Wednesday, June 4th

A fine, mild morning after a hard frost last night. Self-registering thermometer shewed that freezing point had been reached in the sitting-room during the night. After breakfast Henry, Caughey & I started off in the yawl up Charteris Bay to Manuka Cove and spent the day cutting manuka rails and akiaki firewood. We went at nearly high water, as the tide leaves it very soon, and remained till the tide returned again high enough to float our heavily laden boat, which was not till dark. We took some provisions with us to serve for dinner, but forgot it on the Island shore! so that we were just as hungry as if we had brought none (naturally). I worked as hard as any workman from nine till four, and when we reached home after loading, rowing home and unloading, was ready to drop with fatigue and hunger. Both were soon set at rest by a hearty tea and the blazing fireside, Hamilton, on being asked what he had done all page 190day, confessed that he had done nothing particular; accordingly he received a severe lecture and warning always to be doing something, for that there was no excuse for idleness in the present busy state of affairs.