CHARLES JOSEPH BURROWS

Interviewer: Win Hamilton

Recorded May 3rd 1970

Abstracted by Win Hamilton

Note: Mr Burrows was born in 1871 arrived NZ with parents in September 1874. Father was Nathan Burrows was gardener in Invercargill then for GM Bell at Waimea Estate near Riversdale. Mr Burrows was asked to speak about his early life, and early Gore History, so does not touch on his life as a successful nurseryman, or his participation in community affairs on Borough Council, School Committees, Church management etc. Mr Burrows died suddenly on December 5th 1970, 5 months after he was interviewed, aged 99.

SIDE 1

0.5 HEALTH is good except for hearing. Difficulty with hearing aid.

3.2 Remembers Emmanuel CHRISTENSON an early shopkeeper in Gore. Who lived in Traford St; Carl HAGEN's house. FOX who worked on the Railway.

6.2 More about E CHRISTENSON's shop.

9.5 EDUCATION. Going to school in the 1880's. Headmasters Mr MILNE and the Mr GOLDING.

10.8 Folklore about the origin of the name Greasy Corner (on the Mandeville Road north of Gore).

13.9 FAMILY. Mother’s house with family members. Cost of building in 1879/80 90 pounds

14.1 Names the people in the photo (copy attached).

15.9 Jacob WILLIAM’s house site (Jacob Williams was an early Gore carrier-North Gore/Main St area is named after him).

18.2 BURROW's house demolished. Roofing iron sold for $170 after 70 years.

19.0 Story about HICK's 'tin-canning'

21.4 EMPLOYMENT. Apprenticed to BURRELL an INVERCARGILL nurseryman. Wages first year 5 pounds, 2nd year 7pounds 10 shillings, 3rd year 10 pounds. BURRELL a hard master.

23.3 Dismissed from employment.

24.8 Worked for RICHARDSON. 10 acres market garden on site where old Gore High school later built but did not ever get his full wages (1 pound a week).

26.9 Worked RABBIT FACTORY at CROYDON SIDING. Then returns to work for RICHARDSON.

32. Three years at CASTLE ROCK in Northern Southland.

34. Back to work for BURRELL who promised him a partnership if he worked a full year, but died suddenly the last day of the contract.

SIDE 2

0.3 ROBERTSON of Scotland lived at WAIMEA HOUSE.

2.3 G M BELL when he was manager at Waimea. Describes what sort of a man he was, illustrated with stories.

6.4 NZ AGRICULTURAL COIOANY. ROBERTSON and his parrot. Large WHEAT CROP grown between RIVERSDALE and CASTLE ROCK shipped to England from Bluff

8.4 EDUCATION. A pupil at MRS GRAY'S SCHOOL at RIVERSDALE.

9.0 Later went to GORE SCHOOL.

9.5 Description of WAIMEA HOUSE and comparison with WANTWOOD.

10.4 EMPLOYMENT. At WANTWOOD age 14. Slept in stable loft. Fleas and rats.

14.2 Brittany cows at Wantwood.

17.8 CROYDON HOUSE.

(Note: Tape quality very poor.)

20.0 Takes up NURSERY BUSINESS in East Gore 1890.

22.3 Remembers people who lived in East Gore COMMUNITY "Few potatoes in a small heap" Remembers when PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH built.

23.7 school days under MR GILCHRIST. JUDGE KENNEDY stories.

27.5 RECOLLECTIONS. MAORI artefacts. Maori ovens. ISABELLA McKANE. Lonely grave of a little girl at Castle Rock

34.1 GORE CEMETERY stories

SIDE 3

4 ALEXANDER McNAB. Story about ROBERT McNAB

4.8 Difference between NZ AGRICULTURAL COMPANY and the NZ AND AUSTRALIAN LAND COMPANY.

6.2 McNAB AND McKELLAR exploring at Lake Wakatipu. Great fire in flax and tussock.

7.9 REABY and CROYDON. Anecdote about an unthrifty pig.

9.4 G M BELL SAWMILL.

10. McNAB sells CROYDON to NATHANIEL CHALMERS.

10.8 Remembers CROYDON HOUSE.

11.5 WANTWOOD HOUSE old and new houses and farm buildings. Destruction of old stable.

14.5 FAMILY. Site of house where NATHAN BURROWS (father) lived.

15.5 MYTHS. Story of ghost.

17.3 TRANSPORT. It took 2 1/2 days for Burrows family to travel from Invercargill to Waimea where father NATHAN BURROWS was employed as gardener.

19.7 BUSINESS ASSOCIATES. LENNIE Nurseryman. Growing GORSE and hawthorn cuttings for farmers.

SIDE 4

0.5 GOLD Fossicking near Gore

3.0 Very early days of WAIMEA Settlement.

4.0 MAORI settlement at TUTURAU. Story of TUTURAU RAID.

6.4 end