Places

Date: 21 Apr 1983

From: Interviews about Rotorua by Don Stafford

By: Gleeson, Albert, active 1923-1983

Reference: OHInt-0470/12

Description: Bert Gleeson discusses fishing in the Rotorua area and the very large rainbow trout caught at Lake Okataina. Describes some of the theatres and dance halls in Rotorua in the 1920s and his involvement, with his wife Edna, in running the Peerless (dance) Hall between 1923 and 1925. Talks about driving a service car from Rotorua to Whakatane and the need for two cars to drive together to help one another with breakdowns. Recalls the Rangitaiki swamp, getting stuck, Rotomoa township and drivers Sandy and Bob Laird. Describes some of the cars operated by the Rotorua Motor Coaching Company. Discusses the construction of the Rotorua-Taupo railway line. Talks about the Depression, tree planting and rates of pay for married and single men. Describes a pay cut during the Depression while working for the Rotorua Motor Coaching Company. Comments on the long hours worked. Recalls spending three years during World War II at the Army camp at Arawa Park used to bring up to standard men who were unfit for the war. Describes spending three years in the camp. Mentions it became a camp for Maori Battalion. Discusses the Rotorua to Taupo service car run. Mentions the opposition company Hot Lakes Transport Company. Notes that Aard was an association of motor companies rather than a company itself and that the Rotorua Motor Coaching company was part of the White Star line. Interviewer(s) - Don Stafford Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-2860.

Date: 1930s

From: Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper

Reference: PAColl-5927-55

Description: Unemployed men constructing a road during the Great Depression, probably in the Akatarawa region. Made for publication in the Evening Post by an unidentified photographer during the 1930s. Arrangement: Original neg at 1/2-036286 Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print

Date: [ca 1974]

By: Rodda, Thomas Edward, 1881-1975?

Reference: MS-Papers-9980

Description: Rodda describes his life including background from his birth and arrival in NZ in 1884, his life on his family's farm, near Rangiriri, now Te Kauwhata, the Maori in the district, including their use of flour sacks for clothing, mosquitoes, school days, his first employment on Waerenga Experimental Farm, his experiences with early, and later, grape and fruitgrowing. In March 1905 he began work on road and rail construction at Oio and he describes work conditions and the work in some detail, until he returned to Waerenga inAug 1905. He describes his various positions within the department, often as an inspector. He joined the Legion of Frontiersmen in 1913 and the Hamilton Company of the National Military Reserve in 1939. He describes duties as a justice of the peace, his experiences during the depression and his appointment as farm manager and college superintendent at Ruakura Farm of Instruction in 1932, and breeding of pedigree milking cattle. He concludes with a descriptiion of his life after retirement. Source of title - Transcribed Quantity: 1 folder(s) (26 leaves). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Typescript Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Donated by the Auckland Historical Society, Auckland, per Ms Winifred Macdonald, editor, Jul 1976

Date: 17 September 1989 - 17 Sep 1989

From: Massey University History Department. Students' Oral History Projects.

By: Barry, Michael, active 1989

Reference: OHInt-0151/36

Description: Michael Barry gives details of road work positions he has had in Kaioi and bridge building in the ParaPara Road area. Discusses his social life and importance of rugby in his life; the Depression and the system of working for the dole money. Recalls some of the old characters from hunting, the bush fire in 1918, the Tangiwai disaster and the Wanganui River and how life on the river has changed. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Venue - Wanganui Interviewer(s) - Michael Shenton Venue - 258 Somme Parade, Wanganui Relationship complexity - partial course requirement for oral history paper at Massey University Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-002201; OHLC-002261 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 45 Minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB-0392.

Date: January 1986 - 01 Jan 1986

From: Nelson and Golden Bay Oral History Project

By: Richards, Gilbert Henry, 1902-1995

Reference: OHInt-0053/21

Description: Gilbert Richards was born in Ferntown on 15 January 1902. Talks about his father John Henry Richards, a pioneer of the Paturau area, and gives details of his family background. Notes that John Bramley (Jack) Nicholls, Heather Bonsell and Joyce Parkinson, also interviewed in this project, are also members of his family. Describes his upbringing in Ferntown including childhood jobs and pastimes and the Ferntown School. Talks about milking on the farm, beekeeping, the vegetable garden and home orchard and clearing of land. Recalls Paturau in an almost virgin state in 1912. Describes moving to Paturau to join his brothers who had taken up land from the Taitapu Estate, and living there for sixty years before retiring to Ferntown with his eldest son Billy. Talks about building the Paturau house and working for other people to make money for farm development. Talks about Collingwood hotels and dances, rugby in Golden Bay and the associated social life, the northwest Nelson earthquake, Depression hardships incuding the sale of stock, coastal shipping, various timber mills including Bassett's, Westhaven Inlet and Parkeston, the Prouse and Saunders flaxmill, goldmining on the Taitapu Estate and roads, including the Westhaven Dry Road. Venue - Collingwood : 1986 Interviewer(s) - Rosie Little Venue - Mr Richards' home south of Paturau Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-003035; OHC-003056; OHC-003057; OHC-003058; OHC-003059; OHC-003060; OHC-003061; OHC-003062 Quantity: 8 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 8 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 587.

Date: 9 Oct 1985-19 Mar 1986

From: Nelson and Golden Bay Oral History Project

By: Scrimgeour, Arthur Gordon, 1902-1992

Reference: OHInt-0053/26

Description: Gives details of his family background and the employment of his grandfather and father in cheese factories, flaxmills, on goldfields and cutting timber. Describes his parents settling in Pakawau and conditions in the home. Recalls visiting Collingwood and going to W.C. Riley's shop. Talks about making butter, fruit and meat preservation and children's jobs. Describes family attiudes to religion, discipline and manners. Talks about Ferntown and their neighbours there, the Prouse and Saunders timber and flaxmill, the Lunar flaxmill at Kaihoka, the Benara Mill and the Westhaven timber mill. Describes contract work with horse teams and blacksmithing. Talks about getting married, living in Christchurch, looking for work and discontent among the unemployed. Recalls the northwest Nelson earthquake, tramping the Heaphy Track in 1928, wild flowers and the state of the native bush early in the century. Describes mustering at Haupiri Station, bullock teams and goldmining at Diamonds Flat for the Auckland Company during the Depression. Talks about fighting in the Middle East during World War II and the difficulties of returning to civilian life. Describes being a grader driver for the Collingwood County Council and talks about road making. Venue - Nelson : 1986 Interviewer(s) - Rosie Little Venue - Mr Scrimgeour's home in Richmond Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-003091; OHC-003092; OHC-003093; OHC-003094; OHC-003095; OHC-003096; OHC-003097; OHC-003098; OHC-003099; OHC-003100; OHC-003101; OHC-003092; OHC-003093 Quantity: 13 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 12.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 591. Search dates: 1985 - 1986

Date: 20 April 1988 - 20 Apr 1988

From: Nelson and Golden Bay Oral History Project

By: Thomas, Ruth Ida Carter, 1905-1996

Reference: OHInt-0053/27

Description: Ruth Thomas was born in Wellington on 22 July 1905. Describes the circumstances of her birth and her adoption by Edward and Alice Hindley of Tarakohe. Notes that her birth name was Carter. Describes her education, including time at Sacred Heart Convent in Nelson, and early marriage in 1919. Describes finding out about her birth mother and attitudes to adoption then. Talks about her husband and his family background, their marriage, sexual knowledge, childbirth and their family. Recalls their move to Onekaka and his work at the iron works, travel by sea between Golden Bay and Nelson, the isolation of living at Glovers Flat, Anatoki during the Depression while her husband was road building and thrift during the Depression. Gives her views on adoption. Venue - Takaka : 1988 Interviewer(s) - Rosie Little Venue - Mrs Thomas' home at Onekaka Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-003122; OHC-003123 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 595.

Date: [ca 23 Mar 1932]

Reference: PAColl-9469

Description: Photograph of road construction by relief workers in Wellington, probably Brooklyn. Photograph taken during the 1930s depression, circa 23 March 1932, by an unidentified photographer. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Source of descriptive information - Notes on print. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print, 16.3 x 21.4 cm

Date: 1930s

From: Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper

Reference: 1/2-036286-F

Description: Unemployed men constructing a road during the Great Depression, probably in the Akatarawa region. Made for publication in the Evening Post by an unidentified photographer during the 1930s. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s).

Date: [ca 1930-1933]

Reference: PAColl-9480

Description: Photograph of relief workers building a retaining wall during road construction works circa 1930-1933. Possibly near Akatarawa, Wellington region. Photographer unidentified. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Source of descriptive information - Notes on item. Possible dates estimated by cataloguer. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print, 16.6 x 21.5 cm