Overview
Leslie Adkin is a farmer in the Horowhenua region, and manages two properties near Levin. He also works with his father William, his brother Clifford, and their labourer George Bloomfield on the family farm, Cheslyn Rise. Farming activities this month include fencing, mustering, laying drains, benching tracks, and attending stock sales. The first lambs of the season arrive on the 22nd.
A 'terrible Easterly' gale roars through the valley on the 3rd, and Leslie spends a great deal of time clearing debris and repairing damaged fences and buildings. He writes on the 4th that 'the wind seems to have struck the face of the Arapaepae Range with terrific fury (as shown by the innumerable splintered and uprooted trees) + then escaped from the valley in all directions like an explosion.'
Leslie lives with his wife Maud at 'Woodside,' their newly-built home, and this month they turn the first sod for their kitchen garden. The couple enjoy frequent visits from friends and family, and often travel to Levin for pictures and other entertainments. Leslie is a keen reader and an avid photographer, capturing moments of his day-to-day life with Maud as well as scenic views of the district.