WILLIAM GEOFFREY (BILL) TODD

Interviewer: Nancy Burnett

Abstracter: Jean Hawkes

First Interview: 13 June 2011

DISC 1: TRACK 1

00:01 Interview identification

00:45 WILLIAM GEOFFREY TODD born in 1937 in INVERCARGILL

01:00 Recording Agreement

01:30 Outline of career... Vacancy in the office in 1955 – Trip STEWART ISLAND to INVERCARGILL

02:07 Junior Clerk in old office – Had learn to us manual typewriter – Described Recording auctioneer's sales – Described

02:44 First Public Auction – Father absent

02:57 Over past 50 or so years, many auctions in many places CENTRAL OTAGO – SOUTHLAND – NEW PLYMOUTH – Mentioned

03:25 Many changes – Described Personnel needed for Household Clearing Sales – Described Catalogue system – Explained

04:23 Reference to history of WILLIAM TODD & COMPANY

04:40 Attributes of SOUTHLAND and SOUTHLANDERS Great grandfather arrived late 1860s – via SOUTH AUSTRALIA – Auctioneer's license 1865 – Minerals – Company formed in 1916 – Two sons (GEORGE CHARLES died in 1920s, other grandfather died 1944) – Father took over business – Self took over when father and aunt died QUEENSTOWN – HOKITIKA – WEST COAST – DEE STREET – ESK STREET – WESTERN AUSTRALIA – DENTON FAMILY – Mentioned 07:09 First WILLIAM an entrepreneur – Minerals – Coastal shipping Grandfather benevolent fellow – Many titles show him as co-owner of properties in INVERCARGILL Types of auctions – Mentioned

08:01 Self born in nursing home in HERBERT STREET – Sent to WAITAKI BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL – Being part of family business DENTON FAMILY – Mentioned

09:20 Father – Salesman – PR (Public Relations) man

09:36 Own commitment to the company – Staff numbers – Happy being in INVERCARGILL – Travelled – Happy to come home STEWART ISLAND – Mentioned

10:25 Uniqueness of SOUTHLAND PEOPLE... Loyalty – Small community WELLINGTON – SAN FRANCISCO – Mentioned

11:53 Loyalty to SOUTHLAND businesses changed – Explained

12:42 Good place to do business – Less problems than other places Honesty and loyalty

14:14 Return of past staff to help at last big auction (final regular auction)

14:31 Elderly gentleman at final regular auction RALPH COLYER (?)...

15:00 End of Track 1

DISC 1: TRACK 2

00:00 … Ralph – Described

00:48 Many regular (auction) clients – Registration of buyers – Response of local people

02:36 Contents of some box lots unknown

03:05 Loyalty – Honesty – Way of life – Small community New generation and recent arrivals unaware of the history

03:46 Precious places in SOUTHLAND – Province and what it offers – STEWART ISLAND connection 120 years or so Ease of travel to STEWART ISLAND

05:18 INVERCARGILL lost some of it's 'sting' – Effects of changed business hours on life-style of many Movement of retailing zone – Own property not for sale Inner city and suburban parking compared DON STREET and SPEY STREET – Mentioned

07:59 Many SOUTHLAND community groups suffering – Influx of dairy people – Less time to be involved in community projects

08:59 How self would like to be seen by other people Company as good as the staff

10:25 Long serving staff despite surroundings LISA – LINDSAY FRANCIS – Mentioned

12:38 End of Track 2

Second Interview: 17 October 2011

DISC 2: TRACK 1

00:00 Interview identification

00:37 WILLIAM GEOFFREY (BILL) TODD born 28 July 1937

00:47 Recording Agreement

01:21 [HISTORY OF WILLIAM TODD & CO]: GREAT GRANDFATHER arrived INVERCARGILL (via Australia) 1863 Original 1865 License still held – Chased GOLD – Mayor of HOKITIKA – WESTLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 1878 return to INVERCARGILL – 1898 with 2 sons to WESTERN AUSTRALIA Business probably in ESK STREET – Move to present site – Partnership with sons CHARLES (died 1920s) and WILLIAM – Died in 1912 Company registered 1916 Mr BINNEY – RICHARD SEDDON – HENRY DENTON – Mentioned

04:09 GRANDFATHER – WILLIAM (died 1944) and DENTON FAMILY FATHER – GEOFFREY and sister MARJORY PRAIN (wife of solicitor) HARRY son of HENRY DENTON – Mentioned 04:48 Self bought out DENTON FAMILY – Bought out cousins ROBYN (late wife) – Mentioned

05:32 Recent decision to retire – Formation of WILLIAM TODD & CO (2011) LTD Self a supernumerary

06:15 FATHER – had brother WILLIAM (died from hydatids) 'AMAKURA' (trading vessel) Father good athlete – Rugby injury – Also had hydatids – Died about 1978 Auctioneer later in life – Self started aged about 22

07:58 Great Grandfather's involvement with STEWART ISLAND Tin mine at (Port) PEGASUS – PRESERVATION INLET – ISTHMUS GOLD MINE – WAITUNA LAGOON – Trading schooners

08:56 Grandfather – Interest in STEWART ISLAND – Present home in family since 1920s Land owned in 1911 Interest in WEST COAST SOUNDS – Grandfather Willie – 'WATER LILY' (boat)

10:08 STEWART ISLAND own holiday retreat

10:21 Self born INVERCARGILL – Eldest in family – four younger sisters Lived at 23 Alice Street – Attended WAIHOPAI SCHOOL – 1951 to WAITAKI BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL in OAMARU

11.29 Returned to INVERCARGILL 1954 – Began (at family business) 1 February 1955 HENRY DENTON – TED HUGHES – HARRY DENTON – Mentioned Father involved in sales area Self started as OFFICE BOY – Duties explained

13:02 CHARLIE TODD fruit auctioneer (father's cousin) gave self some auctioneer training

13:31 Start of own involvement in late 1950s – Auctions all over province

14:09 Requirements to be an auctioneer... AMERICAN TOBACCO AUCTIONEERS – Mentioned

15:00 End of Track 1

TRACK 2

00:00 … Lessons in voice control with UNCLE CHARLIE at ORETI BEACH

00:46 Responsibility to clients – Explained Public support

02:18 Regular buyers – 4th generation of one family – Attitudes of new generation

04:29 Effects of electronic buying on the industry – Auction a 'clearing house' Place of Dealers for specialised sales

05:49 Sold almost everything except second-hand clothing – Mainly domestic gear

06:37 Sell live-stock – Grandfather had Shetland Pony stud and had annual sales Friday Sales – Poultry – Young lambs – Pigs – Calves Farm clearing sales – Help from Stock Agents and others ROSS HARRISON – Mentioned

08:27 Reasons for decline in stock sales

09:02 Sale of pet lambs – high price for any with colour

09:21 Produce – Grain for feed – General produce – Smaller packages now in supermarkets and Fruit and Vegetable Market CANTERBURY – Mentioned

10:18 Many sales by commission – Explained Some bulk goods bought in – Time spent disposing of items

11:07 Big ESTATE clearances – Changed attitudes to family items Self been in many homesteads in Southland

12:28 ANTIQUE auctions – Social occasion for many

12:58 VEHICLES – Started in small way – Now have weekly auctions LEET STREET – TWEED STREET [PORT CRAIG BUILDING] – BOWMONT STREET – Mentioned

14:11 STAFF – Had 3 in office – 3 to 4 on Sales Floor – Casuals Before technology took over 5 in office

15:00 End of Track 2

TRACK 3

00:00 Now run with casual staff basis – Senior staff (permanent) Auctioneer – WINSTON FRANCIS Office – LISA WITHINGTON Self – Supernumerary ROSS HARRISON – ALISTAIR REYNOLDS – Mentioned

01:03 Visits by old office staff – Still willing to help

01:40 Own official FINAL AUCTION – Past staff present Special visit of elderly client (RALPH) – Seat booked for the day

03:56 Self co-opted to new company – Not involved with day-to-day running

04:21 Growing up in INVERCARGILL – Attended WAIHOPAI SCHOOL – Lived at ALICE STREET REUNIONS – Mentioned

05:36 SECOND WORLD WAR – Pushbike when about 10 or 12 years old – 'Rugby boots'

05:58 How self became involved with BLUES RUGBY CLUB – Involvement of relations discovered – Positions played

07:10 Rugby at WAITAKI BOYS HIGH SCHOOL – Reunion

07:38 Father WAITAKI ex-pupil – Own entry to boarding school – Caned on first day 08:53 Involvement with sport – Students from Southland mostly rural TOKANUI – FORTROSE – WESTERN SOUTHLAND – NORTHERN SOUTHLAND – Mentioned

09:49 [SCHOOL HOLIDAYS]: Train travel – Met in INVERCARGILL by parents OAMARU – CHRISTCHURCH – TIMARU – DUNEDIN – Mentioned CRAIGHEAD (Timaru) – COLUMBA (Dunedin) – Mentioned

11:05 Parents' visit on SPORTS DAY held in March

11:31 School team trips – Inter-school DUNEDIN – INVERCARGILL – Mentioned

11:55 Self involved in Rugby – Cricket – Athletics – Shooting – Boxing – Swimming

13:06 Rugby with BLUES main sport on return to INVERCARGILL Skiing at CORONET PEAK – Mentioned THE SADDLE – SKIPPERS – Mentioned

13:59 [CARS]: AUSTIN 7 – 1935 CHEVROLET – 1939 FORD V8 COUPE …

15:00 End of Track 3

TRACK 4

00:00 … [Cars]: Had other cars over the years

00:20 [TEENAGE ENTERTAINMENT]: Dear stalking – Pig hunting EGLINTON VALLEY – OTAPIRI GORGE – MONOWAI - TUATAPERE – Mentioned Trips to the beach – Movies – Dances St MARY'S HALL – RSA HALL – COUNTRY HALLS [LIMEHILLS – ORETI – THORNBURY] – Mentioned

02:32 STEWART ISLAND for long weekends – Some hunting VIRGINIAN and RED DEER – Mentioned Water based activities

03:37 Still has boat at the island – Family still enjoy going – Booking system on house Does not consider self as a visitor – Has two addresses

04:28 STEWART ISLAND FERRY – Memories of own first trip CAPTAIN THOMPSON – WAIRUA No1 – AWARUA (tug) – MATAI – WAIRUA No 2 – CATAMARANS

06:48 Involvement with first STEWART ISLAND AIRSTRIP Problems with aircraft – Venture failed Future efforts successful AMPHIBIAN – BRITTEN-NORMAN ISLANDER – Mentioned

08:22 Early ferry crossings 3 hours – One hour on catamarans – 20 minutes by plane

08:41 FOVEAUX STRAIT conditions

09:04 WAR TIME – Black-out curtains – Rationing – Trenches still at WAIHOPAI SCHOOL – Trenches corner of GALA and KELVIN STREETS – Petrol rationing 1928 BUICK car – Mentioned VJ (Victory in Japan) DAY celebrations – Travelled in uncle's car – CHARLIE TODD on one-wheeled bike

11:57 End of Track 4

Third Interview: 30 October 2011

Disc 3:

TRACK 1

00:02 Nothing recorded

TRACK 2

00:02 [MOTHER]: HELEN MARGARET BAIN – Grand-daughter of J W BAIN SOUTHLAND BUILDING SOCIETY – GEORGE (banker BNZ DUNEDIN and OTAGO) 00:49 Parents met at STEWART ISLAND – Married 1935 – Lived ALICE STREET

01:16 [SIBLINGS]: Four younger sisters – ANN married JACK HAZLETT – ALLISON married BILL HAZLETT – PRUDENCE married ROBERT WILSON – NICOLA married LEE OVERTON DUNEDIN – OTAPIRI – WANAKA – Mentioned

02:26 Sites of TODD AUCTION ROOMS – Described DON STREET – SPEY STREET – CARNEGIE GARDEN ESTATE – Mentioned

04:42 Auction of TAKARO LODGE, Te Anau – Described STOCKTON RUSH – Mentioned

06:39 Auction of remains from hardware store fire – Corner of Forth and Nith streets

07:32 Timber auction TUATAPERE 1990s

08:11 1984 FLOOD – Self living at OTATARA – Effects to self and family members

09:24 Charity Auctions – Many in different places – Different techniques ROBYN BROUGHTON – DUNEDIN – NEW PLYMOUTH – STEWART ISLAND – Mentioned

11:41 Painting on office wall – Described ALISTER RIDDELL – JENNA (?) McHUGH – MICKEY BURKE – BEVERLEY CLARIDGE – Mentioned

13:04 Certificates – REAL ESTATE – Described WAYNE HILL – MIKE McCURDY– Mentioned

14:47 LIFE MEMBER of Auctioneers Association...

15:00 End of Track 2

TRACK 3

00:00 … Auctioneers' Association and own involvement

01:09 Wife ROBYN CLARK – From BRANXHOLME – Married in 1962 EARNSLAW STREET – OTATARA – Mentioned

02:58 [CHILDREN]: WILLIAM – Engineering overseer in DENVER, USA Move from New Zealand – Described HAMISH – New Zealand POLICE – Dog Squad and Fire Arms Instructor – Wife ELLIE – Children – ANGUS and JESSICA JOHNSONVILLE – Mentioned ROBERT – INVERCARGILL – Property Valuer TREVOR THAYER – Mentioned – Sons NICHOLAS and BENJAMIN 06:01 Publications relating to WILLIAM TODD & CO History [BOOKS] : “MURIHIKU” – CYCLOPAEDIA OF OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND Numerous newspaper articles – SOUTHLAND TIMES Grandfather's farm at GREENHILLS – Used as a retreat – Died in 1944 Father – ill health – Overseas travel – Marine engineer's certificate – STEWART ISLAND Self – Lot of weekend work – Not involved with bowls or golf

08:45 Formation of WILLIAM TODD & CO 2011 LTD – Described LINDSAY FRANCIS – LISA WITHINGTON – Mentioned

09:40 Recap

10:23 End of Track 3