Templeton Once By A Water Hole

Press, Volume C, Issue 29557, 5 July 1961, Page 12

Templeton Once By A Water Hole

The township of Templeton had its beginning at a wafer hole where bullock trains stopped on tile jourtoey from Christchurch to the Selwyfi river, local residents were told on Monday evening. The residents—about 50 of them—met at the Templeton School to" plan the centennial celebrations , for the school and district next year. An otitiftie of the district’s local history was given to tije meeting by Mr A. C. Loach, a local resident. Mr Loach said: "The first thing that puzzled me was why they should put a town here, miles from Christchurch. There was no such thing as Sockburn or Hornby then.” The answer lay in the water hole, thi only watering place on the journey • from Riccarton to the Se’rwyn river, Mr Loach produced copies of documents in which- the district was referred to as "The Waterholes." . First Block The first block of land in the district was granted to 1857 to Arthur Charles Knight, who paid for a 59acre section in Canterbury before leaving England, Mr Loach Mid. Mr Knight, who becAme the owner of a large sheep station to Canterbury, did not use toe land and sold it to 1859. : Edwin Meroer Templet, after whom the district was renamed, bought land in the district in 1880. From this land he gave the sites for the church and school. In the “land-rush" of 1880 to 1862. all nearby blocks of land were bought. Much of

this was later sold to Samuel Bailey, who, at one time, owned about three-quarters of tine district School Begun ■ Mr Loach said his biggest “win” when investigating the school’s background was a petition dated 1863, in which 24 residents sought a school. A report in the council’s gazette showed that the school was started in 1864, and in the same year, on October 29, a school district was proclaimed. An advertisement in the "Canterbury Times,” on July 8, 1865, asked for boarders at ‘‘£lo a quarter, with extras of every description, and reductions for advance payments and for two or more children of, the same family.” The school was conducted by James J. Slwin, described by an inspector, in 1864, as a man whose "earnestness and diligence may in time make up for his previous want at experience.” But the school under Mr Elwin was a failure. Records gathered by Mr Loach showed that for the quarter ending June 30, 1864, the roll was 22. the average attendance 12, and the income £7 10s. A report for that year showed a roll of 42, an average attendance of 12, and an income of £3O 7s. Mr Elwin’s engagement at, the school ended in 1866 after an inspector recommended "a' more speedy termination ofi the engagement oi a new, but very unsuccessful teacher." I Those present at the meet-i ing were elected to a commit- j fee to plan the celebration, i Mr W. H. Hinton was elected president, and Mrs H. W. wheeler was elected secretary. The committee decided to hold the celebrations in March next year. The .datesl March 23, 24, and 25, ware suggested. I