Bertrand, William
Production date
1979
Description
William (Bill) Charles Norton Bertrand (1896-1990) lived in the Purangi and Douglas areas, working as a roading surfaceman during the 1920s. He farmed with his wife in Purangi and served on the Ngatimaru Council for six years. Also known as Billy and Tume, he was the son of George Bertrand (Pakeha) and Toroa Te Ikawairangi (Ngati Maru and Ngati Mutunga). Bill was raised by Tutanuku Tume and his wife Rangiao at Purangi.
Transcript. David Walter interviews William Bertrand on 19 May 1979. Aged 85 years at the time of recording, Bertrand talks of his life in the Douglas and Purangi districts. He describes shearing sheep, farm labouring, felling bush and clearing land. He mentions various families in the Douglas / Huiroa areas including Griff Jones, Bredows, Jonas, McMullian, Horace Phillips and Oliver Irwin. He was also a competitive axeman and sawyer winning many cups and awards. He also talks of road building and metal pits used for roading. He describes dairy farming and milking plants, disc ploughing etc. Other topics covered include the building of the Purangi Church, the influenza epidemic and life in the Maori community, mentioning many people and relating a story of the taniwha in the Kaikoura Stream.
Transcript has been digitised but the pagination is incorrect.
Object detail
Part 1
Transcript (14 pages) and short biography written by Frank Webb
Digital file
PDF copy
Public comments
Billy (Tume) Bertrand was the son of George Bertrand (a European) and Toroa Te Ikawairangi, who was both Ngati Maru and Ngati Mutunga. Bill was raised by Tutanuku Tume and his wife Rangiao at Purangi.
- Pare Chase posted 5 years ago.