Abstract of Katherine Randall (Kitty) BURGESS, 1994
Item — Box: 62
Identifier: H05010002
Abstract
Interviewee: Katherine “Kitty” Burgess
Interviewer: Edith Ruddenklau
Interview date: 3rd November 1994
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TIMINGS RELATE TO THE ORIGINAL TAPE TIMINGS
Tape 1
Side A
004 PERSONAL DETAILS. Lived at OWAKA house for 6 years. Before that, lived on a farm at TARARA.
009 Maiden name was MAGINNESS.
015 FAMILY: BACKGROUND. Father’s father emigrated from IRELAND with wife and three children circa 1858; elaborates on details of trip.
026 Father’s father and mother mentioned in encyclopaedias published circa 1905.
030 PARENTS, FAMILY: BACKGROUND. Father won a ballot to farm at WAIKATI estate in early 1900s about 10 miles from WAIMATE., born there as well as her siblings
035 SCHOOL. Left WAIMATE prior to being of school age. Attended school at Hope Hill, ALLANTON at the age of 5.
044 PARENTS. Parents met probably through playing TENNIS. Mother’s family from NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND.
053 MARRIAGE. Spouse is NORMAND ALAN BURGESS, goes by CHUM.
056 CHILDREN, HOUSE & GARDEN, TECHNOLOGY. Had 5 children: LORNA (oldest), INNESS, JOHN (Born 1938), ALAN (1942), and KATHRYN (1943). 5 children under age of 9. Lucky that she had a new, big house with a SEPTIC TANK, no one else had such in those days. Elaborates on amenities and services – power telephone.
097 TECHNOLOGY. Had to travel a mile to get to POST OFFICE to receive mail. Elaborates.
106 SCHOOL. School was close, just across the paddock, actually located on their family’s property, previous owners had given that parcel to the school. Not a 2 teacher school, SCHOOL had 2 rooms attached to it, for MĀORI. Had several MĀORI teachers, but they all left once they had children.
115 Prior to being married, trained as a TEACHER circa 1927 – 28. Elaborates. Got wage as COMPULSORY ASSISTANT. Has TEACHING CERTIFICATES.
157 In those days, only allowed 2 years free education, if you wanted to continue, you had to pay for it.
165 Interviewer and Interviewee reviewing EDUCATION CERTIFCATES and MARKS.
185 Was one of first pupils at OWAKA DISTRICTS HIGH SCHOOL, her father and local doctor fought to have school started.
195 Reads from her memories written. 1929, teachers were having difficulty to find a job.
210 MONEY. Got a job as a teacher in a town hallway between QUEENSTOWN and ARROWTOWN. Was a household teacher for 2 boys and 2 girls. Also made dresses for the girls, as mother couldn’t sew
221 LEISURE. Bought a horse and gave the children (her Pupils) rides. Joined the local PONY CLUB and rode in the summer show.
228 ETHNIC GROUPS. Recalls a “CHINAMAN” living in the town near ARROWTOWN, who had been a gold miner; called himself “SUNDAY.” Recalls being frightened by him the first time they met. Recalls interaction between baby of family she taught and Sunday where Sunday predicted he’d be rich, baby grew up to own CORONET PEAK STATION.
255 TRANSPORT. Didn’t have a car when they were first married with first child. Rode horses.
265 MONEY. Recalls other teaching jobs in the area.
290 DEPRESSION 1930S. Recalls not having any money during the DEPRESSION, and how hard it was on the families.
301 RELATIVES Recalls a second cousin who lived in CHRISTCHURCH who wrote to her, wanted to marry her. Calls him a “soulmate.”
304 MARRIAGE. HUSBAND was her third romance; first one jilted her, second one she left. “Third time’s lucky!”
312 COMMUNITY. Belonged to WOMEN’S DIVISION when first married
320 CHILDREN. Recalls LORNA, first child being a colicky baby, wouldn’t know what to without PLUNKET. Even got her milk tested at local butter factory to see if it was good.
340 TRANSPORT. Bought a DODGE at a stock sale for 80 pounds.
350 MONEY. Could make a living on 100 acres in 1933 with 15 or 16 cows.
362 FAMILY: HOUSE & GARDEN. Recalls LADY BURGESS’S (mother-in-law?) house burnt down when she was doing washing outside. When husband, then fiancé was away on WEST COAST
387 LEISURE. Recalls chopping matches between the men
410 MARRIAGE, HOUSE. Couldn’t afford to get married, but when mother-in-law’s house burnt down, they had to build a new house. GOVERNMENT was subsidizing building at the time. New house cost 750 pounds. Hired bricklayer and plumber.
End of Tape 1 Side A
Tape 1 Side B
003 MARRIAGE, POLIO. Married 6.12.1933 in OWAKA. House not finished at the time. Went to OAMARU for honeymoon to visit sister at OAMARU HOSPITAL, who had contracted POLIO.
013 CLOTHING. Describes wedding gown and veil.
045 ENGAGEMENT. Fiancé used to visit her by horse from TARARA, to where she lived in a boarding house
055 Boarding House burnt down in FIRE of 1935, she was last teacher at the school. Elaborates on memories of FIRE.
100 WORK. Recalls husband used to work at mill to make money to buy land. Husband’s father used to work on railroad to make money, wives would stay at home and tend to cattle, milking the cows. Would take the milk to the TARARA CHEESE FACTORY.
131 CORRESPONDENCE, WORK. Reads letter written in 1955 by her UNCLE CHARLES to her father discusses times of 1895 which tells of days with sailors and weather in CATLINS. Letter discusses better times due to unions; geography of CATLINS; whaler communities; fishermen; recapturing of runaway cattle.
260 TRANSPORT, COMMUNICATION, OCCUPATION, LEISURE. Subject reads random parts of memories she’s written. Reads about telephone, telegrams, post, milking, kui, mill whistle, timber trains, balls, dancing.
330 MARRIAGE. Stayed in BLUFF, recalls buying linen for marriage in INVERCARGILL; embroidering aprons and tea towels.
345 LEISURE. Recalls attending a BACHELOR AND SPINSTER BALL.
365 DRUNKENNESS. Remembers a particular man who would get so drunk the men had to sit on him on a lorry to keep him from running off.
385 Remembers SAILORS in DUNEDIN circa 1927, going off on bird (?)
End of Tape 1 Side B
Tape 2 Side A [PLEASE NOTE THAT NO AUDIO EXISTS FOR THIS PART OF THE INTERVIEW - THE SECOND TAPE IS NOT PART OF THE COLLECTION]
012 FAMILY. GRANDMOTHER was HUGENOT (PROTESTANT) IN FRANCE, who were being persecuted by the CATHOLICS. GRACY came from FRANCE and immigrated to IRELAND.
031 Some of the GRACY emigrated from BELFAST, IRELAND to CANADA.
037 GRANDFATHER named JOHN MAGINNESS, born in ULSTER . Arrived at PORT CHALMERS on boat. GRANDMOTHER ROSEANNE GRACY came over on different boat INDIAN EMPIRE, they got married in CHRISTCHURCH. They had 5 children, her father was middle child. Elaborates on aunts and uncles.
060 She had twin brothers, ERIC and ?? and another brother RANDALL.
070 RELIGION. Both sides of her family were METHODIST. One cousin married a CATHOLIC and the girl’s father disowned her.
090 Reviewing photo of grandparents’ grave, buried at ANGLICAN CHURCH, even though they were METHODIST. Reviewing photo of house.
116 HONORS. FATHER got the QUEEN’S MEDAL/CORNATION MEDAL, for service to the district, prominent OWAKA citizen. Sent CORONATION MEDAL to TOM MAGINNESS, as he’s named after his grandfather.
145 FAMILY. Visited house in CHRISTCHURCH where her MOTHER as born.
160 CATHERINE SMART, GRANDMOTHER.
Interviewer: Edith Ruddenklau
Interview date: 3rd November 1994
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TIMINGS RELATE TO THE ORIGINAL TAPE TIMINGS
Tape 1
Side A
004 PERSONAL DETAILS. Lived at OWAKA house for 6 years. Before that, lived on a farm at TARARA.
009 Maiden name was MAGINNESS.
015 FAMILY: BACKGROUND. Father’s father emigrated from IRELAND with wife and three children circa 1858; elaborates on details of trip.
026 Father’s father and mother mentioned in encyclopaedias published circa 1905.
030 PARENTS, FAMILY: BACKGROUND. Father won a ballot to farm at WAIKATI estate in early 1900s about 10 miles from WAIMATE., born there as well as her siblings
035 SCHOOL. Left WAIMATE prior to being of school age. Attended school at Hope Hill, ALLANTON at the age of 5.
044 PARENTS. Parents met probably through playing TENNIS. Mother’s family from NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND.
053 MARRIAGE. Spouse is NORMAND ALAN BURGESS, goes by CHUM.
056 CHILDREN, HOUSE & GARDEN, TECHNOLOGY. Had 5 children: LORNA (oldest), INNESS, JOHN (Born 1938), ALAN (1942), and KATHRYN (1943). 5 children under age of 9. Lucky that she had a new, big house with a SEPTIC TANK, no one else had such in those days. Elaborates on amenities and services – power telephone.
097 TECHNOLOGY. Had to travel a mile to get to POST OFFICE to receive mail. Elaborates.
106 SCHOOL. School was close, just across the paddock, actually located on their family’s property, previous owners had given that parcel to the school. Not a 2 teacher school, SCHOOL had 2 rooms attached to it, for MĀORI. Had several MĀORI teachers, but they all left once they had children.
115 Prior to being married, trained as a TEACHER circa 1927 – 28. Elaborates. Got wage as COMPULSORY ASSISTANT. Has TEACHING CERTIFICATES.
157 In those days, only allowed 2 years free education, if you wanted to continue, you had to pay for it.
165 Interviewer and Interviewee reviewing EDUCATION CERTIFCATES and MARKS.
185 Was one of first pupils at OWAKA DISTRICTS HIGH SCHOOL, her father and local doctor fought to have school started.
195 Reads from her memories written. 1929, teachers were having difficulty to find a job.
210 MONEY. Got a job as a teacher in a town hallway between QUEENSTOWN and ARROWTOWN. Was a household teacher for 2 boys and 2 girls. Also made dresses for the girls, as mother couldn’t sew
221 LEISURE. Bought a horse and gave the children (her Pupils) rides. Joined the local PONY CLUB and rode in the summer show.
228 ETHNIC GROUPS. Recalls a “CHINAMAN” living in the town near ARROWTOWN, who had been a gold miner; called himself “SUNDAY.” Recalls being frightened by him the first time they met. Recalls interaction between baby of family she taught and Sunday where Sunday predicted he’d be rich, baby grew up to own CORONET PEAK STATION.
255 TRANSPORT. Didn’t have a car when they were first married with first child. Rode horses.
265 MONEY. Recalls other teaching jobs in the area.
290 DEPRESSION 1930S. Recalls not having any money during the DEPRESSION, and how hard it was on the families.
301 RELATIVES Recalls a second cousin who lived in CHRISTCHURCH who wrote to her, wanted to marry her. Calls him a “soulmate.”
304 MARRIAGE. HUSBAND was her third romance; first one jilted her, second one she left. “Third time’s lucky!”
312 COMMUNITY. Belonged to WOMEN’S DIVISION when first married
320 CHILDREN. Recalls LORNA, first child being a colicky baby, wouldn’t know what to without PLUNKET. Even got her milk tested at local butter factory to see if it was good.
340 TRANSPORT. Bought a DODGE at a stock sale for 80 pounds.
350 MONEY. Could make a living on 100 acres in 1933 with 15 or 16 cows.
362 FAMILY: HOUSE & GARDEN. Recalls LADY BURGESS’S (mother-in-law?) house burnt down when she was doing washing outside. When husband, then fiancé was away on WEST COAST
387 LEISURE. Recalls chopping matches between the men
410 MARRIAGE, HOUSE. Couldn’t afford to get married, but when mother-in-law’s house burnt down, they had to build a new house. GOVERNMENT was subsidizing building at the time. New house cost 750 pounds. Hired bricklayer and plumber.
End of Tape 1 Side A
Tape 1 Side B
003 MARRIAGE, POLIO. Married 6.12.1933 in OWAKA. House not finished at the time. Went to OAMARU for honeymoon to visit sister at OAMARU HOSPITAL, who had contracted POLIO.
013 CLOTHING. Describes wedding gown and veil.
045 ENGAGEMENT. Fiancé used to visit her by horse from TARARA, to where she lived in a boarding house
055 Boarding House burnt down in FIRE of 1935, she was last teacher at the school. Elaborates on memories of FIRE.
100 WORK. Recalls husband used to work at mill to make money to buy land. Husband’s father used to work on railroad to make money, wives would stay at home and tend to cattle, milking the cows. Would take the milk to the TARARA CHEESE FACTORY.
131 CORRESPONDENCE, WORK. Reads letter written in 1955 by her UNCLE CHARLES to her father discusses times of 1895 which tells of days with sailors and weather in CATLINS. Letter discusses better times due to unions; geography of CATLINS; whaler communities; fishermen; recapturing of runaway cattle.
260 TRANSPORT, COMMUNICATION, OCCUPATION, LEISURE. Subject reads random parts of memories she’s written. Reads about telephone, telegrams, post, milking, kui, mill whistle, timber trains, balls, dancing.
330 MARRIAGE. Stayed in BLUFF, recalls buying linen for marriage in INVERCARGILL; embroidering aprons and tea towels.
345 LEISURE. Recalls attending a BACHELOR AND SPINSTER BALL.
365 DRUNKENNESS. Remembers a particular man who would get so drunk the men had to sit on him on a lorry to keep him from running off.
385 Remembers SAILORS in DUNEDIN circa 1927, going off on bird (?)
End of Tape 1 Side B
Tape 2 Side A [PLEASE NOTE THAT NO AUDIO EXISTS FOR THIS PART OF THE INTERVIEW - THE SECOND TAPE IS NOT PART OF THE COLLECTION]
012 FAMILY. GRANDMOTHER was HUGENOT (PROTESTANT) IN FRANCE, who were being persecuted by the CATHOLICS. GRACY came from FRANCE and immigrated to IRELAND.
031 Some of the GRACY emigrated from BELFAST, IRELAND to CANADA.
037 GRANDFATHER named JOHN MAGINNESS, born in ULSTER . Arrived at PORT CHALMERS on boat. GRANDMOTHER ROSEANNE GRACY came over on different boat INDIAN EMPIRE, they got married in CHRISTCHURCH. They had 5 children, her father was middle child. Elaborates on aunts and uncles.
060 She had twin brothers, ERIC and ?? and another brother RANDALL.
070 RELIGION. Both sides of her family were METHODIST. One cousin married a CATHOLIC and the girl’s father disowned her.
090 Reviewing photo of grandparents’ grave, buried at ANGLICAN CHURCH, even though they were METHODIST. Reviewing photo of house.
116 HONORS. FATHER got the QUEEN’S MEDAL/CORNATION MEDAL, for service to the district, prominent OWAKA citizen. Sent CORONATION MEDAL to TOM MAGINNESS, as he’s named after his grandfather.
145 FAMILY. Visited house in CHRISTCHURCH where her MOTHER as born.
160 CATHERINE SMART, GRANDMOTHER.
Dates
- 1994
Conditions Governing Access
For access please contact the Southland Oral History Project Coordinator at sohp@ilibrary.co.nz.
Conditions Governing Use
The contents of Southland Oral History Project collections are subject to the conditions of the Copyright Act 1994. Please note that in accordance with agreements held with interviewees additional conditions regarding the reproduction [copying] and use of items in the Southland Oral History Project collections may apply. Please contact the Southland Oral History Project Coordinator for further information at sohp@ilibrary.co.nz.
Extent
From the Record Group: 1 folder(s)
Language of Materials
From the Record Group: English
Creator
- From the Record Group: Ruddenklau, Edith (Interviewer, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Southland Oral History Project Repository
