Friday, April 11th

The night and morning were fine and the day very calm and warm—the greatest possible contrast to yesterday. Went to the Island with Sloan—found that they had got through the wet pretty cheerily. The shingler, however, had caught cold and had to return to the town with us. Andy commenced weather-boarding on the west side; the shingles are halfway up the north side; the stones drawn ready for the chimney. Robert planing at weather-boarding and Andy fixing. Aber page 167nethy and Caughey working with the bullock and the stones. Sent by the Flirt to Akaroa for 3,000 feet of timber, as what I bought from Swinburne turned out to be only three-quarter inch thick, and I stipulated for inch. Hamilton much better today—eats heartily. Willy unsatisfactory. I had to go for the cows this morning myself and accompanied the milk to the several doors. Engaged a boy to do so in future till Willy gets well.