Overview
Sat Aug 8
Weather cleared last evening so another lovely day. Continued cutting posts for sheep-yards on Crescent Spur + carried them down to Mill p[addock] fence-line, total number 38. Carried some of them right down to flat for sledging but as our shoulders had become [mommies] we gave up for time being. I shepherded a large part of south end of block going right up to Ohau Summit to see east bdy [boundary] fence – the ewes on this end doing well there being plenty of grass. Anstice + I started clearing out stream on way up to main Leighton p. gate in order to get a better crossing. Father came up to see work. On returning home got news of Britain’s declaration of war (Aug 4th) on Germany due to the latter’s invading Belgium in defiance of their neutrality – the Belgians repulsed the Germans. Lord Kitchener has been appointed supreme controller of the British Army administration + General Sir Ian Hamilton, commander-in-chief of the field forces.