Wednesday, April 2nd

A cold morning and day, but not too much so—wind N.E. Hamilton much the same; slightly less feverish, but in an unsatisfactory state, unable to eat and very much prostrated. The doctor has a rather more favourable opinion of him. Hear today that typhus is on the Plains, Nippriss being exceedingly ill with it; another case reported to be in town here. I pray God poor Hamilton's case may not be so serious. Tonight he is very restless and hot. We find much difficulty in getting anything for him to tempt him to eat. Mrs Godley kindly sent some sago pudding yesterday and some arrowroot today, but both were too sweet for him. After breakfast the boat took Andy and his tent and tools over to the Island, and they began to set the piles level. I went again in the page 162afternoon with Robert and Wortley and a load of timber. They had carried all the frame up and a good deal of the boards. Two or three days will set it up ready for shingling. The cows and goats make the Island appear quite pastoral and civilized. Henry and Caughey were both complaining of headache and being a little out of order. Today I bought some thousand of totara shingles, the last lot to be had in the town, and engaged the mason to go there on Monday morning.