Overview In this interview Walter discusses family, education, employment, teaching career and leisure pursuits e.g. fishing and hunting that bolstered food supplies. He talks about being a conscientious objector and the consequences of this on his life. He goes on to share some history of mines in Western Southland and some local stories e.g. the first and only train robbery in Southland.

Overview Interviewee: Walter ExcellInterviewer: David Van TongerenAbstracter: UnknownPLEASE NOTE: THE TIMINGS IN THIS ABSTRACT RELATE TO THE ORIGINAL TAPE VERSION OF THE RECORDING AND NOT TO THE DIGITIZED VERSIONRecorded: 7th September 1994 Side A00.13 Introduction MR WALTER EXCELL, LEET STREET, INVERCARGILL00.44 Mother’s name: MARGARET YOUNGSON, a farmer’s daughter and tailoress00.64 Father’s name: WALTER...

Overview Minty Hughes was born in Otautau in 1911. In this interview Minty discusses his father and his work in the flax mill at Pukemaori and his mother's home near Monkey Island, Orepuki. He describes travelling by steamer to Port Craig in 1923 and attending school there. Minty talks about the sawmills at Port Craig, transporting the logs, the Percy Burn viaduct, loading the boats with timber, a brief history of the Craig family and how the settlement got its name. He mentions his job as whistle boy...