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Extracts from the Home & Family Diary
14 May 1870
 Drove Mrs Russell and Bessie to Canning’s. (First mention of
driving – it would have referred to a horse-drawn buggy.)
October 1870
 Additions to house (ie. the cottage Sydney and Sophia were to
occupy before the present homestead).
12 July 1873
 Married.
16 July 1874
 Planting trees around site of new home.
26 December 1874
 Daughter Henrietta Mary born.
26 October 1875
 Scandinavian girl came at six shillings a week.
8 July 1877
 Son Robert Quentin born. Died 14 October that year.
29 October 1878
 Thompson began making dam for water supply for new house.
8 August 1879
 In Wellington. Arranged with my father to lease Oruawharo
at rental of £3,500 a year.
17 September 1879
 At new house planting trees.
2 October 1879
 Moved into new house.
13 February 1881
 Fire at 8.30pm destroyed plantation near house,
burning 100 valuable trees.
5 February 1882
 Alice Lambert (a relative of Sophia’s) married to John Mason
in Oruawharo drawing room. Bridesmaids: Molly Johnston, Tooni
and Evelyn Inglis, Fanny Ormond, Miss Stewart and Hetty Herrick.
10 April 1883
 Daughter Jessie Meta born.
3 March 1888
 Purchased Oruawharo under terms of my father’s will.
Paid £3 per acre plus agricultural implements and stock
22,000 sheep, 100 cattle, 30 horses.
5 December 1888
 Daughter Agnes Beatrice born.
9 December 1895
 Mollie married Herbert Watson in Takapau Catholic Church.
Ball for men and Takapau people in the woolshed in the evening.
12 December 1899
 Additions to house began.
29 December 1899
 Bought pair of cattiage horses, Nutshell and Te Whiti, for 55 guineas.
April 1901
 Acetylene gas lighting plant installed.
14 June 1903
 Salary cheque for £35 to governess Miss Davidson.
1 April 1904
 Messers Kenway and Tod came in a motor car.
5 August 1904
 Severe earthquake brought chimneys and plaster down.
1 June 1907
 Drove by motor car to Guavas and returned in the evening
(the first mention of driving a car).
6 June 1907
 Carlyons came to lunch.
28 June 1907
 Sent car to Napier for repairs.
19 December 1910
 New motor car arrived (a Lorraine-Detrich, sold in 1935 for £10).
17 February 1911
 Grandson John Riddiford (son of daughter Jessie Meta who had
married Daniel Riddiford a year before) born in the blue room.
13 March 1911
 My 70th birthday.
1 October 1911
 Telephone connected.
20 October 1911
 New Cadillac came, price £575 less £150 for Decauville.
May 1914
 Electric light plant installed.
29 June 1917
 Sydney Johnston died in England.
5 July 1922
 Daughter Agnes Beatrice married John Rolleston. A dance was held
at the house that night and another at Takapau Hall on 7 July.
3 December 1923
 Grandson Sydney Christopher born in the blue room.
9 October 1931
 Sophia Johnston died.
15 July 1933
 Agnes Rolleston took over her mother’s and sisters’ shares in
Oruawharo and in December she and her family took up residence.
June 1936
 The Rolleston family left for England, returning in 1938 after
leaving Christopher at school in Ampleforth. He later undertook
military service with the Grenadier Guards in Germany and returned
to New Zealand in 1947.
19 January 1952
 Christopher Rolleston married Jennifer Mary Hinde, only daughter
of Mr & Mrs Douglas Hinde, Kenya. The ceremony was held in Kenya.
19 March 1953
 Christopher Rolleston was killed in a tractor accident at Oruawharo.