More Info →Diary of an itinerant farm worker

This "McDougall Farmers' Notebook 1935-36" was used as a diary by an unknown farm worker who went on 'Tour of N.I.', beginning 15 October 1935 (first entry). He travelled from Blenheim, and records his holiday, mainly in the Hawkes Bay and Giborne areas, and employment at Hore Hore Station near Tokomaru Bay. It is likely that the writer was J. Lane, named in the front cover, and also listed at the top of the 'Addresses' page. The last entry appears to be 18 December 1936, but a subsequent note records 'Drowened (sic) Easter 1939'. The Poverty Bay Herald (18 April, 1938, page 4) writes of the drowning of Joffre Lane, a station hand at Hore Hore Station.