Interviewee: ALBERT EDWIN JOHN HORRELL (Bert)

Interviewer: Avis McDonald

Recorded: 16 March 1998

Abstracted by: Avis McDonald

SIDE 1

0.0 ALBERT EDWIN JOHN HORRELL - named after his uncles - Edwin had left for the war.

0.5 Born in NURSE WALLACE'S in Gore 31 May 1917 - during one of the largest FLOODS all mothers were shifted out.

0.9 Father - HENRY WILLIAM COX HORRELL born in Devonshire, England near TIVERTON.

1.3 Leafy (wife) and Bert visited farm & house where father had been born.

1.6 GRANDFATHER had leased the farm and his brothers had emigrated to NZ. One brother came out with the original CANTERBURY SETTLEMENT 1850. GRANDFATHER was the youngest of the family and he emigrated to NZ in 1880 aged mid-thirties.

2.1 Named his FARM Albion which is still owned to this day by a member of the family - Horace Horrell.

2.8 Describes GRANDFATHER 86 and lived on the farm - industrious and stern, never forgave Bert for raiding his strawberry patch, was a farmer on 200 acres but they bought another farm across the MATAURA RIVER.

4.6 Had to CROSS THE MATAURA RIVER to go to SCHOOL which was a great concern.

5.0 Father HENRY HORRELL bought a farm at MANDEVILLE called it Fairview. Father went to SCHOOL for less than 3 years - remarkable man good student - wrote a lot, wrote his memoirs in later years -started school aged 12 because he had the RIVER TO CROSS, had to be able to manage the HORSE AND DRAY full of youngsters - dray was filled with all other children from the area, small stable built on the edge of the Mataura.

6.3 Father had to unharness the horse, tie, feed it and stable it, and then they all walked a mile to school.

6.5 They were there when the MANDEVILLE SCHOOL opened. Had to go to school - if the RIVER FLOODED and there were exams - they went via OTAMITA, which was 5-6 mile trip. CROMBIE FAMILY all went to Mandeville school in the Horrell dray - pulled by the old white horse.

7.6 GRANDMOTHER never started her daily chores until she saw the dray emerge from the river.

7.8 Bert's mother was 2nd oldest member of JAMES & MARY HARGEST family who EMIGRATED to NZ in 1878 - WELSH extraction.

8.3 Grandfather Hargest a COBBLER decided to come to NZ immediately after they were married but to save money they EMIGRATED AS SINGLE PEOPLE.

8.9 Grandmothers maiden name - MARY PROSSER lived in OAMARU she was housekeeper for MR HOLMES in Oamaru and the hill coming into the town is still called Holmes Hill. They came south - no opening for his trade so he took up SHEARING - RABBITING, worked hard, FAMILY rapidly grew.

9.9 Bought 500 acres near MANDEVILLE, no fences, or house. Farm now owned by descendant – MR AND MRS JOHNSTON. They had to cross the OTAMITA STREAM.

10.5 They built a 4 roomed HOUSE never painted - planted trees so close they almost grew over the top of the house.

10.7 HARGEST FAMILY grew in numbers - thinks there were 9. Uncle JOHN HARGEST started a GROCERY in Gore - very successful, Uncle JIM HARGEST - POLITICIAN AND SOLDIER.

11.7 Great admiration for his GRANDPARENTS - went to out of back blocks first had to fence the land, their first product was a 1/2 bale of WOOL.

12.5 Family never went short of FOOD - RABBITS and TROUT from OTAMITA STREAM. Grandfather POACHED FISH ILLEGALLY - leaned over the bank, son held his feet and tickled the trout, once encountered an eel, and when he lashed out with his feet the son let go and grandfather slid into the river head first - lost the trout.

14.1 GRANDFATHER HARGEST bought the 500 acres before 1900, retired in 1934 owned at least 3000 acres of land.

14.5 HARGEST FAMILY spread out, one became - SCHOOL TEACHER - one ACCOUNTANT, mother only had one sister, Uncle JIM HARGEST was a remarkable man - well documented.

15.3 After father & mother (Horrell and Hargest) married - no money in farming bought/leased the MANDEVILLE STORE for two years. The store was near where the MANDEVILLE AIRFIELD is now situated.

16.0 BUILT FARM HOUSE - Fairview - it was painted - lots of houses were not painted at that time, Fairview close to the RAILWAY LINE - CROPPING was the main source of income it was under-cropped every year. It was owned previously by GEORGE MEREDITH BELL the run holder land was very impoverished - no FERTILIZER put back into the land.

17.2 Fathers first flock of SHEEP - 300. Even when Bert was about 10 - sheep were very thin & light boned - took a long time to get back into shape.

17.7 First days AT SCHOOL - MANDEVILLE - aged 5 - still had river problems with OTAMITA STREAM - went through their property, father and his father built a little FOOTBRIDGE over the stream, which lasted for 30 years had to be replaced after a FLOOD.

19.0 Few TOOLS and he made them, and anyone else work to the capacity.

19.2 In 1942 the BRIDGE IN MANDEVILLE GORGE had been replaced - Father bought material from the old bridge, towed all the materials down - built the bridge with help of DM COLLETT from Mandeville - a BUILDER - paper hanger painter and many Other skills.

20.0 Last thing Bert did before going into MILTARY CAMP was to drive the car over the bridge, recently been replaced.

20.7 FAMILY eldest brother not interested in farming - he stayed in HIGH SCHOOL for 5 years - long time in those years - then he worked in GORE, his oldest SISTERS stayed and helped in the house.

21.3 Bert had 2 years in GORE HIGH SCHOOL and in 1932 he came home to the FARM 412 acres - 600 ewes - 200 dry SHEEP - had DAIRY HERD of very mixed breeds - milked 15 cows and carted cream to siding - this supplied the household INCOME.

22.6 Bought a MILKING MACHINE. Away ahead of their time. Separated the milk - Bert's job and interest.

23.1 Father took the CREAM can down to the RAILWAY STATION once or twice a week. SUPPLIED MILK to many families in the area.

23.4 All the time Bert went to MANDEVILE SCHOOL he carried a billy of and his sisters did likewise. Mother fastidious with SEPARATOR & took great pride in the high grade of the cream. Separator was driven by ELECTRICITY - often broke down and then the handle had to be turned by hand. FAMILY FARM and everyone had to WORK - father insisted on this.

25.3 Two sisters had to work. Employed a farmhand who drove a team of HORSES - a good team farmed well - PRODUCTIVITY INCREASED after the 1932 RECESSION... spent more money on lime father was advanced in many ways - first to use LIME.

26.5 GEORGE WAYTE came to help SHEARING - they had done 1000 mob of sheep.

27.2 1933-37 until outbreak of WAR - good prices - father advanced in his thinking-tried various GRASS SEEDS pastures improved - WAR came along in 1939.

27.9 Employed a man who later enlisted - had a man from WWI - an Irishman father was about 70 years old.

28.8 1941 the Battle of Britain and Japan came into the WAR and things looked grim

28.9 JACK BURT helped father. Bert went into MILITARY CAMP in August 1942 - became a private - no notable soldier including his brother. His BROTHER was a major in the ARMY.

30.0 Remembers MANDEVILLE SCHOOL - one room 3545 children with one or two teachers his father was chairman of the school board for over 30 years. MISS BARCLAY was a tremendous teacher - PROFICIENCY EXAM coming up and she had to bring them up to scratch.

SIDE 2

0.2 Teacher - ALLAN PRENTICE instilled a great love of learning in all pupils poetry - spelling PROFICIENCY had to be passed in Standard 2 - all class but one man passed. Bert was in GORE HIGH SCHOOL 1931 - 1932 came home to farm.

2.1 Father lived until he was 93.

2.4 FARMING was emerging from DEPRESSION - remembers loving playing RUGBY - cutting miles of hedges.

3.3 DESCIBES MANDEVILLE SCHOOL CONDITIONS - floor stepped back in level of 4 inches steps 4-5 of these - long desks with 5-6 youngsters - juniors in the front - went back as you got older, remembers the dreadful open fireplace - no heat - children whimpering with the cold, put warm stones in his pockets - wonderful when committee decided to give them cocoa in winter, senior students task to boil the kettle, many learned people came out of the school - doctors and teachers.

5.8 ALLAN PRENTICE there as a teacher came 1929-1940 went to Owaka - died in Wanganui. Went by TRAIN to GORE HIGH SCHOOL - 2 carriages SEGREGATION - one for boys and one for girls - one for passengers. Train left from Lumsden at 7am - into Mandeville 8.40 am. Train was used for TRANSPORTATION OF FARM PRODUCE - lime, sheep, on these days the train often did not arrive into Gore until 12 noon. Normally arrived about 9 am. Missed schooling, had an exam - knew he would be late - BICYCLED to Gore (11 miles) arrived before the train normally allowed 3/4 hour for (11 mile) journey - train was very slow. Passed EXAM FOR FREE EDUCATION gained free place - but went home.

11.0 In his twenties proud of his father’s flock.

11.6 RELIGON. His father was very religious - went to church twice a month ANGLICAN CHURCH MANDEVILLE, Gore vicar serviced the church travel by horse and buggy - later FORD CURTAIN CARS remembers MAORI vicar - HOANI PARATAA - very eloquent - PARATA HOME IN GORE named after him. He left Queenstown - died shortly afterwards - Bert was young several Anglican families in the district - WAYTE'S, HORREL'S and others, congregations crept into 20. 1970 the MANDEVILLE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF EPIPHINANY closed and is now in PIONEER PARK, GORE. Church history - built 1880 - cooperative effort - parishioners erected it with help of MR PALMER. Grandfather was very handy with tools. PRESBYTERIAN SUNDAY SCHOOL held at MANDEVILLE HALL conducted by MRS McLEOD - went every Sunday. Expected to attend every Sunday- it started at 2 pm and church at 3 pm. SUNDAYS taken up with devotion - no cards played - strict parents- Almost all of the MANDEVILLE people were PREBYTERIAN. ROCHE family from Ireland and CATHOLIC, HORRELL and WAYTE FAMILY were Anglican, Presbyterians were very strict - no dancing - they had BIBLE SCHOOL SOCIALS - dreadful things.

19.8 MANDEVILLE HALL - had fallen into disrepair - was to be taken over by MR DOULL the FLOUR MILL owner the district was going to lose the hall father collected 50 pounds from each settler - retained the hall father was secretary - hall enlarged.

21.4 After WAR - Bert was a LIONS CLUB member - saw new WAIKOIKOI HALL - suggested a new hall be built.

22.6 1969 the NEW MANDEVILLE HALL was opened. Last function his father attended before his death.

23.7 TRAINS strong feature - only 11 miles from Gore - line supposed to go up the middle other plain but GEORGE MERDITH BELL wanted the railway line to run closer to his farm, line was built in 1870 - went up to KINGSTON 1M0ÍÄiÍng train was the one the students went on and in summer an express ran - came from Gore - through Mandeville midday- back through 1 1/2 hour later - travelled at 30 mph.

25.9 MANDEVILLE HOTEL was the closest hotel to Gore. People came up in express had an hour in hotel and went back after lunch -evening train came in at 5.20pm -an hour to travel 11 miles.

26.9 EMPLOYMENT - RAILWAY surfacemen worked from RIVERSDALE to GORE. 5 men under a 'ganger', pushed hand-operated trolleys on the railway line, unpleasant work - hoed every inch of the railway line twice a year in all weathers. William ROSS attended to the wagon covers, goods shed was place to be in rain.

29.5 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH built 1930. Opened by Mrs MCLEOD

29.9 CHURCH OF EPIPHANY ANGLICAN was on Horrell property

30.2 MANDEVILLE was surveyed and all had street names - of Canadian and Australian states.

SIDE 3

0.1 Bert lived MANDEVILLE all his life except for 3 years in Middle East during WAR

0.5 GEORGE MEREDITH BELL -wealthy-bought land 1850

1.6 MAORI -history of area as per HERRIES BEATTIE. Southern Maori raid at TUTURAU - last victory of Maori wars.

4.8 GUTHRIE bought land at Mandeville - built rough shelter up near the Gorge.

5.6 In 1861 the GOLD seekers came through - settlers discovered their shelters were all full of miners

6.1 First HOTEL built south of the OTAMITA stream - shifted beside the railway line. Another hotel built at Otamita opposite the railway siding.

9. G M BELL bought CROYDON RUN built an elaborate house with style. STAFF gardeners, coachman.

10. WANTWOOD homestead FIRE - stone house then built. GM Bell did a lot for district Involved sawmilling and freezing industry, NZ Agriculture Co. Slowly sold off to settlers

12.1 WANTWOOD Run went as far up as LONGRIDGE- very large. Leased land for cropping. Had 900 acres of wheat at WASHPOOL (north of Gore before Mandeville0

13. WANTWOOD had fine gardens-like an Englishman

13.5 At ANGLICAN CHURCH people waited until the Bell family arrived and were seated.

14.6 BELL lived beyond his means - own RACE MEETINGS - lived like 'toffs', wonderful PARTIES -people arrived in coaches.

15.3 Advent of RABBITS. SHEEP numbers dwindled. RABBITERS EMPLOYED paid so much for each tail - tipped tails 'out the back' and men would go and collect and re-sell them.

16.1 BELL moved from Wantwood to smaller farms and later committed SUICIDE aged 61. Buried RIVERSDALE cemetery - an early settler always spoken of with respect.

17.7 CRICKET team at Mandeville - pitch near WAIMEA stream bridge. ARTHUR BELL remarkable cricketer.

19.1 WANTWOOD bought by PETER MCLEOD from Island of Isla, Scotland. He was a shepherd-lived around Palmerston and acquired land. Sold up and bought Wantwood. Macleod expected everyone to work hard - was a hard worker and very 'close".

21.7 BALLS/DANCES went until 4-5am usually two bands and two suppers. Following morning Peter McLeod rowsed all the workers at the usual hour.

22.6 J H MCLEOD eldest son of Peter - very clever man- was in OTAGO MEDICAL SCHOOL but left against his fathers will - he was shy - could not medically examine ladies. He was banished to pick up rocks at the furtherest end of Wantwood. Became a JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

24.1 MCLEODS large family-one became Lady BOWMAR. Mrs COPLAND DROWNING of 3year old son. PETER MCLEOD (Junior) became doctor - practiced in CROMWELL, ALEXANDRA died of cancer before he was 40. His son also became doctor.

25.9 FLOUR MILL at Mandeville built 1880 by Mr DOULL. Previously opened mill at WYNDHAM. Mill shifted to Mandeville by rail and erected with water wheel and water aces from Otamita stream. Doull bought land along the stream to build water race - resentment and sabotage. Mill underpowered. Operated for about 2 years with his sons. He bought a STORE made of brick. Was a 'close' man and made everyone work - prospered. Left to return to Scotland about 1905 died in Bay of Biscay on way and buried at sea.

SIDE 4

0.00 Family sold Mill to HARRAWAY - (brothers owned Mill at Green Island (Dunedin)) - FLEMINGS - difficulties - sold to WILKINSON - operated it until 1910 - closed. Bert’s father wanted land so bought mill with it. Sold parts of mill machinery the rest became their woolshed. Dismantled this shearing shed in 1960 after serious flood affected foundations. Heavy timer 26' red pine, hand planed by Doull. Used bricks in wall around house - originally they came as ballast on ships from England.

4.9 Doull and sons put in steam engine - hydraulic turbine -still there 50 years later

5.5 WAR FAREWELL FUNCTIONS very active committee- each soldier/group had a farewell in MANDEVILLE HALL - dance-Mrs JOHNSTON as pianist - GEORGE DUNCAN on coronet. TOM GREEN blacksmith, was excellent violinist. DANCES waltzes, set dances, Irish Quadrilles. Lancers had rugby tactics-spinning partners. Supper waltz. Describes suppers -fundraising opportunity for organisations.

10.6 Dances/balls before war at MANDEVILLE KNAPDALE, OTAMA. BATCHELORS Balls.

12. ORCHESTRAS -George BAIN, HALBERT Family band from Invercargill. Band from Winton. Played until 2am. MC would announce 2nd last dance then at 2am closed. Describes male/female social behaviour, seating etc. No SMOKING in Hall. Reserving dances - supper dance and take young lady home.

17.8 ROADS corrugated gravel. CARS were curtained -very cold. Starting with starter handle - last effort was to tow the car.

18.9 DANCES packed-I Offs in Hall. All locals. Many romances at balls.

19.8 RIVERSDALE Rugby Ball, H&J Smiths Ball (Gore shop), Aero Club Ball. Biked to Ball in dinner suit with starched front - 40/50min journey.

21.1 ALCOHOL was consumed in car (prohibition in force) much less strict then.

22.6 Played SPORT. tennis rugby table tennis - involved in all district activities for SOCIALISING

23.7 Only went to FILMS in Gore every 2-3 months. No films in Mandeville but were in Riversdale.

24.3 As child did not have many HOLIDAYS - went to Mr & Mrs DODDS at CHARLTON.

24.9 Only bought car in 1930's - last but one family to do so.

25.3 went to DODDS by TRAIN

26 Went to Invercargill with Mr COLLETT whose family lived there. He was skilful -could catch up to 50 fish a day & shoot dozens of ducks. COLLETT owned a Buick car with side curtains -could do 40mph. COLLETT shared Bert’s room while living at Mandeville. Later whole family moved to Mandeville lived in Horrell’s cottage charged equivalent of $1 week rent