Interview with Billy Kusabs

Billy Kusabs was born in Ohaupo in 1902. Explains that his family was originally from Lithuania and describes the progress of his grandfather Henry, who was in the German Navy, to China where he left the Navy and came to New Zealand. Mentions the family's name change form Kushapski to Kusabs. Describes how at different times his father, Ernest, had a sawmill at Mamaku, the Mountain Rimu Timber Company, a mill at Ongaroto and also a launch, the `Hamurana', on the lake at Rotorua. Mentions his brother Roger and uncles Charles and Arthur Kusabs.

Talks about his mother, Lucy Dansey, who died when he was a child and being brought up by his grandmother and housekeepers. Mentions his father remarried Louie Phipps and he has a half brother Doug. Describes attending Rotorua Primary School, Takapuna Primary School, Kings College and Auckland Grammar before working on a farm at Te Aroha, for a surveying company and then at his father's mill at Ongaroto. Discusses his Dansey relatives. Talks about the breakdown of his marriage and the death of his daughter Julie.

Describes having an accident while working at the mill and beginning to work with cars at Kusabs Motors. Describes a number of cars operating tourist service ventures from Rotorua, their drivers and bus service operators. Mentions Harry Chase, Charlton's, the Aard, Carr and Walker and a bus service to Whakarewarewa operated by the Smith and Mau families. Recalls fierce competition amongst the companies.

Describes the tarring and feathering of a French count, Count Montague, who arrived in Rotorua with his wife and had a number of relationships with other women including the police sergeant's daughter. Discusses Harry Astin, `Shivery' Smith and Arthur Nyal. Mentions taking people fishing and a fish that he caught at Lake Okataina being sent to the Wembley exhibition in the 1920s. Mentions driving for Rotorua Motors and having his own bowser. Recalls driving for the Rotorua Bus Company on the Rotorua to Wairoa and the Rotorua to Opotiki runs. Mentions driving a bus to the funeral of King Koroki. Describes losing his job and starting his own bus service from Reporoa to Rotorua.

Discusses going to World War II with the 19th armoured tank regiment. Describes the Italian campaign in detail.

Discusses thermal activity in Rotorua, the possibility of gold at Tokaanu, going out to Green Lake and Maori fear of the `ghost canoe'. Discusses a chain drive car, a car operated with a tiller handle and interesting French, Belgian, German and English cars owned by Jack Lager (Lagar), the Bennetts, Duncan Steele and Charlie Kusabs. Mentions Doris Benney (nee Penney) and the Penney family and George Dansey, the original postmaster, and land owned by the Dansey family.

Interviewer(s) - Don Stafford

Quantity: 2 C90 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 interview(s).

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-2864.

Alternative form available: Listening copy is available at OHLCD-0436b, OHLCD-0437