Alan Murray (Mick) Wilson

Interviewer: Lloyd Esler

Abstracter: Jean Hawkes

00.00 Track 1

Interviewer identification

00.49 Alan Murray Wilson. Born 1930 at GORE. Latter part of time lived at Grant Street, beside the Catholic Church (did not recall earlier address). House still in existence at time of interview – been away for 60 years.

02.03 Mother a seamstress, father manager of J JOHNSON & SONS Engineering in GORE. Transferred to J JOHNSON & SONS in INVERCARGILL – made steam engines for sawmills. 'Black Maria' at POURAKINO VALLEY last steam engine made. Father involved with building Limeworks – two in CANTERBURY, one inland from OAMARU and the other inland from TIMARU. Balfour Limeworks at BALFOUR took father and brother two years to build. Only place where lime burnt at LIMEHILLS – Described. TAYLORS, OAMARU – makers of limestone blocks for housing

05.02 Moved to INVERCARGILL when 15 or 16 years old. GORE HIGH SCHOOL, Co-Ed, student for about 2 ½ years – Mentioned

05.21 May have been better attending BOYS' HIGH. Attended POLYTECH. Two grandsons at Boys High School from a farm at MAKAREWA. Apprenticeship with government – STATE HYDRO in LEVEL STREET. Worked on on wooden pylons for 110kV (kilovolts) line from INVERCARGILL to ROXBURGH – conditions explained. Metal pylons carry 220kV (kilovolts) OLD MAN RANGE, PIANO FLAT, WAIKAIA (gold mining in old days) – Mentioned. Biggest wool shed in NZ – mentioned

08.26 Built gold mining plants – 30 years. Two floating plants at SKIPPERS – moved to HOKITIKA on WEST COAST – Described. SHOTOVER RIVER, MOKE LAKE, ARROW RIVER, KAWARAU (pronounced as KAWARA), GREYMOUTH, WESTPORT – Mentioned.

12.20 Discussion about goldmining. Worth about three pounds per ounce, at time of interview about $90 or more per ounce.

12.52 Made concentrators (for gold), designed in CANADA – Use described. In use at NEWVALE. Mick's efforts at mining at CROMWELL and ALEXANDRA – Described 15.00 End of Track 1

00.00 Track 2

00.13 Hydraulic digger – Described.

00.43 'TRAILS TRACTOR' – Mentioned DUNEDIN – Mentioned.

01.01 Repairs to equipment boilers – Involvement of Marine Department regarding traction engines – Explained.

01.28 Effects of economic downturns (depressions). GOUGH BROS, STEVENS, STABICRAFT (boat builders) – Mentioned. Hiring of 14 men to work at MATAURA. Eight men working on cranes at TIWAI (smelter) – Described. Men at EDENDALE, dismantling No 3 boiler – GEORGE WILSON & SONS, ENGINEERING (Mick only son left)

03.33 Mick goes to factory each day – reduced activity due to heart surgery. Father left J JOHNSON to start GEORGE WILSON & SONS in registered company in 1952. Took over JOHN DEERE TRACTORS on North Road. Depot in GORE need to move to make room for a 'McDONALD takeaway' – son in charge. WANAKA and brother-in-law – Mentioned. Farming machinery sales – Described.

07.39 Changes in SOUTHLAND landscape – Dairy farming, Wheat crops. FIVE RIVERS – Mentioned. Collection of 76 old tractors out of WINTON – farm described. FONTERRA (Dairy Company) – involvement described.

10.54 Dairying – changes over the years, milking 20 cows by hand, now 400 or more by machines. RIVERTON – Mentioned.

11.32 Sheep farm at MAKAREWA with about 3000 ewes, son manages it, has about 800 and some 80 head of cattle. Upgrading work – Described. Drainage of peat ground – Described.

13.17 Deer industry – practices described. Grandson at WANAKA sitting helicopter license as interview being done, works at TE ANAU. HUMP TRACK – hundred helicopters from south of OTAGO shooting deer. 'Deer Wars' – Mentioned. TUATAPERE – Mentioned. 15.00 End of Track 2

00.00 Track 3 00.16 Oil industry – shale works at OREPUKI – chemical works at WAIPANGO (turpentine from beech, tar, creosote) – Discussed. Oil drilling rigs at POURAKINO – TUATAPERE – ORETI PLAINS – LILBURN VALLEY – EASTERN BUSH – FOVEAUX STRAIT/PENROD American companies hard to work. Use of MEXICANS – Described. HUNT PETROLEUM – Mentioned. MIDDLE EAST, SOUTH AMERICA oil resources – Mentioned.

06.38 Wind farms – not really involved. WHITE HILL at MOSSBURN – Described.

07.48 MOSGIEL factory plant for WILSON BROS.

08.16 Transport of parts for wind farm. Wind farm at SLOPE DOWN, MOKORETA and possibly at BLUFF. Feels better of with water (hydro) power – cheaper. Concerns with gearboxes of wind turbines – servicing discussed. Proposed dam at BEAUMONT on CLUTHA RIVER – would flood up to MILLERS FLAT.

10.16 MANAPOURI HYDRO PROJECT – involved in the early stages for AUSTRALIAN firm who did trials. Brother sustained leg injury. Special treatment of metal equipment needed – Explained. Men worked on new tunnel – different process from original tunnel. Purchase of special electrode rods. Gneiss rock sample – Mentioned. Hard rock miners from overseas – Mentioned. Memories of early visits during construction of first tunnel. J K STEVENSONS did a lot of work in the tunnel and the power house. 'WANGANELLA' – Conditions mentioned. Environmentalists' attitudes – Mentioned.

15.00 End of Track 3

Track 4

00.00 Lots of places on WEST COAST for power stations.

00.24 Tidal power. CHRIS BATHURST – worked at Tiwai smelter, 'crazy engineer' went to BAHRAIN – involved with designing a gas producer for use with algae on ponds with electrical people in INVERCARGILL – Mentioned. Book on tide flow in FOVEAUX STRAIT suggesting generating a lot of power.

03.00 Vehicles – changes from Model T to diesel power – Discussed.

03.56 Effects of war – Described. Southland Frozen Meat Company bought in two gyrotillers – Described. FRANK WILSON, engineer – Mentioned. THORNBURY MUSEUM – Mentioned. Special plough – Described. 'WILCOX SPECIAL' plough built here now at GERALDINE – Described. Big yellow plough in paddock at 'BUSHLINE FARM', MERIVALE – one of sons works for WILSONS. BORLAND LODGE – Mentioned. MONOWAI to LAKE MANAPOURI ROAD – Mentioned. Earthquake five years ago causing slips on road – Mentioned SOUTH ARM – Mentioned.

09.38 Cutting of trees and 'beautification' of SOUTH ARM and MONOWAI – Described. Logs 'pickled' in cold waters of lakes. WEST COAST rimu in lakes – Mentioned.

11.07 Boat building – only boat or barge built was for use at SKIPPERS in 1984. Transport of vessel – Described.

12.30 Aircraft in Southland. Brother (an engineer) and father built lime loaders for SOAT (South Otago Aerial Topdressing) aeroplanes – Described. These days they use virtually an ordinary loader. Planes used on farm at MAKAREWA in early days. Use of helicopters in structural steel – whole new roof at MAKAREWA works. Helicopter from NELSON. Helicopter used on STATE INSURANCE BUILDING in INVERCARGILL.

15.00 End of Track 4

Track 5 00.03 Helicopters expensive to use unless work schedule well organised. Early use of helicopters in SOUTHLAND, limited range. OCEAN BEACH, WINTON, LUMSDEN – Mentioned Helicopter to PUYSEGUR POINT to refloat boat that rolled over. Abundance of large pauas.

02.35 Family involvement in SOUTHLAND – One son on farm. Another served time at GOUGH BROS (engineering firm), salesman for retail engineering equipment on NORTH ROAD, looking after farm machines, tractors, mechanics. REX McDONALD – Engineering MERV CAMPBELL – Workshop Some staff worked for twenty years.

04.47 National Government effects on apprenticeships – Discussed Adult apprentice, cost involved. RAY TATHAM, been to 'the ice' twice, should be retired but prefers to work. DIPTON LIME been worked by firm for sixty years.

07.09 Mentions need to do 'something' on history of company, not much in archives (it's in his head) BILL TODD (auctioneer) of WILLIAM TODD & CO – history and destruction of their records mentioned. CRAIGS – Mentioned 08.20 Working on traction engines at GORE with father. 08.59 Oral History Agreement – explanation

11.03 Oral recording equipment – Discussed ILT (Invercargill Licensing Trust) – Mentioned SOUTHLAND BUILDING SOCIETY – Mentioned

12.24 Involvement of LLOYD ESLER in community – Discussed. Projectors and telescopes for ASTRO(NOMICAL) SOCIETY – Mentioned. Projector for FIELD CLUB – Mentioned. St JOHN'S GIRLS' SCHOOL – Mentioned. RAEWYN GREEN (cousin of Mick) of QUEENSTOWN – Mentioned. FRANKTON – Mentioned. Vegetable garden – Discussed.

14.55 End of Track 5