Robertson, Gordon, active 1968

Date: 1955-1971

By: Hill, Morris James, 1929-2002

Reference: PA-Group-00375

Description: Wellington, openings of Parliament, politicians, Governors General, show personalities, Antarctic teams, police, army, visiting diplomats and heads of state, ship visits, memorials, RNZAF, fighter planes and fighter plane training, rugby and rugby players and selectors, film censorship, conferences, agricultural air shows, artists, royalty, manufacturing industries, models and fashion parades, New Zealand Players, etc Source of title - Title supplied by Library Arrangement: Negatives housed at 35mm-18037 to 18703, 120-0881 to 0959, 1/4-071736 to 072044, 1/2-177020 to 177461. Quantity: 1483 b&w original negative(s) 78 120 strips comprising 158 images, 666 35mm strips comprising 1,976 images, 308 1/4 plate negs, 441 1/2 plate negs. Total images 2,883. Finding Aids: Library generated negative registers provide a good access point to this collection. The negatives are listed within subject groupings.. Processing information: Originally arranged and described in 1995. Reference number changed from PAColl-4814 to PA-Group-00375 in 2009.

Date: 15 Jun 1988

From: Macalister Mazengarb 75th Anniversary Oral History Project.

By: Macalister, Alister Fitzgerald, 1922-2017

Reference: OHInt-0203/01

Description: Alister Macalister was born in Wellington in 1922. Describes how his mother's paternal grandfather, James Edward Fitzgerald, became Superintendent of Canterbury and her maternal grandfather, Isaac Earl Featherston, was Agent-General for New Zealand in London, Superintendent of Wellington and an MP. Talks about the family's Wadestown home. Describes his father Sir Robert Lachlan Macalister, a mayor of Wellington, who went into partnership in Macalister Mazengarb with E.P. (Ernest) Hay after World War I. Gives a brief history of the firm formed in 1912 by J.S. Barton. Discusses his mother, Katherine Macalister (nee Fitzgerald), and his parents enjoyment of travel and reading. Recalls family friend Dr Elizabeth Gunn. Talks about his education at Wellesley College. Comments that his father drifted into politics through the Wellington Beautifying Society. Describes his own interest in the Wellington Harbour Board and Lambton Harbour Redevelopment Project. Talks about becoming a law clerk. Describes attending law lectures before and after work. Lists some of the students and describes aspects of their social life. Comments on the system of studying law while being employed. Recalls the law clerks from Macalister Mazengarb who went to World War II including B.M. (Brian) Madden, D.R. (Ross) Scrymgeour, W.T. (Bill) Fitzgerald, A.J. (Alf) Mazengarb, E.L. (Red) Pocock, F.L. (Frank) Parkin and L.G. (Les) Rose. Notes that several of these men were killed or wounded. Describes his own war-time activity in the Navy, in a submarine in the North Sea. Recalls completing his law degree in 1946 and becoming a junior solicitor. Comments on office etiquette and discipline. Recalls the women on the staff. Describes the different style and skills of O.C. Mazengarb and E.P. Hay. Discusses the firm's specialisation in accident or personal injury compensation and workers compensation. Talks about his involvement in cases associated with accidents on the waterfront and marine inquiries. Contends that he has appeared in most marine inquiries since World War II. Gives his views on the Wahine inquiry in which he acted for Captain Gordon Robertson. Discusses his involvement in the inquiry into the DC3 crash in the Kaimai Range in 1963. Recalls acting for Captain Jim Collins in the Erebus Inquiry in 1979. Discusses the skills of Judge Mahon and comments on his statements about Air New Zealand. Recalls the 1981 inquiry into the grounding of the Pacific Charger off Baring Head. Talks at length about the inquiry into the grounding and sinking of the Mikhail Lermontov in 1986. Mentions some of the people he has appeared against including Sir Thaddeus McCarthy, Sir Denis Blundell and Frank O'Flynn. Venue - Wellington : 1988 Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson Venue - Mr Macalister's home in Wadestown Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 4.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 619.