| Freda Wards Diary | ||
| Lead Up Introduction Relatives Mentioned Our trip to Chartlea December1920 January 1921 February 1921 March 1921
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Tuesday
1
We got up about ½ past seven as there was plenty of time.
The boat left at 8.25 at least that was the time for starting,
but she had to go round to Frankton so did not leave 'till 8.35
arriving in Kingston at 10-35 exactly.
It was a lovely day and the Remarkables showed up grand,
although Ben Lomen refused to come out of his cloak.
They were all in the act of losing the last traces of the late
snowfall. We did not call
in at any of the stations going back.
Papa had a long talk with Capt.
Robinson, all about old times.
He is a fine fellow. He
took me up in the bridge, where I got two good views of the Kingston
township. We berthed in good time & Capt. Robinson Came over to the
train to see us off. The
train travelled well ‑ a contrast to the last brute.
We rushed over to the hotel at Lumsden & had a hurried
dinner; only got back in time to be early.
We reached Balfour up to time but owing to our telegram going
wrong Aunt Bella thought we were not coming till next day.
However Dowl came in with all possible speed, & we
eventually arrived home none the worse for adventures.
To break the monotony of the afternoon G & I planned great
suppers. Alas! Easier
thought of, than made. Wednesday
2
We put all work through in the morning; then in the afternoon,
Bernard, Grace, A.Maggie ( A.Bella) Dowling & Phil, went down to
Josephville in the car, and spent the evening with Felix & Polly.
Ber & Grace, wanted to have a sort of farewell evening
with the two old people before they would have to leave for the North.
Papa did not go, as Mother was still away & we have more
time yet to pay a visit, so Girlie & I stayed at home with him.
Mother & Aunt Bella sent us a wire from the Bluff, to say
that they were not coming home until Friday or Saturday.
I hope the trip will do poor Auntie good.
Papa received his bill today from his tailors, Ansell & Co.
Spey St. Invercargill, for his wedding suit of clothes, also,
alterations to his dark trousers.
He looks very nice in the new suit, but not as good as when in
black clothes. Thursday 3
After doing the house-work Girlie and I assisted Bernard,
Grace, Aunt Maggie & Papa, to pack up all Aunt Bella's vases,
crockery & pretty ware, in cases, so that they will be ready for
her to shift whenever she wants to without further bother.
We took great trouble to pack everything thoroughly, rolling
them in old socks and singlets to prevent breakages.
We wanted to get them done before Auntie came home from Bluff.
We put all the cases that were completed, & nailed down,
into the drawing (room) after removing the beautiful carpet. Dowling, Girlie & I took it out on the lawn, sprinkled it
with camphor, and rolled it- a great job.
Then we placed it in the drawing room window space, along with
other carpets & special rugs.
Papa sent his cheque to Ansell and Co. today. He was very
pleased with the suit. After
all the packing every body was tired, so we, G & I, helped to
serve the tea, & after " dish washing" & prayers
went to bed. Friday
4 Phil went to Lumsden in the (no
further entries until) : Tuesday 8
This morning Aunt Bella, Mother, Papa, Grace, & Bernard
went to see McLeod at Glenalappa, re getting rid of his
farm near Waikaia if he could to make it better for his management.
At the present, he couldn't sell on account of the fall in land
price. Bernard drove
them, and they had a very nice day.
It rained a bit, but was fine most of the time.
They were greatly taken with Mrs Mc's garden, & returned
with a great sack of vegetables.
The car spring broke on the way home, so they had to get out
while the men fixed it. They
gathered mushrooms in the meantime, & came home loaded.
It took the men about an hr. to pad the spring, so they were
late in getting back. In
the meantime took command & ordered Mac & Phil to have their
lunch at the cottage, as we did not intend having more than a cup of
tea. We then set to work,
scrubbing floors & seagrass carpets, taking down curtains, books
etc. & doing all the heavy rate packing, so as to be able to
lift the remaining furniture for departure.
We were glad to have the house alone so as to be able to get
the work through. Wednesday 9
Ash Wednesday today, so we all stayed at home & the fasting
ones kept the religious fast strictly not taking anything till dinner
time. Papa spent his day
reading a book called Miriam Lucas written by Father Sheehan.
S.J. Bernard Aunt Bella & Papa have been settling up about
the management of the two places, Chartlea & Glenalappa.
They have decided to let McLeod & Mac continue as they
were, with Bernard to supervise their management.
Girlie and I tried to be very good( & scrubbed back halls,
bedrooms and our little side verandah.) We also tried to keep off the
racket of making delicious supper, and to follow the straight path of
the good elder members of the household.
Our greatest trouble was to keep off the gooseberry garden;
although most of the good ones have been eaten, there are still some
which would tempt Eve I am sure.
It was like Sunday & the Hailes boys came over.
Then Dowl & Phil said good‑bye to Aunt Maggie &
Girlie before going to bed as the boys were going to Queenstown early
in the day. Thursday
10
As Girlie had to go back to school, Aunt Maggie decided to go
too & take her as far as Timaru.
Girlie and I both felt very doleful, as we were packing her
things. There was so much luggage that I could not go in with her,
but had to bid my tearful goodbye at the gate.
I ran all the way down to the second gate by the car & then
waved her out of sight. Bernard
drove them in to catch the 1‑50p.m. train.
Mac. Phil & Dowling went up to Queenstown leaving early
this morning, in the school excursion & returned at bedtime.
They enjoyed the day. ( Dowl did not think much of Robertson.)
Nine hundred people went up for the outing, so they had a great time.
After lunch, Auntie gave me permission to run down the road
& meet Ber. He said
he would teach me to drive. I
walked half way to Balfour, then lay down under a tree.
At last I started home. I
passed the paddock where Con & Walter were threshing.
I cut Walter dead. He
was too far off to know. In
the meantime, the car had broken down, so Ber came home in Mr Muir's.
They picked me up, but I missed my lesson in the art of
driving all the same. Muir
was very decent and would not take any money for the trip.
Friday 11
As Aunt Bella had a lot of business to do in Gore she decided
to go with Grace & Ber who left today for Rotonui, so in the end
we all went. our car was in Balfour in a broken down condition, so
Auntie rang up Mr Muir in Lumsden.
He brought his car, a Dodge, ( a beauty) & we had a nice
spin down to Lumsden. Phil
brought the luggage in a cart. Aunt
Bella & Mother went over to Crosbie's, while Ber checked the
luggage; we saw old Uncle Felix on the station. He said Aunt Polly was no better. He saw us off then, his train left immediately; we saw it
going along on the Josephville line.
At Balfour we saw Hughie McLeod for a few seconds. We saw Valentines Waimea place & found the Lakes train
waiting for us at Waimea. After
an exchange of drivers & guards we passed on. We saw Father O'Neil
at Riversdale. he said goodbye to G & B. We also saw Pease's
house, the Church & Mothers old home.
Then we passed Mandeville, the terminus of continuance area,
saw "Wantwood" Bells place, passed the Quaint old flour
mill, crossed the "Otamita", & eventually arrived in
Otamita where there is a "coddy" P.6. & dangerous
chimney. We passed the
Hokonuis, with Mataura to our right, & had a good view of KNAPDALE
written in trees. Arriving
in Gore, we booked rooms at the Southland, then had afternoon tea and
did some business. After
tea Pa & I walked up to the cemetery, where I saw Uncle Alfreds
& Mary's graves. Also
Mrs Hugh Valentines & some more.
When we came back we went to the Pictures.
Very good & educational.
We came home after ten to find that Pa & Mother had
returned from Father O'Donnells where they had spent the evening. Saturday
12
I got up & strolled over to church " by - myself" Pa & Ma went before & Bernard strolled behind.
After breakfast Aunt Bella went
with the men to
finish the business, while Grace & I went & paid all the debts
local & otherwise. We
saw Harold in the morning. Mrs
Poppelwell invited us to afternoon tea: but as the time clashed
between G's train's departure and ours, we of course stayed to see her
off. Grace looked lovely
as she went sailing away with dear old Ber.
Soon after they left, our train went out, so we had barely time
to fix the last of the business & gather our belongings for home.
Mrs Roger Church was in our carriage & talked a good deal
to Auntie. She was also
introduced to us all. She
got out at Balfour & her husband met her there.
We went on to St Patricks siding & Dowl & Phil drove in
for us, with the Spring Cart & gig.
We had a quiet & joggety drive out.
Dowl told us how Mary liked mother. he said she (Mother) had
that way with her. He also said he had never seen old Mary look so nice.
She washed her hair. As
we were all tired we went to bye bye after tea. Sunday
_13
As the car was in the repair shop we had no means of going to
Mass today. The boys of
course went on horseback and in the gig.
Con & Walter came over as usual and spent their last
Sunday with us at Chartlea House.
They said goodbye when leaving as they were not sure if they
would be able to see us again before we left.
The weather was very nasty all day with a slight shower at
night. Phil did some more
fixing to the group, & Photos he took of us all on the lawn.
I don't think they will be much good, as the day was not too
fine & was very windy. He
took some of Dowl & Queenstown, which came out rather better than
the others. After tea the
boys talked ( Dowl telling his prospects,) while I read in the front
room. Everything was very
quiet and I missed Girlie very much.
Old Mary has been "no end" nice since she left. Monday
14
We put through the work without any fuss or bother. Old Mary has now come to a better way of thinking, and is
quite easy to get on with. She
has been more than nice to me and has tried to make several offerings
after her own good old heart. She
is not really bad when you, get to know her.
Papa wrote to Mcleod today re business transactions &
purchase of rams for Glenalappa, as Bernard was unable to see him before
going North. Uncle Felix came up today & Papa & he went into the
position of the Trustees as regards his Land & House.
He was just as jolly as ever. he is a grand old fellow.
I copied out "Danse Ecossias" which Aunt Polly had
lent me, and asked him to take it back to her, but he said he was
unable to carry it on horseback, so arranged that the boys would bring
it down went they came next. It
was a beautiful book of old compositions which Auntie prized so much
I was anxious to get it back to her. Feb. 15 to Mar. 11
No entries.
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