| Title | Oral history interview with Len Smithies, 1989. |
| Creator | |
| Date created | 1989 |
| Description Summary | Len talks about a series of photographs. He refers to his arrival in Hobsonville and mentions Scandal Alley, early potteries in the area, and shipping produce to town in the scows 'The Lady of the Lake' and 'The Hobsonville'. Len describes the Clark family and his father's work for R O Clark and mentions the Hobsonville village and water pump. He recalls and describes the pottery, clays, cricket team, dances in the Hall, Hunter's launch, sending milk to town, and the wharf. Len describes the Depression days and his father's work as a relief worker; mentions the poultry farm, gum digging and details work developing the aerodrome - shifting earth by hand, construction of buildings and building roads. He recalls how the family managed with particular mention of food. Len recalls Japanese prisoners of war, the B17 and BOAC Liberator plane crash, and other air accidents. |
| Subjects | |
| Other Notes | Len Smithies arrived in Hobsonville in 1922, living in 'The Lane (Scandal Alley), Hobsonville.
Photographs referred to during the interview are not held on record with the collection. |
| Keywords | Clark, Rice Owen; Clark, T.E; Hunter, Les; Carder, Joshua; Ockleston (brothers); Amalgamated Brick and Pipe Co; Shaw, Bernard; Thompson, George; Simpson, Janet; Simpso, Jimmy; Hobsonville store; Halsey, Alice (Dr); Santua (launch); Wainoma (launch); The Nimrod (launch); Hobsonville aerodrome; Hobsonville airbase; Hobsonville; Riverhead; Pottery - New Zealand; Cricket; |
| Time span | 1920 - 1940 |
| Language | English |
| Copyright Holder | Auckland Libraries |
| Access Rights | Contact the West Auckland Research Centre, Waitakere Central Library in Henderson, to listen to recording or view abstract. Not available for loan. |
| Available copies | Local History, Waitakere Central Library |
| Original medium | Audio; analogue, cassette |
| Duration | 1 x C60 |
| Supporting materials | Transcript |
| Contributor | |
| Oral History ID | WOH-1035 |
