Interview with Frederick Charles Bettjeman

Describes his German born father's early arrival in the Canterbury settlement about 1850. Talks about his family, relationship with his parents and childhood at Fairdown, just out of Westport, the local goldmining community including some of the `identities'`Shakespeare Jo' and `Champagne Charlie' and attitudes to alcohol. Describes the local native bird population and the sluicing process in gold mining.

Talks about his schooling, lifelong interest in poetry and being a seaman from 1904-1909. Recalls working for the Westport Coal Mining Company at Denniston until World War I when he joined the 13th Canterbury Company and fought at Gallipoli. Describes his wartime experience in depth including dysentery, depression, the effects of shell fire, shell shock and the longterm effects of the war. Talks about hospitalisation in Britain and meeting nurse Agnes (Nancy) McNab who came to New Zealand and married him.

Describes taking up bush land in Mangapurua, some distance up the Wanganui River from Pipiriki. Talks about the effort in breaking in the land from bush and the Government's decision to close the Mangapurua Settlement. Recalls objecting to Prime Minister William Massey about this decision. Notes their relocation on land at the Mangahoe River.

Venue - Te Kuiti : 1985

Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson

Venue - Hillview Home, Te Kuiti

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-001301; OHC-001302; OHC-001303; OHC-001304

Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3.30 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 170.

Search dates: 1884 - 1985

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.