Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Primary Schools

Primary Schools.

The Normal Training College and School in Moray Place West, Dunedin, is conducted in a large two-storled brick building. The upper storey is occupied by the School of Art and Design, and the lower storey and adjoining building by the school and college classes. There are seventeen separate class-rooms, fourteen of which are used for the Normal School and the three others for Training College purposes. There is, besides, a science room in the basement storey fitted up as a laboratory for giving the students training and practice in scientific work. The school is surrounded by asphalted play-grounds, in one of which stands a large gymnasium fully equipped with the necessary apparatus for a good course of physical exercises.

Mr. David Renfrew White , M.A., Principal of the College, and Rector of the School, was born in Edinburgh. He was brought in 1855 by his parents to Tasmania, where he attended Chalmer's School, a private school for boys, attached to Chalmer's Presbyterian church, Hobart. He came as a lad to Dunedin in the beginning of 1862, and at that time was uncertain what course of work to follow up, trying for some time different manual occupations. During this time he continued to keep up his studies, and finally made up his mind to enter the teaching profession. He presented himself, in 1872, for the first public teachers' examination held in Otago, and having passed, was offered an appointment at the St. Leonard's school, West Otago harbour. He next received a subordinate position in the Union Street school, and in 1878, was appointed first assistant to the High Street School. At the request of the Education Board and school committee, he decided to accept a similar position at the Union Street school, which he held for some five years. Whilst engaged in teaching, Mr. White found opportunity to attend the Otago University classes, graduating B.A. in 1883, and M.A. with honours in political science in the following year. He was the first teacher in the province of Otago to obtain the New Zealand Education Department A1 certificate. This certificate is presented only to those teachers who graduate with honours and who receive the maximum marks for length of service, and skill and proficiency page 164 in the art of teaching. Mr. White was appointed head master of the Normal School in 1885, and also a member of the Training College staff, as lecturer on English language and literature. He held this dual position for ten years, and in 1893 was promoted to be principal of the Training College, and head of the school. Mr. White has been in the service of the Otago Education Board for a period of thirty-five years, and has done a great deal for the Otago and New Zealand educational institutes. He was for eight years secretary of the former body, and afterwards president. He was one of the founders of the New Zealand Educational Institute—its first secretary, afterwards president, and also a member of the executive for several years. Mr. White is a member of the Otago University Council. He was the first representative of the graduates, elected to the Council for five years, and re-elected without opposition in 1897, for another term of office. He has also shown considerable interest in other educational bodies. He was a member of the Dunedin Athenaeum for eight years, and afterwards its chairman. Mr. White has been a member of the Dunedin Technical Classes Association since its establishment, and has taken an active part in its management. He was also on the committee of the Dunedin Kindergarten Association, and for three years acted as examiner for the society in the art and principles of the kindergarten system.

Mr. Angus Marshall . B.A., Vice-Principal of the Training College for Teachers, and Secretary and Superintendent of the Dunedin Technical Schools, was educated at the public schools, Dunedin Training College, and Otago University. He was first placed in charge of the Kakapuaka school, Otago, where he remained for three years and a half, and he subsequently had charge of the Pareora school, South Canterbury. He was next promoted to the first assistantship of the Waimate District High School, where he remained for a year and a half. In 1891 Mr. Marshall was appointed to the staff of the Normal School, Dunedin, and after eleven years' service he became Vice-Pricipal of the Training College. Mr. Marshall has also been connected with the staff of the Dunedin Technical Classes Association for the past ten years, acting first as mathematical master, then as assistant superintendent, and he now holds the dual office of secretary and superintendent. Mr. Marshall takes a keen interest in educational questions, and is at present a member of the Committee of Management of the Otago Educational Institute. He is a noted cyclist, having won several trophies for performances on the track, and gold medals for the Dunedin to Henley contests; he is also an old athlete. Mr. Marshall was married, in 1886, to a daughter of Mr. E. Jones, of Warrington, and has six sons and two daughters.

Miss Emma Mary Stevens , Head-Mistress of the Dunedin Normal School, was born in Dugsh, India, and arrived with her parents in Auckland in 1864. Miss Stevens has spent most of her time in Otago, having been educated principally at the Middle District, now High Street School, where she became a pupil-teacher, gaining a D1 certificate. For some years afterwards she was assistant at that school, and was subsequently transferred to the position she now holds at the Normal School, where she had charge of Standard V. Miss Stevens is a member of the Otago Educational Institute.

Mr. William Gray , M.A., formerly Vice-principal of the Normal Training College, Moray Place, Dunedin, was born in 1869, at Milton, and was educated primarily at the Wairuna public school, Clinton. Mr. Gray became a pupil-teacher at the Arthur Street school, Dunedin, where he served four years, gaining a D certificate at the end of the term. He was then appointed fourth assistant at Mornington, where he remained for three years, when he was promoted second assistant in the same school and two years later was transferred to the George Street school in a similar capacity. In 1895, Mr. Gray became first assistant at Mornington school, and in March, 1897, was appointed vice-principal in the Training College. During his educational career, Mr. Gray attended Otago University, where he obtained the degree of B.A. in 1894, and M.A. two years later. He was a member of the Otago Educational Institute. Mr. Gray engaged enthusiastically in all out-door sports, notably cricket and golf, and was a member of the Dunedin golf club. In 1895 he married a daughter of Mr. Alex. Cameron, of Grant Street, Dunedin. He is now Inspector of School at Wanganui.

Mr. W. Gray.

Mr. W. Gray.

The Dunedin School of Art and Design , which occupies the upper portion of the Normal School in Moray Place, was founded in 1870 by the Provincial Council of Otago for the purpose of training teachers and pupil-teachers for the public schools, and for the teaching of drawing and painting as a part of general education. The courses of instruction comprise freehand, including drawing from the antique figure and living model, ornamental design, practical, plance, and solid geometry, perspective, building construction, machine drawing, painting in oil, tempera and water colours, as well as modelling, moulding and casting. These courses are open to the public, as follows; For students attending five days per week, £1 1s. per quarter of ten weeks; evening classes, 10s. 6d. per quarter for two evenings per week; teachers and pupil-teachers of the public schools, free. Students may join at any time. The annual session commences on the second day of February and ends on the second Friday in December. The school comprises a large general class-room, painting-room, modelling-room, and cast-room. The latter has a large and carefully selected assortment of casts, valued at some hundreds of pounds, which were imported from Brucciani, London, a well-known agent of the Science and Art Department. These casts were mostly brought to the Colony in 1870 by the art master, Mr. Hutton. The walls of the various rooms are covered with specimens of paintings and drawings from the works of several well known artists, these exhibits being the property of the art master. The accommodation of the School of Art and Design is equal to 150 pupils. The art master is supported by one assistant, two pupil-teachers in the art department, and masters for building construction and mechanical drawing.

Mr. David Con Hutton , Principal of the Dunedin School of Art and Design, was born in Dundee, Scotland, in 1843, and was educated at the public schools of his native city. He began his professional career as a student of the Dundee School of Art, and gained a free studentship after his first year. He was appointed an art pupil-teacher in 1859 at the same institution, page 165 under Mr. John Kennedy. He studied modelling at the same time under Mr. Guthrie and gained several prizes and medals including two national medallions for that and other class of work. About the same time he issued the “Freehand Drawing” series which were adopted in various schools. He completed his pupil-teachership with distinction in 1863, and gained an art master's certificate. A year later, Mr. Hutton won a science certificate for practical, plane, and solid geometry, and in 1865, was appointed art master at the Perth School of Arts. The Provincial Council of Otago, through its agent-general in Scotland, selected Mr. Hutton for the appointment of provincial drawing master, and early in 1870, he arrived at Port Chalmers in the ship “Christian McCausland.” He lost no time in establishing the School of Art, and set about the work of instruction at the various schools with the most commendable results, Mr. Hutton was married in 1872 to a daughter of the late Mr. A. Douglas, chief clerk in the General Post Office, Edinburgh, by whom he has five sons and five daughters. One of his sons is assistant art master to the Dunedin School of Art.

The George Street Public School . which was opened on the 5th of April, 1880, is a substantial two-storey brick and stone building, occupying a fine site at the extreme end of George Street, Dunedin. There are twelve rooms, ten of which are constantly used for teaching; two, usually set apart as play sheds, are used for teaching purposes, as required. A very large asphalted playground is attached. The school roll contains about 760 names equally diveded between boys and girls. The head-master, Mr. D. A. McNicoll, and Miss Isabel Turnbull, head-mistress, are assisted by a competent staff, consisting of Messrs. A. McLean, first assistant, J. H. A. McPhee, second assistant, Miss V. Campbell, third assistant, Mr. W. R. Cook, fourth assistant, Miss E. J. Gardiner, sixth assistant, and Miss Blanche Luscombe, seventh assistant, besides seven pupil-teachers.

George Street Public School.

George Street Public School.

Mr. David Alexander McNicoll . Head Master of the George Street Public School, was born in Dundee, Scotland, in 1845. Accompanying his parents to Victoria in 1849, Mr. McNicoll was educated at the East Melbourne national school under Mr. J. Main, who was afterwards inspector-general of schools in Victoria. Mr. McNicoll served as a pupil-teacher at the school at which he was primarily educated, and after about eighteen months in commercial life, became assistant in the same institution. He was afterwards on the staff of the South Melbourne school under Mr. James Smith, and remained twelve years, rising to be first assistant, and was engaged as such for ten years. Crossing the Tasman Sea in April, 1876, Mr. McNicoll was appointed master of the Queenstown school, and a year later was transferred to Outram, where he remained for nearly three years. About the end of 1879 he was appointed to the position he now helds, and took charge of the school at its opening in 1880. Mr. McNicoll is a member of the Otago and New Zealand institutes, and has long been connected with the Otago Educational Institute, of which he was at one time president. In the Masonic Order he holds the rank of Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master, I.C. He was married in 1871 to a daughter of the late Mr. Warne, of Melbourne, and has three sons and two daughters.

Mr. John Hugh Alexander McPhee , Second Assistant Master of the George Street Public School, was born in Coromandel in 1865. Educated at the Caversham school under Mr. W. D. Milne, M. A., he matericulated at Otago University in 1885, and in the same year was at the head of the pupil teachers' examinations for Otago. Mr. McPhee passed the first section of his B.A. examination in 1886. After serving a term of four years as a pupil-teacher at Caversham school he took his D certificate, and was appointed sixth assistant of the George Street School, and was subsequently promotedkk page 166 to be fourth and second assistant, respectively. Mr. McPhee is a member of the Otago Educational Institute. As a cyclist, he was one of the promoters of the Otago cycling club and is a member of the committee. In 1896, he was captain of the university cycling club and is a playing member of the university cricket club. As a member of the Masonic Order, he belongs to Lodge Otago Kilwinning. S.C.

Miss Isabella Turnbull , Head Mistress of the George Street Public School. was born in Glasgow, and after spending a few years in Melbourne, came to New Zealand when a child and completed her primary education at the public schools. She was trained as a teacher in Dunedin, and obtained a D1 certificate, to which has been added a certificate for drawing and singing. Miss Turnbull was subsequently appointed head mistress of the Kaikorai school, and promoted in 1885 to her present position. She has been a member of the Otago educational institute since taking up her duties at the George Street School.

Miss I. Turnbull.

Miss I. Turnbull.

Miss Blanche Luscombe , Assistant Mistress at the George Street School, Dunedin, was formerly head mistress of the Naseby public school. She was born in Cromwell, and educated at the Union Street School, Dunedin, where she served as a pupil teacher for four years. Subsequently she was trained for two years at the Normal College, and after going to Naseby as relieving teacher, she was appointed head mistress there in 1893. Miss Luscombe holds a D3 certificate.

The Kaikorai Public School is one storey in height, built of bluestone, and was erected in 1884. There is an average attendance of about 650. The headmaster is assisted by a mistress, three assistant masters, five assistant female teachers, and four pupil teachers.

Mr. William Charles Allnutt , Head Master of the Kaikorai Public School, was appointed to that position in 1893.

Mr. John Annandale Fitzgerald , First Assistant-Master of the Kaikorai School, was born at Pigeon Bay, Banks Peninsula, and was educated at the Oamaru Grammer School and at the Normal School and Training College, Dunedin. Mr. Fitzgerald, after being in charge of the Geraldine Flat school for two years, became headmaster of the South Orari school. Two years later he became first assistant at Oamaru North school, and in 1893, was appointed to the North-East Valley school. He afterwards joined the staff of the Kaikorai school. Mr. Fitzgerald is a member of the Otago Educational Institute. He takes a general interest in cricket and cycling, is captain of the Otago university cricket club, and a member of the New Zealand cyclist touring club.

Mr. Henry Phillipson Kelk , Second Assistant Master at the Kaikorai Public School, was born in Lincolnshire, England, and was educated at a private school at Theddiethorpe, Burgh-le-Marsh Grammer School, and Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Alford all in Lincoinshire, at the last of which he gained a three years' scholarship. He arrived in New Zealand in June, 1880. After serving an apprentieeship of four years, as pupil-teacher in the Arthur Street School, Dunedin, he attended the Normal Training College for eighteen months, gaining an E certificate at the end of the session. He now holds an E1 certificate and a partial D. In October, 1886, Mr. Kelk was appointed third assistant at the Kaikorai public school, and in 1891 was promoted to his present position. He is very fond of music, to which he has given special study. He holds a certificate of competency as instructor of tonic-solfa, which he teachers in connection with the school, and he is also a capable pianist and organist.

Mr. H. P. Kelk.

Mr. H. P. Kelk.

Miss Mary McEwan . Head Mistress of the Kaikorai Public School, was for sixteen years third assistant at the Caversham public school. and was promoted to the position she now holds at the Kaikorai public school in May, 1895.

Miss M. McEwen.

Miss M. McEwen.

South Dunedin (Forbury) Public School was established in 1873, the original school building having been destroyed by fire in the year 1888. The present premises, including a detached infants' class-room, contain eleven separate class-rooms, with accomodation for 700 pupils. There are 666 on the roll, and an average attendance of 582. The head-master is assisted by the head-mistress, six assistant teachers and five pupil-teachers.

Mr. Richard Gill Whetter , M.A., Head Master of the Forbury school, South Dunedin, was born in Ballarat, Victoria, in 1860, and came to New Zealand with his parents at the age of four years. He received his primary education in this Colony, and entered Otago university in 1882. Mr. Whetter took the B.A. degree in 1888, and the M.A. with honours in physics, in the following year. He was a pupil-teacher in the Forbury school in 1876, and four years later was appointed first assistant, which position he held till 1892. when he was promoted to the one he now occuples. Mr. Whetter was president of the Dunedin branch of the Educational Institute, and subsequently became president of the Otago Educational Institute. He was married in 1896 to a daughter of Mr. Joseph Hatton, accountant, Dunedin, and has one son.

Mr. Willam Stuart Maxwell , Second Assistant Master, South Dunedin (Forbury) Public School, was born at Newcatle-on-Tyne in 1870. He was educated partly at Home and partly in Dunedin, having arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship “Canterbury” in 1880. Mr. Maxwell served his pupil-teachership at the Forbury school, received his first certificate in 1891, now holds the D3 certificate, and has been one of the masters of the school since completing his term as pupil-teacher.

Albany Street Public School originally established in 1875 by the Provincial Government of Otago, is a single storey brick and stone structure centrally situated in a thickly populated part of Dunedin. The building has been several times enlarged, and in 1897 an infants' schoolroom was added, and the whole building was reconstruted and renovated; altogeter there are thirteen school and class-rooms, including the head-master's office. There is accommodation for about 750 pupils; and there are over 600 on the roll. Surrounding the school are three large playgrounds entirely of asphalt. A remarkably fine gymnasium has been built within the school grounds, completely fitted up with the most modern appliances for developing the youthful muscles. The building is used daily for the purpose of holding a “Yaralla,” under the auspices of the Dunedin Kindergarten Association.

page 167

Mr. Owen James Hodge , Headmaster of the Albany Street School, was born in Auckland in 1858, and was educated at Sandhurst and Melbourne, where he went through a course of training under the Victorian education department, securing a teacher's certificate in 1874. Mr. Hodge was a master at four different schools in the western districts of Victoria till 1880, when he came to Otago. He was first assistant at the Caversham school for four years, then retired from the service of the board in 1884, and unsuccessfully contested the Peninsula seat in the House of Representatives with the Hon. W. J. M. Laruach. He then became a law student, was admitted a solicitor of the Supreme Court in 1886, and practised in Dunedin for three years. He contested the Mount Ida seat against Mr. Scobie Mackenzie in 1887, and was again defeated. Mr. Hodge re-entered the service of the education board in 1889 as headmaster at Higheliff school, where he continued until he was appointed to the Normal School in November, 1896. In 1898 he was appointed senior relieving officer to the Board, and to his present position in 1900. Mr. Hodge is a member of the Masonic order, attached to Lodge Dunedin, No. 931 (E.C.), in which he has twice occupied the chair. He is also a member of the Otago educational institute and is president of the Dunedin branch. Mr. Hodge was married in 1886 to a daughter of the late Mr. John Logan, of Dunedin.

Dunedin, from Pine Hill

Dunedin, from Pine Hill

Mr William McLaren , First Assistant Master of the Albany Street Public School, was born in Dunedin, in 1864, and was educated at the Milton District High School, the Otago Boys' High School, and Normal School, Dunedin. In 1883 he entered the teaching profession, was for two years stationed at the Kyeburn Diggings, and for fifteen years at Kaitangata, and in 1900 he was appointed to his present position. Mr. McLaren has for many years taken an active interest in volunteering and bowls.

The Arthur Street School , originally known as the Middle District School, was established in 1856. The present commodious building was completed in 1877. It stands on two acress of ground adjoining the Boys' High School. The land is planted with ornamental trees, and laid out in grass; the broad grounds are asphalted, and covered sheds have been erected for the use of children during wet weather. Arthur Street School is a one-storey building, of brick, and is divided into ten rooms, with an aggregate floor space of 6,306 square feet. In the year 1902 the number of scholars on the roll was 595, and the average attendance 525. Mr. J. H. Chapman, the headmaster, is assisted by Miss E. G. Sheriff (head-mistress), Messrs R. J. Barrett, P. G. Stewart, and J. Hunter (first, second, and fourth assistant masters); Misses M. H. Thomson, M. T. Scott, and G. A. Keam (third, fifth, and sixth assistant mistresses), and five pupil teachers.

The Union Street Public School , which occupies one of the education reserves at the corner of Union, Cumberland, and Great King Streets, is a fine brick and stone building of two stories in height. There are, besides two offices, twelve large school and class rooms, which are lofty and well ventilated. There is accommodation for 1,200 children; the number on the roll is 572, and the average attendance, 503. The area of land in connection with this school is at least two acres in extent, and capital asphalted play-grounds are available for the young folks on all sides of the building; covered play-sheds have also been erected, so that recreation need not be suspended during rainy and stormy weather. A large six-sided drinking fountain has been erected in the play-ground, at a cost of over £50, with three taps and cups for the boys, and a like number for the girls. This has a special tank, with one of Pasteno's patent filters containing eighteen mineral candles through which the water is forced by pressure. These candles are periodically removed and subjected to a baking process so as to keep them effective for filtration purposes. The headmaster is assisted by Miss M. S. McMillan (headmistress), Messrs L. A. Line, M.A., and E. Davis (first and second assistant masters), Miss A. W. Rodger (assistant mistress), Miss J. I. Given (assistant mistress), and five pupil-teachers. The roll of honour of the school includes the names of many who are now holding prominent commercial and scholastic positions in various parts of the colonies.

Mr. Leonard Arthur Line , M.A., B.Sc., First Assistant, Union Street School, was born in 1864 at Waitahuna, and was educated at the public school, in which he served four years as a pupil-teacher. After a year's training at the Normal Training College, he was appointed fourth assistant at the High Street school, subsequently became second assistant at the Union Street school, and received his present appointment in 1892. Mr. Line kept terms at Otago University, gaining his B.A. degree in 1890, his M.A. degree in the following year, with honours in mental science, and his B Sc. degree in 1899. It may be mentioned that Mr. Line became a pupil-tacher at the age of fourteen, and secured his A1 certificate, which is the highest grade, in 1891. He was teacher of arithmetic for one year at the Dunedin Technical School. Mr. Line is a tennis player and an organist. In the holidays he finds recreation in travelling through various parts of New Zealand, and he takes great delight in hill-climbing and mountaineering. During the year 1900 Mr. Line visited various parts of India, Ceylon, China, Japan, Egypt,
Mr. L. A. Line.

Mr. L. A. Line.

page 168 Palestine, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, the Rhine valley, Holland, Belgium, France, the British Isles, Canada and the United States of America. For the first half of 1902 he was acting headmaster of the Union Street school.

The High Street Public School stands on a large block of ground at the corner of High Street and Alva Street, adjoining the Town Belt. It is a large wooden building, of modern design, of two stories, surmounted by a square tower, and was erected in 1886. The whole of the rooms are very lofty, and plastered throughout, and are thoroughly ventilated. There are four rooms on the ground floor, in addition to the infants' room; and four class-rooms upstairs, besides the head-master's and matron's apartments. A large and well-constructed gymnasium adjoins the school buildings. At the end of 1903 there were 570 scholars on the roll, with an average attendance of 530. The school staff, in addition to the headmaster and mistress, comprises three male and four female assistant teachers, and three pupil-teachers.

The Caversham Public School was established about 1859, and was originally built of stone obtained from neighbouring quarries. From time to time, however, it has been repaired, and practically re-built, so that only a small portion of the original structure now remains. Two small wooden buildings have been erected close to the main building. The school now possesses 6,100 square feet of floor space, and is surrounded by an asphalted playground. There are 534 names on the roll, and the average attendance is 480.

High Street School, Dunedin.

High Street School, Dunedin.

Mr. William Milne , M.A., Headmaster of the Caversham Public School, was born in the North of Scotland, and was educated at the University of Aberdeen. He arrived in New Zealand in 1863, and fifteen months later received his present appointment.

The Mornington Public School is situated on the western boundary of the borough of Mornington, and overlooks the Kaikorai Valley. It is a wooden building, and contains ten large classrooms, with accommodation for about 600 pupils. There is a large and fully equipped gymnasium attached to the school, which has nearly 500 names on its roll. The teaching staff consists of the headmaster, a mistress, two male assistants, three female assistants, and two pupil teachers.

The North East Valley Public School , which is one of the earliest suburban schools of Dunedin, is conducted in a very handsome bluestone building of one storey, built in 1882. The main building contains five large class-rooms in addition to the head master's office. The infants' school at the rear of the main building is of wood, and contains four additional rooms. The total accommodation is equal to 700. The present number on the roll is 475, and the average attendance about 410. There are about four acres of ground attached to the school, the large asphalt playground being specially noticeable. There are also covered sheds for shelter in wet weather. The head master is assisted by six male and female teachers, and two pupil-teachers.

Mr. David Murray , Head Master of the North East Valley Public School, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1845. He was educated in Melbourne and trained under the Victorian education department, from which he gained his first certificate of competeney as a teacher, and subsequently became one of the most popular assistant masters in Melbourne. On being appointed to take charge of the Outram school, in the Taieri district, he joined the service of the Otago Education Board. For the eight years ending 1888, Mr. Murray had charge of the West Taieri school, and was appointed to his present position in February of that year. He is a member of the Otago Educational Institute, and has taken considerable interest in football and cricket. While at the Taieri, he established the West Taieri cricket club, and now takes a keen interest in the North East Valley school cricket club. Mr. Murray has been a volunteer both in Victoria and in Otago, and was the captain of the West Taieri corps, which took the blue-ribbon of New Zealand for shooting at the team matches. He is also captain of the North East Valley school cadet corps. He was initiated into the Masonic Order, S.C., in Lodge Taieri, of which he is a past master. Mr. Murray was married in 1872 to a daughter of Mr. James Rawlins, coach-builder, Melbourne, and has three sons and seven daughters.

Mr. George Frederick Booth , First Assistant Master of the North East Valley Public School, was born in Daylesford, Victoria, in 1865, and was educated at the public schools and the grammar school in his native place. He passed the matriculation examination in two years-1880 and 1881—with honours in classics, and for two years subsequently was resident assistant in the Daylesford Grammar School. In 1883 he came to New Zealand, and shortly after his arrival entered the service of the Education Department. For about thirteen years he taught as headmaster of various ocuntry schools. In 1896 he was appointed second assistant of the North East Valley school, and held that position until 1900, when he was appointed to his present post. Mr. Booth is a member of the North East Valley Presbyterian church, of which he has been an elder for several years.

The Macandrew Road Public School , which was opened in June, 1883, is a wooden building with seating accommodation for about 650 pupils. It stands on concrete foundations, and is surrounded by a playground of two acres. In 1903 the number on the roll was 433, and the average attendance 390. The staff consists of three male and six female teachers.

Mr. William Bennett , Headmaster of the Macandrew Road Public School, was born in Norfolk, England, in 1847; arrived in Victoria in 1856, and came to New Zealand in 1879, to join the teaching staff of the Otago Education Board. He was appointed to his present position in 1883.

Mr. John Melville , Second Assistant Master of the Macandrew Road school, is a second son of Mr. John Melville, of Maitland Street. He was born in Dunedin and educated at the High Street school, Normal Training College, and at the University of Otago, where he kept terms for two years. Mr. Melville gained a D4 certificate in the beginning of 1897, and was appointed to the staff of the Kensington school in July of page 169 the same year. He is a member of the Otago Educational Institute.

The Kensington Public School , situated at the corner of Grosvenor Street and Anderson's Bay road, adjoining the railway, was established in 1871, and the present building was built about the year 1880. It is a stone and brick building of one storey, and contains six large school rooms, besides the head master's office. The accommodation is equal to about 450 pupils; the number on the roll is 323, and the average attendance about 280. The staff consists of the head-master, head-mistress, three assistant teachers, and three pupil-teachers. There are separate playgrounds, fully asphalted, for the boys and girls, respectively; also covered playgrounds for wet weather.

Mr. William John Moore , Head Master of the Kensington Public School, was born in Sydney, educated in Melbourne, trained for the scholastic profession, and served as a monitor under the Victorian Education Department. For eight or nine years subsequently, he was in charge of the Charleston public school. Mr. Moore came to Otago in 1875, and after three years in charge of the Kaihiku school, was appointed to the position he now holds. He has been one of the most active members of the Otago Educational Institute, having filled the position of its president. He has long been connected with the Caledonian Society, of which he is a director, and was at one time president. Mr. Moore has taken an active part in cricket for fully thirty years, and has represented New Zealand against Australia on several occasions. In his earlier days he was a well known athlete, and took part in many contests. He was married in 1872 to a daughter of Mr. Harle, of Newcastle, and has five sons and four daughters.

Miss Jane Dunlop Hooper , Head Mistress of the Kensington School, was born in Edinburgh. Coming to New Zealand at an early age, Miss Hooper was educated at the old William Street, now High Street school, and at the Arthur Street (then Middle District) school. She served her pupil teachership of five years at the Albany Street school and gained a D1 certificate. For eight years, Miss Hooper was head mistrees of the Sawyers Bay school, and was appointed in 1891 to her present position. Miss Hooper is one of the vice-president of the Otago Educational Institute, and member of the executive of the Dunedin branch. In 1895, she introduced the kindergarten work into the Kensington school, and the change has been found to make the teaching less tedious to the children. Miss Hooper has long taken an interest in first aid to the injured and in nursing, and holds the St. John Ambulance medallion. She gives periodical lessons to the senior girls of the Kensington school in these matters, with a view to rendering them useful as nurses in their own homes.

Miss J. D. Hooper.

Miss J. D. Hooper.

Mr. John Lindsay Ferguson , formerly Headmaster of the Albany Street Public School, was born in 1848 in Glasgow, Scotland, and was educated at the Normal Seminary, and Glasgow University. He arrived in Port Chalmers by the ship “Peter Denny” in 1866, and became headmaster of the Palmerston public school under the provincial government, and a year later was transferred as first assistant to the High Street school, Dunedin, from which he was removed to the Middle District, now Arthur Street school. Mr. Ferguson was promoted to the headmastership of the Albany Street school in 1876. He took a deep interest in educational matters, having been connected with the Otago and New Zealand Educational Institute, and when the technical classes were conducted in Dunedin, under the auspices of the Caledonian Society, Mr. Ferguson was superintendent for several years. He was captain of the school cadets for many year. As a Freemason he was connected with Lodge Celtic, S.C., Lodge Otago, E.C., and Lodge Maori, N.Z.C.; he took the degrees of the Royal Arch Chapter, St. John's Knight Templars, and the Sphinx Chapter, and passed all the chairs save that of W.M. in the Scotch constitution. He was a member of the Ravensbourne rowing club. Mr. Ferguson was married in 1888 to a daughter of Mr. Derham, of Victoria; she died in 1891, leaving one son; and Mr. Ferguson himself died in April, 1900.

The Late Mr. J. L. Ferguson.

The Late Mr. J. L. Ferguson.