Overview
Mon. Sept. 7
A most glorious day - no wind, cloudless blue sky + warm sun. After breakfast Mr. Herd drove me up to the Raupari Rd farm to get "Judy" + we walked round to see the stock etc. He has just purchased a line of 6-tooth wethers to fatten + some good hoggarts [sic] are just about to go - the barley paddock is now in permanent pasture, per[rennial] rye + white clover + looks good but turf not close yet. The older turf on adjacent paddocks in splendid order + carrying 8 1/2 sheep per ac[re]. Some very serviceable sheep-yards have been erected. All this applies to the 75 ac. block, the 108 acre being sold at an advance of £7 per ac. I rode back to Gray's Rd on "Judy", bareback + Maud + I set out in the gig for the "Caves" on the road to Waimarama. Drove to Havelock, got directions from a friendly native + proceeded along the Te Mata Road round the south end of the Havelock Hills to the Tuki Tuki Valley. The river was a glorious blue winding over its broad shingly bed + backed up by the rolling hills diversified by fine
[page break]
plantations of old timber. I had my 1/2 plate Premo camera with me + took a photo (6) of the above with Maude in trap on road in foreground. As we continued up the valley we were surrounded by the huge limestone crags + [?] slopes of the Havelock Hills + I took another photo of Maud on the road + the hills behind (7). We crossed the Tuki by the big bridge, + 1/4 mile further on took "Judy" out of the gig + carried our impedimenta over to the wooded limestone cliffs on the left side of the road where the caves are situated. The caves were small but contained some rather nice stalactites + limestone tracery. We found a charming tree-shaded ledge on the cliffs high above a gorge into which descends a series of nice falls + alongside these we settled down for our own little picnic. Took a photo (8) of the falls + picnic place with Dearest under the trees + spent rest of afternoon enjoying her glorious society. I now know what a delicious figure she posesses but which she does not display to the world at large
[page break]
like so many present day girls do. We had I most delightful time + after taking (9) a general view of the cliffs, falls, picnic ledge, etc. returned to trap + started for home. Took a photo (10) of the Tuki Bridge with the cave cliffs in the distance. Reached Gray's Road about 5 pm thoroughly satisfied and pleased with our outing. Our last evening we spent together though interrupted for an hour by a visit from a Mr Picey, a good jolly fellow but whose absense would have been preferable. However my little girl + I escaped as soon as possible + had our parting chat until a late hour.