Gore District Historical Society Oral History Collection
Subject
Subject Source: Local sources
Found in 15 Collections and/or Records:
HOFFMAN, Sylvester James interviewed by Michael Roche
Record Group — Box 57
Identifier: H0424
Overview
Sylvester Hoffman was born in Gore in 1926. Talks about origin of Hoffman name and about his mother's family, the Schultz family and their emigration from Austria to Charlton. Talks about his childhood, his father's work at a foundry, their diet, clothing, Christmases, attitude to alcohol and smoking, discipline and chores. Recalls primary school at St Mary's and high school at St Kevin's in Oamaru. Mentions sport and the strictness of the Christian Brothers who ran the school. Describes...
Dates:
1998
HORRELL, Albert Edwin John interviewed by Avis McDonald
Record Group — Box 55
Identifier: H0621
Overview
Bert Horrell was born in Gore in 1917. Describes how his grandfather emigrated to New Zealand in the 1880s. Talks about their farm across the Mataura River and the difficulty of crossing it to get to school. Mentions how his father, as a child, had learned how to cross the river with a horse and dray full of school children. Talks about his father buying a farm at Mandeville. Describes going to Mandeville school, conditions, teachers Alan Prentice and Miss Barclay and sitting Proficiency....
Dates:
1998
KIRBY, Lillian Jean (Lilla) interviewed by Paulette McFarland
Record Group — Box 55
Identifier: H0622
Overview
Lillian Kirby was born in Gore in 1906. Describes her home, schooling, leaving school and being employed at H and J Smith's department store. Describes hours, wages, the various departments in the shop, staff social events, balls in Gore, her ball dress, and reasons for leaving the shop. Gives reasons for stopping work when she married. Talks about the main street in Gore and the shops. Recalls her wedding including the service, clothes and attitudes to engagements. Describes changes brought...
Dates:
1998
ROSE, Stewart Stenning interviewed by Pam McCarthy
Record Group — Box 55
Identifier: H0623
Overview
Stewart Rose was born in 1919. Recalls people talking about the flu epidemic of 1918. Mentions how his father was pushed into the job of funeral director. Gives details of his parent's origins and marriage at Owaka in 1917. Recalls being unwell as a child and his mother not being able to afford to take him to the doctor during the Depression. Describes living in Mataura opposite the freezing works and also living in Roxburgh and Pounawea. Recalls the Proficiency exam in Standard 6 at school....
Dates:
1998
SMITH, William Nicol McIntyre (Bill) interviewed by Dickon John Milnes
Record Group — Box 55
Identifier: H0624
Overview
William Smith was born in Lumsden in 1917. Gives details of his father's gold dredging in the Waikaka Valley. Describes a dredge, its operation and the shareholding of three companies - Lilysleaf, Rosedale and Star Dredging. Discusses associated industries including coal carting to feed the steam engines on the dredges. Mentions the coal came from the Waikaka Valley. Describes the dredge on Cummings' property owned by J A S Aitkin. Recalls the sound and smell of dredges. Describes the landscape...
Dates:
1998
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