Places

Date: 23 Nov 1982

From: Interviews about Rotorua by Don Stafford

By: Turner, Charles Frederick, 1892-

Reference: OHInt-0470/20

Description: Fred Turner came to Te Pu near Rotorua in 1903 when his father took up land, having previously farmed near Christchurch and Bluff. Describes `bush sickness', a cobalt deficiency in the soil, which damaged the animals. Mentions he was living at Pongakawa breaking in land for his father Charley. Talks about his seven brothers and sisters. Describes leaving school before the age of twelve and cooking for a gang of roadmen working in the area in 1904. Describes walking off the Te Pu property in 1931 having been sued for uncontrollable ragwort. Discusses how it was not explained that the land was on a fifty two year lease and he could have bought it back. Describes how most farmers at Te Pu were given land as part of the World War I rehabilitation scheme. Notes that this was land that farmers had previously walked off. Describes unsuccessful attempts to get compensation from the Government for the land. Talks about land at Hamurana and settlers Jack Catley, Harry Ward and the Dittmers. Talks about marrying Miss Dittmer. Talks about breaking in land for Major Herald in Paradise Valley and then buying and farming land in the Valley. Discusses land at Kaharoa. Mentions that people from Te Pu attended school at Kaharoa. Recalls attending tangi at Awahou village. Comments that many Maori were on the gumfields during this period. Talks about Fred Leonard. Describes working for Walter Steele in the bush at Mamaku in 1908 and working for the Mountain Rimu Timber Company. Recalls a fairly large community at Mamaku and describes living conditions at the camp. Describes going to the pictures in Rotorua at Kings Theatre, which was owned by Duncan Steele. Describes being the first farmer in the area to make ensilage and have his herd tested. Comments on successful potato growing. Talks about farm animals, milking cows, separating milk from cream and the dairy factory at Ngongotaha. Talks about Charlie and Bill Karl. Describes difficulties getting water on his property and digging a well to the depth of one hundred and seventy five feet. Discusses a financial scheme local farmers paid into to see them through hard times and describes how the money for the scheme was taken by Walter Nash. Comments on having to give up on farming because of his legs and gangrene. Mentions Dick Garlick driving coaches. Describes working on the road gang near Pongakawa. Interviewer(s) - Don Stafford Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-2869.

Date: 6-7 May 1998 - 06 May 1998 - 07 May 1998

From: Government House oral history project Stage I

By: Hawthorn, Raymond George, 1927-2007

Reference: OHInt-0636/4

Description: Ray Hawthorn was born in Wellington in 1927. Gives details of his family background. Describes spending school holidays with his maternal grandfather, a butcher, at Rongotea. Describes his work routine, killing a pig and making sausages. Recalls difficult times during the Depression and his father's unemployment. Describes time off school for infantile paralysis (polio). Talks about growing up in Owen Street in Newtown, Wellington, being a cub and a boy scout and attending Wellington South School. Describes employment as a telegram boy with Post and Telegraph. Discusses restrictions on telegrams during World War II. Talks about becoming Government House delivery boy then being transferred from the Post Office to the Internal Affairs Department. Mentions Albert Naulls. Describes the Official Secretary at Government House, David Fouhy, and comments on the formality. Mentions the Governor-General was Sir Cyril Louis Norton Newall. Describes how the butler ruled one half of Government House, the Official Secretary the other. Describes lunches, etiquette, forms of address and curtseying. Discusses formalities at staff meals and explains the hierarchy. Discusses military hero Lord Freyberg who was the next Governor-General from 1946-1952. Comments on Lord and Lady Freyberg as a couple. Recalls visits of Eleanor Roosevelt, Lord Mountbatten, Field Marshall Montgomery and Lyndon B Johnson. Comments on politicians Sir Sidney Holland and Peter Fraser. Talks about the gardens at Government House and changes to the building before a royal tour. Discusses the 1953 Royal Tour, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. Mentions the Tangiwai disaster. Talks about getting married in 1956 to Shirley Goldfinch who worked at Government House. Describes his daily working routine, with reference to the mail, becoming senior orderly and later Administration Officer. Discusses the etiquette of presenting decorations. Talks about Lord Norrie, Governor-General from 1952-1957, and Lord Cobham. Mentions Lord Cobham's love of cricket. Discusses relationships between Governors-General and Prime Ministers. Mentions Walter Nash. Talks about English aides de camp before the time of Lord Porritt and changes with employment of more New Zealanders as staff. Describes the replacement of David Fouhy by David Williams as Official Secretary. Discusses the relationship between the Official Secretary and the Comptroller. Describes moving Government House to Auckland for three months each year. Talks about Sir Denis Blundell as Governor-General from 1972-1977 and then Sir Keith Holyoake. Comments on Waitangi Day and protest, Dame Whina Cooper and the 1981 Springbok Tour. Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 4.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3398.

Date: 6, 7 July 1995 - 06 Jul 1995 - 07 Jul 1995

By: Owen, Alwyn, 1926-; Jackson-Thomas, Fiametta Cecilia, 1903-2003

Reference: OHColl-0312/1

Description: Fiametta Cecily Jackson-Thomas born Roslyn, Dunedin. Gives parents background and talks about father's life as a Punch and Judy expert, trapeze artist and snake handler until the age of 35 when he became a cabinet maker. Describes own school days, clothing worn, discipline in school, cadet uniform, chanting of tables, pole drill, description of games played, explaining how boys and girls played games differently. Recalls outbreak of World War I, its effects on women, friends receiving telegrams and comforting each other, white feather incident and attitutes to conscientious objectors. Talks about brother's involvement in World War II. Refers to 6 o'clock closing as a war measure. Recalls being only family in street not contacting flu during epidemic. Refers to garlic as used in Corsica. Describes work experience, working in art department of photographic firm and going to School of Art 1/2 day per week. Talks about Ngaio Marsh who was in class. Refers to Ronald McKenzie, also in class. Recalls learning cabinetmaking which was considered radical for the period - 3rd woman in New Zealand to do so. Talks about social hierarchy of Christchurch. Mentions visit of Prince of Wales. Backgrounds meeting and marrying husband, Arthur, and his brief involvement with the Communist Party. Describes helping watersiders during 1951 Waterfront Dispute and at end of dispute Arthur being made honorary Life Member of Seamen's Union. Talks about Walter Nash. Also refers to Bastion Point occupation and reads poem about Maori sweeper. Gives background to poem. Mentions husband's position of manager of Auckland's Progressive Book shop and invitation to publishing house in China to help Chinese writers in English. Describes time in China, cultural revolution and immense relief on leaving China. Describes her poetry writing and refers to poem `Idle time'. Interviewer(s) - Alwyn Owen Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-011607-011609 Quantity: 2 C70 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 C90 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-4004.

Date: 2 Mar 1990 - 02 Mar 1990

From: Victor Robertson Oral History Project

By: Robertson, Victor, 1927-

Reference: OHInt-0100-01

Description: Victor Robertson was born 10 Jul 1927 at Manchester, Lancashire. Describes Scottish family background, move from Glasgow to Manchester and then to Dagenham, education, effect of World War II on family life including bombing of home, father's employment with the Ford Motor Co. Discusses employment at Plessey Co and the Royal Air Force (Transport). Recalls reasons for emigrating in 1949, arrival in New Zealand, accommodation, factory job at Neeco, employment at the Public Service Garage. Talks about marriage to Rangi Silberry, attitudes to a mixed marriage, Maoritanga. Describes being a driver with the Public Service Garage, acquiring Chrysler Windsor cars, different coloured vehicles, personnel, other drivers, difference between van, truck and car drivers. Talks about Sir Keith Holyoake, Peter Fraser, becoming a car driver, Labour politicians. Describes rosters, daily routine, accident rate, driving heads of department, becoming a head chauffeur, anti-terrorist courses, condition of cars, effect on family and personal life, becoming a ministerial driver, social activities, sports. Mentions Sir Walter Nash, Sir Sidney Holland, Sir John Marshall, Mabel Howard, Norman Kirk, Sir Wallace Rowling, Sir Robert Mulddon, David Lange. Recalls royal tours, singer Victoria De Los Angeles, retirement in 1989, part-time work as a parliamentary messenger. Venue - Porirua Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson Venue - At Mr Robertson's home at Porirua Accompanying material - handwritten family biography, two papers on the Public Service Garage, list of royal visits to New Zealand from 1900-1974, paper on royal visits Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-002905/002906/002907, OHLC-000939/000941/000940 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-0560. Two b&w photos. At Whatcom Lake Railroad, Washington State, USA, 1988; Roxburgh Street, Wellington, 1949. Search dates: 1927 - 1990