Overview
Leslie Adkin continues to work on his father’s property Cheslyn Rise, near Levin. He is now the manager of the North Block and spends much of his time there, often camping in a rough whare on the property. With the help of his father William, his brother Gil (Gilbert), and their labourer Anstice, Leslie works to fence new paddocks and erect sheep-yards. Other farm activities include dagging, laying pipe drains, crutching, and moving stock onto winter feed. A new man named Gilbert Robinson arrives to take up a labouring job, but disappears after only a few weeks.
Leslie corresponds frequently with his fiancée Maud Herd, who lives with her family in Hastings.
In his spare time Leslie enjoys reading novels, and he is also a keen photographer. This month he makes a brief visit to Wellington to attend a lecture by Professor W.M. Davis on the coral reefs of Fiji. While in the city he buys tools for the farm and new photography equipment.
Towards the end of the month Leslie’s Uncle Percy, Aunt Alice, and cousins Trixy and Harry pay a visit, and Leslie has a ‘most enjoyable day’ with them. Alice and Trixy stay on, the former needing to recuperate after a nervous breakdown.