1950 - Chudleigh, E. R. Diary of E. R. Chudleigh 1862-1921 - CHAPTER XXV. LEASE UP AT WHAREKAURI; W. HOOD DEAD; E. R. C. DIED JANUARY 22, 1922, p 455-468

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CHAPTER XXV.

LEASE UP AT WHAREKAURI; W. HOOD DEAD; E. R. C. DIED JANUARY 22, 1922.

30th March. At Ch.Ch. Christchurch was as usual on Saturday night crowded with people, the most orderly crowd in the world. Not a policeman to be seen in uniform nor a drunken person. Very different to Auckland the most criminal town in N. Z.

9th April. Chatham I. I went to Waitangi to Arthur Coxes. Arthur is about 76. He has hurt his spine falling off a ladder. I finished shipping 2160 sheep in the Taviuni. I had tea with Mr and Mrs Scott our policeman and deputy everything. He is a capable man and his wife is a good help in all his many offices. I rode home. The old home looked homely and quiet but not trim just living on its past.

4th May. Miller brought some splendid frozen fish from Mr McLeans freezing works [the Chatham I. Fishing Co. at Kaingaroa]. We give him a sack of apples. He is sending our woolpacks [landed at Kaingaroa] to Taupeka in a launch for us. One good turn deserves another.

10th. I turned out my tool chest, formerly the sea chest of Admiral Sir William Luard who gave it to Hoel Pattisson (my Partner) who gave it to me. A grand old barn of a box.

12th. I walked along the sea beach. The marram grass has caught the moving sand and the fencing out the stock from the coast has caused the native growth of trees as well as shrubs to again grow in numbers that will soon form a dense growth if the stock are not allowed to go in as soon as the natives again hold the shore.

16th. Three steam launches came to Aunui. Bob McLurg and Willie Murphy brought their new 5 ton launch with an oil engine that cost over £200 round from Waitangi, the maiden trip. Piri Naera a son of old Piripi Chinaman came in the launch. Bob told me the launch and engine cost over £400. Rewai Naera built it. The plan was American. All three boats went on to Kaingaroa.

31st. Mail arrived. One from Eva Izard who is engaged to a Mr Richards. He is a good fellow as far as I know him and a good farmer. Bob Lyne has accepted the office of Director of Agriculture for Ceylon, a first class appointment. In his last

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letter he said he is going to bring out a book on E. Africa [he was Director of Agriculture in Zanzibar] and dedicate it to me.

11th June. I walked along the beach. There were five or six launches off Aunui. The wind was fair so they all had sails up. They started for Kaingaroa and flew along. Nearly in my memory the Moriori basket work canoe pushed its way slowly along the water going through the canoe as much as the canoe through the water but in the breakers the canoe could go unharmed where no boat could live. The men sat high up and the great curlers washed through the open work with no effect. The floating power was underwater and consisted of the great bull kelp first dryed till it was like a bladder, all the little cells being either vacuums or full of air and the kelp, ten or twelve feet long and over a foot wide, made an excellent float and being oiled outside after being dryed the water took a long time to affect it. I used to keep my oil for years inside bags of bull kelp and right off my house of Wharekauri where the best cod fishing at the Chathams is the kelp is 200 ft. long. Boats can anchor to the long arms of the kelp in 20 fathoms of water.

30th. This is the last day of my lease on Wharekauri. I have held this property 42 years under three leases. I now hold 8000 acres of Wharekauri and 2000 of Kekerione. There where 10359 sheep on the property, Feb. 8, 1912, besides horses, cattle, pigs and station plant and houses, a good 13 roomed dwelling, one good station house a good store and stable, also a good kauri house 7 rooms for shepherd, an outstation and small out buildings. I have to build a new woolshed and shearers house.

3rd July. [Miller heard] Himeona Tahuhu was cutting one of the gorse fences and putting up a tent. It was in a part of the leasehold awarded to Te Puna-uia, Inia Tuhatas [or Damond] wife (now dead). Inia acts for her children. Himeona told Miller Inia Tuhata and Paneora had sent him and his party (they are not a hapu [clan]) a written notice to clear out of the land claimed by and awarded to them, so he [Himeona] were putting up huts and tents to show their claims to all the land. At 5 p. m. I walked to where Himeona had set up his tent. I saw no person there and went back to my own house.

4th July. I saw a boy cutting firewood in Old Bills paddock, another boy was carting firewood. Himeona and some children were at the tent.

5th. Stone and his wife [Himeona's daughter] pitched a tent on my side of the boundary line.

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6th. Himeona told me to move my sheep off Kahia [now Inia Tuhata's land]. I refused.

7th. Why Inia delays coming in person I do not know. He sent messages to Miller they where coming as soon as the steamer left.

8th. Inia Tuhata and Paneora arrived about noon and had lunch with me. They then got through the slip rails close to Himeonas camp and mounted their horses before Himeonas party saw them. Then a mass of howling people tumbled out of tents and other shelters and called to the horsemen, but got no reply. Then these fat women, old Himeona, a fat young man and many children started after the horses. One woman, a female fiend with a beard hoisted her skirt nearly to her hips, she had no other garment and went off with a bound and ran. No. 2 lady did likewise but she stopped to take off her boots so No. 3 like No. 1 having no boots passed her. Then came Himeona the father of No. 1 and three women then the fat man and children. Himeona and three women all have a small interest. This helped their legs. The show of female legs exceeded the limit allowed by general custom. The horsemen saw what they wanted and came back. The three Amazons, nearly naked I believe assaulted the riders horses with sticks as they rode away hotly chased by the females. Inia Tuhata is a half cast. His English name is Harry Damond. He remained the night at my house, Paneora returned to his own. So ended Monday.

9th. Inia made me an offer to continue to rent all Te Punauias land say 6000 a. in all, for 15 years at £150 p. a. and to sell me a narrow strip of land between my freehold and his leasehold omitted by a surveyors error in either territory and to give me the full right to use all my old leasehold free of rent from July 1 1912 to Jan. 1 1913, and gives me till Jan. 1 1913 to consider his offer. At present I am not inclined to bother at my age with any more than I have.

10th. Yesterday I told Himeonas daughter (the old man did not appear) that I again held all the land that belonged to Te Puna-uia and if they did not go away the police would help them to move. Inia had given Himeona and the others four days to remove themselves and their things. So on the 15th Mr Inia Tuhata as trustee for his children will give the lot of them in charge. So far has the yarn reached.

13th. Since 1869 Mairangi has been held under lease by E. R. Chudleigh from the direct ancestors of Whakamae Young

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and Tepuna-uia Toenga. The original and legal possessors of the Mairangi block are

Kitu a Maori chief who had conquered the Moriori people before the signing of the treaty of Waitangi therefore before British rule existed in N. Z. and only those Maoris and their descendants who held it then had any claim on it now.

Then Ngahuia his daughter then Whakamae her daughter by an American, Captain Young. Then all leased to me by the first.

Then comes Te Poki. His children were Wharepa Toenga, Haena and Paina. Of these the ones that dealt with Mairangi land were Toenga Te Poki and his daughter Te Puna-uia. These leased to me from the first. Whakamae married a Maori from the Bay of Islands called Wi Te Tahuhu long after I leased the land. During the lease of the Wharekauri run which expired June 30 1912 a portion of Mairangi was reserved by Toenga for himself and Whakamae if either of them should ever wish to live there and if so they must fence off the reserve at their own cost.

Whakamae decided to live there and fenced off a section and lived there many years, and her husbands name was entered as a grantee by Toenga because he said it was more convenient for a man than a woman to do business. Wi never at any time claimed any land at the Chathams. As they had no children they sent for Himeona Wi Te Tahuhus brother, his wife and three young girls to come from Bay of Islands. They came from Auckland with me and my wife 1882, and later quarrelled with Mae and Wi advised her to send them right off the place for ever, (I know this direct from Wi and Mae) but she said she would mark off a bit of land at Mairangi and if he made any more trouble she would turn him off the place for ever.

A Native Land Court was held by Judge Edger and he decided no person but E. R. Chudleigh had any right on the Mairangi Reserve till the end of the lease June 30 1912.

14th. Scott the policeman, Inia and Paneora are coming to summons Himeona and co. for trespass on the 18th.

18th. Rain all night and day, no one appeared. We all drank Mrs Richards health in cocoa last night. I hope she has better weather than we have for her wedding day.

20th. The policeman served a summons on Te Paki Haami a brother of Ngahuia and took him to Waitangi.

29th. The last of my luggage went to Waitangi taken by the ploughman on a sledge drawn by a 6 horse team, Willie Dix with a 4 horse sledge, McGregor with a 4 horse dray, Nugget Dix with

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a 3 horse dray and a spare team of horses, 17 horses actually at work. By all going together, the four drivers and Miller a bogged team can be got out quicker. It is truly a stupendous job. Only horses born and reared on bogland could negotiate the road.

I walked on 5 miles through mud and water to Taupeka. I saw Jack Dix and his wife. They gave me the full use of the woolshed shearers house yards and paddocks for 3 years or longer if I wanted it. Anything they could do for me they wished to do.

30th. The Court case was held and judgement reserved, why I don't know.

31st. I worked in the plantation clearing round by nikau trees. The oldest is over 35 years and no sign of any stem or ring.

3rd August. I saw many people in Waitangi and I find the whole Island a social chaos and full of anger. The S. M. and Court has not the confidence of the Islanders.

4th. I went to see Clelland in Te One about the fund for Mr Engsts memorial stone. The fund was started by me with £2 which I gave to the schoolmaster for that purpose. Clelland has never received it and the schoolmaster has left the Chathams. Then I visited the churchyard of St. Augustines Church and saw two mounds all there is to mark two of the marked men of the Chathams Mr J. G. Engst and L. W. Hood, two vastly different men as far apart as the East is from the West, one all faith in God, one minus faith. Then I reached D. W. Meikles house and went into poor little L. W. Hoods matters. Both Mr Engst and Mr Hood died in Meikles house. He of all the Chathams took them in and gave them food and shelter and buried them and for so doing some call him and his wife fools and some call them worse names. God knows the truth but I believe the Meikles acted in both cases the Christian part, the part of the good Samaritan. Hood appointed me his executor. He left me nothing but his faith in me. I could not foil him in death. He was not true to himself when the trial came. Mr Engst was true to his whole life and his great faith. Little Hoods assets are so far about £10. I walked to Mr Fougeres and he told me a sad history of Island affairs. Mr Fougere drove me to Waitangi after dark. The sea was high and rough. We had to stop at the crossing of the Waitangi River till the long inrush of the tide half turned in its run out. He could not go up the cutting because of the mud, so I waited to see him recross the river and I was quite ten minutes getting up the cutting not two chains long and reached Carstairs Accommodation house a mass of mud. I went to bed and glad to have one to go to.

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8th. I got an early start from Waitangi considering it was Waitangi where no one gets up before he or she can help it. Various people piloted me through the many quagmires. Mrs Palmer was all motherly kindness. Willie Dix, Claras father took me by a new track he cut through the bush to Bella McLurgs house at Toroto. The lakes are so full there is no shore to ride on. Bella was certainly glad to see me. Willie came some miles on the way home with me. He has £10 for a memorial stone for Clara [Dix, in Hamilton]. It was just dark when I reached Wharekauri where even the kitten gave me a warm welcome. Comfort once more.

11th. Very ill all day and night. Wrote to Izard saying I could not come this mail.

20th. Himeona refuses to leave Mairangi and is erecting fences. The bench says This is not trespass. The Lord help us.

2nd September. Scott the policeman arrived and served summonses on Himeona and co. This makes no sort of difference to the enemy. They continue to cart posts and erect fences. The bush lawyer Te Hau Materau was with them. He is I am told a light from Te Aute Colledge a good institution but Te Hau appears to be one of the failures.

11th. The Court sat and fined Himeona, Te Paki and Mrs Stone £50 each and costs about £20 each. They are to leave everything on the land and remove themselves at once or the police will remove them.

14th. Miller tells me Himeona and co. refuses to pay fine or costs or leave the land and that they have summonsed Inia to show his title to Mairangi. The combat deepens on, ye brave.

21st. Left for N. Z. in the Himitangi. Captain Cowan was chief officer on the Ripple. The 1st and 2nd officers were also on her. The cook is said to be a Scotch advocate and the steward a university man.

26th. Saw Izard. My affairs are considered very sound. Mabel in Lyttelton to meet me. She was ready to come to the Chathams if I did not return this trip. She has got quite grey, poor little mate.

27th. In Wellington [L.] Tripp has to go into the question of how I am to lease 6000 a. from Inia. I cannot do so in my own name. Mabel can take 3000 a. This Chatham I. 3rd class land is not worth any bother with only it saves me fencing if I can hold right to the sea. I went to Leonard Tripps week-end

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house at Heretaunga golf links. All the swells have spicy little houses just off the links.

10th October. Tripp held that I could not buy or lease any more Maori land but I could let my stock on it and pay Inia when he asked for it.

1st November. Orongomairoa. Heard from Miller. Himeona and co. go 60 days jail and were locked up for defying the Court.

31st December. The balance of income over expenditure on Orongomairoa for the month ending Dec. 31st is £113. 14. 7. This is the first time there has been a credit since Mar. 1909. I hope it will grow from now on. Wharekauri will require its own income for a year or two.

Go in peace 1912.

Haeremai 1913.

1913.

10th February. I saw Clara Dixs memorial stone, white Italian marble. It was very nice. I paid £8 for the job. I received two presentation copies of R. N. Lynes last book called Mozambique, its agricultural development 352 pages 15 illustrations 1 map.

I have not had time to read it yet.

29th June. Ch.Ch. I saw Clara [nee Dobson] and Stewart Meares and Wyndham. The baby is really a splendid little human and Clara never looked so well in her life. I have a silver mug for Claras infant, Eva Richards do and Millers boy called Reginald.

I addressed three Press papers of this day to R. N. Lyne Ceylon. There was a good account of his career as director of Agriculture for Zanzibar, Mozambique and Ceylon.

5th July. The S. S. Maori ran into some floating debris and smashed her bough rudder badly. I go tomorrow to Wellington instead. I find I lost 6/- by not taking a return ticket between Lyttelton and Wellington. Theo Barker [son of Sam Barker] showed me over the pumping station of which he is engineer. The perfection of the method is wonderful. The recorders tell you the state of everything. The water waisted is appauling in private

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houses. He is a fine looking man well over 6 ft. and bulky enough for his age.

7th. I was all the afternoon with Mrs Brown, Hane Te Rau. She gave me a full account of Maui Dr. Pomare. It was her doing to bring him up. It was her influence with the Maori people that got him returned to parliament and largely her influence with the leaders of the Massey Govt, that got him made a Minister of Native Affairs. She spent nearly £600 on his election. She gave him half this sum free.

8th. I saw Mr Stour and Sir Charles Bowen. Sir Charles is much aged. He is about 80 and is too old to fill the Speakers Chair. He said he would have a chair placed for me behind the Speakers Chair for me to hear the debate this afternoon. I returned to the Legislative Chamber at 2.30 and found my chair in its place, the only one and an easy one to fill. It is evident to the naked eye that nearly all the members of the Upper House are suffering from Anno Domini.

9th. Rain and cold. I had a telephone from Govt. House telling me to come to lunch at 1.30 p. m. I was ushered into a large drawing room and the first picture that met my eye was one of Lord Liverpool and Edmund Brune [E. R. C.'s cousin] both in their war paint as Master of the Kings Household and his page. Capt. Eastwood, an A.D.C. was the first person I saw, then came in two other aides, the Earl and the Countess. His Excellency shook me by the hand in a most friendly manner, introduced me to Her Excellency Lady Liverpool and the other two aides. We all then went to lunch. Lord and Lady Liverpool went first, then Capt. Eastwood and myself and then the other two aides. The Governor talks most freely and made me feel at home. We talked of Cornish people we both knew. I felt back in Cornwall. After lunch the Gov. showed me more pictures of himself and Edmund and told me to sit by him on the sofa and we talked hard till 3 p. m. He said to Capt. Eastwood We will go to see Mr Chudleigh at Orongomairoa if possible when we visit Te Aroha. He shook hands as though he meant what he said and left the room.

10th. At Napier. I met Lorria Tuke now the dean of Napier pro-Cathedral. We were much pleased to meet again. I dined with [Guy] Mannering in his nice house. Poor Mannering feels the loss of his good wife intensely. She slipped into the Waikato river at Taupo and was drowned before his eyes.

18th. Home. Davies ploughed up a human skeleton. Dr. Kenny and a peeler came to investigate. The M. D. pronounced it

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the remains of a female. There was part of a flintlock gun, a small pipe and a few bits of brass probably from the gun and no more. I suppose the state will pay £5 for this inspection. The two wise men had a whisky and departed.

20th. Donald went to Auckland. He is the most uncomfortable man I have ever had to live with. Freedom comes with his absence. Rewi talks and is like another boy when his father is away.

Planted Ake rautangi [dodona viscosa] the leaves that weep for ever. The wood of this tree, not a large tree, is hard and tough and took a keen edge and was cultivated by the Maori for spears and battle axes.

16th August. Mabel returned [from Christchurch]. I went out to receive the wife and the cold raw damp got hold of me and I was seriously ill for a month.

20th December. Went to Te Aroha. It rained hard but the hood of the caleche kept us dry. This is the first time I have left my own home for five months.

1914.

20th February. I attended a political meeting and heard Maui [Pomare]. He is an oritor and most amusing and most useful to the Reform party but he is young yet and not quite certain of himself. I am full of letters from the Ch. I. Himeona is still on the war path. Surveys are going on. Woolshed to be built. Shearing machine and no end of things that require money by the shovelful. My good little mate has not been well. The great heat and far too much to do has prostrated her.

2nd March. Our old friend Susan Kitto has come to stay with us. She is a large fine looking woman and the matron of Grey River hospital. She told me the Grey River people call her H. R. H. the Matron but she can act and do with her own hands more than one woman in fifty can and her head and gift of language and general presence do not fall short of her hand power. She is one of our Wharekauri girls that has made a name for herself like R. N. Lyne has as Director of Agriculture in many lands. Ambrose Potts spent a few days with us. His eyes give him much trouble. In fact the terrible fire he went through at Waimate Mr Studholmes is having its effect on him now. It has to a great degree spoilt his life. Ambrose went to his house on Hokianga R. on Thursday.

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Diary of E. R. Chudleigh

30th March. Came to Lyttelton in the Wahine. She is all cabin just like a beehive. I saw Eva Richards and the far famed Elizabeth, a dear little creature. I saw Clara, her husband and Wyndham, also Myra [Clara's sister] who says she is to be married. I am giving her a serviette ring with Myra on it.

8th April. Sent a wireless to Miller at 6d. a word.

I quite made a friendship with [Sir Apirana] Ngata the late Maori minister for native affairs. He is a man of much learning and great character, the manners of a gentleman. He uses the most perfect language and has a mellow cultivated voice.

11th May. Orongomairoa. The daily round of work is not worth entering there is so little of note about here. All the world is very busy quite out of breath except the working man. The drains are much in want of men. Money will not move them.

4th August. The war cloud has just burst in Europe. All question of spending money was at an end. Trouble at the bank, trouble at the Chathams and trouble here. Truly one has to be self-reliant, go on, go straight and keep a good look out.

1st November. My good little wife gave me my usual gooseberry pie with E. R. C. 1914 on it. The berries are very full this year.

I have spent close on £18,000 on this farm since 1909, £13,000 is mortgage. An Estate agent came to see over the land. He valued the unimproved at £15 p. a. and 2000 a. at from £20 to £25 and some sections higher. He expressed unqualified approval of the estate.

1915.

3rd January. Wife home to Ch.Ch. I was alone in an empty house when I found Izard looking very hot. He and Olivier had arrived two days before I expected them. I was caught on the hop. Nothing in the house ready. No fatted calf killed. John [the station cook] and I got things going and a good drink of cool cider to the men in the car made things smile.

24th. At Wharekauri. Miller and I inspected the new woolshed and shearers whare. Both are very good indeed and the shearing machine and engine. The Island is much as it was but Wharekauri is returning to its native forest. Himeona is dead but his horrid following and daughter are still camped where I left them two years ago. They have been removed and locked up but came right back again. They are to be taken to N. Z. in May.

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1st February. Six communications headed Press by wireless came from Waitangi containing news of the war to date.

Wharekauri is not doing well. There is little more than bad luck about. The stearing is faulty. The will and wish is good, the grasp is not strong.

8th May. Ruby Wishart arrived at Orongomairoa. I wrote to Charlie Wishart and told him his girl was quite at home. She is a tall ladylike presentable girl, shows breeding. I have known her great grandparents. I received my county rates notice £205. 16. 3 for this year. They were about £30 in 1909.

Next date January 1, 1919.

1919.

During those years Donald Potts left the district and E. R. C. began his long cherished dream of settling at least fifty new households on his land, cutting up the country into blocks of 60 to 100 acres and taking mortgages over the blocks at low rates of interest. The new manager at Orongomairoa is Crawford, and at Wharekauri Charlie Seymour.

5th January. The wage earners are bulging with money and spare time. They use motor cars freely. At any cost grog and sigerettes for all. Few people go through the form of keeping a female domestic servant. She is not so valuable as a crest on a spoon or fork. The crest does no harm.

24th February. Swarms of people come every day in motor cars to see about No. 1 milking shed for next season. Felling trees for the engines. Cannot get coal.

1st March. Got word of 5 or 6 tons of coal a truck being on the move for me.

3rd. The more I think the darker looks the future. Man is now side by side with stupendous facts; just a little fog hides them for a few days. Consider my few days on earth. Steam, the everyday match, telegraphy, telephone, photography, electricity, flying and numerous arts known to children now were unknown to my grandfather even as was half the world.

15th. Small holding only can work the land as it should be worked but the holder of the holding is often too small himself to do anything well. He ruins land.

22nd. A fire started on a neighbours block but a wind spread it in all directions and in came into me yesterday. Twelve people at work. English French Swiss Dalmatian.

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24th. This is the 3rd day of a large stream being run all over the land. The underground is safe but sparks from the timber and peat nolls and nobs are still a danger.

31st. Decided to put the Chudleigh Estate on the market. £30 p. a. at 6% and ten years to pay in I still holding mortgage on all. Buildings to stand in lieu of cash deposits. I also start them with 20 cow's apiece at a fixed price to be paid for out of the butter cheque. From now on till this property is sold, sections, commissions and conditions of sale will be the all absorbing topic.

15th April. People come every day about sections.

21st. Izard arrived and Izard, Crawford and I drove to Te Aroha to see the banker Mr Cuff who is staying at a large hotel. The rooms, passages, stairs were full of men and girls in flannels driven in by a shower so Mrs Cuff lent us her bedroom and we four banker, lawyer, manager and I argued for an hour. We returned home and all worked hard at different jobs, Mabel fed us all.

24th. No. 4 Section was sold to the two Hickeys for £30 p. a. and 15% paid down. Int. 6% and 10 years to pay in. I hold a mortgage over everything till final payments made.

16th May. I received a telegram from Mabel [on her way to Christchurch] saying comfortable but exciting trip. M. Chudleigh, I knew something was to follow. The Herald newspaper gave it. Goods train wrecked, dash down incline, engine driver killed wagons smashed to atoms. Through express, Mabels, saved by a guard hearing a telephone bell ring furiously. He stoped the express. The run away train past its last station at 100 miles an hour. My dear little Mabel says Comfortable but exciting. Just Mabel, always calm, no fear no noise.

21st. I had a letter from poor little wife. Dear old Gran Potts very frail. A beautiful life going to sleep in peace. Eva Richards here.

27th June. I walked to the end of the Chudleigh Road after lunch and found Crawford had dug a trench in the now public road and thrown the spoil on to the formed road. I must now apologise to the County engineer and remove the obstruction. Lord, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.

[E. R. C. relates an act of his own about getting survey work done in the Chatham I.] "When the Hon. W. Rolleston, Superintendent of Canterbury, Mr Baker [surveyor] and myself did our bit. The Sup. gave me instructions which I took to Mr Baker and explained it was imperative that certain work should be done in

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the Chathams. The Chief Surveyor said he could not do it so I retired saying in a loud tone for I was rather warm Well sir I suppose it is a case of pull devil pull baker. The chief and several clerks looked round at me. The chief was not used to such treatment from a young man and was prepared to be very angry with me, when his face changed and with a grin he said Yes, yes, my name is Baker so you are the Devil. I had no thought of his name and he felt it was so but he was so pleased with his own wit I got what I required."

1921.

1st November. Seedy, every day seedy. No relish in life. Seedy all the time.

7th. Still seedy. Eva Richards and three children. Elizabeth has scarlet fever. Janet sores on legs, and Tommy generally wrong. Poor dear Eva. I have written to her. Mr Rasmussen of Lot 6 came to sound me re payments, hinted at inability. I must be immovable now at the first payments. There can be no precedents established now. Everyone must be right on his deeds.

8th. Very seedy.

10th. Mabel drove me to Te Aroha. I had to go into a furniture shop and sit down. Carroll [lawyer] came to the shop and said he would attend to everything. Mabel brought the caleche to the shop and brought me home. Collapse No. 1.

11th. Mabel, Emily Peter [friend and nurse from Cant.] went to Auckland and I got to the doctor. A leak has started and I must go to a rest home for 2 weeks at once.

14th. At Mena House in bed. Everything very nice. Mabel and Emily gone home.

16th. Cold. I want a shawl.

18th. No paper or envelopes. Chatham matters all to pieces. This cannot go on. I am in bed and can get nothing.

25th. Izard does not see the Island position [about shipping]. There stands to be an awful mess.

28th. Paid bill at Mena House £12. 1. 6 for two weeks one day. Professional attendance.

29th. Had a lovely trip home. The garden was a dream of beauty. Emily and the cats welcomed us. Dear old John [station cook] and Emily had got the flower beds in great order. I am glad to be home.

15th December. I was very ill all last night. The doctor banker and lawyer all came in one taxi and I signed many papers.

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17th. Motored to the polling booth. Voted for Mr Herries and against prohibition.

17th. Mrs Crawford wrote long business letters to Izard re Wharekauri wool and shipping.

23rd. Ill. Just managed to write.