Mr. J. P. Firth, the Principal, was educated at Nelson College, taking his B.A. degree in 1888 at Canterbury College. His first appointment was that of assistant master at the institution where he received his education. There he stayed for six years, at the end of which time he accepted a position at Wellington College. After five years in the Empire City, Mr. Firth was appointed one of the masters of Christ's College, Christchurch, and in 1892, at the end of five-and-a-half years, he returned to take up his present position as head master of the Wellington College. Wellington is very proud of its college, and particularly so of its principal, whose popularity, not only with the boys, but with all classes of the community is proverbial. In athletics, especially cricket and football, Mr. Firth has reason to be proud of the work he has accomplished. He also takes a great interest in outdoor sports generally. He is the favourite referee in football matches, his thorough knowledge of the game, quick eye, and exemplary integrity precluding all question as to the accuraev of his rulings. He is a man of splendid physique, which is no doubt due, to a great extent, to the variety of outdoor exercises and athletic pursuits in which he has indulged from his boyhood. He is no less than six feet five-and-a-half inches in height, and is proportionately built, while his carriage is perfect. In 1889, Mr. Firth married Miss Jessie McRae, daughter of Mr. Nehemiah McRae of Weld's Hill, Marlborough. Mr. and Mrs. Firth have done much to make the College the pleasant home it is for the boarders, and it must indeed be gratifying to them to note the great improvement, not only in scholastic attainment, but ni physical and social development, of their charges.

Miss Hamilton, the Lady Principal, was born near Melrose, in Scotland, She was educated at the John Watson's Institution, and at the Salisbury Place Institution, in the beautiful city of Edinburgh, and afterwards at Canterbury College, Christchurch. Miss Hamilton arrived in Dunedin in 1877, and taught for a few months in the Timaru Public School. When the Girls' High School in Christchurch was opened, Miss Hamilton was at ones appointed to an assistant teachership there, and she occupied that position for five years. It is worthy of remark that during Miss Hamilton's residence in Christchurch, the whole of the lady graduates in the Colony of New Zealand were included in the staff of that school. Subsequently, the Wellington Girls' High School was opened by Miss Hamilton, assisted by Miss Margaret Richmond (now Mrs. Fell), and Mr. (now Dr.) Innes.

Dr. John Innes, M.A., the First Assistant-Master at the Girls' High School, Wellington, is a New Zealander, having been born at Christchurch. He received his education in the Cathedral City, and while attending school there, was the winner of a scholarship which entitled him to a term of study at Christ's College, Christchurch. While at the College, Dr. Innes carried off a Junior University Scholarship, and this took him to Canterbury College, where he distinguished himself in no uncertain manner. He was successful in securing a Senior University Scholarship, and, in addition to this, had the honour of being the winner of the Bowen Prize on two occasions. Dr. Innes gained his B.A. degree in 1880, and his M.A. degree, with first-class honours in Latin and English, during the following year. In 1891 he obtained the LL.B. degree, and in 1894 that of LL.D. Dr. Ian's was assistant-teacher at the Timaru High School, holding that position for about a year.

The other members of the regular staff are, Miss Marchant, M.A., Miss Ecclesfield, M.A., Miss Morrah, M.A., Miss Wilson (certificated); and there are five visiting teachers.

St. Patrick's College (Motto Sectare Fidem). The noble building so well known as St. Patrick's College, an engraving of which is given herewith, is entirely devoted to the cause of education. It is now over ten years ago since this magnificent institution was established. The edifice was erected by the well-known contractors, Messrs. Murdoch and Rose, from plans prepared by Mr. Thomas Turnbull, architect, of Wellington. The foundation stone was laid on the 16th of March, 1884, by the Most Rev. Dr. Redwood (then Bishop, now Archibishop, of Wellington). The building was completed, and formally opened in 1885 (June 1st), and has been since conducted with signal success by the Marist Fathers. His Grace the Most Rev. Francis Redwood, S.M., D.D., Archbishop of Wellington, is the president. The Very Rev. F. J. Watters, S.M., D.D., is the popular and revered rector. The college faculty, in addition to the president and rector, comprises the Rev. T. Bower, S.M., B.A., vicerector, the Rev. M. J. O'sSullivan, S.M., Procurator the Rev. Paul Aubry, S.M., Rev. J. P. M. Hickson, S.M., Rev. J. Bowden, G. M., M.A., Rev. J. D. Clanoy, S.M., Rev. Stanis'aus Mahony, S.M., and Rev. Joseph Herbert, S.M. Dr. Thomas Cahill, M.Ch., is the medical adviser, Well-known professors and teachers of drawing, music, and gymnastics attend periodically. St. Patrick's College, according to the prospectus, “is intended to afford the youth of New Zealand a sound, liberal education, while furnishing all those safeguards of religion without which education ceases to be an advantage.” The ordinary course of instruction includes English, Latin, Greek, modern languages, mathematics, physical sciences, music, drawing, etc., but a special course is provided, in which students are taught everything needful for commercial pursuits. In addition to English, modern languages, and mathematics, the commercial course includes bookkeeping, mercantile correspondence, and penmanship, shorthand, typewriting, and science. There is also a special course of physical science, which includes instruction in astronomy, mechanics (theoretic and applied), sound, light, and heat, magnetism, and electricity. The fine arts course embraces drawing in freehand, perspective, model, and geometry; also from the cast in outline, light, and shade. In painting students have instruction in sepia from the cast and models, and in colours in elementary designs. The thoroughness of the education imparted in this splendidly managed institution cannot be better illustrated than by referring to the honours list in connection with the college. In the years 1886 to 1893 inclusive, forty-seven students passed the matriculation examination; two qualified for matriculation on junior scholarship papers in 1893; eight passed the junior scholarship examinations, 1888 to 1891 inclusive; two passed the barristers' general knowledge examination in 1890, one passed the medical preliminary and two the senior Civil Service in 1803; while twenty-three passed the junior Civil Service examinations in the years 1888 to 1893. The students have also upheld the honour of their alma mater in music and drawing. In the examinations in connection with Trinity College, London, thirteen students in the years 1889 to 1894 succeeded in obtaining junior passes, two passed intermediate in 1894, seven obtained junior honours in 1890 and 1893, and one intermediate honours in 1894. In the examinations held at the Wellington Technical School in 1894, out of twelve students presented for examination, seven obtained the note “excellent,” two “good,” and two “pass,”—an exceptionally high and creditable record. Two scholarships, of the annual value of forty guineas each, are submitted for competition each year with the approbation of His Grace the Archbishop. Each of these is tenable for two years, and may be competed for by the Catholic boys attending the parochial schools, or in cases where no Catholic schools exist, on the recommendation of the priests of the respective parishes. In connection with the college there is a strong literary and debating society, formed in 1892, which has been thoroughly successful. Public debates have been held periodically, in which many of the members distinguished themselves, demonstrating the great benefits received at any rate by the active members. One of the aims of the founders of St. Patrick's College was to educate some of the youth of the Colony for the priesthood of the Church. The hopes of the good men who established it have already been realised, as several of the earliest students have successfully passed through their theological course, and have been raised to the privileged dignity. Considerable attention is given to the physical training of the pupils, in proof of which a roomy gymnasium, equipped with all necessary appointments, is attached to the college. Here the boys, under a professional instructor, have regular lessons in all that marks a complete course of physical drill. A cricket club and a football club promote healthy rivalry in public games, and no mean position has been reached in friendly warfare by the college representatives. A few years ago (1888, 1889), the college colours (blue and white) during two seasons held an unbroken record, and gained the unique distinction, for a college, of carrying off and winning out against all comers the coveted Junior Cup.

In 1889 the College football team journeyed north to Wanganui, where it defeated the representatives of the Wanganui Collegiate School. The same year the bearers of the “blue and white” “carried the war” to far Dunedin, and after a tough battle and gallant stand, carried home the palm of victory from the champions of the Dunedin High School. Attached to the college is a valuable and varied library, comprising upwards of 6000 volumes, all of which are catalogued and arranged for the convenience of readers. Up in the tower, close by the statue of the patron saint, may be seen the substantial nucleus of a museum, containing many specimens of fauna and flora of New Zealand and Australia—insects, minerals, and fossil-ferns, assegais, clubs and arrows from the “Islands of the Sea.” archaic blunderbusses and primitive revolvers, relics of “the road” in the early days of bushrangers, shells, kauri gum, and other valuable curios. Says the Evening Post, in a sub-leader under date of 18th March, 1895:—“St. Patrick's College.—Yesterday, the anniversary of Ireland's patron saint, was the anniversary of a Wellington institution of which its citizens are justly proud. Just ten years ago yesterday St. Patrick's College was founded, and to-day it starts on its eleventh year, having fully accomplished the promises of the founders. The popular rector, the Rev. Dr. Watters, has every reason to feel gratified with what his school has accomplished, and to look forward hopefully and confidently to the future. The new year is started with over eighty students in residence and some sixty day students, and so thorough is the organisation of this large family that everything works smoothly, and the duties of the day are done without fuss or confusion and without assuming the appearance of tasks. This state of things is, of course, largely due to the good work of a very efficient professorial staff, which this year is practically of the same personnel as that which did such excellent service last year, the chief change being the substitution of the Rev. Joseph Herbert. S.M., who has just arrived from Europe, for the Rev. P. W. Tymons, who has been called to missionary labours. The record of the college for the past year was an excellent one. Five students passed the Trinity College (London) musical theory examinations, one of them taking honours. Of three students presented for the Junior Civil Service Examinations, two passed. Of seven sent up for matriculation, all passed. Of twelve sent to the School of Design for examination in geometrical drawing, eleven passed, and two secured certificates for knowledge of perspective. The whole of the fine college building has just been renovated, and library, dormitories, class halls, recreation hall, gymnasium, museum, all look bright, fresh, and cheery. There are all sorts of organisations among the pupils. There is a brass band of thirty members, which made so creditable an appearance in the college grounds yesterday under Mr. Cimino. There is a string band of twenty performers under Mr. Trowell, and there is a singing class consisting of nearly half the school, under the Rev. Father Aubry. In fact, there are some fifty boys actively engaged in the study of music, theoretical and practical, and nearly every instrument, from the drum and cornet to the double bass, 'cello, and organ, is studied within the college walls. Too high praise cannot be given to this general devotion to the most refining of the arts. Then there is the literary and debating society under the presidency of the rector. Last year some fifteen of its members gave public proof of their ability in debate. Altogether, the college starts on its second decade under the happiest auguries for the future, and Dr. Watters, his staff, and his students will have the heartiest good wishes for their continued success. In 1894 there were eighty-one boarders and fifty-four day pupils on the roll of this excellent educational institution. The splendid success and well-merited popularity of the college are mainly due to the untiring energy and ability of the Very Rev. F. J. Watters, S.M., D.D., who has directed its affairs throughout the ten years of its existence.”