Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1897, Wellington

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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Mr. J. M. Beechey, Headmaster of the Dalefield Public School, is a great grandson of the famous Captain Beechey, R.N., of Parry and Ross's exploration party and other expeditions. His father was one of the first settlers in Governor Bay, Canterbury, where the subject of this sketch was born in 1861. After completing his course at the public school, he attended the Normal School Training College in Christchurch, where he distinguished himself as a prizewinner in history and arithmetic. His first school appointment was Rangitata Island Public School, where he cerved four-and-a-half years. He was then transferred to Goat Valley, Wanganui, where he remained two years. As second master at Masterton he remained eighteen months, and was appointed to his present position in 1885. In 1882 Mr. Beechey was married to Miss page 922 Elizabeth Harbridge, daughter of Mr. James Harbridge, of Christchurch, and has five children. For several years he has acted as a lay-reader in the Church of England. While in Canterbury Mr. Beechey was a prominent footballer, and he is at present an active member of the Carterton Cricket Club.