Farmers often made a daily diary entry about the activities of the day and would refer back to them for reference and be able to review records of past seasons and see how they compare with the present one. Some entries were meager and spasmodic but concise and the handwriting written over a hundred years ago may have been easy to read by a contemporary but now days can be difficult to read and decipher and left a lot to be desired specially proper names. These faming diaries rarely mentioned a woman's name and were usually kept up by the farmer. Sometimes both husband and wife kept a diary; beautiful suede covered - a lady's diary. This encourages their children to keep a diary as teenagers. Very few farm diaries will be of any interest to anyone not connected to the family and who does not know the district. Few are in public archives. Some are held by the family on the station or farm and packed away in a cardboard box in the sleep out, attic or in a cupboard in laundry room but the majority have probably been discarded by a tidy housewife. Historians still go to the archives in the small service towns to read the explicit diaries about farm life kept by the station manager some with lists of farm hands, shearers, sheep tallies, visitors, weather, about the crop rotation if they were cropping farmers, what they planted where, what paddock and if there was a significant ratio of seed to fertilizer, seed used, crop obtained, price realised, and so on. A cow cocky might keep a note of what they did with the cows and which one went to the bull or if it was artificially inseminated, at what day and what month, labour employed, etc. A young farm hand might have kept a diary so when he has a place of his own could use it as a reference book. Farmers were set in their ways. They stuck to the same stock and station firm as their father and stuck to the same publisher for the diary. For Christmas a child might have given his father a Whitcomb and Toombs diary year after year, the cost of a diary being trifling and kept in the top draw in the sideboard or in the writing desk in the living room. Farmers sometimes kept a record of the rainfall in inches maybe in the back of the diary, and total monthly and yearly, the rain gauge being in the centre of the lawn. To keep a diary and rainfall is merely a matter of habit.
As far as I am aware they kept all their diaries.
Sherwood Downs
1903 - Aug. 28th 10" [snow]
1903 - Sept. 3rd: last night below 20 degrees [-6C] . 34th [night below 20F]
1919 - Dec. 18th Total shorn 480
1920 - April 25th. Aeroplane
1950 - Top dressing, the plane taking off from Glenshiel
1956 - March 10th. Popeye Lucus from
Queenstown in his fixed wing plane dropped fencing material on the snowline
boundary fence between Leslie Downs and Ribbonwood
1957 - Oct. 4th 2" snow
1958 - Dec 1st. Rabbit board arrived for their sixth inspection
1958 - Dec. 4th Bulldozer on Top Block. Earmarking calves. Steers 36. Heifers
58. Total 74.
1962 -
December 15th. Dropping fencing material on the snowline boundary fence between
Leslie Downs and Ribbonwood, this done by helicopter
1967 - May 3rd Rams crutching. Power off for 4 hours. Started up old Motor.
1967 - May 4th Finished crutching ewes lambs. Rams turned out.
1967 - Nov16th Thursday School out early. Snowing about 12 o'clock. Over 1 foot
at 5 o'clock. 7.30 pm. 25 inches. Still snowing hard.
1967 - Nov 17th Friday SNOW On morning just over 3ft 11 inches. Light snow,
raining all day, but started off heavy again.
1967 - Nov 18th Saturday plus 4½" overnight. Snowing
lightly. Packed down hard to 31 inches.
1967 - Nov. 19th Sunday Bulldozers arrived. Two. One on the swamp. One on the
paddock.
1967 - Nov. 20th Tuesday Working with stock. Two men helping.
1967 - Nov. 22nd Wednesday. Still plenty of snow about. 3 extra men helped all
day. Snow ploughing. Had hole dug for burying stock. 14 cows.
1967 - Nov. 23rd Thursday. Collected up dead sheep 21 ewes and a few lambs. North
West wind. Water everywhere. About 10 inches of snow went away.
1967 - Nov. 25th Saturday. Clearing up branches. Last cow into hole. 15 cows dead, 28 sheep plus
lambs? Wool fashion show in Fairlie.
1967 - Nov. 26th Sunday. Clearing up branches. Walker vet arrived to look at bull,
broken back leg. Tapp (Henry Tapp from Timaru), Timblick (from Geraldine),
Swann's (neighbours) all arrived.
1967 - Nov 27 Monday Odd jobs. Disaster meeting in Fairlie. Approach of North
River Bridge washed out. Arthur Williams car with 6 in it crashed over the gap.
Left car on Ashwick side. Home 12.30 am. North River Bridge approach washed out
¼ hour before arriving at Bridge.
1967 - Nov. 29. Wednesday. To Waimate for Bull.
1967 - Nov. 30. North River Bridge reopened. Carting shingle for track down to
shed. Sat Hen.
1973 Aug. 5th Sunday. Started to SNOW
1973 Aug. 6th 4 feet snow. No power. No telephone
1973 - Aug. 7th. Isolated. CR. Couldn't see the fence posts. 3 feet deep at back door.
Everything so quite. Blinding glare. Still no power.
1973 - Aug. 9th. CR. Bright and sunny. An Army Iroquois helicopter arrived at 10:30
with extra men, these machines being fitted with holding nets. Eleven small
bales of hay fed out to pockets of cattle at a time on Fox's Peak and the neighbouring properties.
1973 Aug. 9th Thursday. H.B. First dozer. Bulldozer arrived from Bob Swann with
about 20 men to get ewes out.
1973 Aug. 10th Friday. Catchment Board Dozer clearing Swedes and turnips.
1973 Aug. 11th Saturday Bruce Hayman from Tasman Downs with 4 wheel tractor and
snow plough. Son up in helicopter looking for cattle.
1973 Aug. 12th Sunday. Hamilton and Cartwright dozer on swedes. Power on.
1973 Aug. 13th Monday. Rodger Maham from Geraldine dozing. Helicopter dropping
hay to cattle.
1973 Aug. 15th Wednesday. Hoggets to feed at Orton, T.A. Middleton. 489 lambs.
1973 Aug. 16th Thursday. Shearing dead sheep etc.
1973 Aug 26th Sunday Sheep Work. Timblick from Geraldine arrived. A trip up the
Clayton road.
Dad kept pocket diaries during WWII and continued keeping an annual diary on the farm. He got one annually for Christmas. OB, April 2015
The dear old farm! Its every rod Is fraught with memories sweet to me; Each spot recalls some bygone hour Of joyous childhood, gay and free. Here Nature seems to speak herself, In hill, and stream and sunny field. In them I find companionship The crowded city cannot yield. |
But let the farmer know his worth, Lofty and bold his mien should be, His will full strong, and clear his mind, His duty and opinions free. Thus careful thought and industry Work wonders with the fertile sod, His labours high approval win From man, from conscience and from God, Annie Taylor, in Farm Journal |
Where were the diaries in 2015?
The Christchurch City Library has the Killinchy Farm diary online. 1897 - 1916.
The Geraldine Museum has only two diaries. Indexed by farmer. There is no demand for the diaries and the collection is not growing. The Macdonald (Orari Estate) 1858-63 their oldest diary, written in a real diary book, varied as to days per page, no drawings and the handwriting is quite difficult to read. The Wooding diaries 1938 -1955 (4 books).
The Temuka Museum does not have any farmer’s diaries at all.
The
Fairlie Heritage Museum has:
Clayton Station (Hamilton) diaries – 38 in all.
Talbot diaries – 8 (covering dates between 1901 and 1915)
There are also 7 diaries and one Rabbiter’s Expenses book from
Stan Ennis who
worked for the Rabbit Board.
Jack Hutt 27 farm diaries in total for the period 1951 to 1979, but 1956 and
1978 are missing. Jack and Enid Hutt lived on a farm up Morris Rd, Sherwood
Downs’s, Fairlie and sold the property at auction 30th Nov. 1979. Diaries
donated Sept. 2019.
1971 11 Sept. Jack Hutt wrote Halfcast till about 8.30
am then rain for a while. A disastrous hurricane 100 - 150 MILE gale Wrecked the
trees. Turned truck over in hay - barn, but ewes and lambs not too bad. House
fill of silt from Ian Ross's paddock. Geo came over this PM
South Canterbury Museum, Timaru. April 2015.
Have diaries
from Aviemore Station, Blue Cliffs Station, Grampian Hills Station, Haldon
Station, Loudon - Sutherlands, Otaio Station (1868 -1917)
(have been transcribed up to 1903 in 2019, ongoing), Raincliff Station, and The
Waterfalls - Opihi. None of the diaries are currently on display, although
quotes have and continue to be extracted and used for specific exhibit purposes.
Additionally they have had a team (of two) transcribing the extensive Otaio
Station Diaries for several years now (since 2008) – a slow process – which will make them
far more accessible into the future. They also researched the people and places
mentioned in the diary, collecting contemporary newspaper stories, and
assembling additional research.
A summary of
their collection of diaries up to 2015.
They also have the book: Chudleigh, E R: Diary of E R
Chudleigh 1862-1921 (2003 reprint). His diary is a frank account of early
pioneering life in his search for a farm from Hokianga to Bluff. Despite
Chudleigh's extensive roaming around New Zealand, it was at
Mt Peel he felt at home Chapters two to ten provide coverage of farming work
(mustering, droving etc.) for Mt Peel Station, before he moved on to establish a
run on the Chathams. Emily and Tom Acland, Bully Hayes and Samuel Butler are
mentioned.
Two Raincliff Pioneers by Reynolds, David G. 284
pages, published 2006.
Largely comprised of a transcript of the letter book of Arthur Hope covering
September 1883 to March 1897 and reproductions of the diary of Edward Gould from
August 1866 to March 1893, set in context by background information collated by
the authors. The author’s introduction notes that the two men may have never
known one another. Gould, Edward James 1836-1893, Waterfalls Farm - Opihi,
Seadown, Richmond Run, Three Springs Station.
The Waimate Historical Society and
Museum archives have 79 diaries. In 2015 undertaking a project to
digitise and place their WWI collections
online.
Between 2005 to 2015 the museum has not
had any new farm diaries donated to them. Any donations would be assessed based
on their collection policy and what they have already. There is occasional
demand for access to the diaries. Generally only serious researchers as a lot of
time is involved. Peter Holland used more than 50 farm & station diaries
available to him including the Finlay farm diary transcript at the Waimate
museum and the Raincliff diaries at the South Canterbury and William Shirres'
letter book, Aviemore Station, Waitaki Valley, letter dated 21 July 1884, Hocken
Collections to write
his 2013 published
book – Home in the Howling Wilderness: Settlers and the Environment in
Southern New Zealand. The Waimate Museum collection as of May 2015:
- Three original farm diaries from John Finlay of Makikihi covering the years
1879, 1880, 1881. Light brown navy tape spine "Australian Rough diary" and a
'Letts's Australasian rough diary' cream cover with white tissue. The 1881 diary
has been transcribed, 92 typewritten pages.
- Dempsey Farm Diaries range from 1925 to 1997. 75 farm diaries from the Dempsey farm, January to December yearly diaries,
the first four created by J. Dempsey and the rest created by Miss Isobel Dempsey. Isobel
Marie Dempsey born 1922 is buried in Waimate, died 6 June 2008, aged 81.
- A large but incomplete run of ledgers relating to Te Waimate Station, they
were maintained by the Manchester and Goldsmith company.
- Kate Sheath's diaries, Albury (typed transcript) the hand written original is
in the South Canterbury Museum.
- a use found for old farm diaries -
turned into scrapbooks.
Waitaki District Archive shares the Athenaeum building with
the North Otago Museum in Thames Street, Oamaru
In March 2015 the archive held about 200 farm diaries. They are indexed by their
database by farmer and farm. The oldest dates from 1864. The collection is
growing, it is located in Oamaru. There is occasional demand to access the
diaries. The diaries do include sheep stations, primarily Kauru Hill station.
All their farm diaries are from North Otago.
Clayton Station diaries from 1877-1918 give the reader an idea of the owner's lifestyle, the Hamilton era, have been partly transcribed and the transcription can be found in Connie Rayne's book Sherwood Downs and Beyond starting from page 131. The entries include records of storms, shearing, tailing, tennis parties, visitors, house alternations, crops, Christmas etc.. In the back of one of the diaries in one case there were explicit descriptions and detailed drawings of 21 different varieties of gooseberries. One diary had details of the rose gardens and named every rose, with its colour and variety recorded; the same procedure was documented for the fruit trees. Another feature of the diary entries were each time their horses were taken to a blacksmith's shop, a drawing of a horseshoe would be included in that day's entry. The many photos of Clayton were taken by Dundas Hamilton and it was often recorded in the Clayton diaries that he was in his bedroom developing photographs taken during the that day. His brother George I. Hamilton sold Clayton in 1919.
Record Title: Clayton Station
Diaries of Clayton Station / by Hugh Hamilton
Display Dates: 1885, 1895
Quantity: 2 volume(s) (162, 264 pages)
Physical Description: Typescript (27 cm; red cloth, green cloth)
History: Clayton Station is situated in South Canterbury. It was bought by Hugh
Hamilton, a New South Wales squatter, in Jun 1881, and was held by the Hamilton
family until 1919 when Hugh's son George sold it. Early owners had been unlucky
in running Clayton. However the Hamilton's, with their background of experience
and money, were able to turn it into a success
Scope and Contents: The diaries describe the day-to-day events on the station
and the work of the men. They do not include much information about domestic or
social life
Hamilton, Hugh H S (Rev), fl 1840s-1895 (Contributor)
Institution: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
Mt. Peel Station. Acland Family Papers - A collaborative exhibition featuring the Acland family of South Canterbury, as seen through the archives of the Macmillan Brown Library, University of Canterbury and Archives, Christchurch, N.Z.
Record Title: Acland, John Barton Arundel, 1823-1904
Display Dates: 1823-1857
Quantity: 1 microfilm reel(s) (ca 180 pages) : Positive microfilm
Scope and Contents : Extracts from Acland's original diaries, from a journal
written by him from his diary as opportunity offered and sent to his family to
England; from letters to his father and sister, from letters from his partner D
G Tripp and various other documents, compiled by H T Acland. Describes interest
of Acland and Tripp in the Canterbury settlement, their journey to New Zealand
on the "Royal Stuart" 1854-1855, their travels in Canterbury, Acland's
"cadetship" at Malvern Hills Station (owned by H J Tancred), their exploration
of the Rangitata area and the establishment of Mount Peel Station 1856-1857.
General Notes: Donor/vendor - Lent for copying by Sir John Acland, Mount Peel,
Peel Forest, South Canterbury
Relationship Complexity - See also Micro-MS-Coll-20-2059 (Devon Record Office.
Acland papers, 1840-1902)
Originals location: Sir John Acland, Mount Peel, Peel Forest, South Canterbury
Institution: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
Mount Peel Station
Record of events occurring on Mount Peel Station
Display Dates : 1856-1861
Quantity : 1 volume(s) (121 leaves)
Physical Description : Typescript (26 cm; maroon linen)
Extracts from J B A Acland's diary, 26 Apr 1856-19 Jan
1857, and from C G Tripp's station diary, 20 Jan 1857-12 Feb 1861, detailing
work done on the station and the people they saw
Names : Mount Peel Station (Subject)
Acland, John Barton Arundel, 1823-1904 (Creator)
Tripp, Charles George, 1826-1897 (Contributor)
Institution : Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
The Raincliff Station diary from April 1868 to October 1871
has been published in The Raincliff Story by E.J. Parr & D.G. Reynolds
in 2000. The original diary is at the South Canterbury Museum and a
transcription is at the ATL, in Wellington. It is preferred to the Raincliff
Story instead of the original and an explanation is given when something is
not clear. Written in a hard cover exercise
book which is now in the South Canterbury Museum. It was filed to the last page
so was probably continued in another book -whereabouts unknown. It was written
by William Bebbington the station manager from March 1868 to the end of 1874 and
he never used a full stop or comma in the entire diary and capitals were used
erratically -Gardiner-Gardener -gardener were confusing but there was a man
named Gardiner who worked on Raincliff and must have been the gardener! The next
manager was Robert Mackay who started late December 1874. Harriet Brassell
remarried in 1878 to Robert Campbell from Carew.
William Bebbington b. in 1838 married Harriett Jane
Brasell
(1849-1938) at St. Mary's Timaru 31 July 1867 by the Rev. Geo. Foster. WM was a
manager at this time. Ref. Church register. They had six children. Children:
Frank Bebbington 1868-1946. Birth registered at Geraldine. Married Minnie
PATRICK in 1893. Buried at Ashburton. Sons were Reginald Alfred and Francis
Allan Bebbington of Winchmore.
Harry Bebbington 1869-1951
William Bebbington 1870-1903
Annie Bebbington 1872
Emma Bebbington 1874-1954 m. William Martin in 1895.
Fanny Bebbington 1875
Record Title : Bebbington, William, fl 1868-1871
Raincliff Station diary / transcribed by E J Parr
Display Dates : Apr 1868-Oct 1871, 1990
Quantity : 1 volume(s) Typescript
Names : Raincliff Station (Subject)
Parr, E J, fl 1990 (Contributor)
Bebbington, William, fl 1868-1871 (Creator)
General Notes : Donor/vendor - Donated by Mr P Howe, Director, South Canterbury
Museum, Timaru, Nov 1990
Institution : Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
The day to day history of Waitangi Station is recorded in a complete set of diaries (1887 - 2007) held by the Sutton family at the station.
Many diaries remain in private hands.
The Canterbury Museum in Christchurch holds a number of farm
and station diaries from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries including a few
South Canterbury diaries. In most cases the database will have both the writer’s
name and the location being written about. The listing that the earliest dates
from the 1852, although this may example may include details of shipboard life
for that year, rather than farming. We do not generally actively purchase this
kind of material for the collection, unless it has an especial significance to
Canterbury. However, we do receive donated material regularly, so the collection
grows passively and therefore slowly. We have researchers in March -April 2015
regularly accessing our manuscript material and in fact a researcher from the
University of Canterbury is researching women’s lives through farm and station
diaries at present.
ALSTON, Isabella
Diary of daily life on farm in Canterbury as a child/young adult.
Primary Prod Date 18 Jul 1876-24 Oct 1876
BOTTLE, Henry (Harry) Garmstonarry
Diary on board 'Himalaya' to Lyttelton 11 January 1879 - 15 April 1879; letters
to family in England regarding life in Mataura, Waimate, Oamaru as a farm
labourer 1879 - 1884.
Primary Prod Date 1879-1884
CARR, David
Diary on board 'Lancashire Witch'
to Lyttelton 27 June 1863 - 14 October 1863, and farm accounts for 1871.
Primary Prod Date 1863-1871
CUNNINGHAM, Mary nee Avery (1814-1907)
Diary while at Fernside Station, Canterbury.
Primary Prod Date 26 Jul 1861-24 May 1865
CURRY, Edward (1821-1902)
Diary while at Mt Torlesse Station, Canterbury.
Primary Prod Date 1861-1864
Primary Prod Date 11 Sep 1856-18 Apr 1857
FAIRLIE MUSEUM COLLECTION
Held at: Canterbury Museum.
Dates covered: 1881 - 1922
Extent: 36 volumes
Description: Farm diaries kept by Maurice O'Connor 1889-1922 (1919 not
included), 33 volumes;
cashbook 1885-1888; diary W J Binney 1921; letterbook Three Springs Station 1881
FOUR PEAKS STATION
Diary of station owned by L and S Walker, and C McPherson.
Primary Prod Date 1868-1875
HAY, M M and R A
Family history research on Hay family including transcripts of diaries by Harry
Morris Hay 1882-1883, Rose Hay 1882 (including on 'Canterbury' to Port
Chalmers), Charlotte Phillips 1883-1885 and transcript farm diary of John
Lochhead of Leeston 1875-1876.
Primary Prod Date 1875-1885
HAYTER, Francis (?-1891) (collection)
Farm diaries 1880-1883, 1889-1890 on Highfield Station, Canterbury X4096 1880
1890 2 reels ...
HOLDSWORTH, Robert Bingley (?-1923) (collection)
Diary as a farm worker on Haldon Station, Albury area for G Dennistoun 1 volume
Primary Prod Date 18 Mar 1877-18 Jan 1878
JOHNSTON, William (1809-1894)
Diary on board 'Mystery' to Lyttelton 1858; accounts of farm at Yaldhurst.
Primary Prod Date 01 Dec 1858-Jul 1860
MANNERING, Theophilus Samuel (1836-1910)
Reminiscences of life in New Zealand, Birch Hill Station, Fernside and Greta
Vale written 1905; diary of voyage on board 'Sydney' to Australia 31
July 1852-16 November 1852.
Primary Prod Date 1852-1905
MACDONALD, Angus (1822-1890)
Farm diary.
Primary Prod Date Circa 19th Century
MELHURISH. Papers of J. Melhuish. Shipboard diary 1872. Family
tree.
Reminiscences - " A Farm of the Seventies", and "What it turned out to be." Deed
of Indenture 1864. Letter from John Melhuish to his family 1899. papers/document
RHODES, Airini Elizabeth (later Woodhouse)
Page from diary on Blue Cliffs Station, South Canterbury.
Primary Prod Date 05 Jul 1914
ROBINSON, Campbell
Diary while working for Arthur M Johnson on his fish farm in Opawa,
Christchurch, Auckland and Timaru August 1886-May 1887, October 1890-February
1891.
Primary Prod Date 1886-1891
SHAW, Charles Reginald, 1829-1906 (collection)
till 1877. He later farmed at Totara Valley until 1898. The diary has daily
entries and gives ... diaries are also held in Alexander Turnbull Library,
Wellington. MS-Papers-3803. Copy held at MS-1934
Shaw came to NZ in 1853. He was a surveyor living in Timaru. Shaw's diary covers
the period 10 Dec. 1866 to 5 August 1872. The brief daily entries describe the
land he surveyed (the number of acres and the owner), and his activities around
his home (gardening, maintenance of the house and furniture, and paying for
household purchases). He also records information relating to the health and
recreation of his wife and children.
Held at: Canterbury Museum.
Format if not original: photocopy
Extent: 1 Vol.
Shaw was born in Cheshire, England in 1829 and spent some time on
the Australian goldfields before coming to New Zealand in 1857. He was appointed
Surveyor for the Canterbury Provincial Government and carried out surveys on
Banks Peninsula. In 1861 Shaw moved to Timaru where he was District Surveyor
till 1877. He later farmed at Totara Valley until 1898. The diary has daily
entries and gives details of the sections he surveyed as well as comments on
social affairs, family matters etc. Further diaries are also held in Alexander
Turnbull Library, Wellington.
Diary Dates covered: 1866 - 1872
SHEATH, Catherine (Kate) later Thomson (1844-?)
Diary at Aston Station and Hunter Hills, Canterbury.
Primary Prod Date 1862-1868
STODDART, Mark Pringle (1819-1885)
Diary including station diary (Australia) 7 December 1848 - 29 November 1850;
accounts ca 1846-1848; diary in Canterbury 24 August 1858 - 14 March 1859.
Primary Prod Date 1848-1859
STUBBS, Francis Worcester (1835-1920)
Station diary for The Levels 1862-1867, 1868: outward letter book 1912-16; notes
on early Timaru 1850-1860's,
TESCHEMAKER, Frederick William, 1834-1878
Contributor: Canterbury Museum
Teschemaker was born in 1834, the son of F.T. Teschemaker of Devon.
He came to New Zealand in 1855 with his brother, Tom, and they took up Haldon
Station in the Mackenzie country. Haldon Station was sold in 1868 and the
brothers bought Otaio Station. Teschemaker was a member of the Canterbury
Provincial Council for Waitangi from 1874-1876. He was elected to Parliament for
Gladstone in 1875. He died in 1878.
The diary tells of their journey to Dunedin in 1857, where they spent four
months. The brothers travelled quite a considerable distance reaching within 60
miles of Bluff. The remainder of the diary, from July 1857 to November 1858, is
made up of short entries about Haldon Station. The log-book is a daily account
of the farm work carried out on Haldon Station, 1862-1876.
Transcripts of diary available in Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington.
Diary and log-book of Haldon Station
Dates covered: 1857 - 1876
Format if not original: Photocopy of diary
TORLESSE, Priscilla (1824-1896)
Diary on board 'Egmont' to Lyttelton and at Fernside Station,
Canterbury, with illustrations.
TRIPP, Charles George (1826-1897)
Diary of Mt Peel Station, Canterbury.
Primary Prod Date 26 Apr 1856-12 Feb 1861
diary/copy. Diary of Charles George Tripp, Mt Peel Station diary 1856-61.
(original). Typescript copy - Mt Peel diary including opening period written by
J.B. Acland.
New Zealand Rough Diary
A diary/account book for the running of the Station and keeping of accounts kept
by J W H Tripp of Orari Gorge Station.
Primary Prod Date 1896
Book Lett's Australasian Diary and Almanac for 1881
One diary, dark green embossed cover, with book mark ribbon attached. Marbled
end papers. Entries on farm management from 1853 to 1904. Ten pages of
information in front. Ink and pencil entries.
rough diary or scribbling diary - a diary in which a hurried handwriting is permitted
Hocken
Collections, Dunedin - For farm diaries – have many of these – try a ‘record
type’
search for Diary – Farm.
Agricultural
Guide.
- Clogstoun, Elsie Helen: Diary, Nov 1880 - July 1881, MS-0978. Elsie Clogstoun
was born on 21 June 1864. Her father was Edward Lewis Clogstoun of Four Peaks
Station, near Geraldine, South Canterbury. Elsie married Robert Crossmam in
London in 1891. The diary, titled "Clutterbuck volume V" begins on 13 November
with the family holiday at Riccarton, Christchurch. Elsie, who was sixteen at
the time, addresses her comments to "Clutt" her diary, she writes of her daily
activities and the weather in Riccarton and at home. She also gives an account of
a holiday at the properties of South Canterbury runholders Acland and Tripp. The
last entry is for 7 July 1881. The diary contains several pen and ink drawings
of young women and a photograph of Elsie.
-
James Preston's diaries, personal and business papers, Waitaki Valley and
Mackenzie Country: Hocken Collection, MS-1271 and MS 1272. This large collection
of private papers was used by a descendant for a book about the Preston family:
F.L. Preston, A Family of Woolgathers, John McIndoe, Dunedin, 1978.
-
John Gunn's diaries, Hook, MS-1070
- Diary of F.W. Chapman from Fairlie across Two Thumbs Range, 1934-35,
MS-1164-2/015/01
- Mackay, R. : Diary, 1885, Misc-MS-0913. This diary describes the journey of R.
Mackay from his run 'Raincliff' in South Canterbury to Tasmania to purchase
Merino stud ewes.
- Travel diary for 'Holiday, Geraldine' (1949) Reference No: MS-1230/106
Visit the archives if you can - they have a wealth of info at their fingertips.
The Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington has a growing
collection and can be searched online.
Transcripts Walter M Moore diary online Textual file -
Microsoft Word
Record Title : Moore, Walter Montagu, 1851-1929
Journal / transcribed and indexed by Marsha Donaldson (electronic transcription
of MS-1665)
Display Dates : 31 Oct 1873-8 Feb 1876 (transcribed 2007)
Collection Record: Donaldson, Marsha Penelope, 1945- : Research papers and
transcripts (MS-Group-1944)
Quantity: 1 Electronic document(s)
Account of voyage to Canterbury on Crusader with his
brothers Francis and Henry, 1873-1874, and return voyage to England a year later
on the Merope. Describes his stay in Christchurch, trips to Governor's Bay and
Akaroa, to Hokitika via Arthur's Pass, trip to visit numerous sheep stations in
South Canterbury, social events, cricket matches, balls, Professor Bickerton's
lectures, Transit of Venus Expedition (lead by Major Palmer, R.E., chief
astronomer), Canterbury runholders and settlers including Lysaght family, Thomas
Potts (Ohinetahi), etc. Trip to North Island via Wellington, thermal region,
Tauranga, Auckland, and return to Christchurch before leaving for England on the
Merope in Jan 1875. Includes brief account of Walter's return voyage to New
Zealand, Oct 1875-8 Feb 1876 on the Crusader.
Accompanying Material - Newspaper report of 1873-1874 voyage of
Crusader, & 1874 voyage of the Merope (Transit of Venus expedition on board)
(from Lyttelton Times); biographical notes & 1861 census for Moore family;
biographical entry for Thomas Potts (NZ dictionary of biography / Scholefield)
Copy Availability: Hardcopy of this transcription is available at
MS-Papers-8722
Institution: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
Diary of Ranger Philip Boswell, Mt Cook
National Park
Whitcombe's New Zealand rough diary from 1961, kept by Ranger Philip (Boz)
Boswell at Mt Cook National Park. Provides a brief overview of weather
conditions, duties, and other occurances. The diary's connection to the Lister
family is unclear. 1 volume. Ref: MSX-9131
Part of: Lister family : Papers relating to Harry Lister
Format: Personal records Diaries, Manuscript
Butler, Samuel 1835-1902
Letters
Display Dates : 1861-1864, n d
Quantity : 1 folder(s) (6 leaves)
Physical Description : Typescript (27 cm, grey pamphlet case)
Scope and Contents : Letters to Acland and Tripp, mainly concerning sheep and
sheep farming at Forest Creek and Mesopotamia. Included is letter dated 4 May
1912 from Henry Festing Jones (1851-1928)
Names : Butler, Samuel, 1835-1902 (Creator)
Tripp, Charles George, 1826-1897 (Contributor)
Acland, John Barton Arundel, 1823-1904 (Contributor)
Record Types: Personal records Correspondence
Originals Location: In possession of Sir Hugh Acland, Christchurch
Institution: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
Evans, Robert Joseph, 1917-1984
Farm diaries
Display Dates: 1938-1942, 1944-1954
Quantity: 17 volumes
Physical Description : Holograph and printed matter (various sizes)
History: Evans worked on Haldon Station, near Fairlie, in 1938-1939; Wanaka
Station, Pembroke, 1939-1940; Timaru Creek Station, Hawea Flat, 1941; and by
1944 was a shepherd on a station in the Hakataramea Valley, near Kurow, South
Canterbury. The diary for 1954 was kept by Mrs Rubina Evans, Evans's mother, who
had lived in Oamaru. Evans also made entries in this diary. Evans's wife
referred to in the diaries, was Norma Mae Evans.
Scope and Contents: Evans recorded details about work and life on the farms and
always noted the weather. He also recorded hints, recipes, equipment costs,
lists of sheep killed, dogs owned and other farming-related matters.
Finding Aids: Back file has list of publications by Norma May Evans, much of
which are based on the Evans diaries
Evans, Norma Mae, 1924- (Subject)
Record Types: Personal records Diaries
Donor/vendor - Donated by Mrs N M Evans, Rotorua, 1978
Institution: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
Programme 183 - The man who planted gorse by Bruce Campbell
Interviewer(s): Jim Henderson, presenter
Recording date(s): 07 May 1967
Number of Interviews/events : 1 events Access contact - see oral history
librarian
Quantity: 1 5'' reel(s) 1 sound tape reel (ca. 14 min.), analog, 7½ ips,
stereo ; 5 Duration : 14 minutes
Alan Bruce who owns a farm above the mouth of the Opihi
Gorge, South Canterbury, relates how he has been tearing into a pretty rough
block or two of gorse. He talks about the man, Edward James Gould, who planted
that gorse carefully on his fence banks more than 100 years ago, but the gorse
didn't stay there. His terse diary entries convey the stark realities of
sickness, and death, in these pioneer surroundings.
Collection record: Open Country Sound Recordings
Name: Gould, Edward James, 1836-1893
Collection name: Henderson, James Herbert, 1918-2005 (as the interviewer)
Institution: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
Hayter, Francis, 1843-1891
Logbooks and farm diaries
Display Dates: 1857-1863, 1871-1873, 1880-1882, 1888-1890
Quantity: 4 microfilm reel(s)
Logbooks of various naval voyages including HMS Basilisk's
cruise of the Western Pacific and Papua, 1871-1873 and farm diaries kept at
Highfield and Rollesby Stations.
Institution: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
Hurst, Christopher John, 1835-1918
Diary on board the Waitangi
Display Dates: 30 Jun-10 Oct 1880
Quantity: 1 folder(s) (4 leaves)
Physical Description : Typed transcript (photocopy)
History: Christopher and Mary Hurst came to New Zealand on board the
Waitangi
in 1880 along with their seven children. On arrival they lived in Broom Cottage
(Christchurch) and later established a farm near Waimate called `Brooklands'.
They had seven more children in NZ.
Hurst describes his voyage from London to Lyttelton on the
`Waitangi' covering the period 30 Jun 1880 to 10 Oct 1880, the last entry being
written at Broom Cottage in Christchurch. The entries detail weather, the ship's
progress, fellow passengers and ship life.
Record Types: Personal records Diaries
Shipboard accounts
Donor/vendor - Donated by W Hamilton, Gore, 1992
Accompanying Material - Accompanied by an excerpt from the family history giving
details of the Hursts trip to New Zealand and a family tree.
Provenance: Donor is Hurst's granddaughter
Institution: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
Middleton, Thomas, d 1900
Correspondence from Benmore Station
Display Dates: 1873-1874
Reference Number: MS-1637
Quantity: 1 volume(s) (107 pages)
Physical Description: Typescript (27 cm; green linen)
Signature incorrectly transcribed as J Middleton
Record Types: Personal records Correspondence
Institution: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
Benmore Station diaries
Display Dates: 1865, 1867, 1870, 1871
Quantity: 1 microfilm reel(s) positive
Scope and Contents: Daily record of work on Otago station, kept by manager.
Lists of farm hands, shearers, sheep tallies, etc.
Names: Benmore Station, Clayton Station
Record Types: Administrative records
Donor/vendor - Copied May & Oct 1957, Feb 1958, from originals lent through Mr W
Vance, Timaru
Originals Location: Copies lent through W Vance, Timaru, 1957-1958
Institution: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
Potts, Geoffrey
Diary
Display Dates: 1 Jan-31 Dec 1877, 1876
Quantity: 1 volume(s) (53 pages) Typescript (27 cm; grey linen)
Scope and Contents : Daily entries of activities on South Canterbury sheep farm,
with extra notes for 1876 and 1877
Names: Potts, Geoffrey, fl 1876-1879 (Creator)
Four Peaks Station (South Canterbury, N.Z.) (Subject)
Institution: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington [April
2015 - diary could not be found by the ATL staff, still looking]
Shaw, Charles Reginald, 1829-1906
Personal records Diaries
Display Dates : 1887, 1891-1893, 1904-1905
Quantity : 5 volume(s)
Physical Description : Holographs (26cm, various bindings)
Scope and Contents : Full entries for 1891-1892 covering farming activities,
primarily cropping. Interests include service on school committees and Levels
Road Board.
Sterndale Station (Totara Valley)
Donor/vendor - Donated by Mrs Bertha Ray 1971
Provenance: The journals passed into the hands of Charles Shaw's second
daughter, Bertha Shaw, and were placed in the Turnbull Library by her son, Mr K
J Ray, at her request
Institution: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
Westmacott, Herbert Horatio Spencer, 1885-1960
Memoirs
Display Dates : 1885-1917
Use/Reproduction : No copying without permission of owner of original documents
Quantity : 4 microfilm reel(s) (21 volumes) Positive microfilm
Detailed memoirs cover childhood and youth in South
Canterbury, the family's move to the King Country ca 1913, military service in
World War I, including Gallipoli campaign
Names : Westmacott, Herbert Horatio Spencer, 1885-1960 (Creator)
(Subjects)Waikakahi Station, Waitaki Boys' High School , Christchurch
Boys' High School, Otago Mounted Rifles, Studholme Mounted Rifles, Waitaki
Mounted Rifles,
Rangitoto Station, World War, 1914-1918 - Campaigns - Turkey - Gallipoli Peninsula
- France
Record Types : Personal records Reminiscences
General Notes : Donor/vendor - Copied from originals
Originals Location : Mrs Erica Westmacott, Rangitoto, Otorohanga
Institution: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
Wright family
Correspondence
Display Dates : 1859-1912
Quantity : 1 folder(s) (27 pieces) Mss (photocopies)
Scope and Contents : Letters written mainly from John Wright to his sister
Eleanor Broom in England, describing farming conditions in Canterbury and giving
information about relatives and friends
Wright, John, fl 1863-1894 (Contributor)
Broom, Eleanor fl 1863 (Contributor)
Originals Location: Mr & Mrs Allan
Talbot, Opuha, Pleasant Point, South
Canterbury
Institution: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand
Lewis, Ellen, fl 1899-1907
Diary
Display Dates: 1907? . Ellen was writing in an old 1905 diary so changed the
days of the week. Ellen was probably 33 when she kept this diary. Married at
age 26. Born 1874. Only had two sons.
Quantity: 1 volume(s) (44 pages)
Physical Description: Holograph (26 cm; navy spine, brown boards)
History: Ellen Greenall married David Elliot Lewis in Pleasant Valley Anglican
Church in 1900. They lived on the Te Mara estate near Geraldine.
Scope and Contents : Brief details of family, family and domestic matters
Record Types : Personal records Diaries
Institution: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington. A couple of the
pages below.
Presented to the ATL by Mr M.J. Lewis 14.7.1978/ Morgan donated the diary to the
ATL.
Children:
1901 Lewis Morgan Joseph John [later farmer at Winchester]
1904 Lewis Thomas Grennall [sic], later famer at Hilton.
Lewis, David Elliott 69 Years died 5 Aug 1937 - Temuka Cemetery, farmer Hilton.
Probate online.
He signed his to be father in law's, John Greenall,
probate in 1897, three years before
he married.
Lewis, Ellen 64 Years buried 23 May 1938 - Temuka Cemetery
Timaru Herald, 8 January 1904, Page 2
Mr R. Y. Ferguson, land, and estate agent, Ashburton, reports sold, on account
of Mr. D. E. Lewis, Geraldine, his farm at Pleasant Valley, containing 351
acres, to Messrs Hill, Bros., at a satisfactory price.
Timaru Herald, 7 September 1915, Page 6
The Hilton and Kakahu sewing guild will meet at Mrs D. E. Lewis's residence on
Thursday at 2 p.m. Ladies interested in Red Cross work are invited.
Timaru Herald, 2 December 1916, Page 8
GREENALL.— On November 30th, at her daughter's residence, Mrs D. E. Lewis, 15
Harper Street, Timaru, Ann Gibson, widow of the late John Greenall, Pleasant
Valley, Geraldine; aged 71 years. At rest.
Temuka Leader
27 March 1900 Page 3
very pretty wedding was celebrated in the Pleasant Valley Church on Thursday.
The contracting parties were Mr D. E. Lewis, of Blannant Farm, near Winchester,
and Miss Nellie Greenall, eldest daughter of the late Mr Thomas Greenall, of
Pleasant Valley. The bridesmaids were Miss Annie Greenall (sister of the bride)
and Miss E. Lewis (sister of the bridegroom.) Mr W. J. Lewis was best man. The
ceremony took place in the Pleasant Valley Church at 3 p.m. and the Rev. Staples
Hamilton, vicar of Geraldine, was the officiating clergyman. Both the bride and
bridegroom belong to families long resident In the district, and in consequence
the church was crowded —in fact, all the people could not get inside. The
wedding breakfast was held at the residence of the bride’s people, and about a
hundred guests sat down to an excellent repast. The health of the bride and
bridegroom was proposed by the Rev. Staples Hamilton (Chairman), and Mr R.Y.
Ferguson proposed the health of the bridesmaids. The wedding cake, which was a
very fine one, was made by Mr J. Riordan, of Geraldine. Mr and Mrs D. E. Lewis
left amid showers of rice and old boots to catch the evening train at Orari for
Timaru en route to Dunedin. In the evening a dance was held in the Pleasant
Valley School, where the large assembly of people enjoyed themselves thoroughly
till the early hours of Friday morning. Dancing, music, and songs were part of
the evening’s proceedings. Songs were contributed by Mrs R. Y. Ferguson Misses
Gregan and Brophy, Messrs Gale, T. Quaid, AY. J. Lewis, and J. Lewis ; add Mr G.
Greenall gave a recitation. The wedding presents were very numerous, and
included some most handsome articles. Mr D. E. Lewis, the bridegroom, is
well-known in athletic circles in youth Canterbury. He was a well-known long
distance runner, and Waihi first fifteen forward. He has been handicapper for
the sports’ bodies in South Canterbury for some years.
Women on farms kept diaries, too.
Diary published by Charles J. Lewis, Advertisement Contractor, Timaru. Printed
by W.H. Foden & Co., Stafford St, Timaru. Approx. 94 firms advertised in the
diary.
You can read between the lines.
Saturday 5 January 1907 Went to Winchester. Telegram. Brought
linoleum for dining room, 3 blouses
Sun 6 Round crops and Rape crop fair. Rape good.
Cut Morgan's hair. Fine day. At home all day.
Monday 7 Bridgie MacMillen washing and I helping her. Harvesting. Cutting oats.
Russell & Gerald in the paddock.
Tuesday 8 Went to Geraldine in the afternoon terrible hot. Dave had Morgan &
Thomas away in the yards. Mother & Baby & Bridgie home all day. Bridgie ironing
all day.
Wednesday 9 Mrs Vernell came with her baby.
Dave went to Geraldine sold some fat cows at 1¼, old ones. B. MacMillen went
to the Retreat in Timaru until Monday.
Thursday 10th Very hot. Praying for rain. At home all day.
Friday 11th Harry MacMillen, Russell & Gerald were crutching lambs all day. Very
Hot. At home all day.
Saturday 12 Busy all day. Mother & Morgan went to Geraldine. Grace has just been
& 2 weeks away and is going to be 3. Dave went to Timaru and brought home some
tomatoes & a bell for the front door. He insured the house to day. Gerald went
to Ch. Ch for his holidays.
Thursday 17. Dull day looks like rain. Dave went to Winchester for the Company
for the dinner? ....
Friday 18. Very dull cold day. Dave went to Geraldine. Thomas Warne up to
Waihimamma to see Miss Halls. Had an accident just as we got to the river, broke
a ____. Took the horse out and had her up and walked to Johnsons with the
horse. Miss Johnsons _____ it up helped one of the horses up.
Saturday 19. Grace came home today. I met her at the station. Dave went into
Geraldine. Russell cutting the wheat & the threashing machine in the ___
paddock.
January Sunday 20. Very hot day at home all day.
Thursday 23 Between house work and dress making I had a lovely time preserving
pears in the middle of all.
Thursday 24 Hot day. The children lovely to day. Morgan difficult. Got a wacking
and was sent to bed.
February 1907
Monday 25 Washing, preserving pears & peaches and baking today. Mr & Mrs.
Griffiths & L. Lewis came to spend the evening. Befor leaving for their home
tomorrow.
Tuesday 26 Great excitement Morgan started school today. Mrs Cochlan drove round
with her children and took Morgan. Went to see Mrs Virell. Joe & M. Girerin and
Miss Godsell was in to spend the evening
Wednesday 27 Grace & Thomas & baby & I drove to Geraldine. Did not get home till
about half past five. Morgan was home from school and Sisie and Mary Cochlan
were playing with him. We made a stew for tea.
Thursday 28. Mending & darning & baking a bit. H. Lewis came over in time for
tea. Mother sent a case of lovely tomatoes from Ch. Gerald brought them from
station.
holograph - a book or document handwritten by its author; original manuscript.
Girls weren't the only ones who wrote diaries.
Who published these farm diary?
Letts of London who have been in business since 1812. 'Letts No 38
Australasian Rough Diary' which has pink blotting between the pages.
'New Zealand Rough Diary No.4, 1892' with week shown at each opening, with pink
blotting between the pages.
1932
Whitcombe and Tombs later Whitcoulls.
NZ Rough Diary No. 1. 1916 -
war
diaries
Collins. First published by William Collins in New Zealand in 1881
Collins produces a farmer's diary that goes from June to June.
Farmers are pretty good at keeping diaries - now electronic of course on big farms.
Famers liked to keep to the same publisher for decades. The Dempsey farm diaries at Waimate cover 78 years -1925-1997:
blue with gold embossed design of animals 'Collins farming diary'
yellow green binding picture of tractor on front with gold writing and a lighter
binding
green 'handy diary'
Collins royal diary
fawn mottled blue binding 'handy diary'
fawn mottled green binding 'Whitcombe's NZ diary
red 'Collins diary'
green 'Whitcombe's NZ farmers diary' with picture of tractor blue binding
green 'Collins' cathedral diary'
fawn red binding 'handy diary'
fawn black with binding 'farmers diary' picture of tractor wheel
blue 'Whitcombe' farmers diary' picture of tractor wheel fawn black with binding
green with country scene in black 'Whitcombe's
green 'Whitcombe's farmers diary' with country scene in black
orange with brown binding 'Whitcombe's farmers diary'
blue top with tan and brown strips on bottom of 'Whitcoull's farmers diary'
blue top with tan and dark strips on bottom of 'Pacific farmers diary' blue
brown with gold embossed emblem of cow sheep pig 'Collins'
green with picture of tractor ploughing 'Pacific farmer diary'
white with red on front 'Pacific farmer diary'
binding and back of black with picture on front harvesting 'date line farmer
diary'
green with scene picture on front 'date line farmer diary'
brown with gold embossed design of animals 'Collins diary'
green with gold embossed design of animals 'Collins farming diary'
blue with gold embossed design of animals 'Collins farming diary'
blue top with dark and tan stripes bottom of farming diary' 'Collins
bluetop with dark and tan stripes bottom of
'Pacific'
fawn mottled green binding 'Whitcombe's
NZ diary'
Dad kept his diary to record the weather; shearing, dipping, crutching dates etc.; milk yield, cow numbers, seed sowing dates, harvesting yields, dates rams and bull were put to ewes and cows, to name a few…he wrote in it every night. MT
Press, 2 August 1928, Page 6 Washdyke
The present name had its origin in the fact, that the Rhodes Brothers, at
Levels, used the creek at the place where the township is now situated for a
sheep wash. An extract from a diary kept by Mr G. Rhodes dated November 9th,
1867, reads "Commenced fitting up the 'wash dike'," and on November 24th the
following, entry occurs "fitted up the wash dike," and on the following day the
entry read: "Commenced washing sheep, 900 wethers."
Press, 2 July 1895, Page 6
I append the final remarks as contained in my diary:— "April 15th, 1895.Closing
a fine season. Want of water was against fishermen in the upper streams, but
good sport was always obtainable at the confluence of the Hae-te-mona, Kakahu
and Waihi. The Rangitata, always an unreliable river, was not fished to any
extent by visitors at Winchester, but when the condition of the river was
favourable some very fine fish were secured." Thos. Langdon. Winchester
Whitcombe's
George Hawkes Whitcombe (1854-1917), a former teacher joined a small books and stationery business, later taking over their agency. In 1882 he partnered with George Tombs who ran a sizeable quality printing firm in Christchurch. Whitcombe & Tombs became a public company in 1883 and a well-known printing, publishing, and stationary firm. The print trade flourished and they expanded to diaries and exercise books. Whitcoulls remains a household name in NZ. Published many books: Men of Mark in New Zealand, The Early Canterbury Runs, Jubilee History of South Canterbury, Gladys Goodall's postcards. Mr G.H. Whitcombe, was born in Brittany, France, his father Thomas Douglas Whitcombe, B.A., K.S.G., of Plonguenast, France, saw service in India with the Royal Field Artillery. George spoke fluent French. He and his brother Charles and Mr. Robert Lee, of Belvoir, Lower Hutt, came out from London in the wooden barque Memento, 464 tons register, of Montrose, Captain W. Lyall, arriving at Nelson on 25 March 1864, after 91 days from St. Katherine's Dock to Nelson harbour. Only five passengers, all men, two chief cabin and three second cabin passengers. Passengers Messrs. C. D. Whitcombe, W. E. Whitcombe, Rod, Dee [sic: Lee], and Porter. Two of these men returned to the old country, on being Swiss, but the Whitcombe's stuck to the colony with no regrets. George and Mr Lee played chess and in other ways whiled away the time of many monotonous days in a passage in which land was glimpsed twice. George's obituary says he arrived by sailing ship to Auckland at 16 years and joined his brother Charles in New Plymouth. Lee could have been mistaken. In 1971, Whitcombe & Tombs merged with the printers, Coulls Somerville Wilkie Ltd. and was renamed, Whitcoulls.
Press, 19 September 1889, Page 6 COLONIAL DIARIES.
The near approach of the close of the year is signalised by the publication of
the very numerous series, of colonially-manufactured diaries issued by Messrs
Whitcombe and Tombs. The firm now issues sixty-four different, styles, of
diaries. The information on various subjects which precedes the diary proper has
been condensed and brought in to more readable form. Amongst other specialties
may be noted the rates of postage to any part of the world, tabulated, so that
they can be seen at a glance; the Customs Tariff, corrected up to the 4th July,
and containing the latest decisions of the Commissioner, is also included. The
features, two days on a page; in three sizes; three days on a page in different
styles of bindings. The novelty, however, on which Mr Whitcombe laid the
greatest stress, is the Farmers Account Book and Diary. This, in addition to the
usual information contained in the ordinary diaries, has also information
specially compiled for the use of farmers and a farm and garden calendar. The
accounts include labor account and produce account, cash book, summary of
wages, profit and loss account, showing the balance for the year, general view
of cultivations, wheat crop account, stock account, daily and produce account,
miscellaneous produce account, and register of cattle and sheep. As will be
seen, the diary and accounts are of the most complete character, and they are so
arranged as to be easily kept. This will prove to be of great use to the
farmers, enabling them to keep proper accounts, so as to be able at a glance to
see the position of all departments of their farm. The various series of diaries
are well printed and bound, and generally are very creditable specimens of local
industry.
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