Mrs O. M. Reid recalls life in early Ngaruawahia.
Mrs Reid’s family arrived in Ngaruawahia in 1878. They had no trouble getting a house as there were 17 empty at the time. She was born in Ngaruawahia in 1880. She speaks for some time about the layout of the town, including the move of the Waipa Hotel to its present site, the first school, and churches. There is a brief recounting of Reverend Ashwell gifting money to the Anglican Church. A gift auction in 1879 helped to pay for the repainting of the church, and later a hundred pounds was raised to build a vestry in the vicarage in Huntly. There is further talk about the church, including an earthquake which damaged the building and led to it coming down. Some elements of the old church were included in the new building.
There was a large flood at the time that the bridge over the Waikato River was being built, and another flood in 1906. Mrs Reid speaks about the flood levels, then about the town’s first bank. She recalls seeing a very large gathering of Māori from the King Country, and a haka being performed. The town’s Octagon used to be a Māori burial ground, and some soldiers killed in the Wars were also buried there. She then speaks about transport, and recounts a tale of her friend Mrs Ashwell’s long journey to Taupiri.
Mrs Reid then speaks about a clergyman’s death from smallpox - the burning of his clothes, and burial of the body beside the little Māori church. The church was later burnt down, but an iron cross still marks the grave.
There follows a recording of conversations during a tea break. There is talk of land and mortgages, communication with Whangarei, and transport of goods.
The interview resumes with Mrs Reid speaking about her grandmother, who died in 1859. There was no cemetery in Whangarei at the time, so she was buried in one of their fields – a stone wall was built around the grave, and it was consecrated by Bishop Selwyn. Several other family members were later buried there. She then speaks about her Uncle’s arrival in Whangarei in 1850, and his work breeding and selling horses. There is a tale about catching the horses by giving them bread.
Actual recording date unknown.