Interview with David Mackie

David Mackie recalls the miners' homestead; mining in Scotland; Scottish mobile cutters; Pukemiro in the 1920s; mining lights (lamps) in the 1920s; mining clothing; accidents in Scottish mines during World War II; the Glen Afton disaster of 1939; fire fighting; using dummy jigs (before conveyor belts and mechanical cutters); the different poisonous gases and dust in the mine; training to be a deputy and mine rescuer (Edinburgh Mining College); deputies as providers of first aid; compares mine rescue stations at Rotowaro and Scottish mines; glenie lamps and canaries; Scottish mining (sink mining); using fire for ventilation; pioneer versus modern mining.

Describes the Huntly Working Mens Club; mining in Scotland as a boy; morning tea at Rotowaro mine; pit ponies; Shetland ponies in Scotland; endless ropes and conveyor belts; truckers' job; Australian mines during the depression (1930s); relations between miners and deputies; Rotowaro after World War II; process of firing the shot; testing for gas; underviewers and managers; local Maori; the 'sunburnt Scotsman'; transport; sports clubs at Rotowaro; fishing at Te Akau; shopping in Huntly in 1924; union action at Scargill; 'brushing' the roof; the modern mine at Glen Afton.

Venue - Hamilton

Interviewer(s) - Jamie Mackay

Venue - Flat 10, 211 River Road, Hamilton

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004392

Quantity: 1 C90 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 1.25 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 725 - also contains excerpts of tape transcripts.

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-002890