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Abstract of Milton (Minty) HUGHES, 1998

 Item — Box: 63
Identifier: H04490002

Abstract

MILTON MINTY HUGHES

Interviewer: Madeline McGilvray Interviewed:

Abstracter: Madeline McGilvray

PLEASE NOTE THAT TIMING RELATE TO THE ORIGINAL TAPE

Side 1

00 Tape identification 19 Father and his work in flax mill at Pukemaori.

30 Story about the cook making the plum duff

51 Mother and the family name change from the German Printz to Prince and their home near Monkey Island, Orepuki. House still standing. Has three steeples.

80 Went to Port Craig 1923. Travelled by Steamer from the old Stead Street bridge. Eighty mile run and took 7 - 8 hours.

90 School at Port Craig. 24 children approx. Unique toilet.

144 Minty the Whistle boy and explains the job

160 Lidgerwood - describes it and story of the bush horses. Murphy and the broken chain.

220 Transporting of the logs to the Mill. Describes the viaducts. Percy Burn Viaduct the biggest wooden viaduct in the world.

255 The Mill at Port Craig. Describes it in detail, the boilers etc

280 Endless chain and docking saws. Transferring the timber ready for shipping out.

319 Describes the loading of the boats. How many hours to load. Job as the Cook's boy.

354 How Port Craig got its name. Some history of the Craig family and Fred Parry's warning, not to set sail.

372 Jim Craig, Jack's brother and his last job. He was blasting rock when he was killed. Names of Viaducts & Percy Burns.

385 Marlborough Timber Company and ownership of the Mill.

400 Oct 6 1928 the Mill closed. Minty was 17 years old. The tug - Southland took people out.

End of side 1

405 Grocery store prices. Information about the meat supplies and the bread baked there.

432 Store bill and how the finances were worked out for the Mill workers. Paid in cheques to stop any gambling.

460 Social life, and what they did with their free time. Only Sundays were free.

480 The Pie cart and the Pie cart escapade. This was the vehicle that took the men to work.

531 Lidgerwood. Description in detail.

640 Minty working on a replica of the Lidgerwood and hopes to have it a working model.

650 The Southland taking the people from Port Craig to Bluff in one day. His work at Greenhills in the stone quarry.

680 Depression time. No job and 10 of the 13 children lived at home. Can't understand how his mother managed.

700 Minty talks about his various jobs and how he met Hilda, his wife,

746 Family life. Fay with Meningitis. Dr. Elder visits and how he came regularly and charged very little.

789 Work in the Lilburn Valley, driving a bulldozer.

End of Side 2.

Side 3

820 Tuatapere and how he came to get his steam ticket and subsequent job in the steam laundry, 869 A little information how a Committee was formed to raise money to repair the Viaducts in Port Craig.

920 Conclusion of side 3.

Conclusion of Interview

Dates

  • 1998

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

Repository Details

Part of the Southland Oral History Project Repository