Interview with Mary Jones

Mary Jones was born in Christchurch in 1928. Gives details of her family background and the arrival of her grandparents at Haast Beach where her grandfather, William Harris, had the store, farm and an orchard. Talks about the eleven children in the family. Mentions the family's move to a farm at the Turnbull River. Describes how her father met her mother in Christchurch where she was working.

Describes being a tomboy, wrestling with Ted Buchanan, her love of animals, helping milk the cows, skinning sheep and mustering with her uncles after doing her Correspondence School work. Recalls riding horses and calves from an early age. Discusses animal husbandry including dipping sheep, branding and dehorning cattle and shoeing and breaking in horses. Mentions making bridles. Describes riding from Haast to Jacksons Bay on horseback and crossing rivers. Comments on the locals' respect for rivers. Recalls catching skate, paua and crayfish at Jacksons Bay. Describes the family home, the rifles hanging on the wall and the attitude to guns. Describes how her mother shot wood pigeons and trout were shot by an uncle. Talks about her father being a road builder and returning to the farm every fortnight.

Describes the family's vegetable garden, fruit trees, bird life and storms and huge floods in the area. Recalls preserving eggs. Describes candles and kersoene lamps for lighting. Mentions the radio battery was charged on the water wheel and the saw ran off the milking machine. Discusses deaths from appendicitis before the beginning of the air service, operated by Captain Bert Mercer, about 1934. Comments on people's efforts to heal themselves in the period before the air service. Mentions Beecham's Pills. Describes how people got their teeth out rather than have fillings because the dentist visited infrequently.

Describes going to high school in Christchurch and finding it difficult. Mentions shyness and not having played sports. Comments on road building stopping and the men leaving the area during World War II.

Interviewer(s) - Julia Bradshaw

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2903.

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

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-006218 - OHLC-006219, OHLC-009009