Farm managers

Date: [ca 22 August 1988]

From: Dominion Post (Newspaper): Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers

By: Giblin, Ross, active 1980s-2000s

Reference: EP/1988/3337-F

Description: Farm manager John Ransom and scientist Antony Roberts in a paddock at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Flock House centre near Bulls, taken ca 22 August 1988 by Evening Post staff photographer Ross Giblin. The cattle in the background are farmed without the use of artificial drenches or treatments. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s) strip with 3 images. Physical Description: Cellulose triacetate negative, 35mm

Date: 1887-1890, 1898-1907

By: Lyons, Alfred Richard, 1843?-1907

Reference: fMS-Papers-6242

Description: Lyons records his business activities, his personal and social life, the birth of his daughter (the donor's mother) and other family highlights Source of title - Supplied Relationship complexity - See TAPUHI for New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency records held by Library Lyons came to Palmerston North in 1886 as a partner of Messrs F R Jackson and Co, then accepted the management of Mangaterata run from the BNZ, later becoming property manager for the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company Quantity: 1 box(es) (4 vols in folio-sized box). 0.06 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Holographs (photocopies) Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Donated by Mr P Shirtcliffe, Khandallah, Wellington, Apr 1998

Date: [1905-1975]

By: Mowat, Alexander Gard, 1888-1975; Hocking, Violet June, 1916-2010

Reference: 77-155

Description: Mowat made regular entries in his diaries, sometimes very full and sometimes very meagre. He noted the weather, the main farming activity of the day, visitors and other matters. Diaries for 1915 and 1916 cover the period Mowat was at Te Awaiti Station Source of title - Supplied title Mowat worked first as farm hand at Molesworth Station where he became head shepherd and then managed properties at Mokau, Te Awaiti in the Wairarapa, Mangaoti at Mokau, the Wrekin at Blenheim, Tikokino and Bulls Quantity: 2 box(es). 0.60 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Holographs

Date: 11 Mar 1995 - 6 Apr 1995 - 27 Nov 1996

From: Hawkes Bay oral history project

By: Hayes, John, 1940-

Reference: OHInt-0438-07

Description: John Hayes was born in Hastings in 1940. He spent his early years in Wellington returning to Hawkes Bay at the age of seven. Comments that he did not know his father who was overseas during World War II and then separated from his mother. Recalls living with his grandmother in Lower Hutt while his mother was matron at Wellesley College, Eastbourne. Recalls his mother remarrying in 1950. Describes being a boarder at Napier Boys High School and leaving school at the age of sixteen to go shepherding. Recalls that his parents drew a farm block in the Waikato. Describes working on a station milking cows and making butter. Talks about his marriage in 1966 and becoming manager of a farm inland from Wairoa. Describes working on another property near Wairoa and comments on relationships amongst staff. Mentions violence. Describes managing a property between Gisborne and Wairoa. Recalls Maori shearing gangs and a thriving rural infrastructure. Talks about hunting in the Ureweras, buying an old home and developing the land, an increase in land values and buying a smaller property at Tongoio. Mentions his wife's death from cancer. Recalls working with Elders Pastoral as goat co-ordinator, moving to Waipukurau as general agent and the devastation of Cyclone Bola. Recalls returning to Tongoio, community spirit, tennis matches and meeting his new partner. Describes moving to Havelock North and working for Mobil. Describes overseas travel and his family's activities. Discusses new developments in farming including the farming of ostriches, emus and llamas and reafforestation. Recalls the speed with which farming changed as a result of the removal of farm subsidies and deregulation. Discusses parochialism and the issue of the location of Hawkes Bay hospital. Discusses Maori protestors. Talks about collecting things, garage sales, car boot sales and auctions. Discusses his stable where he keeps his collection of hill country machinery. Talks about tourism and the nationalities of tourists. Mentions his partner's Dutch origins and returning to Holland with her. Discusses clothing including the Swandri. Talks about buying and selling totara posts and batons. Recalls being part of the Hawkes Bay Hunt which hunts the hare. Comments on MMP. Mentions a son who has returned from his OE (overseas experience) and relationships as a result of the OE. Comments on the cost of tertiary education. Interviewer(s) - Robert Paton Interviewer(s) - Joyce Paton Accompanying material - Newspaper cutting about his business Totata Antique Posts which he runs from Totara Stables. Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-7924,7925,7926,7927; OHLC-4031,4032,4033,4034. Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 4 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2138. Photograph of John Hayes in accompanying newspaper cutting Search dates: 1940 - 1996

Date: 07 May 2005

From: Friends of Mana Island oral history project

By: Gault, John Stevenson, 1932-

Reference: OHInt-0814-04

Description: Interview with John Gault, born at Titahi Bay in 1932. Mentions that he always wanted to be a farmer and studied at Massey Agricultural College. Talks about his father and uncles buying the lease of Mana Island in 1953 and its run-down state at the time. Comments on restocking the island using a 30 ft whaleboat to bring over sheep and cattle, and floating 44 gallon drums of diesel and petrol fuel ashore from the whaleboat. Refers to building a barge to take stock to the mainland. Discussess the amount of physical labour required to farm the island, mustering being difficult, aerial topdressing, and fencing wire lasting only 10-12 years. Reflects that the tractor, which was brought in by boat, revolutionised farming on the island. Discusses having a crystal set, and going to the mainland most weekends for sport, meeting his wife there and marrying in the early 1960s. Mentions that their three children had correspondence lessons until they shifted to the mainland. Talks about managing the island by 1961 and commuting to Mana regularly on the boat Tutanekai which operated from Paremata. Refers to having a 32 volt generator, stove, 12v lights, radio and TV. Talks about farm staff, including farm cadets and Andrew Vella of Titahi Bay. Refers to the Tory Channel whalers and local commercial fishermen. Comments on being the last farmer on Mana Island, the quarantine staion, and being sad to leave the island. Interviewer(s) - Denis Fairfax Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-014961, OHC-014962 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 Electronic document(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration. Physical Description: Word processing document - Microsoft word Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5472, OHDL-000012. Search dates: 1932 - 2005

Date: 21 Jan 2008

From: Molesworth oral history project

By: Chisholm, Rachel, 1915-

Reference: OHInt-0868-02

Description: Interview with Rachel Chisholm, born in Invercargill in 1915. Talks about growing up on a small farm, learning dressmaking after leaving school, marrying her husband Bill (Mervyn) Chisholm in 1939, and living in Makarora, Haast and Motueka. Mentions that Bill's work as a deer culler, carrying heavy packs, gave him back trouble and he was rejected for War service. Discusses going to Molesworth Station in 1942, the final part of the journey being by spring cart, crossing a river 17 times, and finding the homestead in a neglected state. Describes the house having cob walls 18 inches (45 cm) thick, building a new cookhouse, not having electricity until 19 years later, and needing meat safes. Talks about having mail and stores delivered once a week. Recalls heating the house with open fires and heavy winter snowfalls. Talks about cutting firewood, having house cows, making butter, keeping hens, introducing bee hives, and establishing a garden of frost-hardy plants. Refers to cooking for the staff for a few years and then having a station cook. Mentions the nearest neighbours were seven miles away. Refers to her son Bruce having correspondence lessons until he was seven, then sending him to relations in Christchurch. Mentions phoning weather data to Wellington every morning. Mentions the government gave Bill a free hand to run the station but it took time to make a profit. Discusses the poor state of the land when they went to Molesworth, the grass slowly recovering after rabbit control, and Bill gradually building up the number of cattle (herefords, black poll and hereford-black poll cross). Mentions scientists Lucy Moore, H H Allan and Margaret Blufin [nee Simpson] establishing experimental plots to test grasses at Molesworth from the mid 1940s. Talks about aerial oversowing of grass, an invasion of Canada geese, and ferret control. Refers to Tarndale being part of Moleworth, St Helens being taken over, and communicating between the stations by radiotelephone. Mentions stockmen, cooks, rabbiters who worked at Molesworth. Talks about often travelling out through Hanmer by truck, and getting big quad bikes that could cross rivers. Refers to her husband deciding to retire when he was 65, and being replaced by Ann and Don Reid [their daughter and son-in-law] who had been at Molesworth for 23 years. Talks about moving to Blenheim when they retired, and a big reunion in Hanmer in 1998. Refers to Mount Chisholm and Rachel Range being named after them. Contents: Abstract accompanied by photocopy of an account of Rachel Chisholm's life by her granddaughter Jill Reid (2006. 33 p, ill) Interviewer(s) - Julia Brooke-White Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-016215 - OHC-016217 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 Electronic document(s). 1 interview(s). 3.10 Hours and minutes Duration. 84 kilobyte(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5882, OHDL-000093. Abstract accompanied by black and white photograph of Rachel Chisholm helping daughter Ann talk by radio telephone to her father at Tarndale, 28 miles from Molesworth Station (The Weekly News, Sep 24 1952); colour photograph of Rachel Chisholm, Blenheim, 2008 Search dates: 1915 - 2008

Date: 22 Jun 2007 - 23 Jun 2007 - 22 Jun 2007 - 23 Jun 2007

From: Molesworth oral history project

By: Reid, Ann Maree, 1950-

Reference: OHInt-0868-03

Description: Interview with Ann Reid (nee Chisholm), born at Motueka in 1950. Talks about growing up at Molesworth Station where her father Bill Chisholm was station manager and her mother ran the homestead. Comments that her father was often away working at out camps. Refers to having correspondence school lessions to form 2, and then going to Rangi Ruru Girls' School in Christchurch. Describes going back to Molesworth as cowgirl, taking over the bookwork, and doing mustering and other farm work. Discusses her husband Don Reid working as a stockman at Molesworth from 1970, marrying in 1973, worked at Seddon for 18 months and then returned to Molesworth Station in 1978 as manager. Talks about having cowgirls to help her from 1980, Don being away from the homestead a lot, and supervising her children's correspondence lessons. Mentions they left Molesworth because of a knee injury to Don, and moved to Te Anau. Describes the homestead and other farm buildings including the old woolshed which was built on rock, the cookhouse and dining room, and Electricorp's accommodation building and workshops. Discusses the station staff - stockmen, rabbiters, cooks and handimen, who were mainly young single men, and comments the attraction was the lifestyle not the wages. Mentions that horses are still used for mustering, and talks about rearing, breaking in, and caring for them. Comments on looking after the dogs when the men were away. Mentions they used lanterns and candles when she was young, then generators and a kerosene fridge, until power was put through to the homestead in 1976. Talks about access to station, and how the last 17 miles was up a riverbed until 1950. Mentions that mail and supplies for the whole station came in once a week. Refers to the importance of radio telephones for communication around the station and in emergencies. Discusses the use of helicopters and aircraft for cattle spotting, topdressing, rabbiting, and wild pig, deer and goat culling. Mentions their use in emergencies and to bring in the vet. Comments that fuel came in drums, later a tanker, and the station had underground storage tanks. Discusses problems with people who wanted to drive through the station, the official opening of the road through Molesworth in 1987, and the stipulation they made that Department of Conservation (DOC) staff manage access and camping at Molesworth and Bush Gully. Reflects that she would like to see Molesworth continue with a farming operation, and that DOC will need the income to maintain the property and for pest and weed control. Interviewer(s) - Julia Stace Brooke-White Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-016033 - OHC-016035 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5883, OHDL-000094. Colour photographs of Donald and Ann Reid (24 Jun 2007) and of Ann Reid (23 Jun 2007) Search dates: 1950 - 2007

Date: 30 Aug 2007

From: Molesworth oral history project

By: Taylor, Neil Alan, 1954-

Reference: OHInt-0868-05

Description: Interview with Sam (Neil Alan) Taylor, born at Te Kuiti in 1954. Talks about growing up on a farm at Mangaokewa and working on farms at Te Kuiti, Waipa Valley, Taumaranui and Benneydale after he left school. Refers to becoming head shepherd on Koira Station near Taumaranui by his 20th birthday. Discusses going to Molesworth when he was 24 with his team of dogs to work for two seasons and being made head stockman almost immediately, before he was familiar with the station. Discusses other staff, the Chisholms, and Don and Ann Reid. Talks about living in the out camps, with mail and fresh supplies delivered to them weekly, killing sheep for dog tucker and cooking in camp ovens. Notes introduction of portable radios lessened the isolation in the camps. Refers to spending two seasons as head stockman, then returning to the North Island to work on sheep farms. Describes returning to manage Molesworth's bull farm at Hanmer [in 1987], where his work included making thousands of hay bales for the station, fencing the farm to make more paddocks, and growing kale and swedes for winter stockfeed. Refers to yearly buying of young bulls, maintaining a mob of 120-130 bulls, and also working on the Molesworth musters. Comments that his absences, sometimes for weeks, were difficult for his wife especially when their children were small. Mentions that he likes sheep and raised lambs at Hanmer. Talks about the transition for Molesworth from Lands and Survey to Landcorp ownership, with the Department of Conservation making environmental decisions. Mentions that he applied unsuccessfully for the job of Molesworth station manager when the Reids left, and he is now in the North Island managing a farm near Te Awamutu. Comments that the position has become more political. Refers to the pressure for public access to Molesworth, and the costs it has brought for rabbit and weed control and infrastructure maintenance. Reflects that he is thankful to have been part of Molesworth. Interviewer(s) - Julia Stace Brooke-White Accompanying material - copy of poem Large Tracks by Jim Morris written for Don and Ann Reid when they retired from Molesworth (1 p); copy of poem Molesworth (2 p; based on poem The Man from Snowy River by Banjo Patterson) Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-016039 - OHC-016041 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 Electronic document(s). 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration. 80 kilobyte(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5885, OHDL-000096. Colour photograph of Sam Taylor and horse (30 Aug 2007) Search dates: 1954 - 2007

Date: 24 Jun 2007

From: Molesworth oral history project

By: Reid, Donald John, 1947-

Reference: OHInt-0868-04

Description: Interview with Don (Donald John) Reid, born in Blenheim in 1947. Talks about working on farms after he left school, including Molesworth station from 1970, becoming head stockman in 1972. Describes Bill Chisholm as a good boss and a figure head. Talks about marrying Ann Chisholm, moving to Seddon for two years after a disagreement with Bill Chisholm, and returning to Molesworth as manager in 1978. Discusses learning about the administrative work, staff recruitment, and the importance of the head stockman. Mentions that he did not have the same pressures as the previous manager Bill Chisholm as the rabbits had been beaten and revegetation was under way. Refers to official visitors from the Soil Council, catchment boards, Botany Division (DSIR), and Lands & Survey (later Landcorp). Refers to Molesworth being assigned to Landcorp when state owned enterprises were created [in 1987], against opposition from Forest & Bird and the Federated Mountain Clubs, with the Department of Conservation overseeing conservation and public access. Comments on the debate over people wanting open access to the property, and the implications for disturbance to cattle and stock management. Describes the annual cycle of work on Molesworth beginning with the first muster at the end of August. Mentions that horses are still used for mustering although there was increasing use of helicopters and fixed wing aeroplanes on the property. Describes the steer drives to Hanmer, which were phased out when stock was sold directly from the property. Comments that he changed Molesworth from a store stock operation to finishing the steers, and that they had to buy in bulls for breeding. Mentions his wife Ann raised orphan calves, milked cows all year, and delivered supplies to the camps. Describes the back camps and huts, the main ones being Tarndale and Bush Gully, and their ongoing maintenance. Discusses control of pests including rabbits and ferrets, and mentions having a pest and weed controller on the staff. Mentions the main weeds were sweet briar, broom, wilding pines and Hieracium. Comments that the Department of Conservation is not spending enough on weed and pest control. Interviewer(s) - Julia Stace Brooke-White Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-016036 - OHC-016038 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 Electronic document(s). 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration. 85 kilobyte(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5884, OHDL-000095. Colour photograph of Donald Reid (23 Jun 2007) Search dates: 1947 - 2007

Date: 2 May 1932

From: S P Andrew Ltd :Portrait negatives

Reference: 1/1-018701-F

Description: Seated portrait of William Duffus Hunt, 2 May 1931, photographed by S P Andrew Ltd. Inscriptions: Marginal notes on negative - above image - 668C Hunt. William. Sir 6 Fol MON. 2.7.32 Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative

Date: [ca 1876]

From: Rolleston album 2

Reference: PA1-q-197-11-2

Description: Portrait of George Samuel Sale, circa 1876. Photographer unidentified. Inscriptions: Verso - Proffesor [sic] Sale Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Albumen print 64 x 91 mm, mounted in carte de visite album