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J.R. Munro and George Wishart of Cromwell discuss their memories of early Cromwell, including Chinese miners, opium, gambling, Chinese cooking and New Year celebrations, horse racing, coaching, rabbits - and the attempt to control them by releasing cats, erosion, dredging and the local newspaper.
George Wishart, a blacksmith, was born in Cromwell in 1884. His father, also a blacksmith, came to New Zealand from Scotland as a young man.
James R Munro, editor and proprietor of the Cromwell Argus newspaper, born in Lawrence, Central Otago in 1899. His father came to New Zealand from Sutherlandshire, Scotland as an infant which means that James is effectively a second generation New Zealander. They talk about the early history of the town, Chinese residents, Captain Jackson Barry, the Chinese miners etc. and horse races.
In the separate interview, Mr Munro talks of quartz mining, Jackson Barry and a competition to mow, gather and bind oats quickly.