Overview
Thurs Decr 25
Xmas Day. Great fun at breakfast unpacking the Xmas presents – the table piled high with them. Besides “The Upper Berth” Maud gave me “The Woodcarver of ‘Lympus’” by M E Marker – an oil painting entitled “Where the Sunset turns the Ocean’s Blue to Gold”, mounted on a silk ribbon. Mrs Herd gave me a nice Jap[anese] silver serviette ring + the
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others gave me books etc. After breakfast Mr Herd, Frank Goulding, Hugh, Maud + I drove out to see the new farm – a lovely morning + the good roads lined with huge trees + plantations of English + Australian species make a lovely landscape. Passed the Frimley Fruit Canning Factory + the Stortford Lodge Hotel + turned down a side road to the farm. We alighted at A (see plan) leaving Hugh in charge of trap. The farm has on either side of the road –
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109 acres on one side + 75 on the other. There was a 20 ac[re] hay paddock ready to be cut also an area of Cape barley which we inspected – a very heavy crop somewhat flattened by recent rains. I took a
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photo (1) of Mr Herd, Frank + Maud standing breast high in the barley. Returned to the trap + took photo (2) of same with party seated + Mr Herd’s other block in distance. Drove along road to B + then across the adjacent farm to visit the Ngaruroro River. An earth embankment or levee follows the course of the river for miles to protect the adjacent country from floods. We climbed levee, which is about 15 ft high, same width at base + tapering to a narrow crest + entered a great plantation of tall straight willows. At the place where we approached it, the river is about 8 chains distant from the levee + fringed with a broad shingly bed. I took a photo (3) of Maud, Mr Herd, Frank + Hugh on the edge of the river looking down stream, and as we returned to trap, Frank snapped us (4) in the willow plantation. On getting back to Mr Herd’s farm, Frank + I walked across the 109 acres while the others drove back to entrance gate. The farm is extremely fertile, the formation being fine black river silt of
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unknown depth – it is watered by artesian wells + drains of good water. The boundary fences are mostly lined with huge rows of trees + there are other clumps of trees dotted about. The land carries up to 10 sheep per acre + does not get foul – it will fatten anything. The turf of English grassed is extremely close + fine – this is the locality of the famous Flaxmere rye-grass. Returned home to Xmas dinner. In afternoon we took “Judy” in trap + drove (Maud, Alice, Gertie, Frank, Hugh, Will + I ) to the Havelock North Hills. Took a photo (5) of the “old” Ngaruroro River from the Hastings-Havelock North Road. The pretty white church in Havelock is now complete + is a charming piece of work. Took a photo (6) of the broad, tree-dotted valley at the foot of the Hills showing the trap on the road. On arrival at entrance to our objective, the limestone gorge, we took out “Judy” + taking the provision of blankets we walked up it as far as the first grove of trees where the spring is. Took
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a photo (7) of the party under the trees + showing the spring. Gertie, Will, Hugh + Alice went on an exploring expedition to the top of the Hills; Frank very obligingly went to sleep, + Maud + I sat on a rug + enjoyed each others company. When the others returned we had tea + then returned to Hastings terminating a very pleasant drive and outing. After tea Maud + I walked round the garden – sat under the mulberry tree + spent some time in sweet converse under front gate arch – the evening was perfect, the sky clear + the air soft + cool. We had a delicious time – truly a Merry Xmas.