The Family Of Mary Brown and

Thomas Me Lean. Notes.Mary Brown. Spelt with or without an E. English, Irish or

, Scottish. Ànswer Irish. Thomas McLean. Died of a heart attack in N.Z. Came out to N.Z. with half of the children. Rest born in N.Z. eg Thomas was born. in N.Z. They came out to N.Z. from Glasgow to Devonport in ?1902. Would like to know whether they lived in Glasgow or travelled there from Ireland. Are we Scottish or Irish descendants?

Can our McLean tree be traced back to the original MacLeans Western Scotland? How many brothers and sisters did Mary Brown have? Who were her parents and where did they corne from? How many brothers and sisters did Thomas Henry McLean have? Who were his parents and where did they corne from?

Died 13/08/70 at Waiuku. Cremated 17/08/70 at Purewa Auckland. Ashes scattered on Narrow Neck Beach, Devonport Her fathers name, = Thomas Henry McLean. Mother = Mary Brown. Résidence = Devonport. Fathers occupation, Packing Box Maker. Willoughby Richard Banks born 14/10/1890 at Devonport. Died 27/11/67 at Devonport and cremated 31/11/67 at Purewa Auckland. Ashes scattered at Narrow Neck Beach North Shore. His father was George Richard Rye Banks and his mothers maiden name was Dunne. Their résidence was Devonport and his occupation was carpenter.

No.l. Jean. Born

24/02/1894. Govan. Ireland.

Married Willoughby Richard Banks. 21/05/15 at Devonport.

Willoughby and Jane Banks had 2 issue.

Their 2 issue were = Jessie Mary Banks Brian Richard Banks.

Jessie Mary Banks was born 02/03/16 at Devonport, she was a nurse.She married John Leigh Seeger who was born on the 04/07/15 at Auckland. They married on 05/07/41 at Devonport.Babs died on 26/09/86 at Waiuku and was buried 31/09/86 at Waiuku. Johnnie Seeger died 17/12/94 at Waiuku and was buried 20/12/94. His father was Charles Henry Seeger who was a farmer at Waiuku. His mothers maiden name was Agnes Jocelyn Black Smith. Johnnie and Babs had 3 issue.

Issue. Robyn Leigh Seeger born 03/08/42 at Devonport.Occupation, -Telephone/receptionist. She married Jeffrey Donald George Morris on 07/06/69 at Waiuku. He was born 10/01/40 at Auckland. His father was Christopher Morris and his mother Florence George. Jeff is a Commission Agent. There are no issue.

Maureen Anna Seeger was born at Devonport 04/11/44. She has not married and there are no issue.

Richard Willoughby Seeger was born 18/02/50 at Waiuku. He married Linda Janet Henry (who was born 11/10/50 at Auckland)on 28/12/77 at Auckland. Her fathers name was Anthony Henry and her mothers maiden name was Miller. They Hved at Bucklands and Pukekohe.Linda is a part-time school-teacher and Richard is a builder. They have 2 issue. Clare Emilia Born 08/08/78 at Auckland. Dylan John Leigh Born 19/01/81 at Gisborne.

Brian Richard Banks.

Born 20/08/20 at Devonport married Elizabeth Ann Robertson (D.O.B. 05/02/34 at Wellington) at Auckland on 09/04/64. Elizabeth's fathers name was Robertson and her mothers name was Burgess. They were farmers from Blenlieim.Brian Banks died on 08/08/76 at Auckland and was buried 12/08/76. He was a company agent + a naval rating on the Achilles. He married 3 times. His first wife was ?Norma ??? Elizabeth lives in the Western suburbs of Auckland.

His second wife was Patricia Haydon and still lives in Auckland. There are 2 issue. Suzanne Banks born 04/11/71. Brandon Banks born 08/06/67.

Roy McLean married Ina Russell. They were first cousins and had no children. Roy died in 1964 at Waihi. He had been a fariner at Waihi. Ina married Ken (VïcNaul and they lived on Setldon Ave. Waihi and after her death the family continued contact until he died in 198?.

McLean.

D.O.B. ???

,V .jet

No.3. Harry McLean. D.O.B. 01/07/1898. Born in Glasgow.

He married Emily Iving, D.O.B. 20/05/02 at Solford England. She came To Waikino when she was 10. Her father John King had hoped to work in the mine but came during the strike. She nursed her mother who died of cancer when Emily was . She later married Harry McLean and eventually they moved onto a farm at Waitawheta also. They married at St Peters Presbytarian Church Grey Lynn Auckland on 28/3/23. Emilys mothers maiden name was Darbyshire.

They had 4 children. (1) Àlan. (2) DonakI (3) Frank(Mick) (4) Ken.

:

(i) Alan,

Alan was born 04/04/24 at Auckland. He worked as a post office employée and then on the railway as a stoker. He later joined the airforce and went to Japan in the J force. He married Pat O'Connor, they had 5 children. They separated and Pat remarried tvvice more. Alan was tragically killecl in a M.V.A. (motor vehicle accident on 04/04/88 (his birthday.)Alan was a builder. ISSUE.

(1) .Denise D.O.B. 15/06/52. at Warkworth. She is a trained speech therapist. She married Gérard Diedrichs on 10/01/75. Gérard is a stock and station agent. They have 2 daughters. Rosa Jane, born 22nd April 1982. Sophie Louise born 20th Nov. 1985.

(2) Peter. Born 04/11/53 at Warkworth. He married Margaret Anne Thornton-Taylor in Christchurch on 19/1/76.He is a builder by trade and now lives in Brisbane. They have 3 children, also living in Brisbane with Margaret.. Kelly-Anne. D.O.B. 22/08/78 at Christchurch. Tracey Marie. D.O.B. 26/12/79 at Christchurch. Cindy Alicia. D.O.B. 6/11/81.

(3) Maxine. D.O.B. 13/12/54 at Warkworth. Business administrator. Married lYlartyn Woodhall, who was born in England on 19/05/50.

They married in Wellington on 25/03/78 There are no issue. Martyn is a builder. Martyn was born in London, his mother's maiden name was Jane Elizabeth Rider. His father Albert Edward Woodhall was an officer in the army.

(4) Stewart McLean D.O.B. 29/10/60.

Born at Warkworth, his interest has been motor car racing and lias a Marine Engineering business known as Seatech. His first wife was Kathy Bown and he later met and married Cyree Raelene Murray. Cyree was born 12/02/65 in Christchurch. Her father is Robert James Murray and her mother Trudi Raelene Shearer. Cyree manages their own farm which runs deer and dry stock. Her spécial interest is horses and breeds unique Unes. They have 2 children. (1) Sam Alan. D.O.B. 24/09/91. Born at Blenheim. (2) . Courtney Raelene Ruth. D.O.B. 01/08/94. Address:* Main Rd. Para Blenheim. South Island.

(5) Randal McLean. Born 30/12/61 at Warkworth. Randal is a builder. He has onejssue He married Rowanne Kebby on 04/03/90 at Wellington but they have since divorced.

Don Mclean. (2nd son of Harry) Was born 17/02/26 atWaikino. Don worked for the Shell Oil Company for 22years. He had rheumatic fever as a child which left him with cardiac complications. He met and married Barbara Anderson. Barbara's mothers maiden name was Mary McLean and her father George Anderson were farmers at Matakana. Don and Barbara were married in \^iê^m46>nfb9/04/55. Don died suddenly at Arkles Bay , Whangaparoa onthe 20/10/74. He was buried at the North Shore Crématorium on 22/10/74..- ^ es- -Barbara remarried Roy Savery^anci they remain in the tamily home at 13 Tui Glen Rd. Birkenhead. Roy died of cancer on 13th July 1996.

•s

\ i

There are 5 issue. Kevin Donald McLean . Born 16/02/56 at Birkenhead. Bruce Henry McLean. Born 22/01/58at Birkenhead. Rhonda Mary McLean. Born 29/12/59 at North Shore Hospital. Lorraine Margaret McLean. Born 16/02/61 at North Shore Hospital. Scott Thomas McLean. Born 23/10/65 at North Shore Hospital.

Kevin McLean. Born at "The Gables" Birkenhead on 12/02/56. He ' married Ruth Port at St. Matthevvs Auckland. They have since divorced.

They have 2 daughters; Lara Mary McLean. D.o.b. 25/02/86. at North Shore Hospital. Nan'e Rose McLean. D.O.B. 12/04/88 at North Shore Hospital. Kevin is a financial consultant. Kevin married Barbara Anne Neal on 25th April 1997 at Long Bay Beach Auckland. Barbara has 2 daughters Sarah Jane Gilliand and Katie Louise Gilliand.

Bruce McLean. Born at"The Gables" Birkenhead on 22/01/58. He married Nicole Giraud at Monestier du Percy , France. They live in Grenoble. They have 3 children. Jeremy Henry McLean. Born 16/11/91 at Grenoble.

)).. ) ^ Emily Barbara Jeanine McLean. Born 15/11/93 at Grenoble. Tina Marie McLean. Born 12 July a î fc renoble. Bruce works for Hewlett Packard.

Rhonda Mary McLean born 29/12/59 at Auckland married Stephen Knight at Albany on 17/03/88. He is a curtain/textile salesman and Rhonda worked mainly in travel agencies. they have one daughter, Abby Mary Knight born 25/09/95 at Auckland. Steven's father is Donald Douglas Knight, and his mothers maiden name was Flora McKenzie Sheddon.

Lorraine Margaret McLean born 16/12/61 at North Shore Hospital She is a haïr dresser and married Lewis Pilkington a spray painter born 13/10/60, at Papatoetoe Catholic Church on 02/02/86. They have 3 issue.

Emma Louise Pilkington. Born at National Womens Hospital on 25/05/92. Thomas John Pilkington. Born at Botany Downs Maternity Hospital on 09/03/94. Mitchell Allan Pilkington. Born at Botany Downs Maternity Hospital on 06/02/96.

Scott Thomas McLean. Born 23/10/65 at North Shore Hospital. He married Deborah Neale (born 10/11/68) at the Wesley Collège Chapel on 01/09/90. They have-A daughter, Jessica Monique McLean. Born 04/01/96 at Papakura. Scott is a sales rep. 56fi* zjy f<\

3. Frarçk (Mick). Me Lean. Born 30/06/27 at Waikino. Mick married Dorn Stubbing in Auckland on 29/09/49. Dorn was born 29/03/28. Her father was of maori descent Charles Stubbing and her mother's maiden name was Buchanon. Dorn died from cancer on 24/02/76, she was buried at the North Shore Crématorium on 26/02/76. They had 3 children. Keith McLean. Born 29/03/50 at Milford Auckland. He married Barbara Raspe on 16/10/71 at Greenhithe. Barbara's father was John and her mother Alice Ethel Glanville, both were born in England. They have 3 children; Kirsty McLean, born 26/11/75 at North Shore Hospital. Cara Dorn McLean born 27/09/77 at North Shore Hospital. James John McLean born 22/08/81 at North Shore Hospital.

Carol Raewyn McLean, born 12/01/52 at Devonport, Auckland. Carol is a trained reg. community nurse. She married Greg. Bettjeman at the McLean résidence Browns Bay at a double wedding with her father. They are divorced but they have 2 sons. Bodhi Toby Tan Mac Bettjeman. Born 22/03/81 atPicton. Rowan Michael Bettjeman. Born 05/11/83 at ? Picton. Greg's parents Noline and Mac are retired hill country farmers from Te Kuïti. Mac1 s father had a direct connection to The Bridge to Nowhere. Carol's partner Geoff Hoare is a secretary for the Marlborough Power Board. s^ce.

Lynette McLean. Born 11/11/60. At Thames Hospital. Lyn married Kevin McLauhlan at Takapuna. They had a daughter Rebecca born 04/04/79 at North Shore Hospital. Kevan and Lynne later separated.

Mick married Géraldine Elizabeth née Eccles on 11/10/80. She is a reg. nurse, has 1 son Robert and 2 step-daughters Christine and Patricia.

4Kenneth McLean. Born 26/12/36 at Waihi. Went to school at Waitawheta and was 9 when the family left the farm and went to Crown Hill, North Shore. He married Matilda Parkinson. Her father was Thomas Edmund George and mother's maiden name was Finer Theima. Ken and Tilly were married at Pukekohe on 01/06/57. They are currently missionaries in Paraguay. They have 6 issue. Cecily, born 13/02/59 at Waiuku. Nathan, born 05/12/61 at Waiuku. Joy, born 14/11/60 at Waiuku. Roland, born 27/06/64 at Whitianga. Ian, born 21/09/66 at Thames. Shirley, born 04/12/67 at Thames.

Cecily married James "Peter" Wilson. His father Herman Charles Linnet and mother Barbara Alison née Ross. Peter and Cecily married at Waihi on 28/07/79. they have 2 issue Nikita Elsie Wilson, born 22/05/86 at Whangarei. Neville James Wilson, born 28/10/87 at Cambridge. Peter is an electrician.

Nathan McLean. Born 05/12/61. Nathan married Elspeth Verna Duxfield at TeKuiti on 27/03/82. Elspeth's mothers maiden name was Eunice Merveen Alley and her father Phillip Leslie. Elspeth was born at Tamauranui on 01/09/61. They have 3 issue. Neil Lawrence McLean Born 18/05/83 at Hamilton. Vicki Sheena McLean Born 02/05/85 at Stratford. Dale Terrance McLean Born 12/04/89 at Stratford. Nathan and Co. currently farm at Hereheretau Rd. R.D.6. Wairoa.

Joy McLean. Born 14/11/60. Joy married Russell Alister Gordan (born 15/05/59 at Te Poi ) on 06/11/82 at Matamata. His fathers names were lan Alister and his mother's maiden name was

Mildred Rose Harvey. He is a fitter turner. Joy and Russell are divorced.

There were 4 issue. Alexander Alister Gordan. (AI.) Born 21/01/85 at Stratford. Benjamin Russell Gordan. (Ben.) Born 19/02/86 at New Plymouth. Sam Kenneth Gordan. (Sam.) Born 15/02/88 at New Plymouth. Harley Gordan. Born 27/06/89 at New Plymouth. Harley was born with a congénital condition and died 16/01/90 <at New Plymouth. Joy and the boys live at 476 Toko Rd., R.D.22. Stratford.

Roland McLean. Born 27/06/64. Roland is a fariner. He married Anna Persis Ogle (born 15/11/63 at Hawera) on 19/12/87 at Hawera. Anna's father, Garfield Keith Ogle married Ngaire Lynore Reyland. Roly and Anna have 3 children: Todd Enoch McLean. Born 31/10/89 at Penrith Australie Jay Rueben McLean. Born 24/09/91 at Stratford. TWIN. Luke Ezra McLean. Born 24/09/91 at Stratford. TWIN. Roly and Anna live on Toko Rd., Stratford, Taranaki.

Ian McLean. Born 21/09/66. ^/SJ^oc lan married Kaye Frances Street on 04/03/95 at Pukekura Park New Plymouth. Kaye's father was Richard Frances Street and her mothers maiden name was Jones. Kaye has a son Kurtis Richard How-McLean. Issue. Abby Kate McLean. Born 23/12/95 at New Plymouth. fHtf&AiZrë & Ian is a police officer and they currently live at 173 Carrington St., New Plymouth.

Shirley McLean. Born 04/12/67 at Thames. Shirley married Gerald Robert Connor (born 30/03/53 at Stratford.)on 07/07/84 at Whangamomona. He is known as Joe.Joe's father was Robert Sidwell Connor and his mother's maiden name was Nina Winifred Hill. Joe is a builder. There are 3 issue. Amy Jean Connor. Born 23/03/87 at Stratford. Emily Louise Connor. Born 19/11/88 at Kohuratahi. Ralph Ira Connor. Born 21/08/92 at Stratford.

No.4. McLean. (Dolly.)

DoIIy was born 25/10/01 in ScotlancL Her occupation was silk-buyer,- manageress. She married William Edward Jones on 04/11/24 at Hamilton. His father was Francis Àugustus Jones and his mother's maiden name was Cassidy. William was an engineer and they lived at Takapuna. He died 18/06/67 at Auckland and was buried 21/06/67 at Auckland. Dolly died 30/04/70 and was buried 04/05/70 at Auckland.

There is 1 issue. Mary Frances Jones. Born 18/04/33 at Hamilton. Mary is a violin teacher, she married Donald Nithsdale Maxwell (Dale) at King's Collège, Auckland on 28/08/54. Dale was born 22/01/32 at Otahuhu. His father was Valentine Freke" Maxwell and his mother's maiden name was Bell. Dale was deputy headmaster at King's School. There are 2 issue. Simon Maxwell. Born 25/04/56 at North Shore, Auckland. Fraser Christopher Maxwell. Born 03/10/59 at Feilding.

Simon Maxwell. Simon married Fiona Lorlei Scott at King's Collège on 30/12/81.They divorced. Simon married Marion Waldorf on 09/09/93 in London.

3 Simon and Marion live at Cholmeley Lodge, Highgate. London. Their occupations are film-makers and multi Media Producers.

1 Fraser Christopher Maxwell. | Fraser married Paula Yates on 25/01/86 at Whakatane. They divorced. |l (|| Fraser married Linda Hollingsworth on 14/03/93 at Cambridge, N.Z. | . Linda's father was John Hollingsworth and her mother was Jean

Doolley. They have 2 issue. Hannah Lauren Maxwell. Born 02/08/94 at Adélaïde Australia. Olivia Rose Maxwell. Born 16/10/96 at Hamilton. Fraser is a Pediatrician at Waikato Hospital.

No. 5. Samuel Nicholson McLean.

ri ft le 1 • TiSABHÉferi'

Sam was born 20/02/1903 at Devonport. (the year after Thomas and Mary came to N.Z.)

He married Eva Gordon (born 20/07/08 at Waihi) at J.R.Gordan's résidence Waihi Plains. (Now known as the Lily Gardens) on 28/3/32. They have farmed on McLean's road, Waitawheta Valley for many years. Eva had a passion for horses. They had 1 issue. Gordon McLean. Born 21/11/34 at Paeroa. No issue. Sam died 27/03/68 and is buried at Waihi. Eva died 19/09/80 and is buried at Waihi also.

No. 6. Kathleen McLean. (Kathy.)

Kathy McLean. Born 16/08/?09 at Devonport. She married Henry Edward Wigmore (Ted) born 31/10/01 at Karangahake. Marriage date unknown.

Ted's father was Henry (Harry) Wigmore and his mother's maiden name was Bastible. They Iived in Paeroa and Auckland and his occupation was postmaster. Kathy died in 1970 and Ted's date of death is unknown. There was 1 issue.

Henry Murray Wigmore. (Murray.) Born 01/10/29 at Paeroa. He married Elizabeth Marion Williamson (Beth.)at Sommerville Presbytarian Church, Remuera, Auckland. Murray was a retailer and bank manager.

There are 2 issue. Alison Marion Wigmore. Born 28/04/60 at Auckland. Henry John Wigmore. (John.) Born 09/04/62 at Auckland.

John and Alison are both registered valuers. John has his own business in Auckland.

Alison married Ian Young, born 24/03/56 at Pukekohe. His father is Frank Watson Young and his mother's maiden name was Goulding. Alison and Ian were married at Dioceson School Chapel on 31/03/90. There are 2 issue. James Frank Young. Born 17/04/91 at Sth. Auckland. Peter Murray Young. Born 17/02/94 at Tauranga. Alison and Ian have a dairy farm at Whangamata. Alison works for the local district council.

No. 7. Thomas Quinton McLean

D.O.B. 1911. Married Ethel Durham. Issue = 2. Ross McLean. Twin. Barry McLean. Twin.

Tom remarried FIo née Robinson. There were no issue. They lived Warkworth for many years. Flo now lives at Henderson Auckland.

ROSS married Valérie née Browne. Her father's name was James Browne and her mother's maiden name was Edith Sutcliffe. There are 3 issue. Andrew Thomas McLean. Mark James McLean. Lorraine Joy McLean.

Andrew married Lisa Roberts. They are farming out of Melborne.

Mark is a ? practising gênerai practioner.

Lorraine married Mark Damien Leach. He is a teacher and she teaches / plays the flûte etc. They live in Sale out of Melbourne.

Ross is a textile importer and manufacturer in Melbourne and his partner Kay is a social worker.

Barry McLean. Born at J) î^> <â( ôot rftfPt>£œ-. Barry married Del. (born 22/08/42. née Berry.) There are 4 issue. Karen McLean. D.O.B. 03/04/61 at Warkworth. Kim McLean. D.O.B. 27/07/62 at Warkworth. Richard McLean. Twin. D.O.B. 20/08/70 at Rotorua. Jason McLean. Twin. D.O.B. 20/08/70 at Rotorua.

Karen married Peter Scott (born 11/11/57) on 27/11/81 at Rotorua. Peter works on their mixed fruit orchard and Karen is the personel manager at Watties/Heinz Industries. There are no issue.

Kim McLean married John Cross at Rotorua. They are separarated. There are 2 issue. Ryan Cross born 30/04/86 at Rotorua. Shane Cross born 27/07/88 at Rotorua.

\

Richard married Catherine King

Jason married Rochelle Bennett

Del died 06/03/93 at Omaranui, Napier. Barry married Jennifer Martin at Ormlie Lodge Taradale on 18/05/96. They réside on the orchard at Oamaranui, Napier.

No. 8. Kelvin McLean. Born Died 19/10/23

Shot at school in what became known as The Wâikino School Tradgedy. To this day pupils who were présent on that day appear to continue to carry that days events as though it happened yesterday. Possibly due to a lack of counselling and grieving facilities in those days.

Richard married Catherine King

Jason. married jlo_chelleJBennett_

T h i s W e e k s H i g h l i g l i t s

*ïmS week's Epitaph (TV1, 7.30pm, tWiednesday) relives the story of a homi-cidal gunman who

./an amok in a rural ï V Zealand prima-lyschool in 1923.

On October 19, 1923, farmer John Christopher —i gins —an Irishman who'd emigrated from Canada more than a décade before and was commonly known as "Mad John" or "Mad Higgins"—walked înto Waîkino Public School, Between Wai­hi and Paeroa, armed with a .32 auto-matic pistol and primed sticks of gelignïte. In a half-hour, he killed two young boys and wounded three chil­dren, shot the headmaster Robert Reid in the throat and neck, and also shot a constable as he was arrested.

Despite pleas of insanity, he was sentenced to death. TYhe sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. After serving a number of years, he was re-leased and returned to Canada.

At first confronting headmasr ter Robert Reid, Hîggins declared

—shere for rerenge," and told he had been persecùted for

lu-yêars by his neighbours, was not afraid to meet his God and Was going to shoot up some of the ' " ren. . . ïid, pleading for the chil-

dren's lives, tackled hini but was shot. Higgins moved to thé riext roomjvhere he began shooting at .the terrified children, apparently singlihg out particular ones. -

Charles Stewart and Kelvin McLean fell dead. Others were woiinded. Higgins went back înto Reid's study and, seeing the schôoltnaster lying semi-con-

; Jûous on the âoor, remarked; jj.Well, he's done for," and shoved \m insidea paper cupboard.

PAUL GITTINS Thé

As word of the .tragedy spread, armed niiners and police hurried to the school, braving gunfire to break in and seize Higgins.

Whîle harrowing, Epi-taptis story has. redeem-ing features. Despite ïts .anguish, the gold-mining town of Waikino united in grief with the family of the killer. They even gave money to help them start a nèw life.

son of the gunman is still alive, living within a few miles of the school. He remembers every détail of the day. of the kilîings and speaks of the love and support he has had ail his life from the people of Waikino,

Speaking to host Paul Gittins, he

flves an insight into the reasons for is father's actions.

FILM RECALLS '50s NZ MURDER

TV3 présents one of NZ's most ac-claimed films Heavenly Créa­tures, at8.30pm, Sunday. Noted NZ writer/direc-tor Peter Jack­son (The Frightëners,

j c~ STAR Kate Wins et a departure from his earlier work with this art-house production, based on the shocking true story of Pauline (Parker) Rieper and Juliet Hulme, who cnmmitted a horrif­ie murder in Christchurch in 1954.

When the film was released in NZ, it re-awakened interest în the long-bur-ied story.

Most sensationally, Juliet was dîs-covered to be prospering in Scotland as a best-selling murder mystery.au-thor usihg the pen name of Aixne Perry.

TV GUIDE, October 3, 1997 25

Taradale on 18/05/96. r.

Lean.

ikino School Tradgedy. 'appear to continue to 'terday. Possibly due to a days.

J ......

R e c o l l e c t i o n s f r o m t h e 1 i f g o f

E m i l y McLean

I was b o r n i n M a n c h e s t e r , E n g l a n d on t h e 2 0 t h o f May 1902, t h e . f i r s t d a u g h t e r o f Emi l y ( D a r b y s h i r e ) a n d J o h n K i n g . . My. o n l y s i b l i n g , E l s i e was b o r n on 3 J u l y 1910.

We 1 i v e d i n n o u s e s s i m i 1 a r t o t h o s e s e e n on C o r o n a t i o n * S t r e e t , what t h e y c a l l two up and two down t h e k i t c h e n a n d a l i t t l e s i t t i n g room d o w n s t a i r s and two bedrooms u p s t a i r s , no b a t h r o o m o r a n y t h i n g l i k e t h a t . I c a n remember f a l l i n g down t h e s t a i r s when I was f i v e .

Some o f t h e h o u s e s we were i n h a d c e l i a r s and one e v e n h a d an a t t i c . T h a t ' s where my f a t h e r k e p t h i s C a n a r i e s u n t i l he g o t s i c k and h a d t o go t o h o s p i t a l . Mum was s u p p o s e d t o be l o o k i n g a f t e r t h e b i r d s b u t she p u t t h e s e e d box i n t h e w r o n g way r o u n d and t h e b i r d s a l 1 d i e d .

As I was 10 when vie came o u t t o New Z e a l a n d I a t t e n d e d s c h o o l i n E n g l and up t o S t a n d a r d 3 I s u p p o s e . The f i r s t s c h o o l I went t o , St C l e m e n t s , was j u s t r o u n d t h e c o r n e r , and t h e s e c o n d s c h o o l I went t o w a s n f t much f u r t h e r b u t when I came o u t h e r e i t was a d a r n l o n g way t o w a l k . We j u s t wore o r d i n a r y c l o t h e s , no u n i f o r m s , as 1 s a y I was o n l y i n s t a n d a r d t h r e e when I 1 e f t . T h e r e were no u n i f o r m s h e r e e i t h e r , u n t i l y o u g o t înto h i g h s c h o o l .

From S a l f o r d we s h i f t e d t o S e e d l e y . I t was n o t v e r y f a r , nowhere i s v e r y f a r o v e r t h e r e , y o u c a n s h i f t umpteen t imes and f i n d y o u ' v e o n l y moved t o t h e n e x t s t r e e t .

T h e r e i s a so n g "The 01 d Lamp L i g h t e r " , I c a n remember t h e 1 amp l i g h t e r s g o i n g r o u n d d o i n g t h e i r j o b . A l s o p e o p l e " k n o c k i n g y o u up", i n t h o s e d a y s p e o p l e h a d t o g e t up v e r y e a r l y and go t o work b e f o r e b r e a k f a s t , some o f them w o u l d corne home 1 a t e r f o r b r e a k -f a s t . My d a d d i d n ' t h a v e t o b u t t h e y u s e d t o h a v e what t h e y c a l l e d " k n o c k e r s up"...men c o m i n g a l o n g t a p p i n g on t h e Windows w a k i n g p e o p l e up. P r e s u m a b l y a l a r m c l o c k s w ere an i n v e n t i o n o f t h e f u t u r e .

The f i r s t j o b I remember my f a t h e r h a v i n g i n E n g l a n d was t h a t o f a m e c h a n i c a l s t o k e r i n t h e e l e c t r i c l i g h t s t a t i o n (power s t a t i o n ) . H i s j o b was t o r e a d t h e gauges and f e e d c o a l i n t o t h e f u r n a c e i n some way, i t was n o t n e c e s s a r y t o s h o v e l i t . The s t a t i o n p r o v i d e d power f o r j u s t t h e trams,- t h e r e was no e l e c - t r i c i t y t o homes a t t h a t t i m e .

L a t e r vie had a shop w h i c h s o l d l o l l i e s , c i g a r e t t e s , s o f t d r i n k s and t h i n g s l i k e t h a t , and t h e y u s e d t o make t h e i r own g i n g e r b e e r and t h e i r own i c e - c r e a m , b u t we d i d n o t h a v e f r e e z e r s , t h e r e was a c a r t o n a f f a i r w i t h t h e k e g s i t t i n g i n i t and t h e i c e a i l a r o u n d i t . I d o n ' t know how t h e y k e p t i t , minci y o u i t w a s n ' t l i k e t h e i c e - c r e a m t h e y make now, t h e r e was no cr e a m i n i t . o u r shop was i n a g r o u p o f s h o p s a n d t h e y m o s t l y seemed t o be ope n a i l t h e t i m e , n i g h t t i m e t o o .

Then t h e r e v/ere t h e i t a l i a n s who came r o u n d t h e s t r e e t s w i t h . k e ^ cream c a r t s and on Sunday n i g h t s t h e y w o u l d s e l l c r u m p e t s and t h i n g s l i k e t h a t as w e l l .

O n l y v a g u e l y c a n I remember my g r a n d f a t h e r , I c a n ' t e v e r remember. t a l k i n g t o h i m , j u s t s e e i n g h i m , I was o n l y s e v e n when he d i e d , so he c a n ' t h a v e been v e r y o l d I d o n ' t t h i n k . My g r a n d m o t h e r d i e d when I was 10 and she was o n l y 57 t h e n , w h e t h e r he was o l d e r t h a n h e r o r n o t I d o n ' t know. I c a n remember my g r a n d m o t h e r , she h a d a b i g f a m i l y - r a i s i n g n i n e c h i l d r e n f r o m 11 b o r n .

I t ' s a f u n n y t h i n g , I c a n s t i l l see my f a t h e r a n d my g r a n d m o t h e r i n t h e t r a i n , a i l t h e f a m i l y came t o t h e s t a t i o n t o s e e us o f f . From M a n c h e s t e r we h a d t o go t o L o n d o n , and I c a n remember my g r a n d m o t h e r (Mum's m o t h e r ) i n t h e c a r r i a g e and Dad p u t t i n g h i s arm a r o u n d h e r and I c a n s t i l l h e a r h i m s a y i n g " I ' i l b r i n g h e r b a c k " . B u t g r a n d m o t h e r was t o d i e a b o u t 3 d a y s b e f o r e we a r r i v e d i n New Z e a l a n d . We d i d n ' t know o f c o u r s e b e c a u s e t h e r e w e r e no c a b l e -grams o r wireîess o r a n y t h i ng 1 i ke t h a t , so we d i dn ' t f i nd o u t u n t i l t h e f i r s t m a i l a r r i v e d . She must h a v e gone v e r y q u i c k l y b e c a u s e we l e f t on t h e 1 0 t h o f A p r i l a n d she d i e d on t h e 2 9 t h o f May. I d o n ' t t h i n k my m o t h e r w o u l d have l e f t i f s h e ' d known g r a n d m o t h e r h a d c a n c e r . And o f c o u r s e be i ng y o u n g I d i d n r t e n q u i r e - y o u d i d n ' t t a l k a b o u t t h i n g s l i k e t h a t i n t h o s e d a y s . M o t h e r n e v e r r e a l l y s e t t l e d h e r e and I am s u r e t h a t was p a r t o f t h e r e a s o n .

I présume i t v/as Dad's h e a l t h t h a t made them décide t o corne t o New Z e a l a n d , he h a d h a d r h e u m a t i c f e v e r . A i l I knew was t h a t we were o f f t o a n o t h e r c o u n t r y w h i c h I ' d n e v e r h e a r d o f , d i d n ' t know where i t was o r a n y t h i n g a b o u t i t . How my f a t h e r e v e r g o t my m o t h e r t o c o n s e n t t o corne I'11 n e v e r know, she g o t s e a - s i c k i f she e v e r g o t i n t o a r o w i n g b o a t , a n d she was s i c k a i l t h e way, e x c e p t when t h e b o a t s t o p p e d , b u t Dad and I v/ere n e v e r s i c k , k i d s d o n ' t g e t s i c k , Dad n e v e r g o t s e a - s i c k .

We o n l y c a l 1 ed a t t h r e e p o r t s , w e l 1 we d i d n ' t go a s h o r e a t T e n e r i f e, we a n c h o r e d o u t i n t h e s t r e a m . K i ds came ou t t o t h e b o a t and p e o p l e on t h e s h i p w o u l d t h r o w money o v e r i n t o t h e s e a and t h e k i d s w o u l d d i v e f o r i t . I t was v e r y h o t a t t h e B q u a t o r . Then we c a l l e d a t C a p e t o w n , and t h a t i s one v i v i d memory I h a v e . I d o n ' t remember much a b o u t C a p e t o w n i t s e l f b u t I must h a v e gone up on d e c k e a r l y i n t h e m o r n i n g and I c a n s t i l l see i t . . . . T a b l e M o u n t a i n , fiât as a p a n c a k e . T h a t has a l w a y s s t u c k i n my m i n d , I d o n ' t know why, b e c a u s e I d i d n ' t know a n y t h i n g a b o u t g e o g r a p h y o r a n y t h i n g 1 i k e t h a t . Vie went a s h o r e t h e r e , Mum was a l r i g h t o n c e she g o t a s h o r e , none o f t h i s r o l l i n g , b e a t s i n t h o s e d a y s d i d n ' t h a v e s t a b i 1 i s e r s , t h e y j u s t r o i 1 e d . I t h i n k The Ruapehu was one of t h e smal l e s t s h i p s o f t h e 1 i ne. Then we c a l 1 ed a t H o b a r t , vie d i dn ' t go t o t h e A u s t r a l i an mai n i a nd, j u s t T a smani a . I don ' t remember much a b o u t t h a t .

T h e r e was n o t a l o t t o do on t h e s h i p , we h a d r a c e s a n d , as I was a p r e t t y good r u n n e r when I was y o u n g , 1 w o u l d w i n t h o s e . T h e r e were c o n c e r t s w h i c h I sang i n . Dad u s e d t o p l a y c a r d s and I remember someone w a l k i n g r o u n d and r o u n d t h e b o a t , I r e a l l y

- o -

d o n ' t know what t h e t e s t was b u t on and on t h e y w e n t . • i rsupp'ôls'ë fîisie j u s t s t a y e d i n t h e c a b i n w i t h Mum most o f t h e time,,/ we s h a r e d a d o u b l e c a b i n wi t h a n o t h e r woman and h e r d a u g h t e r , wi t h E l s i e and ï s h a r i n g t h e t o p bunk. one n i g h t when Mum .wasn'ti f e e l i ng t o o b a d she went o u t and l e f t t h e t h r e e g i r l s t o - ,-lopk, af t e r e a c h o t h e r . Vieil E l s i e h a d v e r y s h o r t , v e r y s t r a i g h t h a i r-, t h i s o t h e r g i r 1 and I t o o k i t i n t o o u r h e a d s t o p l a i t h e r h a i r',-. l i t t l e wee p l a i t s a i l o v e r h e r h e a d ! I d o n ' t know- what vie g o t - f o r t h a t , I d o n ' t remember b e i n g p u n i s h e d b u t we p r o b a b l y g o t g r o w l e d a t .

r c-On t h e same day t h a t we s a i l e d f r o m T i l b u r y D o c k s t h e T i t a n i c 1 e i t S o u t h a m p t o n bound f o r A m e r i c a . I n i t i a l l y b o t h s h i p s w o u l d have been g o i n g i n t h e same d i r e c t i o n . They were o n l y a few days out, ;

when t h e s h i p s a n k b u t as t h e r e was no c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n s h i p s i n t h o s e d a y s I am n o t s u r e how l o n g i t was b e f o r e we h e a r d a b o u t t h e t r a g e d y . Some o f t h e p a s s e n g e r s on The Ruapehu s a i d t h e y had h e a r d s c r e a m s a n d p e o p l e c a l 1 i n g o u t f r o m t h e w a t e r . The c a p t a i n s a i d t h e y w o u l d n ' t h a v e 1 i v e d 10 m i n u t e s i n t h a t w a t e r , i t was so co 1 d.

When vie d o c k e d i n W e l l i n g t o n on t h e 3 r d o f J u n e (1912) t h e r e were f l a g s f l y i n g on t h e w h a r f a n d as vie d i s e m b a r k e d Dad a s k e d someone what t h e f l a g s w ere f l y i n g f o r , t h e man a s k e d "have y o u j u s t corne o f f t h a t b o a t ? " Dad r e p l i e d y e s and t h e man e x p r e s s e d h i s amaze-ment t h a t we d i d n ' t know t h a t t h e f l a g s were f l y i n g b e c a u s e i t was t h e K i n g ' s B i r t h d a y . B u t we w o u l d n ' t have known as i n E n g l a n d t h e r e was n e v e r any f u s s made a b o u t t h e K i n g ' s b i r t h d a y .

From W e l l i n g t o n we t r a v e l l e d t o F r a n k t o n by t r a i n , a r r i v i n g t h e r e a t a b o u t 7 am. we t h e n h a d t o w a i t f o r a t r a i n w h i c h t o o k us t o P a e r o a . T h e r e were some p e o p l e i n P a e r o a , I d o n ' t know who t h e y were b u t t h e y h a d l e f t E n g l a n d s i x weeks b e f o r e u s . We went t o t h e i r p l a c e f o r a cup o f t e a and w a i t e d f o r a n o t h e r c o n n e c t i o n t o t a k e us t o W a i k i n o , t h e l i n e o n l y vient as f a r as W a i h i a t t h a t t i m e . I c a n v i v i d l y remember a r r i v i n g a t W a i k i n o s t a t i o n i n t h e d a r k , J o h n B a n k s was t h e r e t o meet u s . He h a d a c t u a l l y gone t o F r a n k t o n b u t h a d m i s s e d us t h e r e . W e l l o f c o u r s e t h e r e were no t a x i s o r a n y t h i n g 1 i k e t h a t i n t h o s e d a y s . so we w a l k e d , i n t h e d a r k , w i t h o u t a t o r c h o r l a n t e r n , f r o m t h e W a i k i n o s t a t i o n a l o n g t h e r i v e r bank t o F r a s e r ' s t r a c k , a d i s t a n c e o f a b o u t 1.5 kms .

J o h n B a n k s t o l d us t o w a l k up t h e t r a c k w h i l e he went o f f t o make a r r a n g e m e n t s t o g e t o u r l u g g a g e p i c k e d up. O f f v/e went up and up and up t h i s t r a c k i n t h e p i t c h d a r k and d e a t h l y s i l e n c e , b o t h s t r a n g e r s t o us h a v i n g corne f r o m a b i g c i t y . Mum was e x p e c t i n g someone t o l e a p o u t and g r a b h e r . F i n a l l y vie saw what l o o k e d l i k e t h e r o o f o f a h o u s e t h e n we h e a r d somebody c a l 1 i n g . I t t u r n e d o u t t h a t J o h n B a n k s h a d gone up t h e h i l l p a s t t h e h a l l and g o t t o t h e h o u s e b e f o r e u s , i f he h a d t a k e n us t h a t way we w o u l d h a v e been b e t t e r o f f . B u t t h a t w a s n ' t t h e end o f i t , we t h e n h a d t o w a l k f r o m t h e r e up t o o u r h o u s e , w h i c h i s n e a r where t h e muséum i s now ( P o l a n d S t r e e t a r e a . )

T h a t was a f a i r w a l k f r o m W a i k i n o s t a t i o n , w e l l i t must h a v e been 7 o ' c l o c k a t n i g h t o r s o , i n t h e w i n t e r and I c a n remember when vie

- 3 -

g o t i n t o t h e h o u s e Mum s a y i n g "oh a l o v e l y f i r e " , ancl t h e r e - w a s ' a b i g open f i r e . So t h a t was o u r i n t r o d u c t i o n i n t o New Z e a l a n d .

B u t Mum n e v e r r e a l l y s e t t l e d , we w e r e o n l y h e r e n i n e y e a r s - w h e n she d i e d . Of c o u r s e s h e ' d l e f t e v e r y o n e b e h i n d , h e r b r o t h e r s a s ­s i s t e r , she o n l y h a d one s i s t e r , b u t i t w a s n f t v e r y l o n g b e f o r e t h e y a i l foîlowed u s . The same t h i n g h a p p e n e d when we l i v e d i n E n g l a n d . . . i f we s h i f t e d t h e y a l 1 f o l l o w e d u s , w h e r e v e r we went t h e y a i l foîlowed, I d o n ' t know why.

The f i r s t t o corne o v e r was my M o t h e r 's s i s t e r , L o t t i e ( C h a r l o t t e M i l l s ) , L e s K e l w a y s m o t h e r , t h e y came o u t a r o u n d 1915 I t h i n k , and t h e n my F a t h e r ' s s i s t e r , Emma R o b e r t s ( B e r t ' s m o t h e r ) foîlowed, t h e n my m o t h e r s two b r o t h e r s ( J o h n & sam D a r b y s h i r e ) came o u t and b r o u g h t one c h i l d e a c h . ïnitially J o h n ' s w i f e , Béatrice and Sam's w i f e A g n e s s t a y e d i n E n g l and b u t f o l l o w e d 1 a t e r wi t h t h e o t h e r c h i l d r e n . Then a n o t h e r s i s t e r o f Dad's came ' o u t , E l l e n { K i n g ) w i t h h e r h u s b a n d (Ted D e n n i s ' p a r e n t s ) . I once s a i d , Dad s h i f t e d t o g e t away f r o m t h e f a m i l y and h e r e t h e y a l 1 were f o l l o w i n g h i m .

T h e r e w e r e no j o b s a t t h e b a t t e r y f o r my f a t h e r when we f i r s t a r r i v e d as t h e m i n i n g s t r i k e was on. T h e r e was a n o t h e r mine w o r k i n g up a t K a r a n g a h a k e where î t h i n k he went f o r a 1 i t t 1 e whi 1 e . F o r some r e a s o n he h a d t o r i de a h o r s e , some t h i ng he had n e v e r done i n h i s l i f e and i t t o o k a b i t f o r him t o i n a s t e r i t , he w o u l d g e t on one s i d e and be o f f t h e o t h e r . Then he g o t a j o b i n p a e r o a a t what t h e y c a l 1 ed t h e s i l t w o r k s , i t was a w o r k s t h a t u s e d t o d r e d g e t h e r i v e r o f t h e s t u f f t h a t came f r o m . t h e b a t t e r y and t h e y u s e d t o t r e a t t h i s s t u f f a t t h e w o r k s . Dad' s j o b t h e r e was p r a c t i c a l l y t h e same as t h e one he ' d h a d i n E n g l a n d , s t o k e r and he was t h e r e f o r q u i t e a w h i l e .

We s h i f t e d i n t o P a e r o a . We were t h e r e f o r a b o u t f i v e y e a r s I t h i n k , when t h e s i l t w o r k s c l o s e d down. By t h e n t h e b a t t e r y was w o r k i n g a g a i n so Dad g o t a j o b t h e r e and we came b a c k t o W a i k i n o .

H o u s e s t o r e n t w e r e p l e n t i f u l and t h e one we h a d t h i s t i m e i s now one o f t h e two muséums i n W a i k i n o . The o t h e r muséum was moved t h e r e a s a c h u r c h and t h e day i t o p e n e d f o r bus i ne s s Mi c k was c h r i s t e n e d i n i t . A i l t h e b o y s were c h r i s t e n e d - A l an a t t h e P t C h e v a l i e r h o u s e , Don i n H a r r y ' s p a r e n t s h o u s e on t h e f a r m , Ken a t o u r W a i t a w h e t a h o u s e b u t , as h a v i n g a c h u r c h h andy was a n o v e l t y , we t h o u g h t i t f u n t o h a v e M i c k "done" t h e r e .

I f o r g e t why we s h i f t e d a g a i n f r o m W a i k i n o , ' c o s t h e b a t t e r y v/as s t i l l w o r k i n g b u t i t was s h i f t w o r k , I d o n ' t remember Dad e v e r w o r k i n g a n y t h i n g b u t s h i f t w o r k . B u t t h e n he g o t a j o b n e a r P a e r o a , b e t w e e n P a e r o a and Te A r o h a t h e r e i s a p l a c e c a l l e d T i r o h i a , w e l 1 t h e y w e r e d r e d g i n g a i l t h e swamps t h e r e , and he w o r k e d on t h a t w i t h t h r e e o t h e r f e l l o w s f o r q u i t e a w h i l e .

I went t o s c h o o l i n W a i k i n o f o r a b o u t 3 months I t h i n k , b e f o r e we moved t o P a e r o a , w h e r e I l e f t s c h o o l a t 14, t h e r e v/as no u n i v e r s l t y , n o t t h a t I ' d be any goo d anyway. Some t i m e l a t e r , d u r i n g an i l l n e s s , I h a d gone up t o P t C h e v a l i e r t o s t a y w i t h A u n t B e a t t i e and end e d up g e t t i n g a j o b a t T a t t e r s f i e l d s w here I

- 4 _

r e m a i n e d f o r a c o u p l e o f y e a r s b e f o r e Mum g o t s i c k and I h a d t o p a c k up and corne home. •

Mum h a d h a d an opération i n W a i k i n o b e f o r e we moved t o P a e r o a / I d i d n ' t know u n t i l l a t e r t h a t i t was f o r c a n c e r . She seemed t o be a l r i g h t f o r a c o u p l e o f y e a r s and t h e n she got s i c k a g a i n s o . a f t e r l e a v i n g s c h o o l I h e l p e d a r o u n d t h e h o u s e and t h a t s o r t o f t h i n g " . One d o c t o r h a d w a n t e d t o p u t Mum i n t o h o s p i t a l b u t Dad s a i d no,-i s h e ' s s t a y i n g a t home. A u n t i e B e a t t i e who was now a l s o living..ïn~ P a e r o a was v e r y g o o d , c o m i n g i n t o h e l p . Mum u s e d t o a s k D a d ' t o , s h o o t h e r when t h e p a i n was so b a d .

E l s i e , o f c o u r s e , was s t i l l a t s c h o o l , she was o n l y 11 when ;Mum.. d i e d .

H a r r y a n d I met a t a d a n c e i n t h e W a i k i n o ha 11 a f t e r I came b a c k f r o m A u c k l a n d . My c o u s i n , L e s , t o l d me l a t e r t h a t H a r r y had a s k e d h i m who t h e new g i r 1 was and on be i ng t o l d t h a t I was h i s c o u s i n a s k e d L e s f o r an i n t r o d u c t i o n . W e l l , L e s d e c l i n e d b u t H a r r y came and a s k e d me f o r a d a n c e anyway. He was go i ng wi t h a n o t h e r g i r 1 a t t h e t i m e , someone much p r e t t i e r t h a n me b u t I must h a v e had. s o m e t h i n g 'cos t h a t was t h a t . T h a t was a b e a u t i f u l h a l 1 , we u s e d t o h a v e l o v e l y d a n c e s down t h e r e , u n f o r t u n a t e l y i t was b u r n t down l a t e r on.

When we met, H a r r y was l i v i n g on t h e f a r m h i s p a r e n t s h a d b o u g h t b e c a u s e he and Roy h a d l e f t home t o go f a r m i n g and Thomas d e c i d e d t h a t i f t h e y were g o i n g t o do t h a t t h e y m i g h t as vieil g e t a f a r m o f t h e i r own. The y o u n g e r McLeans made t h a t f a r m , Thomas d i d n ' t do a n y t h i n g on t h e f a r m r e a l l y , he was no* f a r m e r . The M c L e a n ' s h a d 1 i v e d i n D e v o n p o r t , where H a r r y went t o s c h o o l . T h o m a s . w o u l d c a t c h t h e f e r r y a c r o s s t o A u c k l a n d t o w o r k , as d i d F r a n k A r n o l d ' s f a t h e r . And when t h e y were on t h e i r way b a c k f r o m l o o k i n g t o buy t h e f a r m Mr A r n o 1 d s n r v/as h e a d i ng down t o do t h e same t h i n g -t h e y ended up b u y i n g n e i g h b o u r i n g f a r m s ! i t was f r o m t h e r e t h a t H a r r y v/ent up t o A u c k l a n d t o c h e c k o u t t h e sma 1 1 b l o c k w h i c h my f a t h e r b o u g h t .

Dad was v e r y u n s e t t l e d a f t e r M o t h e r d i e d , c o u l d n ' t s e t t l e down a t a i l , and I d o n ' t know v/hether he a n s w e r e d an ad o r w h a t , f o r , o f a i l t h i n g s a da i r y f a r m . He d i d n ' t know v e r y much a b o u t da i r y i ng b u t he g o t an a n s w e r and i t was a t P o i n t C h e v a l i e r . I t seems we ha v e a l w a y s gone t o the, same p l a c e t w i c e . . . W a i k i n o , P a e r o a , P o i n t C h e v a l i e r , W a i h i B e a c h . Anyhow we g o t t h i s p l a c e a t P t C h e v a l i e r , H a r r y & I were e n g a g e d . Dad h a d a s k e d H a r r y t o go up and l o o k a t t h e p l a c e b e c a u s e he (Dad) d i d n ' t know a n y t h i n g a b o u t cows. H a r r y d i d n ' t corne b a c k , s t a y i n g on t h e r e t o h e l p work t h e p r o p e r t y . I t was a l i t t l e p l a c e , ï d o n ' t know -how many a c r e s , some l a n d v/as l e a s e d f r o m o t h e r p e o p l e and was s c a t t e r e d a b o u t t h e a r e a . Dad went up and l e f t me t o do a i l t h e p a c k i n g and g e t e v e r y t h i n g on a t r a i n , as vieil as t a k i n g c a r e o f E l s i e , and I was o n l y 19. Anyhow we f i n a l l y e n d e d up i n a h o u s e w h i c h had a k i t c h e n and a bedroom, and a n o t h e r l i t t l e room a t t a c h e d whi c h y o u h a d t o go o u t s i de t o g e t t o . Dad and H a r r y s l e p t t h e r e w h i l e E l s i e & I s l e p t i n t h e h o u s e . The men mi I k e d t h e cows and d i d t h e mi 1 k r o u n d b e t w e e n them. D e l i v e r y was s t r a i g h t t o t h e p e o p l e , t h e r e was no p a s t e u r i -

- 5 -

z a t i on o r a n y t h i ng 1 i k e t h a t i n t h o s e d a y s . We were t h e r e f o r n e a r l y 2 y e a r s I s u p p o s e . Then H a r r y and i g o t ' ' m a r r i e d , t h e f a r m was s o l d and we a i l moved i n t o a n o t h e r h o u s e a t ' P o i n t C h e v a l i e r w h i c h i s where A l a n was b o r n .

We were m a r r i e d i n t h e n e a r e s t P r e s b y t e r i an, w e l l i t was t h e n e a r e s t c h u r c h -which e v e r y b o d y we i n v i t e d c o u l d get' t o , i t w a s n f t a v e r y b i g w e d d i n g , b u t nobody had c a r s i n t h o s e d a y s and t h e y h a d t o g e t t h e r e by t r a m - c a r o r w a l k . I t was i n G r e y L y n n , i c a n ' t j u s t remember t h e name o f t h e c h u r c h now, anyway i t ' s on -my w e d d i n g c e r t i f i c a t e , b u t I d o n ' t t h i n k t h e b u i l d i n g i-s t h e r e anymore. The réception was a t A u n t y L o t t i e s h o u s e i n G r e y L y h n . I was m a r r i e d a t 20, tv/o months b e f o r e my 2 i s t . E l s i e w o u l d h a v e been t w e l v e . H a r r y c o u l d n ' t g e t w o r k so we r e t u r n e d t o VJaitawherâ i n 1924 s u p p o s e d l y t o r e n t a f a r m h o u s e and work i n t h e b a t t e r y a t W a i k i n o , b u t I t h i n k H a r r y h a d i t i n m i n d a i l a l o n g t o buy t h a t f a r m , w h i c h i s what e v e n t u a l l y h a p p e n e d .

When we came t o t h e f a r m t h e h o u s e h a d a k i t c h e n , a s i t t i n g roonr, two b e d r o o m s , a n d a t a t t y o l d p o r c h , no s i n k , no r u n n i n g w a t e r , t h e r e w a s n ' t e v e n a t a p when I f i r s t went t h e r e . Had t o wash up i n a d i s h on t h e t a b l e . We u s e d t o h e a t t h e w a t e r on t h e s t o v e . T h e r e wasn ' t e v e n a t o i 1 e t when H a r r y f i r s t went up t h e r e , t h e y h a d t o b u i l d one. I t was h a r d g o i n g a l r i g h t .

My f a t h e r s t a y e d i n A u c k l a n d t h e n , b u y i n g f i r s t a p i e shop i n G r e y L y n n and t h e n a f i s h r o u n d . He and E l s i e r e n t e d an a p a r t -ment. E l s i e w o u l d h a v e been 13 o r 14 by t h e n and h a d l e f t s c h o o l so she k e p t h o u s e f o r them.' L a t e r E l s i e s t a y e d w i t h A u n t L o t t i e f o r a w h i l e t h e n s h e went t o Agnes & S a m 1 D a r b y s h i r e ' s (my m o t h e r ' s b r o t h e r ) . She 'worke.d i n a s e w i n g f a c t o r y . Then Dad g o t i l l and s p e n t some t i m e i n h o s p i t a l i n A u c k l a n d b e f o r e c o m i n g down t o us on t h e f a r m where he d i e d i n 1928.. Vie h a d b o u g h t t h e f a r m by t h e n and were m i l k i n g . ' •

Sam &. I n a R u s s e l l , c o u s i n s t b " ' H a r r y , a r r i v e d i n W a i h i j u s t a f t e r H a r r y &. I shift'ôd t o t h e f a r m : Roy v/às' a s o l d i e r d u r i n g t h e f i r s t w o r l c l war a n d ' h a d met ' i n a w'hi'lst t r a c k i n g down f a m i l y i n I r e l a n d . T h ey l a t e r m a r r i e d arid moved ' o r i t o a n o t h e r f a r m f u r t h e r up t h e W a i r a w h e t a V a l l e y V They d i d 1 nôt h a v e any c h i l d r e n and n e i t h e r d i d I n a ' s two b r o t h e r s , F r a n k and Sam.

C o u n t i n g them up.'-. . .Grandma McLean ha d n i n e c h i l d r e n , she b r o u g h t up. e i g h t (one d i ed \ n S c o t l a n d ) b u t she o n l y had e l e v e n g r a n d -c h i 1 d r e n , and n i he b'f t h o s e were b o y s , two g i r 1 s - Mary & Babs ( J e s s i e ) . H a r r y & I- ' h a d t h e b i g g e s t f ami l y , t h e o t h e r s o n l y h a d one most o f t h e m / J e a n had two, Tommy had two. I was t i c k l e d one t'iîhe - Pop (Thomas McLean) came down, i t must have been a f t e r M i c k was b o r n , t h e t h i r d one' f a i r l y q u i c k l y y o u see and he t o l d H a r r y h'e'd b e t t e r p u l l h'I's s o c k s up. When H a r r y t o l d me I s a i d w e l l what was he d o i n g . why d i d n ' t he p u l l h i s s o c k s up, he h a d n i n e !

Thomas d i d n o t normàlly- s-ay v e r y much, he was a v e r y q u i e t man. A l t h o u g h I d i d n o t hâve'a" g r e a t d e a l t o do w i t h him as he l i v e d and w o r k e d i n A u c k l a n d f o r q u i t e a l o n g t i m e b e f o r e c o m i n g b a c k t o t h e f a r m . w h i l e he v/as i n A u c k l a n d Mary s t a y e d on dov/n a t t h e

- 6 -

f a r m w i t h Sam, K e l v i n , H a r r y , Tommy, D o l l y and K a t h y y - , .Roy v/as o v e r s e a s and J e a n v/as m a r r i ed by t h e n , Tommy t o o k o v e r t h e home f a r m when Thomas and Mary moved o u t t o H i nemoa Street.;.,.; w a i h i B e a c h . Thomas v/as o n l y t h e r e t h r e e weeks when he l a y ;down- a n d d i e d w h i l e p a i n t i n g t h e r o o f . . , /.y

As f o r Grandma McLean s h e ' d go on and on, t e l l i n g y o u a b o u t p e o p l e y o u ' d n e v e r h e a r d o f . She ' d h a d t o p u t up v/i t h a 1 o t o f inco.n,-' v e n i e n c e c e r t a i n l y , b r i n g i n g up a f a m i l y , c o o k i n g f o r them; i'S.he. was a good c o o k . I m a g i n e h a v i ng t o c o o k f o r a l 1 t h a t 1 o t , • and c l e a n and sew. When she was i n A u c k l a n d , I t h i n k she u s e d t o sew f o r o t h e r s as w e l l , b e f o r e t h e y s h i f t e d down t o t h e f a r m . M a r y v/as a c h u r c h woman, P r e s b y t e r i a n , b u t t h e y c o u l d n ' t g e t t o c h u r c h i n any c a s e . They h a d a t r u c k , I t h i n k , t o g e t o u t , b u t t h e y d i d n o t g e t o u t v e r y much.

When I f i r s t came down h e r e I o n l y h a d A l a n , who v/as s e v e n months-o l d . B o t h Don ( 19 26 ) and Mi c k ( F r a n k 19 27 ) v/ere b o r n i n Wai k i no a n d , a l t h o u g h t h e r e v/as a d o c t o r a v a i l a b l e , i t v/as u s u a l f o r o n l y t h e m i d w i f e t o a t t e n d . O u r s was j u s t an o r d i n a r y h o u s e w i f e , i n f a c t h e r d a u g h t e r , M a r y P h i l l i p s , h a d t h e n e a r b y shop l a t e r on. N i n e and a h a l f y e a r s l a t e r Ken v/as b o r n i n W a i h i , huge s u r p r i s e t h a t v/as ! ! And t h a t v/as when we g o t o u r f i r s t pram. Up u n t i 1 t h e n I j u s t had an o l d p u s h c h a i r whi c h A u n t i e J e a n h a d g i v e n me when A l a n v/as b o r n and I h a d f i x e d up.

C o l i n M a l c o l m , who h a d b e e n l i v i n g i n an o r p h a n a g e , came t o w o r k as o u r f i r s t f a r m h a n d when he v/as 15 y e a r s o l d . One day A l a n was p l a y i n g a r o u n d w i t h t h e hammer, he w o u l d o n l y have b e e n a b o u t 18 months o l d , and C o l i n s a i d t o me " s h e ' s g o t y o u r hammer" w e l l , o f f came t h o s e b e a u t i f u i b l o n d c u r 1 s , I wa s n ' t g o i n g t o h a v e p e o p l e t h i n k i n g A l a n was a l i t t l e g i r i !

A man came r o u n d one d a y , who, i t t u r n e d o u t , v/as my h e a d m a s t e r f r o m P a e r o a ( a n d who, c o i n c i d e n t a l l y v/as B a r b a r a S a v e r y ' s u n c l e ) . He came t o s e e w h e t h e r v/e .wanted, o r n e e d e d , a s c h o o l and he recommended t h a t v/e g e t one. I s a i d a t t h e t ime " I hope t o g o o d n e s s we're n o t s t i l l h e r e v/hen A l an s t a r t s s c h o o l " I d i dn ' t l i k e i t a t a i l . l ' d corne down h e r e , l e f t e v e r y b o d y b e h i n d , h a v i n g n e v e r b e e n on a f a r m i n my l i f e b e f o r e .

When v/e f i r s t a r r i v e d h e r e , H a r r y v/as w o r k i n g i n t h e b a t t e r y and o f c o u r s e he had t o go on a f t e r n o o n s h i f t . He t o o k me t o t h e f a r m and l e f t me wi t h t h e baby . T h e r e was no 1 amp, no e 1 e c t r i c i t y . A i l I h a d v/as a c a n d i e , t a n k w a t e r , an o l d f i r e p l a c e w h i c h c a u g h t f i r e one n i g h t . 01 i ve & L e s were s t a y i n g wi t h us one t ime w i t h t h e i r f i v e k i d s , I d o n ' t know where t h e y v/ere s l e e p i n g , o u t i n t h e t e n t , i n t h e c a r I t h i n k . Anyway I n o t i c e d smoke comi ng o u t f r o m u n d e r t h e s t o v e and w h i l e O l i v e and I were l o o k i n g a t t h i s L e s l e y who h a d been o u t s i de a t t h e b a c k came i n and s a i d y o u r c h i m n e y ' s on f i r e . I t was j u s t an o l d c o r r u g a t e d i r o n c h i m n e y and i t v/as on f i r e . I f i t h a d b e e n b 1 owi ng t h e h o u s e wou 1 d have gone up i n smoke. I d o n ' t know how .t h e y managed t o p u t i t o u t , b u t somehow t h e y d i d . we f o u n d o u t a f t e r v / a r d s t h a t t h e s t o v e was s e t i n t o t h e c h i m n e y b u t i t v/as j u s t p a c k e d a r o u n d w i t h d i r t . When t h e y took. t h e s t o v e o u t t h e d i r t v/as a r e d h o t a s h . How v/e s a v e d t h a t p l a c e

I ' U n e v e r know. Don't know how we g o t o v e r t h a t f r i g h t . Y e s - ! i t was an a v / f u l o l d h o u s e . I d e c i d e d t o p a p e r t h e k i t c h e n , Harry'v/âs a t w o r k , he ' d g o t an a f t e r n o o n s h i f t a g a i n, ï ' d n e v e r done' any p a p e r i n g i n my l i f e b e f o r e , anyhow we g o t c r a c k i n g . A l o n g w h i l e a f t e r w a r d s an u n c l e o f mine who u s e d t o do p a p e r i n g v i s i t e d and s a l d "you ' ve g o t t h a t p i e c e u p s i de down". I r e p l i ed t h a t ' i c o u 1dn't h a v e c a r e d 1 es s w h e t h e r i t was ups i de down o r b a c k - t o -f r o n t . I t made t h e k i t c h e n l o o k a b i t b e t t e r - n o t v e r y much, ;but a b i t . H e r e ' s me t r y i n g t o p a p e r w i t h a baby i n b e d , I d o n ' t -know w h e t h e r I h a d a lamp by t h a t t i m e o r w h e t h e r I was s t i 11 us i n g ' a c a n d i e , I t e l l y o u i t was a g r e a t t i me.

A n o t h e r t i m e we were t r y i n g t o make ha y . H a r r y w o u l d go t o work', corne home and g e t t h e h a y , whi c h he ' d h a d e u t r i n . H a r r y was t r y i n g t o b u i l d t h e s t a c k up and I went o u t t o g i v e h i m a h a n d , I d i d n ' t know a n y t h i n g a b o u t hay. Anyhow I was up on t h e s t a c k and he was t h r o w i ng i t up t o me and t h e f i r s t t h i n g I d i d was s t i c k t h e f o r k t h r o u g h my f o o t . . . so t h a t was t h e end o f hay m a k i n g f o r me!! O, y e s i t was g r e a t f u n . - . b u t v/e v/ere h a p p y .

A l t h o u g h , I v/as l o n e l y when I f i r s t v/ent on t o t h e f a r m . I t h i n k r e a d i n g v/as t h e one t h i n g t h a t h e l p e d me r e a l l y . Of c o u r s e t h e r e v/as no r a d i o , we d i dn ' t h a v e a gramophone t h e n , v/e g o t one l a t e r . I h a d v e r y l i t t l e c o n t a c t w i t h t h e o u t s i d e v / o r l d b e c a u s e t h e o n l y means o f t r a n s p o r t v/e h a d v/as a c a r t w h i c h H a r r y u s e d f o r t h e m i l k r o u n d he d i d i n W a i k i n o and t h e n he v/as t r y i ng t o deve 1 op t h e f a r m as w e l l , so I v e r y s e l d o m went o u t . Of c o u r s e when t h e k i d s v/ere l i t t l e you c o u l d n ' t g e t o u t anyhow. We u s e d t o h a v e a ' C h r i s t m a s t r e e up a t t h e W a i t a w h e t a h a l l . I d i d n ' t know a n y t h i n g a b o u t t h i s u n t i 1 H a r r y Shaw came r o u n d c o l l e c t i ng f o r t h e c h r i s tmas t r e e , b e f o r e o u r k i d s w ere a t s c h o o l , a n d as u s u a l o u r k i d s w e r e so s h y , M i c k e s p e c i a l i y v/as s c a r e d s t i f f , so we ended up h a v i n g t h e t r e e i n t h e h a l l . The k i d s u s e d t o h a v e r a c e s o u t s i d e f i r s t , t h e n v/e ' d corne i n s i d e and somebody w o u l d d r e s s up as S a n t a C l aus and g i v e t h e k i d s présents, t h e y t h o u g h t i t was l o v e l y . We h a d a l o t o f f u n t h e r e , when v/e g o t t o know them.

The b o y s alv/ays f o und s o m e t h i n g t o do, t h i ngs t h e y s h o u l d n ' t be d o i ng p r o b a b i y . And l ' d be b u s y d o i ng some t h i ng and l ' c l t h i nk, now where a r e t h o s e k i d s ? I t h o u g h t a b o u t c r e e k s y o u know, t h e y w e r e n ' t v e r y deep c r e e k s , b u t s t i l l I t h o u g h t a b o u t c r e e k s . I went l o o k i n g f o r them one day and I f o u n d them i n t h e n e x t p e o p l e s f a r m , j u s t i n t h e p a d d o c k , sv/ear i n g t o b e a t t h e b a n d i t , I t h i n k t h e y must have b e e n t r y i n g t o f i n d o u t how many sv/ear w o r d s t h e r e w e r e , so I r e a d them t h e r i o t a c t . I s a i d r i g h t y o u go home and y o u g e t y o u r mouths s c r u b b e d o u t w i t h s a n d s o a p . So I ' m v/al k i ng a h e a d o f t h e k i d s , t h e y ' r e v/al k i n g b e h i nd me bav/1 i n g t h e i r e y e s o u t and I'm n e a r l y k i l l i n g m y s e f f l a u g h i n g , t h e y d i d n ' t know. When I g o t them home I a s k e d w e l l what i s i t y o u w a n t , y o u r mouths s c r u b b e d o u t v / i t h s a n d s o a p o r v/i 11 y o u go t o bed? We' 11 go t o b e d was t h e r e p l y . So t h e y v/ent t o b e d and t o s l e e p !

The b o y s u s e d t o s i e e p o u t i n a t e n t , H a r r y had b r o u g h t an o l d t e n t home one t i m e and t h e y h a d p i t c h e d i t dov/n on t h e lav/n. The k i d s v/ere p l a y i n g a r o u n d i n i t and d e c i d e d t h e y ' d l i k e t o s l e e p i n i t . W e l l t h a t t e n t wasn ' t • r e a l 1 y s u i t a b l e so v/e b o u g h t a n o t h e r

- 8 -

one and t h e y s 1 e p t i n t h a t t e n t u n t i l v/e l e f t t h e f a r m , i n t h e f r e e z i n g c o l d , no h o t w a t e r b o t t l e s , no e l e c t r i c b l a n k e t , b u t t h e y w o u l d n ' t corne i n t h e h o u s e , t h e y d i dn ' t want t o . So Pop p u t a v/ooden f 1 o o r i n a n d b o a r d e d t h e s i d e s up so f a r . We p u t an i r o n r o o f o v e r i t as t h e f l y , i t u s e d t o r a t t l e & c l a t t e r & b a n g . I t . v/as v e r y h e a l t h y - p l e n t y o f f r e s h a i r . T h e r e v/as a d u c k w a l k f r o m t h e f r o n t d o o r o u t t o t h e t e n t so we d i dn ' t h a v e t o v/alk on t h e wet g r o u n d . They h a d a c h e s t o f d r a w e r s and t h e i r c a n d i e s . Don & M i c k s 1 e p t t h e r e , and A l a n b e f o r e he l e f t home and a l so when he v/as on l e a v e f r o m t h e r a i l w a y a n d , l a t e r , t h e a i r f o r c e . T h a t v/as t h e i r bedroom u n t i l we l e f t t h e f a r m when M i c k v/as 18 - some t e n y e a r s . E v e n i f t h e y were c r o o k t h e r e v/as no way t h e y ' d corne i n t o t h e h o u s e , t h e y l o v e d i t o u t t h e r e , d i dn ' t have t o t i dy t h e i r rooms! They c o u l d do what t h e y l i k e d , e x c e p t o u r bedroom window l o o k e d o u t v/here t h e y v/ere and l ' d s e e t h e i r c a n d i e s t i l l b u r n i n g and w o u l d c a l 1 t o them t o " p u t t h a t c a n d i e o u t , I don ' t want t h e h o u s e b u r n t down" - t h e y ' d be r e a d i n g .

They l o v e d r e a d i n g . They had an o l d F a r m e r s book, w i t h c a t t l e o n , and l i t t l e wee p i c t u r e s . T h a t v/as t h e i r b i b l e , t h e y t o o k t h a t t o b e d , and r e a d b y c a n d l e l i g h t . Then t h e r e v/as t h e t i m e when t h e d u c k s went mi s s i n g . We h a d a s o r t o f l a k e I s u p p o s e , j u s t a s o a k i n g f r o m t h e h i l l s , a n d i t v/as e n c i r c l e d w i t h b l a c k b e r r i e s . We l e f t i t l i k e t h a t so t h a t t h e k i d s c o u l d n ' t g e t i n t o i t , b u t t h e y t h o u g h t t h a t t h e d u c k s n e e d e d t o swim, so t h e y t h r e w them o v e r t h e b l a c k b e r r i e s i n t o t h e p o n d , t h e n t h e y c o u l d n ' t g e t o u t .

We u s e d t o go dov/n t o t h e c r e e k t o do t h e v/ashing s o m e t i m e s , v/hen t h e t a n k s were d r y . We'd t a k e t h e c o p p e r dov/n and b o i l i t up, t h e k i d s w o u l d t h i n k t h a t v/as g r e a t f u n - t h e y c o u l d p l a y i n t h e c r e e k w h i l e I d i d t h e v / a s h i n g . B u t a n o t h e r t i m e v/e w e r e s h o r t o f w a t e r and t h e k i d s t h o u g h t t h e y ' d h e l p. They t o o k a b a t h on a s 1 edge down t o t h e c r e e k a n d t h e p e o p l e on t h e f a r m n e x t d o o r , ( i t v/as A r n o l d ' s f a r m , b u t F r a n k ' s s i s t e r a n d h e r h u s b a n d v/ere f a r m i n g i t a t t h e t i m e ) v/ere m a k i n g h a y on t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e c r e e k and t h e y saw thèse k i d s w i t h M e l l i e , t h e o l d h o r s e v/e h a d , d r a g g i n g t h i s s l e d g e v / i t h t h e b a t h on i t up t h e h i l l and t h e y t h o u g h t t h o s e p o o r k i d s t h e y ' r e g o i n g t o l o s e a i l t h e w a t e r o u t o f t h e b a t h b e f o r e t h e y g e t t o t h e t o p . B u t t h e y t h o u g h t t h e y were h e l p i n g , t h e y h a d a l o t o f f u n w i t h t h a t o l d h o r s e . I t u s e d t o t a k e Tommy (McLean) t o s c h o o l and t h e n A l a n .

I t v/as a l i t t l e t i n y h o r s e . The f i r s t day A l an went t o s c h o o l , t h e s c h o o l m a s t e r , v/ho v/as b o a r d i n g v / i t h some p e o p l e n o t f a r away, and a l s o r o d e a h o r s e , c a l l e d f o r A l a n . I t l o o k e d s o f u n n y , t h i s man on a b i g h o r s e and A l a n on t h i s l i t t l e wee one.

The b o y s g o t on v e r y v / e l l t o g e t h e r , I s u p p o s e t h e y h a d t h e i r s p a t s , b u t t h e y r e a l l y g o t on v e r y w e l l . They v/ere l i t t l e h o u n d s , alv/ays d o i ng some t h i n g t h e y s h o u l d n ' t . A n o t h e r t ime t h e y had a n o t h e r d u c k , t h e y were t h r o w i ng i t o r p u t t i n g i t t h r o u g h t h e f e n c e o r s o m e t h i n g and i t g o t h o o k e d on t h e b a r b e d v / i r e . T h e r e ' s t h e p o o r d u c k h a n g i n g t h e r e v / i t h i t ' s s t o m a c h h a n g i n g on t h e v / i r e . I s a i d t o A l a n " I c o u l d m u r d e r y o u " he s a y s , " w e l l m u r d e r me". They v/ere a l way s up t o mi s c h i e f , what one d i d n ' t t h i n k o f t h e o t h e r d i d . They went w a n d e r i n g o v e r t o t h e n e i g h b o u r s , away r o u n d

- 9 ~

t h e b a c k o f t h e b u s h , r e a l l y on a n o t h e r r o a d , t h e B o s w e l l s , i t ' s qu i t e a 1 ong way . I d i dn ' t know where t h e y v/ere , - when -i I f ouncl them A l a n s a i c i "wel 1 v/e a l way s corne home . " 1 s a i d 11 i-t-' s a i r i g h t f o r y o u - y o u know where y o u a r e , b u t I d o n ' t . " -,

L a t e r on v/e g o t a h o r s e & g i g. We d i d n ' t go o u t v e r y - o f ten. : t o W a i h i , i t was a b i t f a r f o r a h o r s e . B u t I do remember- d r i v i n g . i.t i n t o W a i h i o n c e t o s e e my f a t h e r i n h o s p i t a l . I d i d n ' t knov/- v e r y much a b o u t d r i v i n g and t h e r i m o f t h e wh e e l k e p t c o m i n g off-'.and *£• had t o k e e p k n o c k i n g i t on v / i t h a s t o n e . When I g o t as f a r as old-Mr McLean's I g o t h i m t o t i e i t on. A l a n v/as w i t h me, j u s t a wee' f e l l a .

H a r r y v/ould do t h e s h o p p i n g i n W a i k i n o when he d i d t h e m i l k r u n r , b r e a d and meat...we d i d n ' t have any f r i d g e s so v/e h a d t o buy t h e meat e v e r y d ay. He v/ould d e l i v e r b r e a d t o t h e n e i g h b o u r s .

T h e r e v/as a l w a y s b a k i n g t o be done, f o r m o r n i n g t e a s , a f t e r n o o n t e a s and f o r s o m e t h i n g t o e a t b e f o r e t h e y v/ent t o t h e s h e d . l ' d g e t up i n t h e m o r n i n g , g e t t h e f i r e g o i ng and b o i I t h e k e t t 1 e w h i l e H a r r y and t h e b o y s g o t t h e cows i n , and s t a r t e d t h e m i l k i n g . Then t h e y ' d corne o v e r and g e t a j u g f u i 1 o f t e a and w h a t e v e r f o o d I h a d r u s t l e d up. Then t h e k i d s w o u l d corne i n t o g e t r e a d y f o r s c h o o l . The b o y s d i d n ' t m i l k i n t h e e a r l y d a y s . We h a d h a d f a r m h ands and a,lthough some v/ere p r e t t y good o t h e r s w e r e p r e t t y rurnpty and I g o t a b i t f e d up v / i t h i t . We h a d p r o b a b l y been t h e r e a b o u t 10 y e a r s , w e l l u n t i l t h e k i d s v/ere o l d enough t o h e l p a l i t t l e , I s a i d I v/ould m i l k i n t h e m o r n i n g i f t h e k i d s c o u l d h e l p i n t h e a f t e r n o o n . I c o u l d n ' t m i l k a cow, i t v/as a i l by h a n d , v/e d i d n ' t h a v e any machi nés t h e n , and h e r e 's me t r y i ng. . . i t t o o k a l 1 t h e m i l k i n g f o r me t o , m i l k one cow, b u t i n t h e f i n i s h I v/as mi l k i n g a b o u t 10 by hand.; t Then l ' d go i n and g e t t h e k i d s o f f t o s c h o o l , g e t b r e a k f a s t f o r H a r r y s o he c o u l d g e t away t o t h e m i l k r u n , v/e v/as b u s y f o 1 k s . L a t e r on v/e g o t a p r imus and t h a t s a v e d us a l o t of t i m e .

Ken g o t s i c k one time,, ... he h a d t h e . l i t t l e room n e x t t o o u r s and he h a d t o corne t h r o u g h t h e s i t t i n g room t o g e t t o t h e k i t c h e n . We h e a r d t h e door. r a t t l i n g i n t h e k i t c h e n , I t h o u g h t i t v/as t h e c a t , t i l l t h e k i d s y e l l e d o u t f r o m t h e t e n t "Ken's c o u g h i n g " and i t v/as a t e r r i b l e c o u g h . We r a n g t h e doc t o r f r o m t h e n e i g h b o u r s , v/e d i d n ' t h a v e a pho n e . ^Of c o u r s e o u r d o c t o r v/as av/ay, a s u s u a l , and i t was a locu m who came o u t . When he g o t t h e r e he d e c i d e d i t v/as d i p h t h e r i a and he h a d t o go t o t h e h o s p i t a l b u t we h a d no means o f t r a n s p o r t so v/e a s k e d i f v/e c o u l d go v / i t h h i m i n h i s c a r , he v/asn't v e r y c h u f f e d a b o u t t h a t , b u t anyhow he t o o k us i n . I t v/asn't d i p h t h e r i a : a t a i l , j u s t c r o u p , b u t i t s c a r e d t h e v / i t s o u t of u s . '

Don went down t o meet t h e d o c t o r , oh v/e had t h e l i t t l e t r u c k t h e n I t h i n k , and when t h e y v/ere c o m i n g up t h e p a d d o c k s t h e d o c t o r s a i d t o h i m " i s t h i s a i l y o u r p l a c e ? " Don s a i d y e s and t h e d o c t o r s a i d " w e l l w h a t ' s t h e h o u s e d o i n g a way b a c k t h e r e ? " Don r e p l i e d "Don't a s k me, i t was t h e r e when I v/as b o r n . "

I n 1945 we moved t o W a i h i b e a c h . W e l l v/e s t a y e d v / i t h Roy and I n a

- 10 -

f o r a t i m e w h i l e Pop was b u i l d i n g t h e h o u s e . we had b o u g h t . a n o l d h o u s e i n W a i k i n o and s h i f t e d i t t o t h e b e a c h ( W a l l n u t t A v e n u e ) and he a l t e r e d i t a r o u n d a b i t i n s i d e . M i c k & Ken were s t i 1 1 w i t h . u s b u t b o t h Don and A l a n were away f r o m home by t h e n . Don was'work­i n g f o r F r a n k A r n o l d i n W a i t a w h e t a f o r a l i t t l e w h i l e and t h e n he g o t a j o b i n t h e W a i k i n o b a t t e r y , l i k e h i s f a t h e r , two g r a n d -f a t h e r s and two u n c l e s b e f o r e h i m . He d i d n ' t s t a y w i t h us v e r y much. He h a d a m o t o r b i ke and I ha t e d h i m r i d i n g t h a t motqrbîkë. L a t e r on Don went t o H a m i l t o n f o r a w h i l e , w h e r e he b o a r d e d . wi £ h my a u n t B e a t t i e who d i d n o t l i k e t h e i d e a o f h i m v / o r k i n g i n ,the. f r e e z i n g w o r k s a t a i l and v/ent and t o o k h i m o u t o f i t .

în 1947 v/e moved b a c k t o A u c k l a n d . B o t h H a r r y a n d M i c k h a d been w o r k i n g i n a l i t t l e p l a c e c a l l e d F a r i s h ' s F o u n d a r y on W a i t e t e Road i n W a i h i b u t t h a t j o b vient and H a r r y c o u l d n ' t g e t a n o t h e r . He v/as j u s t s i t t i n g a r o u n d d o i n g n o t h i n g and g e t t i n g r e a l l y mi s e r a b l e . So I s a i d t o h i m one day y o u ' d b e t t e r g e t o f f and g e t y o u r s e l f a j o b . He s a i d b u t v/here am I g o i n g t o g e t one. Then he saw an a d v e r t i n t h e p a p e r f o r a j o b i n T a k a p u n a i n t h e bov/ser t h e r e . He h a d b e e n b r o u g h t up on t h e N o r t h s h o r e . He r a n g a b o u t t h e j o b and g o t i t . So he v/ent on up t o A u c k l a n d l e a v i n g M i c k , Ken and I t r y ­i n g t o s e l l t h e h o u s e . B u t i t d i d n ' t s e l l s o v/e l e t i t i n s t e a d .

H a r r y k e p t t h a t j o b f o r e l e v e n y e a r s , bov/ser a t t e n d a n t on t h e day s h i f t as w e l l a s bus c l e a n i n g a t n i g h t . He h a t e d s h i f t w o r k , as d i d my f a t h e r and I c a n ' t remember him e v e r d o i n g a n y t h i n g b u t . H a r r y v/as 60 v/hen we came b a c k t o t h e b e a c h i n 1958. He v/asn't t o o v / e l l t h e n a n d o n l y l i v e d a n o t h e r s i x y e a r s .

M i c k g o t a j o b i n A u c k l a n d and a f t e r a b o u t 12 months Don came up as w e l l . He g o t a j o b v / i t h S h e l l O i l t h r o u g h a c hap i n W a i h i who a l s o w o r k e d f o r S h e l l . So he v/as t h e r e f r o m t h e n u n t i l he d i e d .

A l a n had a l r e a d y l e f t home. When he l e f t s c h o o l a t a b o u t 15 he v/ent t o work a t t h e p o s t o f f i c e i n W a i k i n o and he u s e d t o go a l o n g t o t h e t r a i n v / i t h t h e mai 1 and o f c o u r s e he g o t t a l k i n g t o t h e e n g i n e d r i v e r and became i n t e r e s t e d and c o n s e q u e n t l y l a n d e d a j o b on t h e r a i l w a y , f i r s t i n . P a e r o a t h e n he moved t o F r a n k t o n . A t 18 o r 19 he j o i n e d t h e a i r f o r c e and was away i n J a p a n f o r 12 months as p a r t o f t h e Army o f Occupât i on. He must have gone somet ime i n 1946 as I t h i n k i t v/as a b o u t F e b r u a r y 1947 v/hen we l e f t t h e b e a c h . I remember b e i n g t h a n k f u l t h a t we h a d a n o t h e r summer t h e r e b e c a u s e we u s e d t o go sv/imming t h e n .

A l a n l e f t t h e a i r f o r c e s o o n a f t e r r e t u r n i n g f r o m J a p a n and t r i e d h i s h a n d a t a few t h i n g s i n c l u d i n g a g r e e n g r o c e r s r o u n d w i t h a l i t t l e v a n . He l i v e d . v / i t h us i n M i l f o r d f r o m t h e n u n t i l he was m a r r i e d . B u t he seemed t o alv/ays manage t o be away v/hen we v/ere m o v i n g . . . .v/hen we s h i f t e d f r o m t h e f a r m , v/hen v/e s h i f t e d f r o m t h e b e a c h . . . .v/hen we s h i f t e d b a c k t o t h e b e a c h .

One day b e f o r e any o f them v/ere m a r r i e d t h e b o y s d e c i d e d I v/anted p r e t t y i n g up so t h e y g o t me i n t h e b a t h r o o m and p u t t h i s l i p s t i c k on me, b u t i t d i d n ' t l a s t v e r y l o n g . I d o n ' t know v/here t h e y g o t i t f r o m , b e c a u s e I d i d n ' t own a n y , h a d n e v e r worn any makeup i n my l i f e .

- 11 -

M i c k was t h e f i r s t t o m a r r y , t h e n A l a n , b o t h i n 1949. They v/ere b o t h c h u r c h v/ecldings v / i t h a l i t t l e b r e a k f a s t . i n a hôtel i n T a k a p u n a foîlowed by an e v e n i n g a t home. Don v/as m a r r i e d i n 1953 i n M a t a k a n a , v/here B a r b a r a cornes f r o m . They had met a t A l a n & P a t ' s , B a r b a r a w o r k e d i n t h e f a c t o r y s t o r e .

E l s i e h a d corne dov/n t o W a i h i t o work a n d b o a r d e d w i t h Aunt Emma ( R o b e r t s ) . Then when 1 f o u n d o u t I v/as e x p e c t i n g Ken, much t o my s u r p r i s e , s h e came up t o t h e f a r m t o h e l p . She s t a y e d v / i t h u s u n t i l she m a r r i e d C o l i n M a l c o l m i n 1940, Ken was a b o u t f o u r y e a r s o l d t h e n .

C o l i n h a d v/orked on t h e f a r m f o r a b o u t a y e a r b e f o r e j p i n i n g t h e n a v y . A t some s t a g e he had m a r r i e d b u t h i s w i f e d i e d w h i l e he was away a t s e a . Anyv/ay he u s e d t o v i s i t us v/hen he v/as home on l e a v e and he came w h i l e E l s i e v/as l i v i n g w i t h us ... and t h a t ' w a s t h a t !

E l s i e r e t u r n e d t o A u c k l a n d and h a d a b i t o f a j o b i n a b o a r d i n g h o u s e , where C o l i n was s t a y i n g I t h i n k , a l t h o u g h he was. av/ay more t h a n a t home o f c o u r s e . A t l e a s t he v/as home v/hen N e i l was b o r n i n 1945, n o t 1 i k e v/hen H e a t h e r was b o r n i n 1943-. . . '. . : A l a n t o o k E l s i e i n t o t h e home on t h a t o c c a s i o n and v/as m i s t a k e n • f o r t h e f a t h e r - t o - b e ï And he o n l y 19 y e a r s o l d ( a n d E l s i e 331) C o l i n s e r v e d on t h e A c h i l l e s and v/as i n v o l v e d i n t h e B a t t l e o f t h e R i v e r P l a t e . A f t e r t h e v/ar t h e s h i p v/ent t o E n g l a n d a n d : t h e y 'v/ere av/ay f o r n e a r l y a y e a r t o u r i n g a r o u n d . He h a d been i n ..the navy f o r 21 y e a r s and r e t i r e d a f t e r t h a t t r i p .

A r o u n d 1945/46 E l s i e & C o l i n came b a c k t o W a i h i and s t a r t e d a p h o t o g r a p h y s t u d i o s t a y i n g a b o u t 20 years;. Then b a c k t o A u c k l a n d a g a i n , w e l 1 O t a r a a c t u a l l y . I t v/as a -. n i ce a r e a t h e n , b u t I remember A l a n s a y i n g o n c e " t h i s i s a pôtential s l u m . " T h a t ' s v/here t h e y were l i v i n g v/hen E l s i e d e v e l o p e d ^ c a n c e r . She came dov/n t o s t a y v / i t h H e a t h e r b u t was h o s p i t a l i s e d i n W a i h i v/here s h e d i e d i n 1969 . .

H e a t h e r f e l t she d i d n o t want t o s-.tay;-at home t h a t C h r i s t m a s and so o f f e r e d h e r h o u s e t o my f a m i l y f o r t h e o c c a s i o n . I t v/as many a l o n g y e a r s i n c e we h a d a i l , ' b e e n t o g e t h e r f o r C h r i s t m a s . A l a n and h i s f a m i l y h a d moved t o thé S o u t h I s l a n d i n 1966 a n d o f c o u r s e e v e r y o n e e l s e was s c a t t e r e d n a t i p n w i d e " v / i t h many o f my g r a n d -c h i l d r e n now l e a v i n g s c h o o l and ' ' j o i n i n g t h e w o r k f o r c e . So I g u e s s t h a t v/as r e a l l y o u r f i r s t . "McLean F a m i l y R e u n i o n . "

H a r r y d i ed i n 1964 ( a n g i n a ) and I s t a y e d on a t t h e b e a c h u n t i 1 1982 v/hen I moved i n t o a c o t t a g e b u i l t f o r me by A l a n , M i c k , K en, H e a t h e r , Des, R a n d a l 1 , P e t e r (Wi 1-son) &. C e c i l y , J o e ( C o n n o r ) & S h i r l e y on H e a t h e r & D e s 7 J o h n s f a r m . I t o l d e v e r y o n e i t p r o b a b l y w asn' t w o r t h t h e f u s s as I v/oul d be u n i i k e 1 y t o 1 a s t a n o t h e r 6 months b u t i t v/as 19 9 4 b e f o r e f a i 1 i n g e y e s i g h t f o r c e d me t o go i n t o H e t h e r i n g t o n House.

Emily died after a brief i l l n e s s on 6 July 1997

- 12 -