Earnscleugh

Date: 16, 30 Sep 1996 - 16 Sep 1996 - 30 Sep 1996

From: A taste of gold oral history project

By: Weaver, Earnscy, 1950-

Reference: OHInt-0446-13

Description: Earnscy Weaver was born in Clyde in 1950. His parents were Charles Earnscy (Earnc) Weaver and Doreen Craig. Describes how his grandfather dredged and sluiced gold and then in the early 1900s began growing cherries, pears, apricots, apples, plums, greengages, walnuts and almonds. Talks about how his grandfather built the original home out of schist. Recalls how his father and his brothers were all involved in fruit growing. Mentions how his father sold half his property in the 1960s because of poor health. Describes going into a partnership with Fay Richwhite and Co which took over his orchard and included it in a development of another one hundred acres of orchard known as Summerfruit Orchards Ltd. Describes how the water rights were taken from mining rights. Comments on the huge importance of water and disputes caused by it. Comments on changes in planting and pruning technique, frost protection and spraying. Mentions hydraulic ladders. Discusses a new style of spraying known as Integrated Fruit Protection (IFP) which involves the use of softer chemicals and targeted rather than blanket spraying. Discusses the use of air freight for transporting fruit. Mentions that his father was a progressive grower. Discusses the role of women in the orchard business. Describes how his grandmother had home help and his mother worked very hard at feeding staff and family several times a day but was not involved in decision-making. Discusses the work of his wife, Irene Weaver, in orchard office administration. Mentions her involvement in decision-making until they both became employees of the company. Describes working on the orchard as a child and the work of some of his own family on the orchard. Comments on his discouraging their orchard work as it is a hard life. Recalls doing a Diploma in Horticulture at Lincoln and working in Hawkes Bay orchards for a year before returning to the family property. Describes working closely with Hort Research. Talks about the Earnscleugh community since World War II and changes in it as orcharding becomes more business minded and competitive. Comments that the planned mining venture will provide an exit from orcharding for those who want to get out. Mentions that mining at Island Block has shown that land impact can be minimal. Discusses in detail varieties of fruit currently grown particularly cherries, apricots and apples. Mentions the limited flexibility in selecting apple varieties because of the control of the Apple and Pear Board. Comments that growers can respond to market demand within four years. Describes networking with growers about varieties they can offer. Discusses the use of brokers who market fruit internationally. Mentions new and developing markets in Asia particularly Bangkok and Taiwan. Talks about the Clutha Valley Export Company (CVE) which markets stone fruit and the Clutha Valley Marketing Group (CVM) marketing pip fruit. Discusses the use of eight permanent staff and two hundred casual workers during the picking season. Mentions payment by piece rates. Talks about diversification into nuts, peonies and other produce. Comments on the importance of the weather. Interviewer(s) - Janis Morgan Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-008572 - OHC-008574 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-2672.

Date: 19 Feb 1997

From: A taste of gold oral history project

By: Iversen, Gary Beaufort, 1934-

Reference: OHInt-0446-06

Description: Gary Iversen was born in Cromwell in 1934. His parents were Eleanor and Andreas Iversen. Describes how his Danish great grandfather Andreas Iversen arrived in Conroy's Gully with Richard Dawson as a result of the goldrush and began working at Bringan's nursery. Describes his move from Conroy's gully to a six hundred acre block of land in Earnscleugh probably in the 1880s. Notes the property was called Vard after his homeland. Describes how he grew oats for the horses, raised sheep and cattle, developed the Roxburgh Red apricot and also grew peaches, cherries and plums. Mentions that his legacy was irrigation and the little owl as a predator for birds. Describes how the family land was divided into three on the death of Andreas Iversen and was further broken up after the war. Recalls leaving school and working for his father, taking over the orchard in 1964 and looking after it until 1983. Discusses cultivation, tree spacing, spraying, frost fighting, packaging and marketing. Discusses improvements in the appearance and size of fruit which are not matched by taste. Comments that the market drives orchardists. Notes that small markets can be quickly oversupplied and most of his fruit went to the North Island. Discusses the physical nature of work on an orchard and problems such as transport, brown rot and the weather. Describes returning to visit a shed and being surprised by the volume of fruit, size of the shed, use of technology and a new grader. Briefly tells stories about great grandfather Andreas Iversen, his grandfather and Alec Taylor, Duke Iversen and the making of home brew and whisky. Comments on the family's interest in education. Interviewer(s) - Janis Morgan Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-008560 - OHC-008561 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 interview(s). 1.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-2665.

Date: Between 1923 and 1928

From: Moore, Robert Percy, 1881-1948 :Panoramic photographs of New Zealand

By: Iversen, E J, active 1920s

Reference: Pan-2051-F

Description: Panoramic view looking down from a rocky hillside over a flat valley with hills and mountains in the background. Grazing animals on areas of pasture. Rows of poplars and other trees with a large area orchard across the centre right of the image. Another orchard partially visible amongst poplars in the left foreground. Taken by Robert Percy Moore. Inscriptions: Photographer's title on negative - Fruit Orchard, Otago. No. 640; Marginal notes on negative - Mr E.J. Inversen [i.e. Iversen] via Alexandra. 3 oils. Rocks & ground on hills greyish colour. Poplar trees dar green. Paddocks on flat patches golden, others green. Hills where seen is shining golden. Mountains [in?] parts blue haze. Orchard light & dark green; Marginal notes on negative - 8 8 8 8 8 [in list formation] Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Panoramic negative 24.7 x 122.4 cm

Date: Between 1923 and 1928

From: Moore, Robert Percy, 1881-1948 :Panoramic photographs of New Zealand

By: Spain, Stephen Thomas, 1862-1940

Reference: Pan-1859-F

Description: Panoramic close-up view of a large two-storeyed brick homestead with a parapet around a flat roof. Pillars along entrance porch. Small verandahs on both floors at either side of the rounded entrance bay. Rusticated corners. Creeper on house, flower beds in front. Clover in the large lawn. Brick outbuildings behind and to the left of the house. Poplars and firs behind. Taken by Robert Percy Moore. Refer also Pan-1858 Inscriptions: Marginal notes on negative - S.T. Spain. Earnscleugh. Clyde, Otago. 1 oils. 3 sepia. Brick home. Light green creeper on house. Roses, pinks, red, white in centre of lawn. Also to left of house. Fir trees, poplars. White clover on lawn. Weeping willows light green. Red gate to left of house. Various flowers near poplar trees. Rocks between firs to right of house grey; Marginal notes on negative - 2 2 2 2 2 [in list formation] Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Panoramic negative 24.7 x 107.1 cm

Date: Between 1923 and 1928

From: Moore, Robert Percy, 1881-1948 :Panoramic photographs of New Zealand

By: Marshall, G M, active 1920s

Reference: Pan-1862-F

Description: Panoramic view looking down across a road to a large orchard separated into several groves of trees with a central undeveloped field. Shelter belts of trees include poplars and willows. In the right foreground there is a back view of a brick farm building with an iron roof. Houses visible in the distance behind the orchard. Hills in the background. Taken by Robert Percy Moore. Inscriptions: Marginal notes on negative - G M Marshall. Matangi Orchard. Otago. 3 B&W; Marginal notes on negative - 6 6 6 6 [in list formation] Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Panoramic negative 24.7 x 119.6 cm

Date: Between 1923 and 1928

From: Moore, Robert Percy, 1881-1948 :Panoramic photographs of New Zealand

By: Wing, J, active 1920s

Reference: Pan-1863-F

Description: Panoramic view looking down from a tussocky hill to a large orchard in a valley which is surrounded by rocky, hills. Taken by Robert Percy Moore. Inscriptions: Marginal notes on negative - J. Wing, Earnscleugh via Alexandria [i.e. Alexandra]. 4 sepia; Marginal notes on negative - 4 4 4 4 4 4 [in list formation] Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Panoramic negative 24.7 x 110.6 cm

Date: 1993-1994, 1996-2000

From: Thornton, Geoffrey Garth, 1922-2017: Papers and photographs relating to industrial and construction heritage

Reference: PA12-11656

Description: Transparencies of bridges in New Zealand, taken by Geoffrey Thornton or Jocelyn Thornton. Each slide mount is annotated with the subject (bridge or viaduct name, and/or river/stream name, and/or road name) and location. Dates and photographer name are often but not always annotated. Title transcribed from item Arrangement: Transparencies were arranged in a 6-row, 50 slides per row, metal case, alphabetically for the first 2 rows. Quantity: 24 colour original transparency/ies. Physical Description: Colour transparencies in plastic and cardboard slide mounts. Processing information: Slides have been removed from container and put into archival pockets, following the original order, from left to right and top to bottom.

Date: 1974-1975, 1978, 1980-1981, 1994, date unknown

From: Thornton, Geoffrey Garth, 1922-2017: Papers and photographs relating to industrial and construction heritage

Reference: PA12-11676

Description: Transparencies of industrial structures in New Zealand, taken by Geoffrey Thornton or Jocelyn Thornton. Each slide mount is annotated with the subject (type of structure and sometimes name of owner/company/building) and location. Dates and photographer name are sometimes annotated. Title transcribed from item. Some slides are not dated. Arrangement: The second of two boxes of slides labelled 'Industrial'. Transparencies were arranged in a 6-row, 50 slides per row, plastic case, and slides of similar structures were grouped together. Quantity: 24 colour original transparency/ies. Physical Description: Colour transparencies in plastic and cardboard slide mounts. Processing information: Slides have been removed from container and put into archival pockets, following the original order, from left to right and top to bottom.

Date: 1963-1967

From: Blumhardt, Doreen (Dame), 1914-2009 :Photographs

Reference: PA12-8528

Description: Includes - Wooden building, Naseby, Central Otago, 1967. Views of snow covered mountains near Naseby, 1967. Gold dredge tailings, Earnscleugh, 1967. Lake front, Queenstown, 1967. Native sedge in seed. Two views of Wairakei, 1966. Native forest, Awakino Gorge, 1966. Lake front, Hatepe, Lake Taupo, 1967. Detail of tree bark, Naseby, 1967. Lemonds and wine coloured magnolia flowers, Havelock, 1967. Montbretia (Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora) flower. Black and white striped moth. Pottery by Doreen Blumhardt, 1963-1964. Quantity: 23 colour original transparency/ies.

Date: Between 1923 and 1928

From: Moore, Robert Percy, 1881-1948 :Panoramic photographs of New Zealand

By: Duncombe, Frederick, active 1920s

Reference: Pan-1918-F

Description: Panoramic view looking down from a rocky hillside to a large orchard in the foreground, in a flat valley. Animals grazing in paddocks beyond the orchard. Car parked on the road below a farmhouse on a hillside on the far left, and a man and a woman standing on the road. Other buildings in the middle distance centre right. Rugged hills in the background on the left. Taken by Robert Percy Moore. Inscriptions: Photographer's title on negative - Fruit orchard. Otago, N.Z. No. 639; Marginal notes on negative - F. Duncombe. Varde Orchard, via Alexandra, Otago. 2 oils. Cream house on left, red roof. Two or thre trees near house, dark red plums. Other threes [i.e. trees] poplars, willows. Orchard light and dark green. Few trees in orchard dark red plums. Navy car. Salmon pink ladies dress. Man's shirt cream.; Marginal notes on negative - 9 9 9 9 [in list formation] Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Panoramic negative 24.7 x 121.0 cm

Date: Between 1923 and 1928

From: Moore, Robert Percy, 1881-1948 :Panoramic photographs of New Zealand

By: Spain, Stephen Thomas, 1862-1940

Reference: Pan-1858-F

Description: Panoramic view looking across flat farmland to hills, partially bush-clad, in the background. A very large two-storeyed brick homestead with a parapet around a flat roof. Two smaller flat-roofed brick outbuildings are to the left of the house. Lines of trees across the image. Taken by Robert Percy Moore. Refer also Pan-1859 Source of descriptive information from next negative (Pan-1859) Inscriptions: Marginal notes on negative - S.T. Spain. Otago. 1 oils. 3 sepia. Distant view same as house. Dry grass. Bluish grey rocks on hill in background. For other colors [i.e. colours] see close up view [Pan-1859]; Marginal notes on negative - 1 1 1 1 1 [in list formation] Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Panoramic negative 24.7 x 110.6 cm