Interview with Dick McArthur

Dick McArthur was born in Dunedin in 1940. His parents were Gladys (nee Taylor) and James (Wiff) McArthur. Comments on how Taylors married McArthurs and that in addition to the marriage of his parents, Geoff Taylor married Belle McArthur. Discusses the role of his mother who grew up on the family orchard at Conroy's Gully and was part of the strong tradition of Dawson and Taylor women. Comments that she was a very active, community minded woman involved in Girl Guides, adult education and fundraising. Describes how his grandfather, Alex Taylor, worked for the Dawsons on their orchard and eloped with Eve Dawson. Comments that they spent some time on an orchard in Havelock North before being asked back to the family orchard by her parents Ellen and Richard Dawson. Mentions that Ellen Dawson came to New Zealand as one of a group of girls brought by Donald Reid. Describes the arrival of Richard Dawson at Conroy's Gully with Andreas Iversen. Discusses how Ellen Dawson established the fruit orchard and employed Ah Wye and other Chinese on the orchard.

Describes how Richard Dawson and Andreas Iversen fought for water rights to enable irrigation. Mentions friendship with the Haydock family and childhood activities with Sally Taylor and others. Talks about the home on the orchard `Rosevale' constructed by Richard Dawson. Describes how fruit was taken by horse and dray by Alex Taylor to the railhead at Lawrence and later to Ranfurly. Recalls frost fighting. Talks about Geoff Taylor and his sons Peter and John. Comments on the success of the Dawson-Taylor orchard in Conroy's.

Interviewer(s) - Janis Morgan

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-008562

Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 interview(s). 1 Hours Duration.

Search dates: 1997

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