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Remarks, January 1844.
[Jan. 7 to March 13, 1844]

Jan. 8.—Strong breeze from the southward. Killed a pig, and it turned out better than I expected. We all went to the Bush^† for wood; Simson^† still fencing his garden; Mr. Biorns went over to Akaroa^†.

[Jan. 9.]—On the 9th of this month the Bishop^† made us a visit and took breakfast: he walk over the hills with nine M[aoris].

Jan. 11—Wind S.; moderate, and fine weather. Henry and Tom went to Ekelaeke^† over the Hill. Very busy washing; been up in the garden for some new potatoes. I was obliged to give Ann a good thrashing to-day.

Jan. 12.—Wind W.; moderate, and fine weather. Henry and Tom returned from Ekelacke^†, heavy-loaded. Likewise Mr. Biorns came from Akaroa^†. The men still in the garden at fencing, and very sulky with me.

Sunday, Jan. 14.—Wind W.; moderate weather. I begin this day very dull: nothing but eating, drinking, and sleeping. Henry, to make up the day, must needs go a-shooting, but came home as he went.

Jan. 15.—Wind N.; stiff breeze. Mr. Biorns and Henry making a shed; Simson went a-fishing, but had no luck. The pig in the Garden again to-day destroying the potatoes. I wish this was the last day I was going to stay in Peracky. A vessel went by the Heads to-day: I hope it will bring us some news from Port Nicholson^†.

Jan. 16.—Wind N.; weather fine. Biorns still working at shed. Simson^† and men out fishing got 11 Gropers. Not kind enough to give me anything, yet can do without.

Jan. 17.—Strong breeze. Still working at shed; Tom hilling up the potatoes. Received from Mr. Bowen, Bathurst, proper balance of account of Whaling Season 1839, including orders paid £1557 .. 0 .. 0.

Jan. 18.—Strong breeze from the North. Still working at the shed and hilling potatoes. Men out fishing. Siddles— Plague his Pig!

Jan. 19.—Strong breeze from the North. Still working at the shed. Two men—Mat Numletton (?) and Coffin from Oishore^†. Men cutting wood for fence. Pigs in the garden again.

Jan. 20.—Weather very fine. Mr. Rhodes^† from Akaroa^†: met with a very poor reception from me, till we had a fair understanding, and then we were quite friends. Men at work at the shed. Simson^† wanted three Pounds to take the oil round to Akaroa^† Mr. Rhodes^† would not give it.

Sunday, Jan. 21.—Weather very wet. Mr. Rhodes^† went over the hills to Akaroa: must have a very wet journey. Good wind for Mr. Hempelman to come home.

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Jan. 23.—Weather very fine. Simson^† boat to Akaroa^†. Men still in the bush cutting supple-jacks for fencing shed. Up in the Garden planting cabbages I am very tired.

Jan. 24.—Fencing shed. Men returned from Akaroa. Will Shaw, Henry, and Biorns went on the hills to see if they could see the schooner, but without success. I am weary in looking out for it.

Jan. 25.—Weather fine, with strong winds. Men out fishing caught thirty, but gave me none. Horpocker^†.

Jan. 26.—Wind S.; weather fine. Simson^† to Akaroa with Boat passengers. Henry and Shaw went up in the garden hilled potatoes. Biorns and Tom went get fencing.

Jan. 27.—Wind E.; weather very foggy. Biorns and Tom went at break of day for pigeons: found none. Saw a ship pass the Heads was in hopes that it was for us—was sadly disappointed. Went up in the garden to hill potatoes; Biorns mended the fence. And so we ended the day and went to bed.

[Sunday], Jan. 28.—Wind E.; weather fine. No signs of any one coming. Biorns went in the Bush^†: got five pigeons. We ended the day with reading the Scriptures, singing of hymns, and talking to Siddles.

Jan. 29.—Weather very fine. Boat arrived from Akaroa with Tom, Simson^†, Joe, and Dene, accompanied with Mr. Henry Whelch^†. Bad news and bad times, and we are all in the dumps. The Pickwiss (?) is in Akaroa, loaded with lots of provisions. I hope to see Mr. Hempelman very soon.

Jan. 30.—Weather very dull. Mr. Samuel Brown and Mr. Thomas Brown from Port Levi arrived here from over the hills, with the expectation of seeing Mr. Hempelman. But no such luck for them nor me.

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February.

Feb. 1.—Weather fine. Mr. Brown started to go to Akaroa over the hills. Mr. Biorns still fencing the shed; Henry is idle.

Feb. 2.—Mr. Biorns and Henry pig-hunting. Strong South-Easter.

Feb. 3.—Weather very fine. Mr. Biorns and Tom [and] Henry returned after about sixty miles' walk from pighunting, and returned like a bad penny, with nothing to eat and sad scratched legs—God bless them.

Feb. 4.—Weather wet; and in sad spirits to-day, the whole of us.

Feb. 5.—Weather wet. Killed a pig of Siddles'; and all uneasy in mind—God help us.

Feb. 6.—Weather very rough; strong South easter. Biorns and Henry in the Bush^† cutting battens and fencing the shed. Still no news, which makes everyone upside down.

Feb. 7.—Weather very fine. Men in the Bush cutting supple-jacks to fence the shed. Constantly walking out up the Hds

Feb. 8.—Weather very fine. Got a horboeker^† off the beach. Mr. Price's boat passed by the Heads this afternoon.

Feb. 9.—Weather very foggy. Tom returned from Oashore^†, with good news that Mr. Hempelman is in Port Victoria^†. Biorns putting battens on the shed; Henry and myself working in the garden; Tom fetching wood.

Feb. 10.—Weather foggy. Biorns went to Akaroa and we are very dull.

Feb. 11.—Weather very wet, and all very dull, and all illtempered.

Feb. 12.—Weather very wet and rough. A man came over from Eckelacky^†.

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Feb. 14.—Weather still rough, and no news. Mr. Biorns still at Akaroa.

Feb. 15.—Weather very fine. Killed a pig, and I hope Mr. Hempelman will soon come home.

Feb. 16.—Weather very fine. Jack returned from Akaroa. No news from Port Victoria^†.

Feb. 17.—Weather stormy. Henry went in the bush^†: shot one. Some luck (?).

Sunday, Feb. 18.—Weather stormy. Biorns returned from Akaroa with good news.

Feb. 19.—Strong breeze off the land. A vessel went past the Heads. Mr. Price's^† Big Boat went by, being windbound, for three weeks in Akaroa. Biorns and Henry cleared up the yard ready for Mr. Hempelman's return.

Feb. 20.—Moderate breeze off the land. Mr. Biorns and Simson^† went to Eckelacke to fetch a bag of flour that Mr. Rhodes^† sent over. Henry went up in the bush^† shot four birds—thank God for that.

Feb. 21.—Strong breeze off the land. Boat went a-fishing: caught fifteen horbockers^†: gave me three. Pigs destroyed my garden.

Feb. 22.—Strong breeze from the land. Nothing doing or any good news.

Feb. 23.—Strong breeze from the Southward, and all in the dumps.

Feb. 24.—Moderate breeze from the North. Biorns went shooting: caught a hawk. The dogs got one of Siddles's pigs and broke its legs.

Sunday, Feb. 25.—Fine weather. Simson's boat went a-fishing: caught five horbockers^†: gave us one, and am sorry to see so much sin committed on the Sabbath.

Feb. 26.—Strong breeze from the Southward and nothing doing, but very ill-tempered.

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Feb. 28.—Strong breeze off the land. Men fencing and clearing ground.

Feb. 29.—Weather very fine: strong wind from the North-west. Henry and Tom went to Akaroa—no news there: then bound for Port Levy^†.

March.

Mar. 1.—Biorns and Simson out a-fishing: caught one horbocker^†. Fine weather, but nothing to be seen or heard from Port Victoria^†.

Mar. 2.—Biorns and Simson went a-fishing: caught fortyone horbockers. A boat came from Akaroa^† for Mr. Rhodes's^† oil, with three men.

Sunday, Mar. 3.—Weather fine. Nothing but eating and drinking this day. A boat went from here with oil for Mr. Rhodes^†, Akaroa.

Mar. 4.—Strong breeze off the land, and we are all miserable on the beach.

Mar. 5.—Strong breeze from the Southward. Biorns in the garden digging.

Mar. 6.—Strong breeze off the land. Henry and Tom returned from Akaroa with news that Mr. Price^† was arrived, and that Mr. Hempelman was on his return for Peracky.

Mar. 7.—Weather very fine. Good news Jack went over to Mr. Price, to let his men know he was returned, when he heard Mr. Woods^† had got a large sperm whale: that is a Providence for him.

Mar. 8.—Weather very fine. Henry started for Eckelacke^† and Oashore^† to see Woods's whale. Mr. Biorns gone in the bush for pigeons.

Sunday, Mar. 10.—Weather very fine. The Maoris still here and very agreeable. The boat gone to fishing—more to their shame, for the Maoris^† set them a good pattern, for they keep this day sacred.

Mar. 11.—Weather very foggy. The boat of Maoris went away. I exchanged with them a pair of trousers for a pig. Henry returned from Oashore^† with the news that Brown and Mr. Hempelman were in Port Levy^†.

Mar. 12.—Weather foggy. Mr. Price's vessel came in here, but no news.

Mar. 13.—Fine weather. Mr. Price's^† vessel came in again. Mr. Hort, Mr. Price, and the Captain all paid me & visit, and gave me three bottles of wine.

[The remainder of the Ms. is torn away.]