Monday, March 3rd

The rain abated towards morning and ceased about seven o'clock, but the sun did not appear till eleven or twelve; when it did come, everything dried up in a miraculous way. We found that the undercurrent was caused by the trickling of the rain through the sods down from the top of the hills, so that we were a receptacle for the portion of the hill above us. We found it filtered between the sod surface and the page 141substratum of clay; therefore we cut a trench all round the back of the house into the clay to intercept this run, and we have hopes that this will have good effect another time. We also put an extra eave to the weatherboards to carry the rain clear of the top of the walls. The sods of the walls had collapsed from the wall-plate considerably. The floor was in a horrid muddy mess, but we covered it up with fern till to-morrow, when we hope to clear everything out and put things to rights. Abroad in the town there was not so much mischief done as I expected—the road was a good deal cut up by the run of the waters: Crawford's pise gaol was eaten into by the beat of the rain, and a few sod walls were undermined—but no actual misery caused, so far as I could learn. The gully that runs past Heaphy's, which has been dry hitherto, was now roaring and foaming with water. Reports of Christchurch being flooded and people washed away were contradicted by Mr Godley, who came in without difficulty and reported no damage done at Christchurch. He, however, and Mrs Godley had had a miserable night of it; the rain came in through the weatherboards of their plank tent and soaked their bed of fern. Mr Cass's hut, which was their only waterproof dwelling, had been burnt down only that morning. At the Port I got letters from Mamma, Harriette and Henrietta; very short letter from Mamma, with no news but the death of the grey horse. She repeats and confirms the tale of Mary's resolve to be constant on the chance of my not being married. Henrietta's letter very foolish and uninteresting, but kind and cousinly. Mamma calls me a dog, for being found at Cheltenham the day before leaving England—she hopes I am not committed in that quarter! Lucky I that I am not! Altogether these letters bring sunshine to my mind, and sweet food for thought. Took my seat on the Bench for the first time; I heard a case of a woman emigrant against the Doctor of the Castle Eden for a remuneration guaranteed by him to her. Mr Godley and Mr Brittan page 142sat. Wrote a short letter to go by Castle Eden, hearing that she was going to-morrow and would go to India. Wortley is shingling and flooring his house, besides putting up a new chimney to make himself comfortable for the winter. Lord Frederick conducting himself shamefully—very drunk in the middle of the street, shouting and making a fool of himself with a passenger of the Isabella Hercus. Two ships advertised to sail in November from England. The first—the Travancore—may be daily expected. This evening a slight show of the Aurora Australis, appearing faintly in the south for a very short time.