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: 5 Dec 1988 - 05 Dec 1988

From: NZOHA Electricity Centenary Oral History Project Stages I, II and III

By: Macky, James Henderson, 1913-2002

Reference: OHInt-0003/27

Description: Jim Macky describes family background; reference to 'The Macky Family in New Zealand'; childhood; practical work for civil engineering training; early interest in engineering; university training at Auckland and Canterbury Universities, early 1930s; reference to Professor Cull (?); role as engineer at Buller Gorge Railway, late 1930s, for Public Works Department; details of work of concrete technician; mentions 1938 election; reference overseers, Jim Delich, Bill Cadigon, Matt Heffernan; the compressed air operation in bridge construction; experience of the 'bends'; other major constructions; tunnelling; local rugby; reference to Mike Senior, Gordon Fraser, Archie Park. Recalls service in World War II, building railway depots in Italy and Middle East; methods of railway construction, especially completing railway between Beirut and Tripoli; sent to Turkey to plan bases for British army; malaria; marriage; role after the war as engineer at Kaitawa and Karapiro for Ministry of Works; penstock construction; reference district engineer Napier, Jack Gilkinson; role as mechanical engineer at Karapiro; describes Jack Gilkison; final quality of Karapiro job; lack of equipment; reference to Alan Scott, 'the best policeman in New Zealand'; labour mostly manpowered; conditions at camp; Jack Gilkinson's plans for Ministry of Works' camps; visit of Bob Semple and E R McKillop. Discusses reason for being sent to Maraetai as senior engineer in late 1940s; details of planning and mixing concrete; design of metal crushing plant for road metal; type of rock used; details of being in charge of the diversion tunnel; leakage problems due to ignimbrite; details of drilling and filling; Maori employees at Maraetai, reference Jack Judah (?), Mason McDonald, Kingi Taui, Fergie Ngatai, Joe Tairoa; problems with dam construction at Maraetai; establishment of Maraetai Scheme and village of Mangakino; dry summer of 1945 - 1946; trout fishing; the Mangakino community; how set up socially; reference to the Mangakino Hydro Welfare Association; social stratificaton. Recalls role as Resident Engineer at Maraetai; describes George Sherman, overseer; reference to Arnold Clark, Bob Brown, Sid Drinkrow; accidents; relationship with designers at head office; role as project engineer at Mangakino in late 1950s; trip to America to look at latest construction methods and equipment; repairing cracks at Whakamaru Dam; industrial relations; discusses Len Clapham and his effect on many building sites; reference Don Ross, Jock Barnes, Basil Jones; reference to Communists; reference to Sir Basil Arthur. Describes work as Inspecting Engineer in early sixties; work as Director of Roading; funding for Auckland motorway system; travelling; beautification of highways; describes ministers of works, Stan Goosman, Percy Allen, Hugh Watt; describes job as Commissioner of Works in early seventies; dealing with politicians; retirement; mentions being director at Tasman Pulp and Paper Co Limited. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Venue - Taupo Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson Venue - Mr Macky's home at 55 Birch Street, Taupo Accompanying material - Copy of brief biography in Notable New Zealanders, date unknown, p 278; copy of entry in Who's who in New Zealand, 11th ed, 1978; copy of retirement notice in Personal column of New Zealand Engineering, 15 Oct 1973; copy of 'Commissioner farewelled' from Works News, Vol 4, No 3, Spring, 1973; copy of handwritten notes relating to career and aspects of work. Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-001863 - OHC-001865 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 288. Black and white photographs:-. Jim and Jean Macky, 1988. Jim Macky, ca 1950 Search dates: 1913 - 1988

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