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Harry Elmar Johnson had variety around him for the year. He was presented with a daughter on 19th February named Beryl. 7th April Arthur went to town and fixed up with Tommy Jones for his paddock. On the 13th April took a photo of Mother with a shawl that Cecil had sent from Egypt. 24th April Arthur divined with his diving rod and said water could be got in 2 or 3 places. 4th May Charley and Ernie have both been to the city on business connected with the purchase of land near the weir.14th June Charleys shed wa s a fire. 27th June started pulling down the old house at the dairy. 1st July brought up timber from the old house and then started work on putting a verandah on Mothers house with the timber. 21st July finished Mothers Verandah.19th July Elmar was clever enough to melt down lead, cleaned it and made it into flat sheets. 29th July he commenced digging his own well. 13th September the value of his place unimproved was £150 improved £ 500. 26th September Eddie Newman went with him to spend the day at Frenchmans Creek. Tom and Daisy are looking fairly well and the children also. They have done a lot of work on the place. 20th October Creek came down last night and this morning his well has 30 ft of water in it, so it will halt further work on it for some time, h e will have to stop the water from running down the hill into the well. Ernie came around and made a to do about blocking everyone coming through. Boxing Day he took his wife and family to church there were 40 people present and 22 of them bore the name of Johnson. Arthur and his family were roughing it down on the farm for Xmas. End of the year did not get a good a good price for pineapples an average only just over 2/- 1 per dozen. No quantity of rain seems to come along and we are in dire need of some. H e also made a dining room under his house and also built a fowl pen during the year. He also made different things for his daughter Beryl such as a cradle, a sleeping affair, a go-cart, a rock away with a horses on it cut out of wood. |
1-1--: Worked at a shed I am putting up for the cart. I did not do much except get ready for the iron. Everyone seemed to be on holiday and I could not get steam up. We had a big hailstorm. 2-1--: Put the iron on the roof of shed and others bits of jobs. Weather continues awfully warm 3-1--: Terrible hot day. Took things easy at home. 4-1--: Picked pines ready for town tomorrow. 5-1--: Went round with pines etc and had a very good day. Pines sold off very quickly. 6-1--: Worked about the farm and got stuff ready for town tomorrow. 7-1--: Paddy and I took over 36 doz. pines besides other stuff to town, we did very well. 8-1--: Did a hard day planting stuff. Paddy worked on my place also, the day was not so hot as it has been. I planted a row of sweet potatoes. 9-1--: Made 5 more rows for sweet spuds went to town on business. Afternoon I put another row of sweet spud cuttings in. 10-1-: Went down to Toms in the morning. After dinner it came on to rain. 11-1-: Took pines to town. Afternoon planted sweet spud cuttings and picked pines. 12-1-: Paddy and I went to the city and sold out easily all our produce. After I came home I hoed among the rosellas, finished half of them before tea. 13-1-: Finished hoeing Rosellas, gathered a few tomatoes, took pi nes to the station for Daniels of Longreach. Hoed along the row of passion fruit. Lily tied them up. 14-1-: Paddy and I got up at 4.30 and got a start to town with 41 dozen pines and other produce, sold out very well. Brought out a boy Charley Wooler who is going to work for me for 10/ - per week. 15-1-: Picked pines and also did a bit of ploughing. 16-1-: Paddy and I went to the city with pines. We did very well and I got home fairly early. 17-1-: I walked up to the church and heard a good service conducted by Ensign Brooks. 18-1-: Charley and I went in with 13 Doz. pines and a few pumpkins and other stuff. 19-1-: Charley Wooler and I took the pines etc to town. We sold out well, but I took a very sick turn before I got home, and after I was back I was very crook indeed. 20-1-: Rode to town on the bike and banked some money and ordered linoleum, and did various other small jobs. 21-1-: Master Charles Wooler and I took 53 doz. pines and other stuff to the city and sold out about 4.30. It was such an excessi vely hot day that I let Bob (horse) walk pretty well all round the customers. 22-1-: Picked pines and got things ready for tomorrow got 2 banana suckers ready for town 6d each. 23-1-: Paddy, Charley Wooler and I went to the city with our pines etc. Sold out nice and early and did some shopping. 24-1-: I went to church and to Morrells for tea. 25-1-: Planted some mango trees, and picked pines for tomorrow also grubbed out some saplings. 26-1-: Charley and I went to town with 40 doz. pines and other stuff. 27-1-: I picked 10 dozen pines and took them to the city. Came back and fixed up things for tomorrow. 28-1-: Had a difference with Paddy and finished up with him. I had 42 doz. pines and sold out by 12 oclock. 29-1-: I picked pines and went to the city on my bike banked some money and also did other business. 30-1-: Took 30 doz. pines to town. I dropped young Wooler on the road in and told him to toddle off home. Went the round by myself and did not have nearly enough pines got home about 3 oclock. 31-1-: Morrells were down to see us. 1-2--: Working at pineapple picking, casing and carting. 2-2--: Went to the city with pines. 3-2--: Took pines to Jas Foo. 4-2--: Went round Depot Hill with Pines. 5-2--: Picking pines and hoed a few weeds. 6-2--: Went to the city with pines. 7-2--: Knocked around at home. 8-2--: Was a very wet day, I went to the station for the mail and lay reading about the house all the rest of the day. 9-2--: Picked some pines and took them to town. Also went on the wharf and got Eddies cultivator and my sundries . After dinner I gathered and cased more pines and took to the station, came home and put out tomatoes. 10-2-: Picked pines and hoed a few weeds. 11-2-: Went in with pines etc. It was a rather warm day and a sharp shower fell early in the day but it turned out warm later on. Lost my whip. 12-2-: Sowed some cowpea seed and did other jobs around the farm. I also gathered a few dozen pines for tomorrow. 13-2-: Took pines to town, I got a very good average price. 14-2-: Went down to Charleys for milk. I knocked around home the rest of the day. Had tea round at mothers. 15-2-: Gathered pines and took to the station for Arthur. My crop is over now and I can get a go on after the weeds. 16-2-: I ploughed amongst pumpkins etc. Also hoed along a few rows. The days manage to get rather warm. 17-2-: Took a few Smooth Leaf pines to town, banked some money paid Williams account and bought a scythe, came home and mowed 2 rows of weeds, between the pines. Started hoeing pumpkins, but the rain came along and settled me so I had to chuck it. 18-2-: Hoed pumpkins. 19-2-: Had to arise with a sudden jerk and take the Missus to the city. Put in another row of sweet potatoes. 20-2-: Took a few pines to town. Weather very unsettled showering all the time. 21-2-: Went with Tom over to the Bower, knocked around at home the rest of the day. 22-2-: First thing I rode my bike to town and saw Lily and Beryl and also registered the birth. I then went along to the Federal Press and orde red some Billheads. Then went and had a yarn to the bank manager. Hoed pines at the top of the hill after dinner. 23-2-: Went to the top of the hill and hoed a row of pines, then I came down and had a lemon squash, after that I hoed a row of cow pea then I had dinner and fixed pines and took some to the station for C. W. Moller. 24-2-: Finished hoeing the pines on the top of the hill and also hoed some rows of cowpea. I had a bad billious attack about 12 oclock and it fairly settled me for work. 25-2-: Hoed 2 rows of cowpea and 1 row of pumpkins before dinner. 26-2-: Ploughed a little and hoed amongst the cowpea. 27-2-: Hoed pines and started to make a cradle. After tea I rode my bike in and saw Lily and the young Beryl. 28-2-: Knocked about not far from home. 1-3--: Worked in the garden. 2-3--: Hoed amongst the pines and other jobs. Nearly finished the cradle. 3-3--: Finished painting the cradle, and hoed more pines. 4-3--: I hoed a row of pines and went to Denhams for provisions. Laura brought Lily and the young squawker home. There is no doubt that she can howl all right. We have been having very hazy weather last 3 to 4 days. 5-3--: Arose rather late on account of Beryl being rather out of sorts last night. I finished hoeing the lot of pines below the passion fruit and picked a few lbs. of tomatoes. The haze seems to have lifted a little and the day has been brighter. 6-3--: I hoed a row of pines next to the rose bushes and picked a bag of cowpea and beans. Also cut 4 rows of cowpea and set my plow shears and tried to fix my cultivator. The day was rather a warm one. 7-3--: I didnt feel very well during the morning and stayed home and rested. Afternoon I rode my bike up to the Chapel and had a nice service. 8-3--: Hoed pines above the roses. It was an absolutely hot day there is no doubt about that. 9-3--: Finished hoeing the pines next to the roses and hoed 3 of the short rows on top of the cutting made by the road party, also finished picking the cow pea pods and made a thing for me and Bob to sow tomato seed in. 10-3-: Hoed pines and carted the cowpea round to the chaff cutter. I am rather unwell in my inside this week. 11-3-: I finished hoeing the pines that I started day before yesterday. There is a mighty wind risen and is blowing furiously at the time of writing this I pulled 50 pine suckers ready for the Mount. 12-3-: I hoed 4 rows of pines that run towards Cecils place. Picked a few lbs of tomatoes. 13-3-: Hoed 3 rows of pines. Met Eddie with the tomatoes. 14-3-: I went to Church and heard Mr. Shepperd discourse, which he did very well. Mother in law came to see Beryl. 15-3-: Bagged 50 suckers ready to go to Mt Morgan and after which I went on with the hoeing of pines. 16-3-: Sent the suckers away. I finished hoeing the smooth leaf pines. 17-3-: I did some hoeing and started to fix up a room to enable me to develop photos Martha came up and had a look at us for a minute or two. 18-3-: Hoed 4 rows of pines and did a little to the dark room, I am improvising up stairs. The weather is very windy lately. After supper I printed some photos. 19-3-: Went on with the hoeing and picked a few tomatoes. 20-3-: I met Eddie at the corner with tomatoes. During the morning I hoed and afternoon I was at the dairy taking photos and an awful time I had of it. The young ones down there are just a lot of brumbies. 21-3-: Went down for milk. After dinner Mr and Mrs Newman came along. 22-3-: I hoed 4 rows of pines. Lily was away all day shopping and doing other business. Young un came back very crabby. Mother po sted a letter to Cecil, I wrote 3 sheets. Dry windy weather prevails with no sign of rain, which folk are crying out for. 23-3-: Arose and lighted the fire, had breakfast. Printed proofs from the photos I took Saturday. The rest of the day I spent plying the hoe with a vigorous hand. I hoed 4 rows of the pines at the far end of the farm. 24-3-: Jumped out of bed and got the fire going. My word it was quite sharp in the morning air, you might take it for a winter morn. I hoed 4 1/ 2 rows of pines at the to p end of the garden. When I came in for tea I was told that old Mr Bunker was dead. I had a bad go with my bowels again today. 25-3-: I hoed 4 1/2 rows of pines at the top end of the garden, besides looking to other things. 26-3-: Hoed 3 1/2 rows of pines and picked tomatoes, cut wood for the stove and commenced to make a kind of sleeping affair for Beryl. After tea I printed some photos. 27-3-: Met Eddie with some tomatoes, came back and had breakfast. Hoed 2 rows of pines, cut some wood did a little towards babys sleeping affair. I went to the Patriotic affair and it went off very well. The hall was filled to overflowing. 28-3-: Went to Charleys and brought a billy of milk home. 29-3-: I finished hoeing the pines at the top end of the garden, and put a cor ner bracket up for the clock and almost finished the cot affair for Beryl. Besides seeing to Bobs wants. I also cut out a frame to try to get Charleys oil painting done and taken home again. 30-3-: I got the clock put up in his corner and hoed along the top row of pines. Spent a good while going after the paper. I have had a great trouble with my saw belonging to the mitre box. I set it today and don t know how it is going to do now. 31-3-: I fixed Bob up with maize and water and did some hoeing and cut out more moulding for frames. Went up to practice after tea, as the Endeavours want me to help with the singing of Anthems etc. 1-4--: Finished hoeing the row of pines I started yesterday completed the 3 frames I started yesterday and sawed wood for the house. 2-4--: Spent a similar quiet day. Went to the dairy for milk and got my hair cut, also delivered 1 dozen post cards and 1 half plate photo to Ada. 3-4--: Helped Arthur cut chaff, we cut nearly 100 bags from 1/4 to 9 till 1/4 to 1 oclock. Afternoon rode bike to city and took photo of Lesley Kings wedding cake. 2 exposures on one plate. After tea went to practice. 4-4--: Dairy for milk. Knocked around afternoon Endeavour Annual 7.30 evening. Good attendance 23 shillings collection. 5-4--: Got an early start for Mrs Kings had breakfast with the family and took photos of the wedding cake again. Afternoon went to the C. E. Picnic and took photos of the folk assembled all the negatives turned out pretty fair. 6-4--: I hoed a row of pines and printed proofs of all the photos. Arthur went to town and fixed up with Tommy Jones for his paddock. Tom dropped me 2 bags of chaff for working on Saturday. 7-4--: Did some hoeing and helped Arthur with his pump. After tea I printed a few photos. A storm came up about 8 oclock. I dont know what it is going to turn to. Rain is needed rather badly as everything is getting parched. 8-4--: Hoed pines and poked about at other jobs such as getting firewood for the house. I have been the reverse of well lately. 9-4--: Hoed pines, about 3 oclock I got cleaned and went to the city on the bike and got some glass and photo material also paid Williams their account. The day has been awfully warm we must be in for rain I think. 10-4-: Helped to cut chaff from about 7 till 1 oclock. After I had my dinner I fixed some frames with the pictures they had to have in them. Grace Emery and Violet Scott came out for proofs of the picnic photos. 11-4-: Went to Church and heard Laverack give his farewell sermon as far as Gracemere is concerned 12-4-: Hoed pines and poked about at other little jobs. My word the heat is a terror for this time of year. Surely we must be going to get a dose of rain after tea I printed a fair number of photos that I took on Easter Monday.  13-4-: Met Eddie at the corner with a few tomatoes. Hoed pines and cut wood till 9 oclock. Took Mothers photo wearing the shawl that Cecil sent from Egypt. We had a terrible trouble getting a good position. The photo racket uses too much water. 14-4-: Hoed pines and printed some photos of the Endeavour picnic. Martha came up and took 2 home with her. It keeps coming like rain but we are getting none so far. 15-4-: I hoed pines and cut a bit of wood during the morning. Afternoon I put Bob to the little cart and brought home 5 loads of wood for the house. I went to the C.E. meeting there wasnt many there but was a nice little time. 16-4-: I went on hoeing pines an awful wind has come up. After tea I printed about 12 photos. Arthur came round and had a yarn. It is an awful time my sweet potatoes are struck although they are very young. 17-4-: Finished hoeing the row of pines and after dinner went up to the township and took a couple of photos, they came out very well. Although I had a hard time on account of the awful wind blowing. 18-4-: Went to Charleys for milk. Also went to church where Bro Earl expounded the Gospel for the first time, he is going in for Officer ship. 19-4-: Got up about 6 and lighted the fire. Hoed a row of pines and started another. After supper I printed a few post cards. I got on very well with the printing except with the wedding cake. The oval mask being a nuisance to fit in position. 20-4-: I met Eddie at the corner after breakfast, I hoed pines as usual. After supper I printed some photos. 21-4-: Lighted the fire and got a few sweet potatoes for the house, hoed pines cut a bit of firewood, took Mothers portrait and looked after old Bob. It came up a bit like rain this afternoon I don t know whether we are going to get any of the much needed wet or not. Went and heard E. W. Archer on Politics very good address. 22-4-: Did a fair bit of hoeing and cut out a door for the Press to put the C.E. books in. Went to the meeting and saw Mrs Cavil about her photos, she was taking 4 until I explained then she made it 12. 23-4-: I hoed a row of pines and then got on my bike and went to the city and ordered some timber to come out to Gracemere. Bought photo stuff came home and hoed more pines, after tea printed photos. 24-4-: Lit the fire and finished washing the photos I printed last night. Shot a brown snake under the house. Arthur came over some of my land with the divining rod he reckoned to strike water at 2 or 3 places. 25-4-: Went to church and heard Rev Walker Presbyterian hold forth. 26-4-: Did some hoeing and other bits of jobs. Picked a few tomatoes. Started to knock my dark room out of time and did a bit to one I am making upstairs. 27-4-: Same old thing. Met Eddie at the corner. Did a little towards the new dark room. 28-4-: Hoed a bit amongst the pines and I sawed a small lot of wood up. 29-4-: Hoed pines and cut wood, also fixed the new dark room a little more. Almost every evening this and last week I have been doing photos. 30-4-: I almost finished the dark room and finished the press for the C.E.Society. Went down and got a bit of maize. 1-5--: Went down and got Charleys dray and carted some timber from the station. Prior to this I met Eddie with picnic photos. 2-5--: Went to church and heard Mr Butcher discourse. 3-5--: Knocked out the old dark room and started laying the floor of the dining room. 4-5--: Went on with the dining room. Charley & Ernie have both been to the city on business connected with the purchase of land near the weir. 5-5--: Last night a fine drop of rain fell upon the land and put some of the much-needed liquid in the tanks. 6-5--: Still working at the dining room. The weather is cooling off quite a bit after the storm. 7-5--: Worked at the room all the morning. Knocked off about 2 oclock and got ready and went to town. Paid Steeds for the timber and bought some photo material. After tea I printed but I think the developer is too crook for good results. 8-5--: Worked at the dining room I worked pretty well finished it too. Shot a fowl for tomorrows dinner. Had to sneak on my stomach for about 150 yards to get a point of vantage. Printed photos after supper. 9-5--: Lily, Beryl and I went to service and listened to Rev Cockett he was very good he has got rather thin. 10-5-: Lighted the fire and wheeled the stuff away from under the steps also picked a few pines. Also rode the bike to town and did a little business before tea. Rain has made the road much better for cycling. 11-5-: Hoed amongst the pines. After tea printed some photos of the picnic. 12-5-: Hoed pines. The weather is awfully windy and it seems likely that we are in for a drop of rain. 13-5-: The morning opened up rather drizzly, but about 2 oclock afternoon it brightened up and old sol came out and had a look at us again. I cut out a substitute for a Scotia and comm enced going around the dining room with it stopping a bit of light. 14-5-: Hoed 2 rows of pines and cut out and put up the rest of the Scotia in the dining room before breakfast. I met Eddie with stuff. The weather is muggy but rain hangs off in a rather shy manner. 15-5-: Hoed pines, cut wood for Lily, dug a few sweet spuds. Belgian Carnival was held in the city today. There was a splendid procession, Mother, Laura and Eddie went in. 16-5-: Service was conducted up at the Chapel by Dinning. Tom had dinner with us and we went up together. Went over to Newmans after. 17-5-: Hoed 2 rows of pines and picked rosellas for Lily to make jam. Went up to the Political meeting and had a very good time 10.30 when the meeting was finished. Peter Hansen made a fool of himself as usual. 18-5-: Hoed pines cut wood for home use went down and shot a fine buck wallaby left it at the farm. 19-5-: Hoed pines and other jobs. 20-5-: Started making trenches for pines. They tell me there has been frost, but I have seen no sign of it up this way. 21-5-: Finished making trenches and commenced to bank pines. After tea I took 12 pines to Burns corner for Eddie to sell tomorrow. 22-5-: Got up early and met Eddie also banked 4 rows of pines, dug a few sweet spuds cut wood. Tom and I went and got 6 birds for tomorrow. 23-5-: Went to town and saw the figures regarding the election. Labour has got it very strong. 24-5-: Banked pines. Afternoon went to town to see about a lathe that was advertised in the Bulletin but did no good. Ernie came up to see me. 25-5-: Banked pines and cut wood. Annual Church meeting held Morrell made a mess up going crook over Schirmer being on the committee. 26-5-: Baby Bunting very cross to day. Banked pines also went down and fixed Charleys bike. 27-5-: Took a few pines to town etc. They sold fairly well. I spent a fairly long time gossiping and got home rather late in the day. 28-5-: Banked pines and started putting windows in the new room down stairs. 29-5-: Finished putting the windows in and took photos of Beryl they came out stainy. One is a little too small and the other her eyes seem to be dim. She must have blinks. 30-5-: I did not go to church. Daisy brought the children up and I took a couple of photos of them. 31-5-: I went on banking pines also burnt some grass and rubbish along the back near the gate. 1-6--: Banked and hoed pines and burnt grass cut wood and fixed up a press for Lily to put the baby clothes in down stairs. After tea I printed post cards. This morning I took 2 more photos of Beryl. I also shot a plain turkey. Shot a duck and coot with 1 shot. 2-6--: Hoed pines along by the rose trees. Picked Rosellas and a few tomatoes. Cleared the shed up a bit, dug a few sweet spuds for out own use. Daisy came up and got 12 post cards of her youngsters. I have not felt any too well during the last few days, having a giddy headache. 3-6--: I went to town on my bike with Cunninghams, Rosellas and pines. The rest of the day was spent doing various jobs about the place. Printed photos after tea. 4-6--: Pruned the roses. I banked 4 rows of pines and picked a few also. 5-6--: I took pines along for Eddie and whilst waiting for him I shot 2 fine ducks 1 black and 1 other kind. I shot them with 1 shot but had to have another at the black to settle it. Had to swim in for the ducks. 6-6--: Tom and I went through Port Curtis Road and round by the old Common account had dinner in town. Afternoon went over and had a look round Nerimba farms. 7-6--: I got up early and went down to the lagoon and shot 2 coots. After breakfast took pines down for Arthur Huff. Dug with the pick between the pines the rest of the day. Sent 12 pines to Huffs. 8-6--: Met Eddie with pines. Digging around the place a chap from the city came and got 2 dozen pines. 9-6--: Dug between the pines also, nearly made a commode chair for the young un. 10-6-: Went to the top of the hill and started clearing a bit, made a fair start. Gent in a motor called and got 1 dozen pines. 11-6-: Worked at the top of the hill. 12-6-: Jumped out of bed at 5 and went down to the lagoon and shot a coot. Took some pines for Eddie, I also had some tomatoes but whilst I was busy shooting a cow came and broke my basket and spoilt the tomatoes. Worked at top of hill. Annie Emery sent money for photos. 13-6-: Went to have a look at Ted got some books to read from them stayed at home. The rest of the day. 14-6-: Worked at the top of the hill till 10 and at 11 Laura came and told me Charleys shed was a fire I spent rest of the day down there. 15-6-: Worked at the top of the hill. 16-6-: Worked at the top of the hill. 17-6-: Worked a bit at the top of the hill and also cleared a bit down lower down. 18-6-: Went to Frasers Sale and bought a lathe and sundry lots of things. 19-6-: Fixed up things about the shed and went down to the lagoon to try and get a duck but it didnt come off. I never had a shot. 20-6-: Went to Mt. Morgan and brought home some much needed articles of clothing. 21-6-: Knocked about the town with Tom buying things for his selection. 22-6-: Put in the day trying to fix the lathe. 23-6-: Got up early and went and shot a coot and pigmy goose. 24-6-: Sharpened tools etc. 25-6-: Fencing for Arthur. 26-6-: Fencing for A.M.Johnson. Tom Treblecoe and a small boy and myself went and got the boat out of the chows garden and also shot 2 possums. 27-6-: Stayed at home all day. 28-6-: Ted the lad and I put in the morning at the fence. In the afternoon we went to Charleys and started to pull down the old house at the dairy. 29-6-: Spent the day pulling down the house. 30-6-: Spent another day at the old house, finished the pulling down part of the business 1-7--: Went down and got Victor (horse) and the dray and got 2 loads timber from the old house had a late dinner and then sharpened my saw and started work on the verandah of Mothers house. Got a bag of small potatoes from the chows. After tea brought accounts between A.M.J. and myself to date. 2-7--: Worked at the verandah. 3-7--: Worked at verandah till 4 oclock. 4-7--: Spent a nice quiet day at home. Took the family to the hilltop. 5-7--: Worked at the verandah. Got a bit more timber from the dairy. The days are very warm just now but it gets rather cold in the night. 6-7--: Worked at verandah. My right knee went crook on me to day. 7-7--: Worked at verandah. 8-7--: Town with pines. Had a long day and went all the time without drink or bite. My knee was very crook to get about with. 9-7--: Put the day in working at the verandah. 10-7-: Worked at verandah all the morning and fixed the gangway at the back of the house, and fixed up a hand saw and gathered pines, sawed wood etc afternoon. 11-7-: Spent a quiet time at home, my knee being too crook for knocking about too much. 12-7-: I got the verandah rails fixed, put another block under the verandah and a corner stud for the room, and gathered between 2 and 3 dozen pines and carried a bag of pines in that Lily had gathered. 13-7-: Got up and met Eddie with pines. Called and got the galvanised iron and ridge capping. Worked the rest of the day at the verandah. 14-7-: Fixed up the roof of the verandah. 15-7-: Took a load of pipes to Burns & Twiggs for Arthur and brought out timber with me. Rest of day worked at job round the hill. 16-7-: Put up a wall and bunged the holes up in the roof also put a window in but did not quite finish it. 17-7-: Worked morning at the job round the hill. After dinner spent a bit of time over the lathe and also mended a brace. 18-7-: Went to church. Rev Walker. 19-7-: Pruned grapes on Cecils place. Afternoon I started to put a sort of wall up on my pine cart shed. Also melted some lead down cleaned it and made some flat sheets out of it. 20-7-: Fixed up the roof of Mothers house. Took me nearly all the morning. Next to old Mrs Barnes owes me 1/- for pines the last time I was round there. 21-7-: Knocked out the partitions and put the outer wall up also made and hung the door. Greased the cart and had a shave ready to go with the pines tomorrow. 22-7-: Ted and I went to town with pines. Had a rather hard day. I sold 13 dozen pines for 13/ -. 23-7-: Worked at the pine cart shed. Ted worked for me half a day wheeling filling into the shed. 24-7-: Fixed up things round the hill, cased 4 1/2 dozen pines for Arthur helped Tom to load a load of spuds. 25-7-: Helped with horses and also to cut chaff with Charlie and Arthur Huff. 26-7-: Worked at the fowl run. Spent the evening at Morrells. Two Misses Watson were there and we played Ludo etc. Got home before 11 oclock. 27-7-: Picked 22 dozen pines and did a little more to the fowl run. Ted Read helped me in the afternoon and we got the run fixed and Lily chased the hens in. I don t know how long it will be before they find a way of getting out. 28-7-: Went in with a load of pines. Got on fairly well. 29-7-: Commenced a well; after dinner I rode the bike to town and bought a couple of pick handles. Also saw Mrs Abdullah who ordered 12 pines for next Tuesday. 30-7-: Got on fairly well with the well. 31-7-: Did a bit more to the well. After dinner I did a little towards fixing a windlass. 1-8--: Went down to the farm and had tea with Ted and his family. 2-8--: Picked 50 dozen pines. After dinner Ted and I picked 40 lbs of peas. After that we came home and loaded the pines ready for the early start tomorrow. 3-8--: Ted Read and I went in with the pines we had a fair day and did very well considering the times are so bad in every way. 4-8--: Fixed a windlass on my well and cased pines and sent to the station for Arthur. Also took 2 dozen to the dairy for Kong Sing. 5-8--: Went to Burns and Twiggs with pipe to be cut and flanged for Arthurs pump it was a failure as when we tried to put it under the pump it was too long and has to go in and have a bit more cut off it. 6-8--: Spent the day fixing up the go-cart for the daughter and started to make a potato masher for mother. Before I could a start at that I had to fix up the lathe. Eddie paid me £1 he only owes me 13 bundles of carrots. 7-8--: Turned 2 potato mashers and cut a bit of wood. Also picked 3 dozen pines and sold to a party from the city. 8-8--: Went to Newmans and got a piece of salt pork. Lily and I were round at mothers for dinner. 9-8--: Planted 2 rows of tomato plants round the hill and Ted watered and helped me to shade them. Afternoon we worked at my well and got a nice lot of stone and stuff out. 10-8-: Ted took 45 drums of stuff out of the well, during the forenoon. Afternoon I was fixing things up for timbering. During spare time I am turning the wife a rolling pin. 11-8-: Gathered 42 dozen pines and went down to Arthurs pea patch and I picked 70 lb and Ted 60 lbs of peas. 12-8-: Got a go on at 5.30 and was going till 6 in the evening. Had a big day with pines etc. 13-8-: Ted Read is not much good at selling somehow. 14-8-: Poked about the place doing various jobs. 15-8-: Stayed at home and had a quiet time. 16-8-: Gathered pines and picked peas. Ted was working with me all day. 17-8-: Ted and I went to the city with pines etc. 18-8-: Ted and I put in a good at the well, we got up 104 drums of stuff. 19-8-: Worked at the well all day. Put a couple of shots in but did not get out nearly as much as yesterday. 20-8-: I put a new roller in the windlass. In the afternoon Ted and I got up 31 drums of material. 21-8-: Pointed some gads and a pick also made 4 tools for lathe, after which I went to the city and banked a bit of cash. Took photos of Teds children. 22-8-: Was rather like rain. I stayed around at home, reading and lazing. 23-8-: During the morning we worked at the well. Afternoon Ted and Laura picked peas 24-8-: Morning we worked at the well and afternoon we both went and cut wood and as it came on to rain, we came home and put out 4 rows of tomato plants. Constable Harris killed on bridge between 7 and 8 evening. . 25-8-: We shaded and watered tomatoes and carted some of the wood we cut yesterday. Afternoon we worked at the well till 4 oclock when Ted went round and cut wood for the house. 26-8-: Ted and I got out 24 drums of stuff out of the well. Afternoon Laura and him went down to pick peas I felt very crook. 27-8-: I fixed my lathe so that it runs much better and put a hole down in the well before dinner. After dinner I took a ride to town on the bike and sold it to Denham Bros. Also bought 2 tins of condensed milk and a box of plates and came home. 28-8-: I sharpened 2 knives for Laura and put 2 seats in chairs for Lily, cut wood for house. Took photos of Charlie and Huffs lad leading cane and also Beryl in her gocart they came out very well. 29-8-: Lazed about the various places. Mother in law was over. Annie Emery was taking the service up at the church. I didnt go. 30-8-: Ted and I got up 30 drums of stuff from the well. After dinner he and Laura went and picked peas. I gathered some pines and also cleared a few pear plants. 31-8-: We got 40 drums out of the well and went down burned a cow and got a bit of wood for us as well. Sent some pines to Clermont 1-9--: Got 50 drums of material out of the well and have now got to a depth of about 20 feet. The stuff comes out much better than has been the case lately. 2-9--: Put in a good day at the well, we got up over 60 drums of material, we are now down well over 21 feet and it is getting rather damp. 3-9--: Cut a bit of wood etc during the morning and afternoon I got some more rock out of the well with the help of Ted. 4-9--: Worked at the well during the morning. Sharpened the gads and pick and other little jobs in the afternoon also went and had a shot at a turkey but didnt get it. The well is now down to 23 ft. 5-9--: Went over and got a piece of bacon from Eddie. Stayed home the rest of the day. Ted has worked with me at the well 9 days to the present. 6-9--: Got a good shot in the well after which we got 15 drums of stuff up making a total of 20 for the half day. Took some snapshots down at Arthurs place. 1 of the hill and the rest of the spray system. Wrote to Cecil but have to print a photo before I post it. 7-9--: Ted helped me with the well. We got 17 more drums of stuff out put another 2 1/2 plugs in over a foot and let her go with a bang. I went down and had a look for a turkey b ut they seem to have gone. After tea I printed a few photos some of them are not much chop. 8-9--: We worked at the well all day. 9-9--: Put in one more day at the well also had a bush fire on the hill. Sent letter to the post for Cecil. Photo of Beryl and also view of hill enclosed. 10-9-: Put in another day at the big hole in the ground. We are down to a depth of 26 feet. After tea I rode by bike to the city and bought some plates etc. 11-9-: Ted and I went and got a load of wood for mother. 12-9-: Went and heard Rev Walker. George Armstrong was at church he is Corporal of Infantry. 13-9-: Worked at the well Ted put another hole in. Value my place unimproved £150. Improved £500. 14-9-: I got 16 drums of stuff out and then Ted had to go and help cut chaff the rest of the day I cleared a bit of pear. 15-9-: Worked at well. I sent up 17 and Ted 3 drums before dinner. Got up 20 drums afternoon. 16-9-: Whole day at well and got up 40 drums of stone. About 5 oclock a storm came along and knocked us off. 17-9-: Planted 4 rows of tomatoes on Cecils place and 3 rows on mine. Also mixed pear poison and injected some of it in several of the tree pear, but a couple of storms put stop on that and I put together 2 picture frames. 18-9-: I bored holes in pear with 1 inch bit and put poison in, also cut wood and fixed up a sawhorse round the hill. Went out after tea and shot 4 possums with 5 shots. Came home very tired. 19-9-: Awful wind blowing, took till after 9 to fix the possums up. 20-9-: Worked at well all day. Went out after tea and shot 5 possums and 2 bears. 21-9-: Worked at well during the fore noon and afternoon I stayed in the house. Ted cleared pear round the hill. 22-9-: I cleared a bit of pear, also chopped down several trees both large and otherwise. Tried to fix Arthurs injector, it worked all right for a while and I injected a nice lot of pear but it began to leak so bad that I had to give it best. 23-9-: I cleared pear. After dinner Ted helped me. 24-9-: Ted and I cleared pear all day. 25-9-: Ted and I cleared pear until nearly 11 oclock. In the afternoon Lily and I went to the farm and took some photos. During development the films got little cracks all over. I dont know how it will affect the print. 26-9-: Eddie and I spent the day at Frechmans Creek. Tom and Daisy are looking fairly well and the children also. They have done a lot of work on the place. 27-9-: Ted and I cleared pear all day. 28-9-: Another day at the pear, both of us. 29-9-: Another day at the pear. 30-9-: Ted Read and I carried on with the pear clearing. We are getting along very well with it and would if we kept on soon have all on my place dug out and sprayed after which I expect it would burn fairly well. 1-10-: We put in another day at the pear. 2-10-: Ted worked round on the other place. I burned off the grass on Cecils place and had a rather warm time. 3-10-: I went to church. A.D.Shaw was preacher and had assisting him several of the members of his Bible Class. 4-10-: I went to the city for Arsenic etc. After I got home I helped Ted to weed the tomatoes. 5-10-: Worked with Ted all day. We eradicated pear and also went down to the dairy and burned the carcass of one of his cows. 6-10-: Put in another day at pear on Cecils place. 7-10-: Ted and I banged down more pear round at the fr ont. I seem to have got myself fairly well fixed up with prickles out of them too. Ted says he may be able to fix himself up a pair of tin leggings and whilst I have cut the tops off a pair of Cecils old top boots and shove my legs through them. Attended C. E. 8-10-: Cleared pear on Cecils place. 9-10-: Clearing pear on Cecils place till dinner. Afternoon I poked around my own place. 10-10: Went down and pumped water at the dairy, spent most of the day after that down with Ted. 11-10: Worked at the well. I sent up 6 drums and then put a shot in, after the shot Ted went down and sent up 4 drums, but the smell made his head ache, so we gave it best and banked a couple of rows of pines. I have suffered awful from windy spasms all day. 12-10: Got 41 drums of stuff out of the well. 13-10: Got 32 drums up. 14-10: I sent up 14 drums of stuff and then we put a shot in, after which I sent up 30 more drums. I got 16 drums of stuff after the shot without any digging. 15-10: Worked at the well all day and got on fairly well. 16-10: Worked at the well during the morning, and afternoon I got another shot put in and after that I went for a stroll through the scrub and across to the farm and had a look at Ted, Tom and Daisy. 17-10: I went over to Newmans and Dad Newman, Tom and I went over to the pumping station and had a look at the bores they have got in. 18-10: Worked at the well during the morning. Afternoon we put the posts in of a little fence we are erecting round the front. 19-10: Practically finished the fence. Ted Read and I went over to Newmans and got the wire mattress and other things, We were delayed a long time over there on account of rain falling heavily and long. Barry Limpus came this morning. 20-10: The creek came down during last night my well has now over 30 feet of water in it so further work at it will be stopped for some time. Ernest Johnson came round and made a to do about blocking every one from coming through. Laura and Ted sowed seed and put out plants. 21-10: Ted helped me to plant suckers on top of the hill. We put in 5 more rows. 22-10: Ted and I continued planting pines on my place. We put in 8 rows above the house. 23-10: We put the morning in planting suckers on Cecils place. Afternoon I did little after tea went up to the station and saw Miss Limpus off. 24-10: Went to church and heard Cap. Millar say things. 25-10: I put in half a day at Cecils place. Ted worked there all day the other part of the time I banked pines up the top end of my place. 26-10: During the fore part of the day I banked pines. Afternoon I planted pines for Cecil. 27-10: Ted and I planted pines where I had Rosellas last year. We put in 215 but it will take hundreds yet to finish the piece. Afternoon we helped pick spuds for Arthur. 28-10: I picked 200 suckers and hoed round mango trees and put rubbish round other fruit trees. Afternoon I went down and picked potatoes for Arthur. 29-10: Ted and I worked at pine planting at the top end of my place. We got on all right and have now got 6 rows in and several other ones ready for planting. 30-10: Ted and I planted more pines. Afternoon he was working round the hill. 31-10: Stayed at home all day. I felt rather crook. 1-11-: Picked potatoes for Arthur. We got in a good mornings work but after dinner a storm came up which knocked us off early. However we did not get any rain to speak of. 2-11-: Picked spuds during the fore part of the day. Afternoon I got wood for the house and hoed along a row of pines. I also worked at trying to make round about the well. So that the water runs elsewhere than down the well. 3-11-: I did a few hours hoeing. 4-11-: Did more hoeing. 5-11-: Still going on with the hoe and knocking weeds out right and left. The weather is awfully hot. 6-11-: Met Eddie with pines and finished a row of pines I started yesterday. About 10 I went and tried to get a shot at wild fowl but couldnt manage it. 7-11-: I went to church Rev Martin from Archer Street was in the pulpit. 8-11-: I planted a row of suckers and also gathered a few pines after which I went on with the hoeing. 9-11-: Went to the corner with pines. The rest of the day I hoed pines finished the knob for the bedstead. 10-11: I hoed pines, finished the lot below the passion fruit. 11-11: Went to the city. Took A.E.Newmans. Mother, Laura and my own passbook to be examined, also bought a cross cut saw 7/-. In the evening I started hoeing between another lot of pines. 12-11: Hoeing pines during the early part of the morning, lying about during the heat of the day and hoeing again in the evening. 13-11: Hoeing etc. Heat is awful over 100 in the shade. 14-11: Stayed at home. 15-11: Hoeing pines. 16-11: Hoeing pines 17-11: Hoeing. 18-11: Hoed pines. 19-11: Hoed pines. 20-11: Hoed a row of pines and also had a go at the pear. Lily, Mother in law, Beryl and I went up to the Patriotic concert got home about 12. 21-11: Went to church. Rev Walker. 22-11: Recommenced hoeing pines. The weather has taken another turn to heat. 23-11: Still hoeing. 24-11: Weeding cobbler pegs from among the pines. 25-11: Hoed amongst pines. Lily and I went to C.E. Wilfred Bunnage was there and look quite fine in his nice new uniform. Port Curtis Road C.E. was in attendance and took the meeting, which went off quite well. After the meeting a splendid cup of tea with cake was indulged in. 26-11: It rained very early this morning about 2 oclock. It seems as though it could be a wet day but not much rain fell. Although it made it to look too wet for hoeing it was not enough for planting. I fixed a table on a chair of Beryls. 27-11: It was raining off and on through the day. I sowed a row of pumpkins and 2 packets of tomato seed. Started pulling out weeds but rain made me knock off rather sooner than I intended. 28-11: Went to church. Ensign Taylor was in the pulpit. 29-11: Got a bag of Lucerne cha ff from A.M. I pulled up some weeds and then I went to see about getting Bob, and also about getting chaff for him. After dinner I fixed up the disc harrow and started discing. I got a nice start when I had to cease on account of a storm coming up. Rain i s going to put us back with the weeds and planting. 30-11: I ploughed and harrowed a piece of ground and planted a few sweet spud cuttings. The weather seems to have taken a turn for fine. The creek came down again although there is not so much water as las t time it is very welcome. I also planted 2 more rows of pines. 1-12-: I ploughed between the new rows of pines and then carried on the discing of the piece of land that Bill Beals broke up. I also had to go to Arthurs for chaff and groceries. This evenin g a great wind has sprung up it looks a bit like rain again. Bob is in good condition and works well. Couch grass and cobbler pegs are a couple of my great worries. They grow to perfection on this place. 2-12-: I ploughed a piece of ground below the banana patch and also ploughed between the pines below the passion fruit. I also filled up a few places where pines had died out. The flies are an awful pest. Yesterday I got a bag of chaff a bag of cracked maize and a bag of oil cake for Bob he is working sple ndidly. 3-12-: Working amongst the pines. Bob did nothing but eat all day. 4-12-: Planted sunflower seed in the pines. Bob had another day off. I put in a rather strenuous day at one thing and another. 5-12-: Stayed at home except that I went down for the milk and Tom and I took the butter down to the farm. 6-12-: I ploughed ground and pulled suckers for A. Freeman. 7-12-: Went on with the ploughing and pulled more suckers. I finished the piece of ground and also run the harrows over it. 8-12-: Pulled 350 suckers, which brought the total to 1000. Ted Read carried them down and stacked them near the shed. I had no sleep last night and feel very crook to day in consequence. 9-12-: Had a very bad night again, one of Dolans lorries came out and I helped the man to load I am not well enough to work and am splendid the day lying about. I have a splitting headache and my nerves are all out of order. 10-12: Was crook did no work. 11-12: Planted cowpea on the land I have ploughed. 12-12: Knocked about at home. 13-12: Went to the dentist and got a couple of teeth out. Got a letter from H. Oppermann after a silence of years. 14-12: Felt too bad to work. 15-12: I dug couch grass out of a piece planted with pines and started picking suckers to put a few more rows in. 16-12: I went on getting suckers and run out rows with the plow ready to put them in. 17-12: Planting suckers all day. 18-12: Finished planting the suckers and snigged logs down the hill for the house fire. 19-12: Had a quiet day at home. 20-12: Hoed pines above the house. 21-12: Still hoeing pines. 22-12: Pulled a few dozen pines and hoed amongst the pines. I also put in 1 1/2 hours in making a rock away for my daughter. Also sent a case of pines to E.W. Moller. 23-12: Tom and I went around Depot Hill with our first load of pines this season we had nearly 30 dozen and 4 dozen melons to sell for Arthur, they were a rather inferior lot and I am afraid there will be some growling over them. 24-12: I took the wheels off my cart and took them to Nelson to be cut and strut. Afternoon I cut wood to last over Xmas also cut out a horses head in wood to fix on the front of the rockaway I made for Beryl. 25-12: I got my hair cut and poked around the day. The weather is very dry again and we expected it would be raining before this. Arthur and his family are roughing it down on the farm for Xmas. 26-12: Had Micky in the sulky and took the wife and family to church, there were over 40 present and 22 of them bore the name of Johnson. 27-12: Knocked about at home doing various things, that did not turn out much chop. 28-12: Gathered pines and poked around the house as it was raining pretty well all the time. 29-12: Planted sweet spuds and went to the city for my wheels after I came back I fixed up things for tomorrow. 30-12: Ted and I went in with pines had a fairly long day and did not get a very good price on an average only just over 2/ 1 per dozen. 31-12: I worked about the garden. No quantity of rain seems to come along and we are in dire need of some | |
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