Diary of William Golder, 1873
[May]
M. 213 Fri May
day fine—In the morning finished
printing—after school visited some sick pupils
they are getting better. began churning at night
but have not brought butter—I must wait till morning
—Charles at town to day—
342 Sat
day fine—went to the Hutt, posted a P.O.
for melbourne—Got a months pay sent—
for march—called up at Bethams. he was
painting his hall.—dined with him—got home
by 5 oclock—churned without success till tired
made up my school report by 12 oclock
435 Rogation Sun
this morning overslept myself
got up near 10 oclock, and thought it 8 . went to
the Hutt but too late for church—all were out when
I got to the gate—met Mr Moir—Got home by 2 oclock
56 Mon
day fine—churned all morning without
success—afternoon got Ann Gosling to do it for
me in a short time—at night began distributing
type
67 Tu ●
day fine in morning—afternoon showery
sowed some cocksfoot grassseed—got some
scholars returned from sickness, and one
new—this is pleasant.
78 Wed
Half Quarter Day, Easter Term ends
day fine—Charles to town—at night had
a hunt after the bull and the young cow at the
Hutt—before I could get them up the hill—felt obliged
to Cudbys boys for their help—got home after 8—
got two shirts = 7/
89 Th
Ascension Day. Holy Thursday
day fine—morning baked a loaf—afternoon
sowed some grass seed on burned places by last
fires—distributed two pages by nine P.M.
lent Mr Gosling a sunday at Home. Bound
910 Fri
morning fine—spoke to Charles about
fencing and he said to get the stuff cut and
he would help to put up the pewers[gap — reason: unclear]—sowed
some grass seed in the afternoon—distributed
two pages type at night
101 Sat [gap — reason: illegible]
day fine felt rather unwell, I think
it was through an affection of the lungs[gap — reason: unclear]—pull
ed weeds from the garden—afternoon went to the Hutt
bought neckties 5/ treackle 11d callico 9d bread 1/1
paid for gate hinge 3/-
112 Sun[gap — reason: illegible]—aft Ascension
Went to the Hutt church
brought up Mr Moir to the hill in the after
noon with the help of the boy scrimshaw
123 Mon
Old May Day. Cambridge Term divides
Day fine—Charles to town—got 1/ of
assofoetida
Distributed 2 pages—at odd hours—the moon
in eclipse about 10 oclock P.M.
134 Tu
day windy, had two young scholars and
one yesterday. distributed pages and afterward
churned—in the morning digged [sic] some potatoes
at night mended part of a vest—which was becoming
undone in the cloth or unravelled.
145 Wed ☽
day windy and cloudy—before school
took butter from the churn—and pressed it in cold
water—after school—salted the butter—and
made some bread &c distributed a few type.
156 Th
day windy—rain early during night. got
up by 6 a.m. sewed my vest button holes and darn
ed my socks, before breakfast—school some
absent, but come in afternoon—after school
finished distributing types—Charles baking set the
chimney on fire—but no damage done, for which I feel
glad
167 Fri
Oxford Term ends
day fine—Charles to town.—
milked Daisy in the morning—could not find the
other. after school at night began setting type
Charles came Charles came ½ past 10 P.M.—all well
178 Sat
Oxford Term begins
day variable morning fine — afternoon
stormy. did 2 pages type setting
and some other things indoors—
189 Whit Sun
Ember Week
—day fine but cold winds—staid
at home as I was late in getting
up—afternoon when preparing for meeting
here felt a chill—after meeting—got to bed and had a
sweat during night
1920 Whit Mon
morning fine, had a good sweat during
night—felt much better this morning.—
milked the cows today—after school dug some
potatoes—at night type setting.
201 Whit Tu
during day wet and stormy.
full attendance at school—Charles to town
sent by him a letter to Educational office
enquiring about firewood—& 2 copies of the Education
question—Charles did not bring what I wanted.
212 Wed ❍
Trinity Term begins. Ember Day
day fine—before school making a
latch for garden gate,
had curious d[ream][gap — reason: unclear] last night of old friends—after school
milked the cows—at night did some type setting
Mrs Buick called tonight—Charles went with her
for the clock
223 Th
day fine, Charles to town—sent to Education
office to know about firewood, sent a copy of Educ Question
At night did some type setting—Charles came home
but did not bring what I wanted.
234 Fri
Queen born 1819. Ember Day
day fine—Chas at home all day—.
Got reply to my queries of 20th But no fire
wood allowed—that must be provided by pupils
at night put up some types—also began churning
245 Sat ❍
Ember Day
day fine, sent with Gosling to town a letter
to the Educational depot enquiring for
a parcel of copies—type setting chief part of the
day—and churning sometimes—Had a call from Mrs
McIlvride from Wainui to see my press—which took
up some time.—did 2½ pages.
256 Trinity Sun ❍
Went to the Hutt, the day fine but
gloomy at first—had dinner Mc Illvrides—I did
not like some of the company there. I shall be on my
guard, may Heaven help me.
267 Mon
today gloomy and cold—Queens birth
held today—but I had school not knowing
otherwise—Charles to town—heavy rain about sun
set while I was milking and some time after
Baking bread for myself at night—did a little type setting
278 Tu
day stormy and showery—The parcel
not found. to day it has been enquired for
by W Gosling—the cows not looked after
to day—at night made paste for papering
289 Wed ☽
day gloomy and showery—cows milked
this morning—after school did some papering
to my bed to stop drafts. at night set up a page
2930 Th
Corpus Christi
morning fine, midday stormy — sunset
clear—about 7 PM. stormy—
10 oclock clear—Charles to town not returned
at ¼ to 12 night. set up a page of type by 10 oclock
when I thought I heard the cart at hand—but find
myself mistaken.
301 Fri
morning cold—got the cows—milked
them—after breakfast began digging potatoes
but a shower sent me in doors and I began to
close cracks in the papering of my room
till night—afterward began typesetting.
The horse got very thin through Charle’s carelessness
31 June Sat
day fine did some pasting up of
worn cracks in the lining of the house.
and set up a page of type at night—tedious
work when composing the subject as we go along.