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Abstract of Andrew Bain McLEOD, 2019

 Item — Box: 8
Identifier: H01410002

Overview

ANDREW BAIN MCLEOD

Interviewer: Ann Irving

Abstracter: W. Brent Coats

First Interview:

DISC 1: TRACK 1

00:03 Interview identification

00:48 End of Track 1

DISC 1: TRACK 2

00:02 [Interview Identification begins again]

00:44 ANDREW BAIN MCLEOD born 21 April 1924 INVERCARGILL Father WILLIAM MCLEOD – Mother MARGARET SWALLOW BAIN – Lived on farm at DACRE – FARM was dairy, sheep and rabbits – Grew oats when had horses, chermoula and swedes – Details

01:39 SCHOOLING - Self milked cows before school in morning Attended DACRE primary – Went to SOUTHLAND TECHNICAL COLLEGE by CLINTON train

02:27 Left school during DEPESSION to help parents –Self joined WOODLANDS RABBIT BOARD – Worked a lot around DACRE – Describes

03:36 METHODS for killing rabbits - Used FUMIGATOR with sawdust and sulphur smoke – Blocked warren holes - “Flat out” – Explains

05:36 Rabbit Board successful until amalgamation – Collapsed – Describes

06:12 WAR did not affect Self – PETROL BURN on back – Behind in schooling – Left education at 15 Taught himself to DRIVE at 9 or 10 years - Explains 07:44 Left RABBIT BOARD for better wages – Joined SAWMILL at FORTIFICATION in 1941 (?) – Wood used to be “trammed out” – Used converted Fortune tractor – Describes

09:47 Began as “slabbie” cutting waste off tree for firewood – Later “tailing out” – Explains sawmilling process Moved to skids and breaking down - Possibility of accidents - Describes 14:28 OWNERSHIP of mill – Trail and McKinnon – Self paid One Pound per day – Drinking culture - Mentions

15:39 FELLED in bush with handsaws – CARTED TIMBER with tractors – Did most mill jobs – Mentions Steam traction engine driving saws – Explains stoker’s skill – Effect on mill saws – Describes

18:36 TIMBER sold in INVERCARGILL – RIMU used for CLYDE STREET pub bartop –Mentions Lived in hut – Cooked over open fire – 12 People employed in Mill - Describes 20:09 In HOME GUARD during WAR – “Big joke” – Met at WAIMAHAKA – Turned down for war because of sawmilling skills 21:39 Finished at mill before war ended – Returned to family farm – Bought ALICE CHALMERS WF 25hp tractor – Began contracting Horse drawn ploughing machinery deteriorating – Farms growing – Self contracted in WOODLANDS, OTATARA, WQUARRY HILLS, TOKONUI, MOKORETA, WYNDHAM, STEWART’S carriers – Describes

24:19 PLOUGHED and TOPDRESSED for LANDS AND SURVEYS - Describes Explains how to spread LIME using MUNRO top dresser

26:57 Self and JACK SCARLET designed ELEVATOR to load fertilizer Explains how it worked – Popular with farmers – Spread 100 ton fertilizer and lime per day – Explains

29:49 Designed WINCH – Describes how it worked

31:45 Self describing PHOTOGRAPHS shown by Interviewer – Tractors, dray with haystack, truck with implements - Describes 33:22 Designed CRANE with winch to shift gear on truck – Describes how it worked – Photograph – Explains

34:34 DESCRIBES more PHOTOGRAPHS of Self working

36:24 Employed brother Graham (sp?) for contracting – Employed Australian “notorious character” - Mentions 36:59 FINISHED CONTRACTING Lime business – BOUGHT family FARM off father 1952 – 234 acres in size – Unsurveyed road put through land – Describes Farmed DAIRY COWS and SHEEP

39:18 Married DOROTHY ELIZABETH RONALD in 1953 – BETH helped on farm Remained contracting 6 months after buying farm – Developed own land – Describes

41:35 MILK went to MORTON MAINS – Closed around 1960s – WYNDHAM gravel company collected BULK milk for EDENDALE – Describes

43:06 MORTON MAINS daily factory concrete floor – Vats soldered metal and double skinned – Fired with coal – Describes

43:58 Became DIRECTOR of EDENDALE DAIRY FACORY early 1960s – Managed transport acquisition - - Describes Factory produced cheese and butter - Mentions MILKING SEASON end of August ending May/June

45:48 Sold farm in 1977 – Big herd with no help – Worked at TIWAI ALUMINIUM SMELTER – WORK ETHIC is “work all day” - Moved to EAST ROAD with 10 acres – Shifted after 17 years to MELBOURNE STREET – Describes

47:38 End of Track 2

DISC 1: TRACK 3

00:00 [Following is not part of formal interview] Self talks about contracting around Southland - STRATHALLAN gully – JACK BLACKBOARD (sp?) South MORTON MAINS – Discussion of hard work and fitness - Humourous recollections Played one season for MORTON MAINS

5:57 End of Track 3

Dates

  • 2019

Conditions Governing Access

Access to oral history recordings is via the Archives Research Room only. We are unable to provide access to this material remotely. Where access agreements allow, abstracts, audio extracts and photographs will be accessible online.

Conditions Governing Use

This material is copyright of the Invercargill City Libraries and Archives. In accordance with agreements held with interviewees, it is strictly prohibited to reproduce (copy) oral history recordings, abstracts, audio extracts or photographs without prior written consent. Applications for the reproduction of these recordings and associated materials, in whole or part, must be made in writing to the Southland Oral History Project Coordinator, c/o Invercargill City Libraries and Archives.

Extent

From the Record Group: 1 folder(s)

Language of Materials

English

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the Southland Oral History Project Repository