Number 41 April 2016

President: Margaret Hannan 325 2588 Lincoln and Districts Secretary: Margaret Morrish 325 2790 Editors for this edition: Historical Society Dr. Rupert Tipples 329 5634 Adriana de Groot 325 3320

Springston Field Trip 2016

Dr. Rupert Tipples introducing the walking tour President Margaret Hannan was delighted to welcome of historic Springston sites. Photo K. Brown over 50 people to our Springston Field Trip on Sunday 20th March. Historian and Springston local, Dr. Rupert Tipples gave an overview of settlement, changing land use and the impact of the recent earthquakes. Local residents added anecdotes about early settlers and brought early school books, photographs and maps, which were displayed alongside artefacts from the Springston store excavation, and copies of the Springston School roll from earliest days. Local residents confirmed that ‘the springs’ of the district, which inspired the names of both the township and Fitzgerald’s Springs Station, are still bubbling to the Springston Store, Donor Mrs A Wood. LHS698 surface. Thank you Rupert for your presentation and detailed tour, and to everyone who joined us on what was one of the hottest afternoons of the year! For further information about Springston see: Ellesmere Jewel in the Crown, by George Singleton, (2007) Centennial book of the Springston School, (1968) LHS Historical notes and photographs about Springston on Kete Selwyn. The Underground Overground archaelogical excavation report (2012) about the Springston store at: https://quakestudies.canterbury.ac.nz/store/download/ part/70624 The site of the Springston store, following demolition after the 2011 earthquake. Photo R. Tipples 2016. Springs Memorial Cycleway 1915-2015

The Story Springs County Council was the operative local government body from 1911-1953 for the area south of Christchurch, now covered by today’s Council. It received the initial request to erect a county war memorial to those from the County who had fallen in the Great War (1914-1918) on 24 January 1919. Springston Patriotic Committee had written to the Springs County Council requesting the calling of a public meeting to consider the erecting of such a New signage for the Memorial Cycle Way. The Poppy emblem was country war memorial, but there was some government awarded by The Poppy Places Trust. Photo S. Welch opposition when funds were still needed to assist repatriating troops. Nevertheless, by Sunday 30 July 1922, such a memorial had been conceived, designed Memorial, in December 1945. That was opened in a and constructed. It was unveiled that day by Sir Robert scaled down form in 1965, but eventually demolished Heaton Rhodes, M.P for Ellesmere and Minister of after the 2010 earthquake. Then a new Lincoln War Defence. Memorial was dedicated on Anzac Day 2011 adjacent to the new Lincoln Event Centre. Since then separate The resulting war memorial was located centrally in the Anzac Services have been held in Springston and county, as requested by Councillors, in Springston, at the Lincoln. intersection of Ellesmere Junction and Roads. As Sir Robert noted at the unveiling: The Springs Memorial Cycle Way 1915-2015 commemorates those of Springs County, Springston “… no better site could have been selected for it. Where and Lincoln townships, University and futher afield it stood at the intersection of two roads it could be seen who died in the service of their country. As Sir Robert by all passing near it.” Heaton Rhodes said at the original Springs War Memorial unveiling: That would have been facilitated by many local farmers “… it was not set up to commemorate war, but the delivering dray loads of soil to create a mound for the great sacrifice made by the sons of the district, and it memorial according to local accounts. Unfortunately the would serve to show the children that the men who Dr Alistair Campbell, 2013 precise history of how that happened has been lost as went before them gave their lives that their relatives Photo courtesy of Lincoln University a result of a fire which destroyed many of the original might be free.” Living Heritage: Tikaka Toku Iho records. No separate Certificate of title was issued for It effectively inter-connects the community by providing taken by David Hollander the memorial site until 1926. With the establishment of a safe way for cyclists and pedestrians to move between Anzac Day in 1922, with the Poppy Appeal, the County’s those centres with memorials, both old and new, safe remembrance ceremonies then centred on Springston, from the increasingly heavy traffic flows on Ellesmere with the Anzac Service in the Community Hall followed Junction Road. It is a fitting memorial, after one by a march to the War Memorial. hundred years, to recall again that sacrifice. Springs Branch of the Returned Servicemen’s Rupert Tipples, 2015 Association now operates over those parts of the former Springs County enclosed by State Highway 1 to the west, the Selwyn River to the south, the Halswell River to the east, and then Road and East Belt, Lincoln, before being linked by Boundary Road back to SH1. When Springs County War Memorial was unveiled in 1922 the Springs County Sub-Branch of the Returned Soldiers Association had not yet been formed. Although the first returned soldiers association had been founded in Christchurch in late 1915 and the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association on 28 April 1916, these bodies were not evident in initiating the war memorial. The Springs sub-branch RSA was constituted on 7 July 1930. Initially the Sub-Branch incorporated members from an area within 20 miles of Springston. Lincoln, although it was a much larger community than Springston, had no separate RSA branch or Anzac ceremonies. A Memorial Hall had been constructed by the Old Students Association at Canterbury Agricultural College, Dr. Rupert Tipples and the L&DHS Springston History Tour 2016 at Lincoln, and dedicated in 1924, which became the the War Memorial, Springston. focus of some remembrance activities. However, a more Photo A. de Groot formal memorial for Lincoln was not proposed until Professor Eric Hudson suggested a multipurpose Lincoln Community Centre, which could also be a Lincoln War After presentations by Neville Moar (Pioneer Hall), In Memoriam Malcolm Gordon (Liffey Cottage), Pam Wilson We are saddened to record the recent deaths of past (Historic Places Trust) and Linda Wallace (Canterbury members, Molly Gard’ner, June Switalla, and Robin Museum), the first committee of 12 members was McPherson. elected. During supper there must have been much discussion of projects ahead, because by the first June Switalla June Switalla, the second president of our society Committee meeting on 13 June 1991 there were 22 died on March 22, 2016. Always interested in the agenda items to work through. background of the area in which she lived June became a foundation member of our society soon after arriving Now twenty five years later, as Lincoln & Districts in Lincoln and in 1993 was elected secretary, a position Historical Society, we can celebrate well over 300 Open she held until 1998 when she became our President. Days at Liffey Cottage and Pioneer Hall, regular field June was our President until 2002 when she retired and Malcolm Gordon became the incumbent. trips, a wonderful collection of photos and documents, historical walk brochure, newsletter, annual prize for During her time as committee member and President the best local history project by a senior Lincoln High June oversaw many significant developments for local School student, great support from SDC, a week of history in Lincoln and in the wider district. These events to mark 150 years of European settlement in included the strengthening of ties with the local council, with other historical groups, and always encouraging Lincoln (1863-2013), and hundreds of researchers interest in Lincoln’s past by presenting the historical assisted with their local and family history inquiries. perspective whenever possible. In 1999, during her Congratulations everyone! first year as president our name changed from that of Lincoln Historical Society to that of Lincoln and Celebrate with us at The Famous Grouse on Sunday Districts Historical Society to more accurately reflect 29 May, meeting from 12.30pm for lunch at 1.00pm. our interest in local history and it was during her term that formalization of the status of the land upon which Members, friends and partners are welcome. The cost Liffey Cottage stands was completed, the end of a 20 is $16/person. RSVP by Friday 14th May to Adriana on year saga. 325 3320, or email [email protected] June was involved in other interests too. With her late husband Bruce she was active in the Southern Welcome New Members Selwyn Arts Council, now defunct, and in order to broaden her horizons still further she completed a We are really pleased to welcome new members Kirsty degree at Lincoln University, graduating in 1996 with Brown and Maurice McCarthy. a Master of Applied Science in Parks and Recreation. Her dissertation for this degree was entitled “The Management of Scenic Amenities on the Port Hills.” Kirsty’s BROWN and ALLAN, TUCKER and CHAPMAN families have deep roots in Lincoln and After the death of her husband June soon afterwards this has sparked her research interest in our local left Lincoln to live in Christchurch. We remember June history. as a person actively involved in Lincoln affairs and extend our sympathy to her family. Maurice McCARTHY, whose family were early settlers Neville Moar in Ladbrooks is researching and writing a history about the people and places of that district. Lincoln & Districts Historical Congratulations Society Celebrating 25 Years Margaret Baylis Our warmest congratulations to Margaret Baylis who Twenty five years ago, on 30 May 1991, at St. celebrated her 90th birthday recently. Margaret has Stephen’s Hall, Lincoln Neville Moar welcomed 36 always been a staunch supporter of L&DHS, and her local residents to a Public Meeting to form Lincoln collection of photographs has given us a wonderful Historical Society. This was a joint initiative of the record of Lincoln, its people, streets and buildings. Pioneer and Early Settlers Association Committee, and the Liffey Cottage Action Committee (1967 -), Ian Collins who had been following similar paths for some years. Local, journalist and heritage writer, Ian was recently awarded a Lincoln University Medal for long and The Pioneer and Early Settlers Association were committed service to the University. Ian has told the responsible for Pioneer Hall (Lincoln’s first Library), stories of Lincoln University, and its people since 1987, and had an interest in local history and records. and in 2011 he was appointed LU’s Honorary Writer in Residence. Congratulations Ian! The Liffey Cottage Action Committee had organized the relocation and transformation of Liffey Cottage, from dilapidation in Market Square to restoration in James Street. The large group of Ellesmere people and I (the only Christmas Pageant and person from Lincoln) much enjoyed visits to four farms Parade 1982 and meeting the descendants of earlier landowners. An aspect which made this tour such fun, was that many of the participants had strong links with the district, Following the article in the last newsletter, Brian Everest so there were anecdotes being swapped, none of which wrote to confirm that the first Christmas Pageant and is in the history books. Our visits to the farms were Parade was definitely held in December 1982. much enhanced by Roger Gilbert’s meticulous historical research. He has the thank you letter to his father, Dick Everest, from The Lincoln Community Committee, for The tour ended at the Sedgemere Hall (opposite the participating in the ‘first Christmas Parade.’ tiny St. Mark’s Church), and this participant happily indulged herself with a fat slice of cream sponge and Brian remembers the route taken as, “the assembly a big piece of fly cemetery, both examples of baking point was in North Belt by the Primary School. Then which have undoubtedly been made in the district since down North Belt, West Belt, to South Belt. The Parade the early days of european settlement. turned in what was Pyne’s yard, and continued back Alison Barwick, 2015 up West Belt to Gerald Street and along to just past the hotel. He, his father Dick Everest, and his Uncle Ron took a McLaren traction engine, a McCormick Deering WD6 Tractor and a McCormick Deering Binder in the Notices parade. ‘Broadfield Shearing Shed Company,’ research by Robert The binder was ‘unpacked’ and Fred Ford sat on it. Wynn Williams is in New Zealand Legacy, v. 28(1) 2016 Brian also remembers a group of Morris Dancers taking part in the Parade Lincoln Primary School 150th Celebration 23rd and 24th September 2016 Thank you Brian for the information. Email [email protected]

TOD Family Reunion 4-6 November 2016 for the Report on Ellesmere Historical descendants of William and Mary TOD (Scotland, Wellington, Canterbury). Email [email protected] Society tour of Sedgemere and Little Rakaia, Winter 2016 Open Days Sunday 29 November 2015 Come on down and visit! This tour looked at an area to which one would Liffey Cottage and Pioneer Hall will be open from normally not go as it is not on the way to anywhere. It is 2-4pm on Sunday 1st May, Sunday 5th June, Sunday 3rd a rough triangle: part of the Rakaia River forms one side July and Sunday 7th August. and the sea another, with the base of the triangle a line running from Southbridge out to the north of Cooper’s Thank you to Selwyn District Council staff who have Lagoon. It is an area of fertile soils, with a number of organized and funded the repair work and painting waterways once draining it, a process now largely done of both Liffey Cottage and Pioneer Hall over recent by culverts. months. Farming began in the 1860’s. Edward Lee and Edward Jolie bought land together, but soon divided it into two blocks, naming one Brooklands (Lee) and the other Beachcroft (Jollie). Both these properties, which have waxed and waned in size over the years, are still being farmed, along with a number of others in the area. Many familiar Ellesmere names have been, and are still, associated with the area: Inwood, McMillan, McEvedy, McIlraith, Heslop, Lochhead, to name a few. We look forward to your visit! www.facebook.com/LincolnandDistrictsHistoricalSociety I was pleased to learn that Paula McIlraith, who with her husband, Alistair, farms ‘Brooklands’, will be the Thanks to Lincoln Digital Print for their first woman president of the Ellesmere A&P Association publishing & printing expertise in 2016.