A compilation of five audio cuts.
1. Jack Young recalls the outbreak of World War II in September 1939 and events in Parliament in Wellington. Members stood and sang the national anthem.
2. George Humphrey and Ted Little recall playing in orchestras accompanying early silent cinema in Invercargill, giving many pioneering details. The orchestra at the theatre on the corner of Esk and Dee Streets was one of the first to 'broadcast' in New Zealand, as its accompaniment was relayed from the roof to the theatre.
George Humphrey recalls "The Phantom of the Opera" in particular. Ted Little played in the orchestra from 1912. He recalls how the theatres generated their own electricity, although the lighting was by gas.
3. The arrival of the Qantas Boeing 707 in Nadi, Fiji, en route on its inaugural flight from Sydney to San Francisco, 29 July 1959.
Broadcaster John Stannage interviews Captain Ralfe who notes that this is the first commercial jet service to cross the Pacific. Amazement is expressed at the three-hour 28 minutes flight time from Sydney to Nadi. There are 14 crew and 90 passengers aboard. He gives some technical details of the 707.
From the tarmac, John Stannage describes the passengers re-boarding the aircraft and then records the sound of the jet departing.
Interview with Mr Gregor of Nadi Airport, who talks about the international airport building project and how they kept the airfield operating while a new control tower was being built. He gives some statistics about the new facilities (The airport was operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand until Fijian independence in 1970.)
4. Prominent New Zealand spin bowler, Tom Burtt, on the 1949 side which toured England.
5. Chris Jesperson who is 85 years old, talks of his days driving a coach between Rotorua and Taupo. He came to New Zealand from Australia at the age of 17. He worked in the South Island at first and came to Rotorua in 1906 and worked for the R.M. Coaching Company for 12 years. He then worked for the company on Opōtiki, driving from there to Rotorua in one day, which he was first to do. It required 30 horses, in teams of five, which were changed every 14 miles.