Pioneer life - New Zealand - West Coast Region

Date: [1914?]

By: Giles, Edmund Douglas, 1853?-

Reference: MS-0832

Description: Reminiscence of his early years in Somersetshire including details of the Giles forbears back to 1772; description of the voyage to Nelson on the `John Bunyan' in 1868; time spent in Westport where his uncle Dr Giles was the Resident Magistrate; gold mining on the West Coast; travel to Queensland via Sydney (includes descriptions of Sydney, Brisbane and Rockhampton); working as a bullock driver and later a ration carrier and drover, etc in Queensland; describes station life and his other outback experiences; Kanaka labourers in Queensland; Tasmania; return to Barcoo, Queensland; aborigines in Queensland; time spent on New Hebrides, Fiji and other islands in the Pacific; return to New Zealand; family and travel in the early 1900s. Edmund Giles immigrated to New Zealand with his brother Edgar on the `John Bunyan' in 1868. Quantity: 1 volume(s) (231 pages). Physical Description: Typescript (27 cm; red linen)

Date: 1930 (transcribed 1983)

By: Stephenson, Robert J, 1867-

Reference: MS-Papers-2500

Description: The reminiscences cover the period 1867-ca 1886 and describe Stephenson's childhood in Palmerston and pioneer farm life in Westland. Stephenson, the son of a bank manager, grew up in Palmerston. In 1882 his family moved to a farm on the Paringa River, Westland. Quantity: 3 folder(s). 0.03 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Holograph and typed transcript (photocopies)

Date: 1866-1896

By: Ralfe, Catherine Hester, 1831?-1912

Reference: Micro-MS-0013

Description: Quantity: 1 microfilm reel(s) (ca 65 frames). Physical Description: Positive microfilm

Date: 1997

From: Battersby, Dorothy, fl 1940-1997 : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-5936

Description: Two histories of branches of the donor's family, John Martin and his wife Elizabeth who lived in Westport, and Marion Punch (nee Martin) who farmed at Raetihi with her husband, Joseph Pierce Punch. Battersby describes the family background of her subjects and provides detail of work, family and activities. Quantity: 1 folder(s) (2 pieces). Laser photographs of John and Elizabeth Martin and Marion Punch

Date: 1990

From: New Zealand Society of Genealogists : 1990 Sesquicentennial Family Biography Competition collection

Reference: MS-Papers-4280-034

Description: The essay describes the lives of Peter and Lydia Christison who arrived in Wellington in 1842 on the `Clifton'. Peter worked there as a baker before he left for the Californian goldfields in 1850, and the next 30 years were spent in the pursuit of gold there and in New Zealand Quantity: 1 folder(s). Finding Aids: Published guide available. Photograph of Peter and Lydia Christison

Date: 1899, n d

By: Traversi, Antonio Thomas, 1871-1960

Reference: MS-Papers-0695

Description: Reminiscences of life in Ross, Wellington and Australia by A T Traversi. Also some biographical details and three letters from Mrs B Hirter to Traversi describing life in Ross (1899). Source of title - Supplied Accompanying material - Letter from donor to library re donation Quantity: 1 folder(s) (20 leaves). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Typescript and holograph (photocopies) Provenance: Donor is daughter of Traversi

Date: 17, 31 Mar 1996 - 17 Mar 1996 - 31 Mar 1996

From: Haast oral history project

By: Nolan, Desmond Joseph, 1920-2001

Reference: OHInt-0419/01

Description: Des Nolan was born in Hokitika in 1920. Describes how his paternal grandparents arrived in Jackson's Bay from Ireland. Comments that the community was a `fiasco' and they moved to Okuru. Recalls growing up in the homestead there, his father's vegetable garden, eating wood pigeon, and his first schooling at home being taught by his cousin. Recalls fishing and playing music for entertainment. Describes high school education at St Kevin's in Oamaru. Recalls riding out to Haast on a horse and then going by bus and train to Oamaru. Mentions that prior to this he had been out of Haast once to Hokitika on the `Gael' (boat) to go to the dentist. Notes that the `Gael' came up the Okuru River about every two months. Mentions that mail was by pack horse every fortnight and the priest and minister came every few months. Comments on trips made over the Paringa Saddle when people were sick and had to leave the area. Mentions that Mrs Nolan and Mrs McPherson helped with births. Comments on the difficulty for women moving in to the area. Describes changes with the air service which meant that conditions such as appendicitis were no longer so dangerous. Mentions Dr Jean McLean. Describes meeting and marrying Eileen in Hokitika and their honeymoon in Christchurch. Mentions movies once a week at Haast and occasional dances. Describes cattle farming as their main livelihood. Discusses the cattle being driven along the Paringa Track to market. Describes mustering. Mentions cattle were originally driven to Whataroa and later to Cromwell. Mentions the butter and cheese factory, cheesemaking and their 160 cows. Describes the difficulty of weather conditions and drownings in the area. Mentions the local roadmen and swaggers during the Depression. Describes the need to be a jack of all trades. Mentions the steam engine which ran the sawmill. Discusses local settlers including the Cron family, Donald and Jimmy McPherson and the Harris family on the Turnbull River, the Nisson family, and Mrs Cowan at the Okuru store and post office. Recalls Arawata Bill. Describes the beginning of the whitebait industry and his father's purchase of canning machinery in Australia. Recalls catching 130 kerosene tins of whitebait one day in 1944. Discusses the `whitebait wars', learning to fly and flying whitebait out for a number of years. Mentions his Tiger Moth and Miles Messenger aeroplanes. Describes stopping flying in 1970 after the road went through. Mentions that his wife Eileen nursed in Hokitika, ran a whitebait buying business and a motel in Okuru after the road went through. Comments on the benefits of the road. 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-2905.

Date: 16-17 Dec 1995 - 27-28 Jan 1996 - 16 Dec 1995 - 28 Jan 1996

From: Haast oral history project

By: Buchanan, Henry John, 1917-1997

Reference: OHInt-0419/03

Description: Henry Buchanan was born in Runanga in 1917. Recalls living in Ikamatua where his father trammed for the sawmiller A R Wallis. Mentions their shift to the Turnbull River in 1930 where his father cut timber for Mr Wallis, had a farm and built a sawmill at Okuru. Describes working for his family on a gold claim on the north Haast beach, growing vegetables, having dairy cows and making butter. Recalls other food eaten including wood pigeon, ducks and some beef. Recalls rowing from Big Bay for a dance and riding by horse to Haast and Jackson's Bay. Mentions fording rivers and going by the tide. Talks about mail brought in by pack horse and a launch between Jackson's Bay and Okuru. Comments on the beginning of the aeroplane service and being able to get emergency service when needed. Notes that previously when people were sick it had taken three or four days to get them to Paringa by stretcher. Mentions accidents in the area. Comments on Dr Jean McLean flying down from Hokitika each fortnight. Describes post offices at Okuru, run by the Eggeling family, at Upper Okuru, by the Nolan family, at Haast, by the Cron family and at Huhuka by the Harris family. Mentions Betty Eggeling was the first woman to drive through Haast Pass. Talks about marrying Mina McCrae at Greymouth and their honeymoon in Nelson. Describes life with radio and no television. Describes beginning a fishing venture about 1950, buying a freezer, starting whitebaiting and a `whitebait war' with the Nolans. Describes operating boats and an aeroplane while whitebaiting and crayfishing. Discusses fights about air space with Myrtle Cron, the airways agent at Haast. Mentions that Ivy Cron operated the ferry across the Haast. Notes that West Coast Airways began operating about 1930 and discusses weather problems and flying. Recalls deer stalking full time from 1955 to 1960, a venison factory built in Greymouth in the 1970s and a mussel farming venture in Marlborough. Discusses other work he has done including on the Haast aerodrome, goldmining, scrubcutting for W D Nolan in Cascade, droving cattle out to Whataroa, working on the road from Makarora and from Waiatoto to Okuru and being manpowered into the sawmill at Ikamatua. Notes that the Government gave subsidies for gold mining during the Depression. Talks about the Cowl and Harris families and mentions his mother remarried Joe Harris. Mentions camps at Jacksons Bay, Okuru and Haast and roadmen Joe Driscoll and Jack Farrell. Talks about brothers and sisters Ted, Bill and Myra Buchanan. Interviewer(s) - Julia Bradshaw Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2897.

Date: 1920-1999

By: Greymouth evening star (Newspaper)

Reference: Eph-A-TOURISM-Greymouth-1900s

Description: Includes: 1920s: The wonderful West Coast; Greymouth District. Greymouth Evening Star print, [ca 1924?]. Booklet of 8 pages 1969: Marsden Sluicing and Gold Panning Co. There's gold around Greymouth, South Island New Zealand. [1969?]. Pamphlet 1970s: Greymouth; heart of the "Coast". [Shantytown shown on cover]. James Printing Service [1970s?]. Pamphlet 1971: Greymouth; heart of the "Coast". [Shantytown shown on cover]. James Printing Service [1971?]. Booklet of 12 pages (2 copies) 1970/1980s: Welcome to Shantytown, Greymouth New Zealand. Small map/flier [1970-1980s?] 1995: Shantytown map guide; adventure in the Wild West. Greymouth, West Coast New Zealand Other material may be housed under Eph-A-TOURISM-West-Coast Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Photolithographs and offset printing on pamphlets, sizes varying below 250 mm.

Date: 1866-1896

By: Ralfe, Catherine Hester, 1831?-1912

Reference: MS-Papers-1129

Description: Reminiscences commenced after leaving England, record the struggles of her younger brother, John Henry Ralfe, to establish family in Christchurch and later as a schoolteacher in goldmining settlements of Okarito, Hokitika and Ross. The family finally settled in Wanganui and Taranaki. Contains family tree and genealogical information Source of title - Transcribed Catherine Ralfe was a seamstress who emigrated to New Zealand on the Leichardt in 1866 Quantity: 1 folder(s) (108 leaves). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Holograph (photocopy)

Date: 1985

By: Weaver, Myrtle Emily, 1905-1994

Reference: MS-Papers-4997

Description: Contains newspaper clipping about Myrtle Emily Weaver written on the occasion of her 80th birthday, dated 25 Nov 1985 and a copy of a telegram sent to her from David Lange to mark this birthday. Source of title - supplied title Quantity: 1 folder(s) (2 pieces). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Typescript and printed matter (photocopies) Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - C C Taylor, Mt Maunganui, 1994

Date: 1984

By: Radich, Angela Jean, 1920-1999

Reference: MS-Papers-5327

Description: Mrs Radich begins the story of her family before they came to New Zealand from Dalmatia. Her father, Jure, arrived here in 1909 and went to Northern Wairoa returning to Dalmatia in 1912 to marry. His plans were delayed until 1923 when he came back to New Zealand, his wife and child following the next year. They settled first in the Kaipara at Aranga, then moved to Poroti in 1930. From 1931 to 1934 they lived at Maungakaramea and in 1939 Radich moved to Taumarunui. She describes their way of life, schooling, the difficulties and isolation and presents interesting social commentary of the times. Quantity: 1 folder(s) (35 leaves). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Typescript with illustrations Two family photographs and an illustration of a cottage like one the family lived in at Aranga

Date: 1866-1896 (transcribed 2006)

By: Ralfe, Catherine Hester, 1831?-1912

Reference: MSDL-0368

Description: Electronic transcription of reminiscences (MS-Papers-1129 and Micro-MS-0013) Source of title - Transcribed from item Quantity: 183 kilobyte(s). 1 Electronic document(s).

Date: 2011

From: Temby, Dorothy, 1913-2009 : Reminiscence of childhood life in Millerton

Reference: MSDL-1354

Description: Collection comprises a childhood memoir complied by Temby at a later point in her life in England. The reminiscence recalls her family home in the West Coast mining town Millerton circa 1918; attending the Scottish Methodist Church on Sundays; childhood adventures in the sea and bush; Christmas at Mokanui; and a recollection of the day the Temby family left Millerton to return to England. Quantity: 1 Electronic document(s). 4 electronic scan(s) of original black and white photographic print(s).

Date: 27 Aug 1996 - 5 Dec 2002 - 27 Aug 1996 - 05 Dec 2002

By: Fairmaid, Alex, 1930-; Fairmaid, Pamela, 1934-; Keenan, James Francis, 1922-2015; Landis, Claudia, active 1993-1999; Read, Peter J, active 1996-2000; Rooney, Mary L, active 2000; Singer, M F, active 1999

Reference: OHColl-1187

Description: Comprises 64 interviews with people who lived and worked in Hokitika, Kaniere, Kokatahi, Kowhitirangi, Kumara and surrounding West Coast areas from the beginning of the 20th century. Conducted by seven interviewers from August 1996 - December 2002, for Heritage Hokitika, an incorporated society dedicated to restoring and preserving the historical identity of Hokitika Subjects covered include family, early life, education, sports, jobs and job opportunities, dairy farming, Westland dairy factories, saw mills, gold dredging, sports, horse-racing, dances, people and music of the Kokatahi Band, Seaview Asylum, floods, 1929 Murchison earthquake, 1941 Stanley Graham murders at Kowhitirangi. Some interviews discuss going to Egypt and Italy to fight in World War Two, including being a prisoner of war in Europe and being de-mobbed, involvement with Westland community organisations and borough councils, hydro-electric companies, building bridges and roads in Haast Pass and Fox Glacier, and remembering shops, hotels and businesses in Hokitika and Westland Interviewees (surnames A-F) are: Bill and Errol Amberger (interviewed together), James Purcell (Percy) Atkinson, Gordon Trevor Bloomfield, Marion Bertwhistle Borrie, Gordon and Noeline Bowman (interviewed together), David Thomas Bradley, Maida Bryant, Thora Chinn, William Patrick Condon, Ernie A and Jean Cook (interviewed together), Clifford Ewing Cron, Elizabeth Eva Crossman, Mervyn William Curtis, Phillip James Duffy, Ronald Robert (Doughie) Eastgate, Alex Fairmaid, Pamela Fairmaid, Sr Peg Flaherty, Dorothy Fletcher Interviewees (G-M) are: John William Stuart and Jean Lillian Gardiner (interviewed together), George James Gillingham, George Clifford Harris, Imelda Houston, Olga Edith Howat, John Hurren, Merle Hutchison, Rene Jacobs, Beth Johnson, Richard Thomas Jones, Aileen Veronica Keenan, James Francis Keenan, Hazel Kelly, William John Kulsen, Mildred Lowe, Jean Machejefski, Ronald Gordon Manley, Jack Marshall, Sr Mary Eulalie Martini and Eileen McDougall and Imelda Houston (interviewed together), Jean McLean, Iris Agatha McMullan Interviewees (O-W) are: John William Olson, Doreen Paterson, Ian James Preston, Jack Preston, Jack Bertram and Leonie Renton (interviewed together), Elva May Reynolds, Elva and John Ritchie (interviewed together), Maurice Elwyn Roberts, Arthur Rooney, Madeline Rooney, Jean Ross, Eva Ellen Stevenson, Edward Elijah Stoop, Jack Evans Stuart, Michael Joseph Sullivan, Richard Henry Bruce Thomas, Gwendeline Margaret Thompson, Ken Wallace, Kenneth Leslie Ward, Warren family, Kenneth Huston Wells, Elsie Dorothy Wilson, Arthur Henry Woodham, Joyce Wyatt Other - No biographical information included Interviewer(s) - Alex Fairmaid, Pamela Fairmaid, James Keenan, Claudia Landis, Peter Read, Mary Rooney, M F Singer Arrangement: Original recordings: OHC-024637 - OHC-024729 Abstracts: OHA-8131 - OHA-8193, OHA-8206 Quantity: 93 C60 cassette(s). 64 printed abstract(s) - some very brief. 64 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete. Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Heritage Hokitika Inc Search dates: 1900 - 2002 Processing information: Interviews not yet described