Halkett is an agricultural and pastoral district, between West Melton and Courtenay, and bounded on the north by the Waimakariri river. It is eighteen miles north-west from Christchurch, by road through Riccarton, Yaldhurst, and West Melton. Formerly it was a large sheep run, held by Mr Owen, and afterwards taken over by his manager, Mr Herbert Mathias. The first settlers, amongst whom were Messrs Andrew Cunningham, Arthur E. Davis, Robert Roper, Edward Guiney, J. Lord, Robert Leadley, John Marr, David Thomson, A. McKay, and others, arrived in the early sixties. Some of the land was purchased by Captain Halkett, after whom the place is named, and who made a gift of the ground on which the public school stands. The greater portion of the district has been under crop, and the land yields an average return of from thirty to thirty-five bushels of oats to the acre, and from twenty to twenty-five of wheat. Rape and turnips are cultivated considerably, and large numbers of sheep raised and fattened. About 1864 the old accommodation house, near the boundary of the Courtenay district, was erected by Mr. Charles Watson. It was known as the half-way house between Christchurch and Springfield, and was the stopping place for the line of West Coast coaches. The building is now occupied by Mr. Edward Guiney, as the homestead of his farm. There are two places of worship within the boundaries of Halkett; an Anglican church, the headquarters of the parochial district of Courtenay, and a Presbyterian church. The public school stands in the centre of the district. Halkett has a daily mail service, but the nearest telegraph office is at Kirwee, six miles distant. On the southern banks of the Waimakariri river at Halkett, large protective works, of concrete foundation, have been erected to keep the river to its course. The neighbourhood of the works is well planted with trees, and is a favourite resort with picnic parties. It is also a good shooting ground, as hares and rabbits are there in large numbers.

The Public School at Halkett faces the main road between West Melton and Courtenay, and is in the centre of the Halkett district. It was erected about 1878, on land given by Captain Halkett. The building is of wood, and is surrounded by a large playground, which is protected by rows of shelter trees. A portion of the ground is set apart for the schoolmaster's residence and private garden. The number of scholars on the roll is thirty-six, and the average attendance is thirty. Messrs T. Jeal (chairman), W. A. Davis, G. Davis, W. F. Turner, G. Henderson, and W. Stewart, are (1903) the present members of the school committee. The Halkett school is also the post office for the district, and there is a daily mail service.

Mr. William George Maber, Headmaster of the Halkett Public School, is a native of Dorset, England, where he served as a pupil-teacher. He was afterwards a master in the Walthamstow school, near Epping Forest, and also in other schools in Kent and Surrey. In December, 1887, Mr. Maber arrived in New Zealand, and in the following year was appointed master of the Charing Cross school. A year later he was transferred to View Hill, in a similar capacity, and remained there for seven years. He then removed to Broomfield school, and, in 1899, was appointed to his present position. Mr. Maber married a daughter of Mr. Walter Gee, an old resident of Christchurch, and has a family of five children.

Standish and Preece, photo
Mr. W. G. Maber.

St. Matthew's Halkett, is the headquarters and parent church of the parochial district of Courtenay. For some time prior to its erection service were held in the public school. The building is of wood, is Gothic in style, has a good organ, and has accommodation for about eight worshippers. In its graveyard lie the ashes of some of the early settlers of the district. The vicarage adjoins the church. St. George's (Kinwee), St. Paul's (West Melton), and St. Andrew's (Darfield), are also in the parochial district. A service is held in each church every Sunday; the vicar officiating in three churches, and a lay reader in the fourth, in rotation.

The Rev. Julius Milles Whitehead, Vicar of the parochiaf district of Courtenay, was born at Maidstone, Kent, in 1861. He was educated at Sherborne school, Dorset, and afterwards at Exeter. In 1880 he gained a scholarship at All Souls', Oxford, where he graduated with honours in classics and modern history. Mr. Whitehead was ordained at Canterbury Cathedral, by Archbishop Benson, in 1886, and was the Archbishop's prize-man. From 1886 to 1838 he was curate of St. Paul's Cliftonville, Margate, and from then until 1892 curate of Margate. He then went to Syria, and for four years was chaplain at Beyrout and Lebanon. On returning to England, he was appointed curate of St. Alphege, Whitslable, for a year. In 1897 he arrived in New Zealand, and for two years filled Archdeacon Harper's place at Timaru, while that gentleman was on a visit to England. Since 1899 he has held his present position. As a Freemanson, Mr. Whitehead was initiated in England, and afterwards affiliated with St. John's Lodge, E.C., Timaru. He is also a member of the Order of Oddfellows. Since the formation of the Waimakariri Mounted Rifles he has acted as chaplain to the corps. Mr. Whitehead was married in England, and has a family of one son and one daughter.