Sounds Historical for Sunday 27 September 2015

8:02 Today in New Zealand History

Opening of Canterbury Provincial Council on 27 September 1853. 4'21"

Bookshelf: Cricketing Cousins: The Brittan Brothers in Early Canterbury by Geoffrey Rice & Frances Ryman (Canterbury University Press)

08:09 Artist: Timaru Junior Municipal Band (1955)

Song: Old Earth
Composer: n/s
Album: n/a
Label; Private recording - Dunford Studios 2'48"

08:13 Daily Dairy - a 1ZB programme for St Patrick's Day 1955

An interview with Father Redmond [of Auckland] about what the day means for the Irish. He explains the Irish national sport of hurling is played and other celebrations, such as ceilidh and wearing shamrocks. He ends with a greeting in Gaelic for Auckland's Irish residents. Mr Wilson, senior supervisor of the telephone branch of the Post and Telephone Department is interviewed about the new telephone directories. He talks about the size and cost of production. Over 44,000 names are in the 1955 edition. Cricket - In Dunedin, the touring English team beat New Zealand yesterday. Interview with Len Hutton and Geoff Rabone, the English and New Zealand captains. Repairing the Novachord. A man named 'Ken' is interviewed by an unidentified broadcaster about repairs he is making to a Novachord [an early electronic keyboard] He explains how it works and some notes are played. This is the only Novachord in New Zealand, so he says he just had to learn how to service it himself. [This is the Novachord once housed in the 1ZB Radio Theatre.]

Yachting Memorial: An unidentified broadcaster interviews a Mr Munro about the Wilkinson Memorial cup, a memorial to W.A. 'Wilkie' Wilkinson, who is referred to as the 'grand old man of Auckland yachting'. The race will take place off Orakei Wharf on February 5th. A massed start is planned and he says it will be very impressive with about 200-250 boats taking part. Talking weighing machine. An interview about the machine at Modern Bags store in Customs Street. Mr Tray [?] the manager of the store talks about the machine, which he says is the only one of its kind in New Zealand. It comes from England and has a turntable inside and the needle moves across as you are weighed and lands on the current track and tells you your weight. The broadcaster inserts two-pence and the machine is heard saying his weight as 'four stone'. He then encourages some women to stand on the scales and there is some debate about the accuracy of the machine.

08:36 Historian and poet Bill Oliver

Born in Feilding in 1925, died in Wellington last week at the age of 90. We hear a 1951 book review he wrote for (at 26) for wartime correspondent Alexander Clifford's Enter Citizens.

08:40 Alan Stewart of Timaru

The long-serving radio broadcaster died this week. He was a well-known announcer in South Canterbury from the 1960s until recent times, with a spell as a programme organiser in Whangarei in the late 1960s. This 1970s recording illustrates a children's session of the times. 1'25"

08:42 Artist: Frazer Daly (with the Rivers Sisters)

Song: My Truly Truly Fair
Composer: Merrill-Mitchell
Album: 78
Label: Tanza Z105 2'42"

08:46 War Report 55

Veterans Alex Fraser and Lazell Davidson recall seeing the sinking of HMS Triumph at Gallipoli and other naval activity in the region. Newspaper reports of war souvenir editions and the growing lists of casualties and obituaries including a lament that volunteers were dying leaving lesser men safe at home.

Music:

Artist: John McCormack
Song: There's a Long Long Trail A Winding
Composer: King/Elliott
Album: Oh, It's a Lovely War Vol 2
Label: CD41 486309

Artist: n/s
Song: We Don't Want to Fight but By Jingo…
Composer: McDermott/Hunt
Album: n/s
Label; n/s

Artist: Radio New Zealand Studio Orchestra
Song: You Needed Me
Composer: Goodrum
Album: Orchestral Gold Vol 2
Label: Tartar TRL 005

09:02 As I Remember

Our Gulbransen Radio by Mrs C McGlone of Waipukurau, read by Rosie Sullivan. 3'08"

00:06 Artist: Chris Zoias (Wellington baritone)

Song: Prologue from I Pagliaccia
Composer: Leoncavallo
Album: private recording
Label: n/a 4'49"

09:10 Burnetts Face

A documentary by Jim Henderson on the old coalmining settlement of Burnetts Face, near Denniston on the West Coast. [Only two of the many participants are named in the programme. The possible identities of some of the other speakers were contributed by Bob Parker, a former resident of Burnetts Face.] The programme opens with actuality recordings made in a coal-mine near the deserted settlement of Burnetts Face. The programme is introduced by an unidentified man who says he is a former resident and miner [possibly Walter Clark.] A woman interviews "Aunty" another former resident, about what life was like at Burnetts Face. Jim Henderson describes the view of Denniston and nearby Burnetts Face, which is now a ghost-town. Two men recall the local school and the games they used to play as children [possibly Bill Andrew and Johnny Crawford.] A poem written by a miner is read and an old organ is played. A man [possibly Benny Lightbown] describes the sole remaining building, the Mission Hall. He explains what it was used for in the past. The original organ in the hall is still playable. He describes the social life of the village and a group of single men "The Bachelors". Their song is sung by a group of men. Six hundred people once lived in the gully at Burnetts Face. Jim Henderson and another man [possibly Bill Andrew] describe its desolate appearance now and what buildings used to exist. A man [possibly Ozzie Ball] who was the grocer's delivery boy talks about his job supplying the Cascade Creek mine by packhorse twice a week. The Crown Hotel is now a shell but another man recalls events which took place there. He talks about the history of the hotel as he walks around the derelict building. A town-crier or local boys with a bell, used to walk around the town describing what events were on. Mrs Mary Meadows, aged 78, was post-mistress at Burnetts Face from 1934-1953. She says she has very happy memories of the place and talks about the great community feeling. She sings an excerpt of the song she sang the night she left England 50 years ago this month. Another woman who lived there 48 years ago talks about 'two-up' being played. She would listen out for the policeman's horse and warn the players to scatter by waving her tea-towel. Another woman talks about the water pipes freezing up in winter until midday, which made it difficult to do washing in winter. Actuality recordings made at a gathering of old Burnett's Face residents, recorded at the foot of the hill below Denniston. [various songs sung by a group and anecdotes.] Men read inscriptions from the local cemetery of miners killed in accidents. A man [possibly Arnold Openshaw] gives a lengthy description of what it was like being underground during the Murchison earthquake in 1929. He describes the roof falling in and nearly burying him, but all the men managed to escape. John [Jack] Parker describes leaving Burnetts Face in 1957. He and his wife were the last residents to leave. They arrived in 1924 when there were 60-80 houses there. He says all services were maintained right up until they left, including deliveries by the Denniston butcher and grocer. 28'26"

09:39 Artist: The Coalrangers

Song: Westcoast Bound
Composer: Valente
Album: Godzone Country
Label: Sony 2'29"

09:43 From the Back Country

A 1990 episode featuring toilet tales from Barry Slyfield introduced by Alwyn Owen. 8'31'

Music:

Song: I'll Put You Together Again
Composer: Black/Steven
Album: Orchestral Gold Vol 2
Label: Tartar TRL 005