Friday, April 4th

A nor'westerly wind and warm weather, very dusty and gusty. Hamilton passed a good night and is in a satisfactory state this morning. The doctor says the fever is taking its course—a decided low fever, but on the whole favourably. He attends twice a day. Margaret and I take turns to sit up with him to give him his medicine. I find I can wake with page 163tolerable certainty every three hours to attend to it. Mrs Godley is most kind; today she sent up some pudding, stewed apples, and when Mr Godley returned from Wellington this evening, some bunches of delicious grapes. The boat went to the Island with shingles and took 3,300. Rhodes's boat took the heavy posts and the greater part of the rails. Robert reports that the frame is set up and they are nailing it together. Sorry to find that Henry is sending for more salts and pills. On the Bench today, the Captain had the whole of the crew of the Trauancore up for refusing to go to their work. The case is adjourned for further evidence till to-morrow morning. Mr Gouland and I were the only Magistrates present. Tonight the N. W. wind is blowing in most violent gusts and blowing dust about as it did the day after the ball.