, Leslie Christiansen rolling the ground for it.  After dinner with Eva Mam and Mr Baumgart motored to Claytons.  Rode with Mr Clayton over his farm.  good cows and splendid feed.  clover grass & Californian thistle.  a little rain.  At night 3 went to Dr’s to play cards, one went to bed.

FR 12   A fine almost calm day.  finished hoeing potatoes and John drilling turnips.  Eva through sheep missed a ewe cast on flat, saw her when going out with sledge, a splendid 4 tooth ewe, put her right.  Eva got in Reserve sheep.  Killed hogg the last and not very fat.  School concert.  Eva Mam & Mr Baumgart there.  Rode up to township to dissolve Committee, done already.  back home.  Paid F Smith 1/9.

SAT 13   Cut up sheep and dagged some of the Reserve ewes and some lambs.  52 sheep rams included in Reserve.  Cricket in Norsewood v Dannevirke.  some light showers.

SUN 14   Calm day, rode over paddocks, two ewes cast, not long.  ground hard, rain wanted. MON 15   Rode out on back and put 2   heifers with bull on Island.  John then started to take down Ridges-Widerups fence.  At sale, poor prices for cattle.  Paid Rickett £1.5.6.  Palmer & Devlin 5/-.  Saddler 5/6.  F Selby came.  Drafts lambs Wed. [moni]  Mr Baumgart gone to     .  Circus in Norsewood.  Eva & Mam at Allens.

DEC 1919

TU 16   A calm warm day.  With John and Joe K. fixed up wire netting from woolshed to dip yards, then J and J went taking down fence – Ridges- Widerups.  Put hill ewes & lambs into Reserve with ones already there.  and Hughes into Flat to have ready early tomorrow.  Eva with    mowing machine cut Gundersen’s small meadow.  Eva borrowed a case of Benzine from Chris Andersen.  Mr Grant left it here.  Wire from Mr Hunter to say “Packed house at Waipukurau”.  Jull said likewise but advertised it in the papers.  13 lbs dead wool return from Wms & Kettle at 13½ = 13/7 nett, placed to my credit.  Un Bank.  At night members of Ladies Eel Club gone fishing for eels in creek.  calm.

WED 17   An eventful day.  All ewes & lambs yarded by 6 o’clock.  Eva and John early on the job.  F Selby came at 6.30 AM. picked 266 lambs at 21/= drover came at 11AM.  Joe Keane helped to pen up.  John had to leave at 8.30 and attend at school on behalf of Prohibition with Mr Leadly.  Eva brought up a great number of voters in her car and doubtful ones.  C Andersen also did good work Waltr Mortinsen also ran Garfield way and Miss Mathews.  Publican Hunt ran a car for Jull and Magnusen ran his car Ngamoko way.  Some professed Hunterites voted Jull.  At night big crowd at Pictures mostly to see returns from polling booths screened.  Came home at 12.30 after a warm tiresome day.  Some returns in favourable to Massey.  Number of ewes counted out, Hughes 91.  Back 265.  Reserve & Hills 128.  Ridges 108 = 592.

TH 18   Rather surprising Election returns in now.  Sir J.G. Ward kicked out by seven or eight hundred votes, reason supposed to be through his treacherous action in turning dog on his comrade W Massey.  What was called Liberalism is crushed.  Labour increased.  Reform in a fair Majority.
Waipawa         Hunter    Jull
3 booths          218         425
Argyll East      38           30
Ashley Clinton 39          26
Blackburn       26           7
Elsthorpe         48          53
Flemington      14          14
Hatuma           100         45
Haumoana       85           31
Havelock Nor 516       276
Kairakau         13           9
Kereau             29          29
Makaretu         39          45
Makeretu Sou 5            5
Makotuku        82          96
Mangaohane    10          18
Maraekakaho  21           74
Maraetotara     26          15
Matamau         114         91
Ngamoko        47          55
Norsewood      151        143
Omakere         28          69
Onga Onga      173         149
Opapa              14           31
Ormondville    82           69
Otane               119         117
Otawhau          40           24
Paki Paki         47           36
Patangata           9            40
Poukawa         32           34
Pourere            15          21

TH 18 continued

DEC 1919

Pukaha 46.19.  Pukehou ss 47.37.  Raumati 24.31.  Ruataniwha 19.20.  Takapau 197.194.  Tamamu 15.19.  Tikokino 70.135.  Tuki Tuki 6.2.  Wakarara 10.32.  Waimarama 18.16.  Waipukurau (3 booths) 485. 332.  Wallingford 56.39.  Wanstad 21.41.  Whetukura 31.38.  Waipukurau Factory 37.40.  Waipukurau Sanitorium 27.21.  Major 250.  McNichol is Elected for Pahiatua.  Campbell for H.B.  Hunter for Waipawa.  State of Parties at present – Reform 44.  Ind Ref 3.  Liberal 17.  Ind Lib 1.  Labour 9.  Moderate Labour 1.  Lib Lab 1.  Independent 2.  Independent Labour 2.

FR 19   A calm warm day.  Mam Eva Grace Arthur & Mrs Veitch motored to Dannevirke.  Rode over Reserve and Hills, had dinner at Johns.  Rain at night.  John & W Mackie cards.

SAT 20   No rain but a breeze, high wind in the evening.  John at cricket Dannevirke.  Moistened ground dried up again.  Eva rode over paddocks.  In the afternoon we motored to upper township, sent paper to Thos. Warren & G Armstrong.

SUN 21   At home, rain and a heavy shower of hail in the afternoon.  Very cold.

MON 22   A fine day after the rain and hail.  With John carted posts strainer & wire to turnip fence.  Put in strainer stays and ran out 2 wires.  Wire from Gert to say she was coming by express.  Betty came too.  Mr Baumgart went by same train on to Wellington, train full but managed to get a seat, much travelled.

TU 23   Mr Lund brought his sheep at 5.30 or 6AM.  Scott shore a few before breakfast.  Peter Johansen came late.  Gordon Hansen shore 14 or so.  Finished and taken home.  With John and Joe Keane put up turnip fence except battons.

WED 24   Eva got in Reserve sheep before she Mam Gert & bairns went to Dannevirke the old road, crossed river.  Will & Bazil came up by coach and train.  Killed two lambs for Xmas.  Mr Lund and Gordon came & we pressed 3 bales.  John branded bales & bags of Bellies & pieces.  All but one motored to Alices.  & at Pictures.  Return for 2 bundles of skins from Wms & Kettle = £4.0.2.  Seventeen skins 4/8½ each.

XMAS DAY   A lovely day, toys and presents, books dolls pistols and soap, inmates of three houses for dinner & tea, rounders & fireworks in evening.  Willy Campbell present, came with the others in phaeton.  Eva gave ¼ lamb to Gundersen & Keane.

DEC 1919

FR 26   A breezy Boxing Day.  Stayed at home with Will and Tim, the others all went to Methodist Pic Nic.  Usual children’s sports &c.  Arthur 2nd in race won 6d.  Eva got in Hughes ewes & lambs after leaving Gert Will & Tim at railway station.  Betsy and Bazil stays here.  John came and dagged ewes, not bad to do.  90 woolly ewes and 4 shorn.  28 lambs.  Ewes well woolled and in good condition.  In shed now.

SAT 27   Good rain last night, calm day.  With John shore 13 before breakfast then Scott and Peter came and with John finished the 90, good big fleeces.  Finished about 3 o’clock.  Then we pressed two bales.  No. 1 47 fleeces.  No.2 45.  Ella Grant looking well, for tea then all hands motored to Pictures.

SUN 28   A beautiful day.  Mam & Eva went to afternoon church and then to see Mrs Mulholland who has been very ill.  John got in Hill and Reserve ewes and lambs.  120 woolly and 8 shorn ewes and 88 lambs, shed filled tonight after we dagged them.  Mesdames Mackie and Fulton called.  Gordon called.

MON 29   A good shearing day.  Scott shore 10 before breakfast, John also.  Peter came after breakfast and shore   Scott   .  John shore the rams amongst his lot.  T Ryan took away Lunds wool and 2 of our bales.  Eva got in Widerups ewes & lambs – 57 of latter 107 ewes, all in shed tonight.  We pressed two bales after knock off time, too dark to brand them.  Mam & Eva at Dr’s tonight.

TU 30   Another good shearing day.  Scott got through 64.  Peter late did 50.  On Saturday Scott 27.  Peter 26.  Monday Scott 62.  Peter 49.  today S 64.  P 50.  T Ryan’s wagon took 2 bales.  Eva got in a cut of ewes off Back.  Another later.  61 Back ewes in shed tonight, some still on Back.  Widerups 107 shorn & put back with 57 lambs.  Killed a fair lamb tonight.  All ewes cutting good fleeces.

WED 31   Another hot day.  Eva got in remainder of ewes & lambs off Back one ewe with a lamb a few days old.  All ewes shorn except 26 in shed.  £3.4.6 Paid to Scott for shearing 215 sheep.  Peter comes tomorrow, his brother and Anton Svensen two latter called today.  Gear lamb cheque came – 266 lambs at 21/- = £279 = 13 ex added.  Joe Keane mowing his meadow with our machine.  Gave Mam £2 for baker &c.

JAN 1920

TH 1st   A doubtful sort of morning, foggy like light rain.  A slight breeze sprung up.  John & Anton started on the remaining ewes = 26, then Peter and his brother came after breakfast, Eva got in the hoggets = 137 a couple of ewes included.  This flock is fat and fleeces good enough.  John & Joe dagged them, not much on them.  Shearing finished between 5.30 and 6 o’clock.  Paid Peter £3.10 and brother £1.0.0.  Joe Keane finished with mowing machine and Wilson borrowed it.  Recd 10/- from Mrs Larsen for a half lamb.  W Todd called and shore a few at the end.  Sent letter to N.Z. Farmers Fertilising Co Auckland and Final call = £5.0.6.

FR 2   Lovely rain today, heavy showers.  Sent Gear Lamb cheque to Union Bank.  John came in afternoon, we pressed 2 bales Hoggs wool, 66 fleeces in each.  We emptied dip, creek up a bit.  Mam Eva & the 3 youngsters at circus.

SAT 3   A close calm day.  Johns Birthday.  Over 30 years.  We pressed all the wool except pieces & locks.  Bellies No.14 in a short bale all the others heavy.  T Ryan’s team took away 3 bales.  Killed a fairly good lamb.  Pictures.  F. Selby & son called.  He comes at the end of this month, goes through lambs.

SUN 4   Pressed a bale of bellies and put pieces locks and skins in box.  Then John helped Keane Bros get in their hay.  After dinner went over to Keane’s and cocked all hay.  Joe raked with filly.  Got in more than half.  Jack Todd came late with his sheep and filled shed, sheep damp.  Some rain in the evening.  Eva and Mrs Veitch motored to Adeans, very dry country seen.

MON 5   A great deal of rain fell last night and this morning.  Ellis Todd started to shear his sheep about breakfast time by himself, then Willy & Jack joined him and John about 10 o’clock, weather cleared, they finished shearing about 5 o’clock.  Mam Eva Mrs and Miss Allen & car load of youngsters motored to Dannevirke.

TU 6   Mr Ryan’s team, W Mulholland driver took 8 bales – the last today.  Mrs Simpson and boy called, with her Mrs E Parsons, Eva motored them home.  In the evening the pair motored to Allens.  Calm weather now, no wind.  Wrote to Williams & Kettle giving a description of the 15 bale &c.

JAN 1920

WED 7   A fine sunny day, dug potatoes in garden, good ones, for last 2 days, the tribe for dinner and two others, eleven altogether, the more the merrier.  John turned Joe’s hay and in the afternoon we carted in in, only ½ shed-ful.  Mrs Keane left for Napier hospital or to see a Doctor two days ago.  Joe alone.  At night attended Meeting to enquire about disabled soldiers or dependants with the view of assisting same through “War Relief Association”, enquiries.

TH 8   A beautiful day, worked in garden, weeding hoed up and wire-netted peas, rode over and interviewed Mrs Hollins, she does not require any assistance from “War Relief Association”.  John made dam at creek.

FR 9   Filled dip with Joe & John put in 500 gallons, measured and gauged.  Got in Hills and Reserve sheep, picked out 23 dry cull ewes, put on oats in Angle paddock, 105 sheep and 88 lambs put back.  Mr Hunter called afternoon and stays in township tonight.  Mam & Eva motored to Dr’s tonight, cards &c.

SAT 10   Motored to Dannevirke to attend “War Relief Assn” meeting.  43 applications.  Changed three pound cheque at Mackie’s to pay general expenses.  Got at Williams & Kettle’s a case of powder Dip (Coopers) and a drum of liquid.  Crossed river going.  Picked up Miss McCallestor in Dannevirke, came home by Holden’s road, called on Miss Theobald at Makotuku P.O.  John picked out 31 ewes for oats off Widerups put back 76 ewes, 56 lambs.  Dvk cricketers did not come.

SUN 11   A nice calm sunny day.  All hand motored to Manawatu for pic nic in Bishop’s Bush, the Grant family and Mr Petersen joined us, a nice clean place under big white pine trees near river, came home about 4PM.

MON 12   John brought in from back two Jersey heifers, the dark one with young calf she is quiet and easily got into bail, the other one will soon calve.  Sent to Secretary £1 as subscription to Agricultural & Pastoral Assn.  Mr Quigley Secretary & Magnusen’s paper.

TH 13   John cut the meadow, a light crop, put 29 ewes & 28 lambs off Reserve into Widerups 105 on Widerups now.  84 lambs.  Skinned small heifer calf got in yesterday.  Mam & two girls at Allens tonight.  Breezy, not nice for light hay.

JAN 1920

WED 14   Anton Svensen came early with his 210 rape lambs, dipped them used 3 gallons of McDougal’s dip provided by himself, remainder of ours – Coopers liquid, double strength.  The Norsewood Tennis Club, Eva Mam & Miss McCallistor from here motored to Dannevirk & played a game.  The Dannevirke players being more numerous had the best of the game.  Raked and carted in our hay in 5 loads, rain threatening but luckily kept off until we got it into shed, only about half the quantity we had last year.  The yellow Jersey heifer calved last night, a small one for dogs.  Both heifers quiet.  Steady rain set in after we got hay into shed, will do much good, grass still short.

TH 15   A good deal of rain fell last night and today.  At night W & J Mackie Ping Pong.

FR 16   Skinned the second calf.  Paid J Ryan’s driver – W Mulholland £2.5.6 for the carting of 15 bales of wool at 3/- each.  Rode over paddocks, grass still short for cattle.

SAT 17   John cut the Marne meadow, only fair crop.  With reap – hook cut Californian patch of thistles in flower in oats, patch of oats disarranged, millions of seeds if let grow.

SUN 18   A calm gray day.  Youngsters and their Daddies and Mammies backwards and forwards over the paddocks.  Eva and Miss McAlister for a long ride.

MON 19   A wet forenoon, this rain will do much good.  Rode Trixie up & got her slippers shod.  Paid Mackies bill £ s d 6.7.3 out of a £16 cheque.  Sent cheque to Wms & Kettle £10.17.7 and to C.L. Neilsen & Co 11.10.8 and Dinwiddie Walker & Co £2.8.  P.G. Grant £ s d 5.14.1 paid by Eva, and Boyle & Co £1.3.1.  Saw W.M. Thomson in office, looks well after his sojourn in San Francisco where everything is three times dearer than in New Zealand.  Rode round and saw Ole Gundersen in bed, the Doctor just on a visit, patient sick for the last four days, a little better today.  Eva & Miss McAlister at Inga’s tonight.  The three youngsters go out gathering mushrooms, a great many in paddock.

TU 20   Very heavy rain fell today, came down in torrents sometimes.  Some Norsewood Settlers at Waipukurau sale, no rain fell there.  Miss Williamson at Ormlle by Mam & Co, came up.  Eva got in Widerups sheep.  Killed a good lamb.  The household except one at Allens tonight.

JAN 1920

WED 21   Turned out to be a fine day.  A big gathering at Gymkhana.  Motored up with all hands at 12.30.  Many horses for jumping.  Eva nowhere in the maiden jump, used spurs, mare objected.  The addition race most exciting, many entries, Eva had a bad start but got through, John added up quickly and correctly and Eva won amidst great applause and cheering, she won the tilting, got 5 on out of 5.  She gained the points prize – candlesticks – Dr and Mrs Veitch came down with them to her after tea.  All but one at Pictures tonight.

TH 22   A fine calm day.  rode over to Marne, Joe and Holdham turning the hay – John raking.  Berty Engebretsen came after dinner, carted all in with two drays.  Put Joe’s horse in the rake.  A good days work, finished by 6 o’clock.  The three youngsters came across the paddocks, here tonight.

FR 23   Rain last night, ground not softened yet.  Took down partition buggy shed and cleared out rubbish.  Four blouses motored to Ormlle.  Eva paid 15/- W W Smith.

SAT 24   More rain this forenoon and last night, the shoe lost by “All Black” at Gymkhana Eva got put on today.  John has word from Baumgart to send him saddle.

SUN 25   Light rain morning, fine afternoon.  Motored to Mrs Aldershaw’s & River – All hands, blouses and youngsters.  Had a conversation with Mr Roper &c &c.

MON 26   Eva found two dogs worrying a lamb in Reserve creek, the dogs are owned by Harold Crossland, they have worried other sheep in the neighbourhood.  Rode over Reserve, Hills & Hughes, saw only one worried lamb.  John drilling for Walsh and helping Holdham to get his hay in, sledged barb wire from Hughes homestead.

TU 27   A warm calm day.  All but one motored from here to go Tennising, the three youngsters dropped with Biddy, the others with Mavis & Mrs Veitch on to D.virk.  Two Funerals in Norsewood, and both coffins in Lutheran Church for Service – first Mr Jensen aged 79, then at 2.30 Engebret Engebretsen aged 84.  The hearse for latter driven by A Mackie.  Rode over Back.  The wild cow has a young calf.  Mam saw F Selby.  Likelihood of Butchers strike, has word not to buy.

JAN 1920

WED 28   Blouses again motored to Dannevirke tennissing.  Children at Marne tonight.  John came with mowing machine to cut grass between the rape and Reserve.  W Todd came at 10.30 and we pressed 4 bales altogether, one bale of black log-stained XBRED.B two bales XBRED.A one bale mixed bellies & pieces and 8 fleeces on top.  Cricket in Norsewood v Abraham & Baraud.

TH 29   Blouses away again to Dannevirke tennissing.  J.G. Paulsen came and dipped his 359 sheep, ewes & lambs.  F Adrian & John helping.  Paid £2.4.6 then John carted in Holdham’s hay – a few loads.  In the morning he cut the grass between the Reserve and rape.  Mam saw F Selby.  Comes for lambs on Saturday.

FR 30   The usual fine dry day.  Eva got in hoggets off Gundersen’s Sec.  We picked out 17 wethers from amongst them and dipped 118 ewes & 1 lamb which were put back, the wethers in Reserve.  We carted in two half loads of good hay from rape paddock.  Eva and Miss McAlister took dark heifer to Mrs Allen £7.0.0 is the price.  Three other cows taken with her.  Eva bought meat at new shop – Bessies.

SAT 31   All sheep gone through today.  First John got in Hills and Reserve, when these were gone through, ewes and rejects put back in Reserve, next Eva & John got in Back sheep, then Hughes, then Widerups put in stockyard until wanted.  103 lambs picked out and 9 ewes at 31/- lambs 22/-.  F Selby did not come until 2.  They are kept in yard tonight to settle down.  Mrs Allen paid for cow.  Cheque £7.0.0.

FEB 1920 SUN 1st   Some rain last night, poured at 3.30 this afternoon.  John and Joe took the lambs to Makotuku and left them in Railway yard.  Church this afternoon Mam Eva Miss McAlister & Rev Whibley motored there, went with them as far as Lutheran Church, then joined in with Funeral of Ole Gundersen, a service was held in Lutheran Church.  At grave Rev Oliver & Pastor Legarth officiated.

MON 2   A warm day.  Miss McAlister late at Ormlle for 10 train, went by express.  Got front shoe put on Trixie, went to Sale, bought 6 rams at 13/- John bought a little pig for 21/- and 30 lambs at 11/3 one at 15/-.  The rams are big Romneys, sold at Makotuku 2 years ago at £5.10 each.

FEB 1920

TU 3   A warm day.  Mustered all sheep from every paddock.  Dipped for sheep return.  Put 16 rams in meadow, one in shed tonight 17 total.  Drafted and dipped all lambs = 248 from this number deduct 31 bought yesterday leaves 217 of ours with 266 and 103 sent to Gears.  6 killed 1 pet, 1 with hoggets, 2 very small makes a total of 596 lambs docked & undocked.  29 ewes dipped with lambs and put on rape with them, John took to Marne, evening 125 ewes put on Widerups.  259 on Back and young lamb.  83 on Reserve and Hills, 95 on Hughes and a weak lamb.  Total 591 and 118 two tooths.  Wrote cheque £4.0.0.  There is a total of 709 ewes old and young in all paddocks.  248 lambs.  17 rams.

WED 4   Rode Trixie over to Marne at 5.30AM.  Helped John divide lambs to go on rape – 82 and 10 ewes on Marne rape, big lot on Hughes rape.  Walked round fences, examined lambs, no live ticks.  Roysthorn dipped 150 lambs & Love and Son dipped 130 for C Feirebend.  All hands with Mrs Veitch motored to Ormondlle Sports, John rode Black.  Douglas rode Trixie.  Eva won many trophies.  3 horse events.  2 for jumping, tilting rings, guessed No peas – salad bowl.

TH 5   Anton Svensen came with his 224 lambs before breakfast, dagged & put them through by dinner time, then George Neal came and we dipped 227 of his lambs, a warm day.  John Douglas Mr Speight gone to the mountains.  At 9.30 at night the in-coming school master for Pakowhai called to enquire about the road and ask if he was on the right road to Norsewood with motor lorry loaded.

FR 6   Motored to Dannevirke with John & Eva to Stock sale, took dog, rape lambs too dear – 16/11 and over, much inferior stuff, ewes not too dear, did not buy.  Day very hot.  Brought home in car drum of Dip – 2.8.9 50/= for 5 gallons – 82/9 per case of powder, Coopers.  Also brought home a case of Benzine from Williams & Kettle’s.  Mam & Eva at Allens.

SAT 7   With Mam Eva and Betty motored to Dannevirke, attended War Relief Assn.  Eva got drum of Dip at Wms & Kettle and case of Benzine at Harrisons – 3.  Dr Veitch came home with us.  Eva lost near Mangatera knitted jacket.  Got Lamb cheque £127.8.3 Exchange 3/3 included.  Cricket match Norsewood v Ormondlle not finished.  Pictures, none under 15 years.  Paid Mackies monthly bill with £7 cheque.  Bill paid £6.6.0.

FEB 1920

SUN 8   A calm cool day.  All except one motored to River, picked up Mrs Veitch & had a swim.  Rain set in and has steadily continued all the evening.  Sent cheque for 6 rams £ s 3.18 to Wairarapa Farmers Dannevirke, and Gears cheque to Union Bank.  £ s d 127.8.3.

MON 9   Rain last night and some this morning.  W McMichael came with his flock of 273 store ewes, it was fine whilst we were dipping them.  John came as we began to dip them and then Mac penned up.  Paid £1.15.0.  Showers during the day.  Motored to Factory.  W.M. away.  Gave Eva cheque £50.  She went to Postmistress with it.  John repaired culvert on Flat.  Transplanted cauliflower plants in garden.  Grass growing well.  Mam & Eva at Dr’s cards.

TU 10   Almost a wet day.  Motored up to L Nordbyes and saw Mr Thomson, enquired about Roy’s health on or by request of Mr Quigley, Sec to War Relief Association.  Sent particulars to Mr Quigley.  Sent cheque £16.17.6 to Loan & Mercantile Dannevirke for 30 lambs.  Mr Wilson called and gave us two big heads of cabbage.  Telegram from Williams & Kettle to say Hoggets 16¼.  Crossbred 16¼.  Hoggs 2 bales Xbred 11 bales.  Bellies and bale of mixed to be sold later on.  Last year 3 bales hoggs 16d.  and 10 bales X bred ewe 15¾.  Bale of Bellies 11¼ on 23rd January.  Shore earlier last year.

WED 11   A fine day.  John & Joe sawed and split a log on Hughes and repaired the bridge then they took mowing machine to Joe’s and cut his oats, a very good crop.  Cleaned out spout on back verandah and rectified roof of meatsafe.  Pictures.

TH 12   A fine day for the Show.  All hands from both houses motored to showgrounds.  A great number of cars and big crowd of people.  Home to milk & tea.  Mam Eva & Grace motored back to see Wirth’s Circus.  A huge crowd 7/6 5/-.  4 tent packed.  Home at 12 AM.

FR 13   A warm day.  C Feirebend and his little girl after dinner dipped 343 lambs.  Lester Adrian after dinner came with reaper & binder and cut until six o’clock.  John & Joe helped to steady machine on the steepest ground.

SAT 14   Another hot.  Mam & Eva took Bazil & Betty to meet their Mammy at [Waip] Arthur with them.  L Adrian finished cutting oats at 4PM.  Paid him cheque £4.3.0 for 5½ acres.  Norsewood cricketers won match at Ormlle by innings & 30 runs.

FEB 1920

SUN 15   A calm cool day.  John helped Joe to get his oats in as rain threatened.  Mam & Eva at Church, then we motored to Aunts, at home Eva gathered mushrooms.

MON 16   A cloudy calm day.  Helped John in the afternoon to tie and stook the oats.  Many sheaves on hill-side only partly tied by machine.  £2. . . paid by Mr Lund, this amount is more than he was asked to pay.  Mam Eva at Allens.

TU 17   Got in ewes from two paddocks.  Picked out and put on Widerups 119 good breeding ewes.  Put 31 of the best condition with 12 lambs on rape.  56 the poorest on good fresh feed on Hughes.  Cut and tied a strip of oats left by machine.

WED 18   Jack Todd came early with his lambs and we dipped them – 122.  Preparations made to see Takapau Sports.  Rain set in, not heavy at 12 or so.  put on working clothes again.  All the others went.  John & Douglas rode “Leg” & “All Black”.  Mam Eva Grace & Bairns Mrs Veitch and Mavis motored there and back.  Eva’s mare baulked at 2nd high brush jump.  Was debarred from competing in maiden jump having won at Ormondlle.  Did not enter for other event.  Pictures.

TH 19   Continuous rain all last night and greater part of today.  Creek up, rain at 8PM.  Wilson called, wants to buy henau log containing 12 or 15 posts near his fence, gave it.

FR 20   A very fine day after two days rain.  Eva motored A’Dean.  Means to stay there tonight, Tennis at Waipawa is on.  Sledged with Trixie some timber from shed at Hughes.  Enlarging shed to hold chaff.  John & Joe stood up some oat stooks that were lying down.  Good drying day.

SAT 21   A dull cloudy day inclined to be wintry.  John Arthur & Biddy came on express with load of timber from Hughes.  Afternoon John went cricketing to Dannevirke.  Put up partition in chaff shed.  Eva motored home in time for tea from Waipawa Tennis and A’Deans.  She & Mam at Pictures.

SUN 22   A nice sunny day.  John shifted lambs off Hughes rape to grass paddock.  All at home.

MON 23   Lambs put off Angle paddock on to rape.  The 17 rams got in, one with bad hoof, doctored it.  Eva motored to A’Deans and Waipawa.  Laid boards & slabs on stack site.  Mam called to see Mrs Gundersen.  Stooks still a bit damp.

FEB 1920

TU 24   Mam Eva Mrs Veitch Mrs Grant & Mavis motored to Waipawa Tennis and home at 8 PM.  This is the finish.  With John put on battens on turnip fence and put in a few posts by Reserve Flat plantation.  Got in lambs off rape, killed one.

WED 25   Drove out to oat paddock with “Ginger” “Prince” wagon and express and loaded, many sheaves with californian thistles, Willy Torkilsen and Andr Logan came, latter built round stack.  Willy loaded or carted in.  Fredericksen and Jorgisen came with horse & wagon, loaded & carted in.  Eva worked mare and wagon.  J Keane did some with horse and wagon.  All oats in by 5PM.  Not enough to head stack.  Covered it with tarpaulins pieces &c.  Willy and Logan for tea and Eva in the morning fetched and brought them back home in car.  Paid W Lo[ ].

TH 26   A wet day, nothing done except mushrooms gathered by Eva.  Yesterday she paid Hughes rent and Income Tax to Mrs Gaw Postmistress £ s d 9.15.1 and £ s d 1.2.6.  The day before she paid County Council rates = £19.8.9 and Reserve = £1.17.6 = cheque £21.6.3.  Today Mam paid Mr Grants bill – six pounds or so out of £8 cheque.  Chucked away some of this cheque, buying drapery robbery.  Get 1/4¼ per lb for wool, pay 12/- per lb for the article manufactured and more.  At night W and John Mackie played cards.  Received Bank slip from Williams & Kettle for 14 bales wool £ s d 364.0.9 and 1 regraded 7.9.3.  total £371.10.0.

FR 27   Drizzle greater part of day, did a bit of work in chaff shed and put a few sack &c on oat stack, a breeze this afternoon.  Rev Whibley for dinner, afterwards Eva motored him up Ngamoko way to see some Church members and enumerate the Babies he expects to Christen next Sunday.  Enough rain now for Autumn growth.

SAT 28   Moist weather, some rain, no work doing.  John shifted lambs off Marne rape on to rape on Flat.  All lambs on this rape now.  Mam & Eva pictures.

SUN 29   A fine sunny day, very quiet until Rev Whibley came after dinner, Mam & Eva motored him to Church, he Baptised Wilson’s baby, no others carted up today.  After Church Eva and Miss Mathews motored to Morrisons, had tea there.  Hans Mortinsen called, has 400 ewes to dip in the future.  John & Fam called.

MAR 1920

MON 1st   A fine drying day.  Worked at Plantation fence, Reserve.  John left at 11AM to go to Norsewood Sale, bought Fresien heifer for £6 in calf, supposed.  Gerts Birthday, many happy returns, she is strong and cheerful & plenty to do.  Mam saw F Selby, cannot come this week for lambs, will come next week.  Hoping.

TU 2   A wet morning.  Selby cannot come for lambs until end of next week.  So as to make rape spin out John put lambs off it on to good feed on Flat, he cannot take any ewes from us for several weeks to come.  Works getting filled.  Bread increased in price.

WED 3   A young man called early with drapery.  Mam bought some pieces looks nice supposed to be cheap – a snip, no more drapery required in  the house before 1922.  We finished the Reserve plantation fence, made a good job of it.  McDonald Bros dipped 48 lambs will bring 2 others in cart.  Got in off Flat ewes & lambs.  Rain off lambs, dagged them and put them on the rape by themselves 241, six more in Marne paddock, 62 ewes on Flat.  Mam paid the Drapery man cheque for £7.10.6, he spoke nicely re the drapery.  Letter & Bank slip from Wms & Kettle.  8 skins sold, £2.9.4 nett.  4 lambs 11¼.  3¾ Bred 13d.

TH 4   Fenced stack, cows pulled out some last night.  Mustered Hills & Reserve.  These are big 4 tooth ewes, picked out 9 old ones from amongst them and put them on Flat making 71 culls to fatten, leaving 86 big 4 tooths, we dipped & put back on Hills & Reserve.  Dipped the 17 rams.  Grace met Leslie Campbell & wife at Ormondlle.  McDonald dipped 2 lambs – 48 yesterday, paid 4/-.  This is good weather for dipping.

FR 5   A great day for Bush youngsters.  Crowds of them going on an excur trip to Napier from Piri Piri to Takapau, teachers and Parents in charge.  Arthur went with his Granny and Eva.  We got in Back sheep, picked 162 good breeding ewes, Dipped for return, dagged and dipped them, all had to be dragged to the dip.  These with the 86 ewes dipped yesterday makes 248 now on Back.  Put the 98 culls in Reserve & Hills for the present.  Killed a lamb for home use.  Quarter to 8 o’clock – a procession of lighted vehicles going to Ormlle.  Back at 10 o’clock.  Mam Eva & Arthur none the worse.  All well treated by Napier people.  Saw Gert & Will.

MAR 1920

SAT 6   A very fine day.  Cut up lamb.  Motored to Dannevirke called at Johns.  Saw Leslie Mrs Campbell an 2 babies, John & Bertie Engebretsen came to play cricket and Arthur came with us and back.  Paid Williams & Kettle £10.  Loan & Mercantile Agen Co £6 for heifer.  H.B. Farmers for pet lamb 15/-.  A powder 6/6.  Bought from Harrisons, ironmongers case of Benzine 34/- and 1 from Wms & Kettle 36/-.  Attended monthly meeting, the usual assistance wanted, many letters of thanks.  Brought back in car case of Coopers powder Dip.  News that Hans Nordbye passed on.

SUN 7   Another fine Autumn day.  Mam & Eva at 11 o’clock Church.  Rode Trixie over Back good grass in paddocks.  Mrs Bellamy and Inga came in afternoon.  Motored Auntie’s.

MON 8   Got in sheep off Hughes.  Picked out 40 of the fattest – ewes & wethers and put them on “Angle” fresh grass.  Put 87 the remainder on Flat and Hughes = 127.  The total number of sheep now are, on Back 248 for the rams dipped 118 two tooths Do 118 on Widerups not dipped.  225 culls to fatten total 709.  Fenced pig paddock.  Worked at chaff house doorway.  W Todd called in evening, wants to buy heifers &c.

TU 9   Did some work at chaff shed.  Rode Trixie to Hans Nordbye’s funeral.  With a £14.0.0 cheque paid J Mackie £ s d 4.7.2.  P.G. Grant £ s d 5.2.11.  Boyle & Co £ s d 4.13.5.  John drilling oats at Garfield for M Walsh.  Windy this afternoon for a while.  Rain threatening, none.

WED 10   Beautiful Autumn weather, dug out patch of red potatoes in Eva’s garden.  Repaired fence, meadow – rape.  Put lambs off rape stalks on to nice feed on Flat.  Ewes off flat on to Hughes.

TH 11   Wire-netted rape above stockyard, pulled up boards at car shed door and carted gravel from near Brown gate to fill up.  Eva weeding.  Wilson borrowed [m].

FR 12   Wire-netted potatoes from rape.  Painter Olsen came with flock of 142 and dipped same before dinner.  We dipped Widerups after dagging them 116 & put back.

SAT 13   Put the lambs off Flat into fresh paddock of rape.  No word from F Selby.  Carted gravel from near “Brown Gate” to road – levelling entrance for car.  Eva & Mam Pictures.

SUN 14   A nice warm day.  No one came except the Doctor for his daily milk.  Mam & Eva motored to Church.  Mr Speight.  Afternoon to Ormondlle usual chatter.

MAR 1920

MON 15   Mrs McLees at 96 years passed out.  Mam & Eva left wreath at house going past on 17th.  Worked at chaff shed, altered doors &c.  In the evening John mustered Reserve and Hills sheep, picked out and put a few ewes here & there in small paddocks to fatten.  Letter from F Selby, comes on Wed.  Traynor gored by Bull.

TU 16   Two tooth ewes from Gundersen’s brought in.  9 lambs amongst them.  Killed one & put 8 on rape with the mob, not much dagging on the two tooths.  120 of them, put 2 SD rams with them and back again on Gundersens, all fat.  Attended big sale at Norsewood, Jersey heifers fetched £13.5 and chance whether they are in calf or not.  Breeding ewes 21/- and 22/6.  lambs 12/- to 16/- did not buy.  Called at Factory, Paid Mr Thompson for Benzine and change £5.11.0.  30/- a case.

WED 17   Saint Patricks Day.  No snakes in Ireland.  All hands but one gone to Makeretu Sports.  John rode “Black”, left at 20 to 8 AM.  Mam Eva Grace Biddy Mesdames Grant & Veitch motored.  Eva’s mare did well although not taking a trophy.  Mam & Eva home for tea and then Pictures.  Arthur came here from school, here tonight.  F Selby came at 1.30.  Picked 156 lambs.  Price 25/- good lambs, on Flat tonight.  90 rejects back on rape.  He says they will be fit for him to take three weeks hence, when he will come.  Fine weather.

TH 18   Spread load of gravel in front of chaff shed.  After dinner went with John with fat lambs 155 of ours, one pet Mr Grants took in Express.  Picked up 99 of Petersens put the lot in Railway Station yard.  Drove over to F Selby’s sheep yards & took 2 SD rams home in express, legs tied, full mouth, seem good rams.  Mam Eva Allens.

FR 19   Good rain last night and this morning.  Put 4 SD  and 2 Romney rams out on Back to 248 ewes.  Rams branded B.  Eva with a box collecting for “Childrens Home”.

SAT 20   A wintry day.  Showers, cold breeze.  Dug out potatoes in garden.  John cricket Dvk.

SUN 21   A lovely day after the rain yesterday.  Rode over Back, nice grass for both sheep and cattle, no church.  John called and Mrs Veitch called, quiet day.

MON 22   A fine forenoon, wintry evening.  Dipped the 90 rape lambs 2 ewes and two lately bought SD rams.  Put lambs back again on rape.  Mrs Todd paid £2.19.0 for lambs dipped and her shearing expenses here.  John earmarking Lunds ewes.

Income

Date when first fat lambs were picked – 17th Dec 1919.  When Gear cheque receid 31st Dec.
Dec 31st 1919.  266 lambs to Gear Co at 21/-.  Picked on 17th Dec.   £ s d 279.6.-
1920 Jan 30th.  A young cow, – heifer soon after calving sold to Mrs Alle.   £ s d 7.0.0
Feb 7th  Gear & Co’s cheque for 103 lambs at 22/=  9 ewes at 31/-   £ s d 127.5.0
Feb 26th  Williams & Kettle sold 14 bales wool & small bale regraded.  Bellies 16¼d.  11d. Regraded £7.9.3 =   £ s d 371.10.0
March 3rd  Eight skins sold.  3¾ Bred 13d = £ s 1.6.  Four lambs 11¼ 18/9 One dead 7/9   £ s d 2.9.4
March 25  Gears Cheque for 156 lambs at 25/- Deduct 1 Mr Grants pet   £ s d 193.15.0
continued in another book   £ s d 981.5.4

MAR 1920

TU 23   A breezy day.  Put 3 SD rams and 2 Romneys out on Ridges with 116 ewes.  One of the SD rams small and old.  Worked at floor of chaff shed.  Eva out gathering with box for “Children’s Home”.  She & Mam at Concert tonight.

WED 24   Laid totara pieces at each doorway of chaff shed and some gravel.  John rode to Makotuku Sale, nothing to buy.  Salvation Lady called Mam gave.

TH 25   Eva and Mrs Veitch motored to Ormlle then train to Takapau then opening of Golf.  Home in Cris Andersen’s car.  John bought 100 ewes at Takapau Sale at 18/- brought them as far as Sander’s yards.  Worked at floor of Chaff shed &c &c.  Recd Lamb Cheque from Gear & Co £195 nett for 156 lambs at 25/- 5/- exch added.

FR 26   John got here with the 100 ewes at midday, ewes not big, all have good mouths.  Put them on Widerups, 150 ewes there now.  3 SD rams and 1 Romney.  Put 66 ewes off Widerups on to Back, 314 on Back now.  4 SD rams & 3 Romneys.  Mam with others motored to D.vick.

SAT 27   A wet day.  John got in lambs off rape, killed a good one.  Eva put in Lucern in garden and sledged manure to flower beds &c.  Pictures tonight.  John takes Gears Lamb cheque £ s d 195.0.[  ].

SUN 28   Light rain now & then.  Mam & Eva at Afternoon Church.  & Methodist at night.

MON 29   Rain in forenoon.  John brought in express load of boards from Hughes.  He went to Sale and mare wandered away.  Misses Caughley & Brewer for tea, then Eva & Mam motored with them to Salvation Concert in Nordbyes Hall, fine night.

TU 30   Mare found tied up at Monument fence by some kind person, John got in horses and started to plough stubbles, Joe helped to give a start.  Finished securing one end of chaff shed to keep chaff from escaping.  Allens, cards.

WED 31   Ploughing going on, double and single furrow, Joe using latter.  Shifted chaff on to floored end of shed, a few sackfulls left on floor, musty.  Mr Gorzinski borrowed 3 sacks of chaff until his own is cut.  Waikopera Sports today, no one went from here, no event that Eva could go in for.  This has been a good month for regular rainfalls, good feed in all paddocks.  There is a difficulty of getting frozen meat out of the country – want of Shipping.

Good Business Rules

Make friends, but not favourites.
Be wary of dealings with unsuccessful men.
Keep down expenses, but dont be stingy.
Dont take new risks to retrieve old losses.
Dont worry; dont overbuy; dont go security.
Be cautious, but when a bargain is made stick to it.
Make plans ahead, but dont make them in cast iron.
Be content with small beginnings and develop them.
Stick to chosen pursuits, but not to chosen methods.
Dont tell what you are going to do until you have done it.
Keep insured, Keep sober, Keep cool, and be sure to Keep
A pack of dogs to put on to a travelling seller or company-share-canvasser; put them on to him and sool him off the place.

Expenditure for 1920   £ s d

1st Jan 20   Peter Johansen for shearing £4.10.  Mackie for change £3.   7.10.0
17th Jan 20   Williams & Kettle for woolpacks &c £ s d 10.17.7.  C.L. Neilsen £ s d 11.10.8.  22.8.3
17th Jan 20   Dinwiddie Walker & Co £ s 2.8.  W.W. Smith 15/-.  P.G. Grant £ s d 5.14.1.  8.17.1
17th Jan 20   J Mackie £ s d 6.7.3.  Boyle & Co £ s d 1.3.1.  Eva B. per J Mackie Sports £2.  9.10.4
3rd Feb   Household expenses £4.  J Mackie.  Do 7th Feby monthly bill £6.6.0.  10.6.0
9th Feb   6 rams bought off Wairarapa Farmers Co Op Dannevirke.  3.18.0
10th Feb   N.Z. Loan & Mercantile Agency Co. for 30 lambs bought at Norsewd  16.17.6
9th Feb   Cheque to Eva which she took to Post Office Saving Bank.  50.0.0
9th Feb   Subn to Dannevirk Agricull & P. Assn £1.  to Farmers Union £1.  2.0.0
14th Feb   L. Adrian. Cutting oats £4.3.  (24th) Dvk Co. Council £ s 21.7.0.  25.10.0
25th Feb   Rent for Hughes Sec £9.15.1 and Income tax £1.2.6.  10.17.7
26th Feb   Cheque to pay W. Grants bill £8.  Fred Smith 5/- A Logan £1.  9.5.0
3rd March   Some pieces of Drapery bought from traveller at house.  7.10.6
6th March   Loan & Mercantile Co £6.  Williams & Kettle £10.0.0.  16.0.0
9th March   J Mackie £ s d 4.7.2.  P.G. Grant £ s d 5.2.11.  Boyle & Co £ s d 4.13.5.  14.3.6
16th March   Norsewood Factory for Benzine & change £5.11.0.  5.11.0
continued in another book.  220.4.9

Expenditure for 1919   £ s d

Jan 10   C W Smith for carriage of wool to Ormondville.  2.14.3
Jan 13 . Paid to Eva.  100.2.6
Jan 20   Paid Peter Johansen for shearing £2.  J Gorintzie harvesting.  10/-.  2.10.-
Jan 30   Donation to Gymkhana for Patriotic purposes.  2.2.-
Feb 1st   To Williams & Kettle for Dip and goods – £11.6.5.  11.6.5
Feb 8   Paid County Council rates.  19.4.9
Feb 11   C L Neilsen & Co repairs to Motor car.  Benzine &c.  17.8.10
Feb 11   to P.G. Grant for goods & Boyle & Co do £9.3.9 and £6.15.11.  16.5.0
Feb 15   Hughes rent paid to State Advance Department.  9.14.9
Feb 16   Paid to C L Neilsen balance on price of Motor car.  235.-.-
Feb 26   Paid J Mackies bill – monthly for goods.  6.-.-
March 1st   To Wairarapa Farmers Co.Op. Assn. for cattle bought at sale.  10.15.-
March 1st   To Mrs Gurr for insurance on house.  -.5.-
Feb    Engelbretsens for harvesting £1.  1.-.-
Feb    Paid F Fredericksen for carting in hay and hoing potatoes.  1.10.
Feb 26   Paid to Mackie for goods £8 and previously 2 cheques for £4.  12.-.-
March 11   H B Farmers Co Op Assn Dannevirke for 28 lambs 3 R rams.  24.6.-
March 10   Paid Mr Feireband for rent of house.  3.-.-
March 11   Loan & Mercantile Agency Co for sheep bought.  20.2.-
March 17   Do. for 51 ewes bought at 25/7 at Norsewood.  60.2.9
March 17   J Mackie £4.  C L Neilsen £ s d 9.14.6.  Wms & Kettle £ s d 10.3.4.  23.17.10
March 23   F.L. Selby for 100 ewes at £1 a head.  100.2.6
March 24   H B Farmers for case of Coopers dip.  4.10.-
March 28   J Bartlett saddler for repairs and stirrup leathers.  2.9.-
April 7   Woodware Co. £ s d 1.19.3.  P.G. Grant £13.  J Mackie £ s 3.10.  18.-.-
April 23   Rabbit Trustees 5/3.  H B Farmers £4.10.  Williams & Kettle £7.6.6.  12.1.9
April 26   J Bartlett Saddler for a horse cover.  2.7.6

Receipts for the year 1919   £ s d

Jany 10th   For 74 lambs at 20/6.  22 ewes at 27/6 bought by Mr James, Gear Co.  106.2.0
Jan’y 21   Holstein bull sold by W. Farmers Auctioneer J Thompson.  8.6.3
Feb 7   Bank slip proceeds of 14 bales wool sold by Williams & Kettle.  371.3.11
Feb 5   Nine sheep skins sold by Williams & Kettle Napier.  3.7.11
Feb 12   Gears Cheque for 64 lambs at 20/6.  65.12.0
March 20   2 bales lambs wool = £ s d 46.15.8 one bale mixed regraded £ s d 13.18.11.  64.14.7 this wool comes to £ s d 60.14.7 but A Svensens share comes to £6.0.0.
March 26   Gears Cheque for 210 lambs- 29 at £1 remainder at 23/-.  237.3.-
April 3   7 sheepskins sold by Williams & Kettle.  1.2.4
April 15   Gears Cheque for 74 lambs, wooly 23/- shorn £1.  78.4.-
April 19   Williams & Kettle sold 4 bags wool and sent Bank slip.  8.16.7
May 10   Gears Cheque for 13 wet 31/- 79 ewes 27/- 33 wool lambs 22/6.  45 shorn lambs 18/6.  205.11.0
May 10   Will put in Bank to my credit.  This was entered above.  (238).-.-
May 15   11 Lamb skins sold by Williams & Kettle £1.17.10 nett.  1.17.0
June 16   Gears Cheque.  37 ewes at 26/- 5 wethers 27/6.  88 culls at 15/- nett amount.  120.19.6.
June 26   Wms & K. Cr note for bonus on goods bought and divident 7% and 1%.  3.9.5
July 4   Recd from “Evening News” yearly Interest on 15 shares 15/-.  15.
July 25   From Williams & Kettle for 11 skins.  2.8.4
Sep 9   W Torkilsen’s cheque for £5 for two loads of hay.  5.0.0
Oct 3   Three bags seed potatoes fetched at Norsewood sale nett.  1.9.6
Oct 9   Interest on Whakatu Shares £ s d 3.6.1.
Dec 14 bag dead wool 13/7.  3.19.8
Dec 24   From Wms & Kettle for 17 skins £4.0.2.  4.0.2

For 1918 and 1919

No. Of Bale
Gross weight
SB   t   cwt   qr   lbs
1.3.3.8.
2.3.2.5.
3.3.3.25. Hoggs
4.4.0.10.
5.3.3.3.
6.4.0.3.
7.3.3.14.
8.3.3.6.
9.3.3.20.
10.4.1.18.
11.3.2.22.
12.3.2.-. X Bred
13.3.1.24.
14.4.0.21.  Bellies
15.3.1.-. Bellies & pieces
Deduct 57.1.11.
Antons. Svensen 1.0.0.
56.1.11.
Prices Recd.
23rd Jan.
3 Hoggs.  16d.
10 ewe 15/¾.
Bellies 11/¼
to be
regraded
sold later.
No. of Bale and fleeces (1920) Weights
SB   cwt  qr  lbs
1.47. X BRED 3.2.25.
2.45. XBRED 3.2.4
3.55.X BRED 3.2.6.
4.52.X BRED 3.2.2.
5.52.X BRED 3.3.4.
6.56.X BRED 3.2.18.
7.58.X BRED 3.2.23.
8.56.X BRED 3.3.9.
9.57.X BRED 3.3.14.
10.57.X BRED 3.2.12.
11.62.X BRED 3.3.27.
12.66. Hoggets 3.3.3.
13.66. Hoggets 3.3.11
14. Bellies 3.-.23.
15. Pieces locks & skins &c 2.2.24.
729  16¼ per lb  54.1.9.

Wool sold at 2nd Sale Napier 15th Dec 1915

SB 3 bales fine at 16½
SB 7 bales X BRED 15¼
SB 1 Bellies 11¼ SB 1 fadge 7

LAMBS  500 fleeces 4403 lb nett
BALE No. 12  3cwt 3qr 4lbs
BALE No.13  2.1.4
1 sackful of black wool

Wool for 1917   Fleeces
No  cwt  qr  lbs
SB 1 Hog 3.2.2 50.
SB 2 Hog 3.2.16 51.
Fine 3 3.2.13.
Fine 4 3.1.22.
Fine 5 3.2.13.
Fine 6 3.3.18.
Fine 7 3.3.19.
Fine 8 3.2.23.
XB 9 4.-.17.
XB 10 4.-.17.
XB 11 4.-.20.
XB 12 4. .22.
XB 13 4.1.12.
Bellies 14 4.1.3.

For regrading weight later  15 54.2.21.
No of fleeces
SB
SB 50
SB 51 HOGG’S.
Marne   cwt  qr  lbs
Bale 1 XB 3.3.4.
Bale 2 XB 3.2.1.
Bale 3 XB 3.2.12.
Bale 4 XB 3.2.23.

Wool for 1916
BALE NO FLEECES   cwt  qr  lbs
SB 1 60 X BRED HOGG 3.2.11.
SB 2 61 Do 3.1.2.
SB 3 50 X BRED FINE  3.1.22.
SB 4 50 Do 3.2.6.
SB 5 53 3.1.26.
SB 6 51 Do 3.2.17.
SB 7 50 Do 3.2.14.
SB 8 48 Do 3.1.18
SB 9 53 X BRED 4.-.7.
SB 10 52 X BRED 4.-.19.
SB 11 53 Do 4.-.6.
SB 12 54 Do 4.-.12.
SB 13 52 Do 3.3.17.
SB 14 58 Matted 4.-.1.
SB 15  Bellies 3.3.7.
56.0.17.

Expenditure continued.
£ s d 540.7.5
Wellington Tea Co  £ s 5.18.  Concert £1=   6.18.0
Nov 12 & 18   Concert £1.  J Mackie £24   25.-.-
Nov 24 & 28   Land Tax & Brabazon £1.-.-   24.19.4
Dec 5   J Mackie £10.  J.G Grant £3   13.0.0
Dec 15   Bartlett, Derlin, Rickett   1.17.0
Dec 18   E Brabazon   5.0.0
Dec 20   W Lawson Piana tuner   1.5.0
Dec 24   E Brabazon going Dannevirk   2.0.0
Dec 30   Lorck 1.7.6  Mackie 2.0.0   3.7.6
Dec 31   Scott 3.4.6  Fertilizer Co £5   8.4.6
Jan 1st   P Johansen £4.10.0   631.18.9  for the year 1919
Entered elsewhere.

Expenditure for 1919   50-18-185

May 5th   N.Z. Farmers Fertilizing Co.   5.0.6.
May 6th   J Mackie   5.0.0.
May 12th   Church Stipend £1.  Eva Brabazon £9.  J Brabazon 109.3.   119.3.0.
May 12th   J Mackie for manure, grasseed, clover, trefoil & oats.   32.0.0.
May 23rd   P.G. Grant 11/-.  Ag. Journal 2/6.  Whakatu call for share £10.0.6.   10.3.0.
May 28   To Anton Svensen £7.1.6 for one and a half pig for home use.   7.1.6.
May 29   Cheque to square up Red x affairs £5.8.5.   5.8.5.
June 9   J Walker for horse cover & collar.   20.0.6.
June 10   M Nikolaison for chaff cutting and wood sawing.   7.0.0.
June 14   J Mackie £12.  McDowell & Power £10.  Freddy & Bertie £8.   30.-.0.
June 17   Paid P Johansen for crutching 14/- 23rd.  C Parsons, Music £1.0   2.4.0.
June 16   Paid John Gears cheque.   121.0.0.
July 5   Paid Boyle & Co for goods £ s d 1.2.1 and Insurance shed 8/8.   1.10.9.
July 13   C.L. Neilsen £2.16.3.  Gibbs nurseryman for trees 5/-.   3.1.3.
July 24   P G Grant £4.5.10.  Mackie £ s d 1.14.6.  W. Parsons for timber £1.   7.0.4.
July 25   A Brown for Benzine £8.5.0.  W W Smith for shoeing £ s d 1.1.6.   9.6.6.
August 1st   Paid Wms & Kettle for cream seperator & some goods.   10.18.0.
August 8   Paid Mackies bill £5.5.9.   5.5.9.
August 16   Saddler £1.12.6.  19th J Mackie £2.  20th Dairy Co 14.14.6.   18.7.8.
August 29   J Mackie £3.  N.Z. Farmers Fertilizing Co. £ s d 5.0.6.   8.0.6.
6th Sep   C L Neilsen & Co £ s d 5.0.0.  C Parsons 30/- Boyle 27/10 Mackie 27/3.   9.5.1.
20th   Sent £80 cheque – War Loan to Postmistress Gaw   80.-.-.
Oct 4   Paid to Eva to buy tennis raquet &c.   5.-.-.
Oct 8   Donated to Flower show £1.  Sent to Mam Pakowhai £1.9.6.   2.9.6.
Oct 16   Paid Mackie £ s d 17.13.11.  Grant £ s d 3.18.10.  Boyle £ s d 1.7.10.  Hulena 1/3.   23.1.10.
Oct 27   Mrs Brabazon (at Hastings)   5.0.0.   1259.5.3   718.17.10   340.7.5   540.7.5

Receipts for the years 1915 and 1916   £ s d

Dec 31st   Cheque from Wms & Kettle.  11 bales 1 fadge sold on 15th.   265.10.11.
Dec 28th   Gear & Co cheque for 208 fat lambs at 6¼ per lb.   209.1.7.
Jan 22.   1916 From Williams & Kettle for 2 sheepskins.   -.12.4.
Jan 15.   Longburn cheque for 48 shorn lambs at 5½ and 26 sheep.   71.4.9.
Feb 3.   Gear cheque for 86 shorn fat lambs.   79.11..
Ap. 10.   Wms & Kettle’s cheque for 2 bales lambs wool at 1/1 per lb.   33.9.10.
A bag of black wool sold a few weeks ago.   -.15.3.
June 21st   Bale of crutchings 1/1½ sold by Wms & Kettle.  Cheque.   18.3.1.
June 28th   Two fat cows sold at Makotuku nett.   16.19.5.
July 3rd   From Williams & Kettle, shares and rebate on goods.   3.16.-.
July 10th   Fadge of crutchings sold today & 6 skins.
July 20th   Anton Olsen’s cheque for ton of chaff delivered.   5.-.-.
July 12th   Wms & Kettle placed in Union Bank for 13 skins, nett.   2.10.0.
Aug 2nd   H B Farmers cheque.  40 hoggs sold at Makotuku 22/10.   43.16.9.
Aug 5th   Wms & Kettle Bank slip, proceeds of fadge of crutchings.   4.12.1.
Nov 3   Robinson Ngamoko for young bull.   4.-.-.
Aug 8th   From McGilvray for woolly lambs – extra.   1.3.-.
July 3   From Wms & Kettle on Shares & rebate on goods bought.   3.16.-.
November 15.   Do 7 lb dead wool at 14½ and 21 skins from 9¾ to 13d.   7.4.10. 755.2.7.
Dec 22   From Wms & Kettle for 5 sheep skins.   2.6.3.
757.8.10.

Some people are rather confused as to how to compute the new income tax, as applied to given incomes.  Here is a ready reckoner, which may help.  The tax is 1s 3d per £ on the first £400.  Then add at the rate of 1¼d for each £100, and at the rate of one- eightieth of a penny for every odd £.  Take as an example an income of £580.  The tax in this case is 1s 3d (£400), plus 1¼d (£100), plus 1d (£80), a total tax of 1s 5¼d.  Deduct the exemption of £300 from the income, and the taxpayer’s bill is 1s 5¼d on £280, viz., £20 2s 6d.  The tax on any income may be computed in this fashion.  Take the fortunate man with, say, £2840.  His sum is 1s 3d (£400), 2s 6d (£2400), and ½d (£40), a total of 3s 9½d, and as he is not allowed the exemption his tax bill is £538 8s 4d.  A man with an income a little over £1100 has to give a tenth to the State, with £2400 he gives a sixth, with £4000 a fourth, and with £5600 a third.  It is a pretty heavy tax, but war is a costly business.

WAR TAXES. SOME INTERESTING TABLES. OF HOW THEY OPERATE. WELLINGTON, yesterday. The Finance Minister presented to the House to-day a series of tables showing how the land and income tax proposed this year compared with last year’s taxes.  In the case of the income tax, including the ordinary and special war tax proposed this year and the ordinary income tax plus income tax under section 5 payable last year, the Department showed the following comparisons:
Income.   Present Tax   Proposed Tax
£ s d   £ s d
£500   11.13.4   12.10.0.
£800   31.5.0.   42.3.9.
£1,000   49.11.8.   70.6.3.
£2,000   219.11.8.   249.9.7.
£3,000   386.5.0.   532.16.3.
£4,000   580.13.10.   920.6.3.
£7,000   1,288.6.8.   2,557.10.0.
£10,000   1,778.6.8.   3,682.10.0.
£20,000   3,611.13.4.   7,432.10.0.
£50,000   9,111.13.4.   18,682.10.0.
£100,000   18,278.6.8.   37,432.10.0.
In the case of the ordinary income tax the taxpayer with an income of £400 (of which £100 is taxable) pays £20 10s, or 6d in the £ on the amount taxable, but at £650 the exemption begins to decrease and disappears at an income of £900, which pays on the graduated scale 8½d on the whole amount, or £31 17s 6d.  By the time the income reaches £1600 the tax amounts to 1s in the £, representing £80.  An income of £4000 pays 2s, representing £400, while £6400 pays 3s, represent-ing £960.  In the case of all assessable incomes over £300 an additional 50 per cent is levied as a special war tax.
THE LAND TAX.
In the case of the land tax, when the taxable amount is £1000, the rate of tax is one penny, producing £4 3s 6d and the tax rises by one-thirty-second of a penny in each additional £1000.  An estate of £10,000 is taxed 19-32nd, paying £53 7s 8d; an estate of £33,000 pays 2d, totalling £275; and an estate of £193,000 is taxed 7d, representing £5629 3s 4d.  The whole land tax is increased by an additional 50 per cent by way of super-tax.
Some actual cases taken by the Taxing Department to show how the war tax operated in comparison with the excess profits tax illustrate in some instances taxpayers who paid a heavy levy under the excess profits tax will escape much more lightly under the proposed war tax, while large incomes  which got off lightly last year owing to the absence of excess profits will contribute a great deal more to the Treasury under the proposed war tax.  In the case of one income of £56,386, which paid £25,590 3s 8d, including £15,448 in excess profits tax under last year’s taxation, the same income will only pay £20,922 under the proposed taxation.  Another income revenue of £54,354, which paid only £9613 7s 8d under last year’s tax, will pay £19,985 15s 6d under this year’s taxation.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE GARDEN. SOW NOW.

ASTHMA – This disease consists in a muscular contraction of the smallest bronchial tubes, those next the air cells by which the air is prevented from passing out of the cells after it has been breathed in.  Small bits of ice swallowed, or a cup of strong coffee when an attack is on often gives relief.  Take plenty of fresh air, but be careful to avoid chilling.  Breathe out slowly, and wait after the lungs are emptied as long as possible.  Then fill the lungs and hold several times.  A pure dry atmosphere should be sought; wind, dampness, dust and smoke must be sedulously avoided.  A very good recipe will be as follows – Parke Davis anti asthmatic elixir No 132 four ounces.  Two teaspoonfuls in water every four hours.  Get this from your chemist.

THIS COUPON must accompany every communication to the various Departments of the Weekly Irish Times. October 19, 1918.

Numbers of War L. Certificates
for £10.  213601-213602.
213603. 213604. 213605.
213606. 231607. 213608.
213320. 213319. 213318.
213317. of £1 as follows
104787. 104786. 104875.
104784. 104783.
Further loan of £100 April 12th 1918
Numbers £100 = 011395.
12th  188875
£10 = 288966.
£10 = 288967.
£1 = 181297.
£1 = 181298.
£1 = 181299.
£1 = 181300.
£1 = 197841.

1st loan 12th Ap 1918.

2nd loan 31st Aug 1917.