Places

Date: 27 Jun 2000

By: Ferguson, Bruce Archibald, 1917-2010; Dawber, Carol, 1951-

Reference: OHColl-0489/1

Description: Bruce Ferguson was born in Nelson in 1917. Gives details of the early history of Ferntown including his family's settlement at Pakawau. Describes his childhood there. Talks about the Mt Burnett coalmine, Puponga shipping and coalminers, the Pakawau timber mill and the Dry Road project. Describes working at Kaihoka and building a house there. Talks about local personalities including Edmund Davidson, James Mackay and Joe Taylor. Describes deer, pigs, godwits, ducks, kaka and other wildlife. Recalls travelling to Nelson on the `Wairoa' and the sinking of the 'Kotiti'. Talks about gold prospecting. Interviewer(s) - Carol Dawber Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-1843.

Date: Sep-Oct 1985 - 01 Sep 1985 - 31 Oct 1985

From: Nelson and Golden Bay Oral History Project

By: Bennett, Florence Evelyn, 1916-2000; Bennett, Thomas, 1910-1993

Reference: OHInt-0053/10

Description: Florrie Bennett was born in Nelson in 1915 or 1916. Describes being raised as a child to constant hard work in Lower Moutere in the 1920s. Talks about not looking forward to the school holidays because of the hard work involved. Describes `hidings'and a tough upbringing in terms of discipline. Mentions that she turned to her mother. Gives details about her brothers and sisters, working in orchards and working for the Hendersons of Motueka and Mrs Savage of Nelson. Recalls receiving no pay for working for her family before she was married. Tom Bennett was born in Kuala Lumpur in 1910. Describes emigrating to New Zealand in 1930 determined to get his own farm and working at Bainham before putting a deposit on a dairy farm in Gardiners Valley in 1933. Describes working at the Harakeke Mill and doing horse contract work for extra income. Talks about being forced off it in 1939 as a result of being unable to keep up payments. Explains why his debt was not wiped by the Mortgage Adjustment Act at the end of the Depression. Talks about marrying Florrie in 1936 and their hard work together. Describes very basic facilities including the need to carry water to the house. Talks about Florrie's work on the farm and also off the farm, including work picking hops. Talks about having babies, breastfeeding and looking after children while continuing with farm work and housework. Describes going to Kaihoka Station to work after losing their Gardiners Valley farm. Talks about the social gap between the boss and the workers. Describes working for John (Jack) Haldane at Bainham and the cream can war at Bainham. Talks about saving money, working at the Cobb hydro site and buying a farm at Hamama in 1946. Describes hard work on the farm and the purchase of the Onekaka farm in 1962. Notes work done on the farm to improve its pakihi soil. Talks about Florrie's role in the decision-making, their partnership, regrets and attitudes to and philosophies on life. Venue - Takaka : 1985 Interviewer(s) - Rosie Little Venue - The Bennetts' home at Onekaka Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-002927; OHC-002928; OHC-002929; OHC-002930; OHC-002931; OHC-002932; OHC-002933; OHC-002934 Quantity: 8 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 6.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 566.