Richards, Gilbert Henry, 1902-1995

Date: January 1986 - 01 Jan 1986

From: Nelson and Golden Bay Oral History Project

By: Richards, Gilbert Henry, 1902-1995

Reference: OHInt-0053/21

Description: Gilbert Richards was born in Ferntown on 15 January 1902. Talks about his father John Henry Richards, a pioneer of the Paturau area, and gives details of his family background. Notes that John Bramley (Jack) Nicholls, Heather Bonsell and Joyce Parkinson, also interviewed in this project, are also members of his family. Describes his upbringing in Ferntown including childhood jobs and pastimes and the Ferntown School. Talks about milking on the farm, beekeeping, the vegetable garden and home orchard and clearing of land. Recalls Paturau in an almost virgin state in 1912. Describes moving to Paturau to join his brothers who had taken up land from the Taitapu Estate, and living there for sixty years before retiring to Ferntown with his eldest son Billy. Talks about building the Paturau house and working for other people to make money for farm development. Talks about Collingwood hotels and dances, rugby in Golden Bay and the associated social life, the northwest Nelson earthquake, Depression hardships incuding the sale of stock, coastal shipping, various timber mills including Bassett's, Westhaven Inlet and Parkeston, the Prouse and Saunders flaxmill, goldmining on the Taitapu Estate and roads, including the Westhaven Dry Road. Venue - Collingwood : 1986 Interviewer(s) - Rosie Little Venue - Mr Richards' home south of Paturau Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-003035; OHC-003056; OHC-003057; OHC-003058; OHC-003059; OHC-003060; OHC-003061; OHC-003062 Quantity: 8 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 8 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 587.