Lincoln and Districts Historical Society
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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 Selwyn District 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 Leeston 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 Tai Tapu 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.