The Waitaki High Schools Board Of Governors is constituted under the Waitaki High Schools Act of 1878, and the first meeting was held on the 20th of February, 1879. The Boys' High School was opened on the 15th of May, 1883, the corner stone of the building having been laid on the 12th of October, 1881. The Girls' High School was opened in October, 1887. Mr. A. A. McKinnon is secretary to the Board.

Mr. George Rose Hislop , formerly Secretary and Treasurer of the Waitaki High Schools, is the fourth son of the late Dr. John Hislop, of Dunedin. He was born in Edinburgh, in 1856, and arrived in the Colony as an infant with his parents, and was educated in Dunedin. Mr. Hislop was brought up to the soft goods trade in the house of Messrs Sargood, Son and Ewen, and was subsequently for several years in the employment of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, in Dunedin and Oamaru. In 1887 he entered into business as a commission agent in Tyne Street, and was appointed secretary and treasurer of the Waitaki High Schools in February, 1897. He became secretary of the North Otago Jockey Club in 1891. Mr. Hislop was married, in 1891, to a daughter of the late Mr. J. Stratford, of Wellington, and has one daughter. He now (1904) resides in Wellington.

Mr. G. R. Hislop.

The Waitaki Boys' High School , which is under the control of the Board of Govermors of the Waitaki Boys' and Girls' High Schools, is a handsome two-storey building, erected in Oamaru limestone. The site occupied is a healthy one, and has an area of over thirty acres. It is situated about two miles to the north of Oamaru, and has a sen frontage. The grounds are extensively planted with ornamental trees and shrubs. The foundation stone of the building was laid on the 12th of October, 1881, and the school was opened on the 15th of May, 1883, at a cost of £4500. The first rector was Mr. J. Harkness, M.A., who conducted the school from its opening till his resignation in 1896, when he was succeeded by the present rector, Dr. Don. The Waitaki Boys' High School has nine dormitories, with accommodation for sixty-three boarders, and there are four fine classrooms, the total teaching accommodation being for over 100 pupils. The number in attendance in August, 1903, included forty-one day boys and sixty-three boarders. There are extensive play-grounds in connection with the school, and football and cricket grounds are available for the various teams connected with it. Two fives courts have been built, and there is a well equipped gymnasium, measuring 50 feet, by 25 feet, with all necessary appliances. In 1897 a large swimming bath, 70 feet by 50 feet, was completed. A rifle range, 500 yards in length, is included in the school grounds. The Boys' High School cadet corps numbers fifty members. The science training in connection with the school is a very important feature, and a separate building for the purpose of a laboratory has been fitted up for the study of practical chemistry and physics, while geology and field geology form a part of the regular school course.

Dr. John R. Don, D.Sc., M.A., F.C.S. and F.G.S. (London), M.A.I.M.E., Rector of the Waitaki Boys' High School, was born in 1861 at Gisborne. Victoria, and received his preliminary education in that Colony. Dr. Don came to New Zealand in 1880, and studied at the Otago University, where he graduated B.A. in 1886, and M.A. with first class honours in chemistry in the following year, and B.Sc in 1889, and D.Sc. in 1896. In 1895 Dr. Don became a member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers; he was elected F.C.S. of London in 1898, and F.G.S. of London in 1900. His career in the education list commenced in 1880, when he became an assistant at the South School, Oamaru, whence he was shortly afterwards transferred to the Forbury School, Dunedin, where he was third assistant till 1882. In that year he was transferred to the Normal School as fourth assistant, and in January, 1884, he was promoted to be first assistant in the Macandrew Road School, Dunedin. From 1887 to 1895, Dr. Don was the first assistant at the Normal School, Dunedin, and was vice-principal of the Training College from 1895 to 1897, in which year, on the 1st of January, he entered upon his duties at the Waitaki High School. For some time Dr. Don was honorary assistant and demonstrator to Professor Black, Otago University, and for seven years he taught the chemistry class in connection with the Technical Classes' Association in Dunedin. Since 1893 he has held the position of lecturer on general geology at the Otago University.

Waitaki Boys' High School, Oamaru.

Mr. George Harry Uttley, M.A. , Third Assistant Master at the Waitaki Boys' High School, was born in 1879 in Dunedin. He was educated at the Union Street school in his native city, and at the Otago Boys' High School, graduated B.A. at the University of Otago in 1992, and took his M.A. degree with honours in Mental Science, in the following year. During his last year at the page 515 University. Mr. Uttley was relieving teacher at the Normal Training College. After a year's service under the Otago Education Board, he was appointed to his present position in Oamaru in 1903. Mr. Uttley is fond of outdoor games and was captain of the Union Football Club in Dunedin, and represented Otago in 1991. He was for four years a member of the Albion Cricket Club.

Mr. Robert Logan Mcllroy , M.A., formerly Second Assistant Master at the Waitaki Boys' High School, was born in 1872 in Christchurch. He received his primary education at the Sydenham public school, and gained a scholarship under the Education Board, entitling him to two years' tuitioa at the Boys' High school. He was then granted a third year's course, and matriculated at the age of fifteen. Mr. McIlroy served as a pupil teacher at the Sydenham school from 1889 to 1891, and in 1892 he studied at the Normal Training Colloge, where he gained a C 4 certificate. He was successively at the Addington and St. Albans public schools, and in October, 1893, he became fifth assistant at Sydenham, and was promoted to be fourth assistant in 1896. Mr. McIlroy was appointed second assstant at the Waitaki Boys' High school, in Oamaru, in May, 1897. During his educational career in Christchurch Mr. McIlroy graduated B.A. at Canterbury College in 1895, and M.A. in the following year, with honours in Latin and English. While a resident of Christchurch he was a member of the Union Rowing Club for three years, and was connected with the Canterbury College Football Club. Mr. Mellroy took an active interest in football at the Waitaki High school, and was one of the instructors in physical exercises at the gymnasium. He left the Waitaki High school in 1900, and is now (1904) First Assistant Master in St. John's Collegiate School, Auckland.

Mr. R. L. McIlroy.

The Waitaki Girls' High School , which was opened in October, 1887, is one of the institutions under the control of the Waitaki High Schools Board of Governors. The school building is situated on a section of two acres and a half, with frontage to Trent and Ouse Streets. It is one storey in height, in Oamaru stone, and has three class rooms, each of which has accommodation for fourteen pupils. Besides a fine assembly room, the room of the lady principal, and a room for the assistant teachers, there is a lavatory and cloak-room. The building is plastered throughout, and the main rooms are sixteen feet high, from floor to ceiling.

Miss Catherine Ferguson , M.A., Lady Principal of the Girls' High School, was appointed to her present position in 1893. She is supported by two assistants, in addition to a drawing mistress and an instructor in drill and deportment.

Miss Violet Maude Greig , M.A., who is First Assistant at the Waitaki Girls' High School, was born in Dunedin. She was educated at the Otago Girls' High School and the University of Otago, where she graduated B.A. in 1898, and took her M.A. degree with honours in Latin and English, in the following year. Miss Grrig was appointed to her present position at the end of the year 1900.

The Oamaru North School was established in 1870 in a small building not far from the site now occupied. The first portion of the present building was erected in 1873, the infants' schoolroom being added six years later, and two additional rooms in 1886. In 1888 the building was further enlarged, and the present infants' room was built in 1897, when the whole establishment was re-organised. The main school is built of Oamaru stone, and consists of seven rooms, with accommodation—including the infants' department, which is built in wood, and has three class-rooms—for 600 children, and there are 450 on the roll. The school ground, two acres in extent, has front-ages to Reed Street on the west, Exo Street on the north and to Torridge Street on the south. The headmaster is assisted by six certificated teachers and one pupil teacher.

Mr. James Lindsay , Headmaster, was born at Benholm, Kincardineshire, Scotland, in 1847. He was educated at the Johnshaven public school, where he served a pupil teacher-ship of five years. Mr. Lindsay came to Port Chalmers in 1870, when he joined the Otago Education Department as second assistant at the Dunedin Middle school, where he continued for about four years. Mr. Lindsay afterwards became first assistant at the South Dunedin school, now known as the High Street school, and was afterwards first assistant at the Normal school from 1876 till 1879, when he was transferred to the position he has since held in Oamaru.

Mr. John Pringle , M.A., formerly Third Assistant at the North School, was born at Milton, in 1870, and educated at Southbridge school and at the Tokomairiro District High School, where he gained the dux medal in 1886, and where he also served his pupil-teachership for four years. He gained the Normal School and University Exhibition Scholarship of £60 a year, for three years, and studied simultaneously at the Normal Training College and the Otago University, where he graduated B.A. in November, 1893, and M.A. twelve months later, with honours in mathematics. In the D examination he gained a second science prize, and was the second highest in the Colony. Mr. Pringle was appointed to the North School in February, 1895. In April, 1900, he went to Nighteaps, as Home Missionary, assisting the Rev. A. Macdonald of the Presbyterian Church, Otautau, Southland.

Mr. J. Pringle.

The Middle School , Oamaru, which was originally known as the Oamaru Grammar School and afterwards as the first District High School, formerly occupied a site on the hill overlooking the present premises, which are situated on a section of about two acres fronting Severn Street. The main building is erected in Oamaru stone and contains six school-rooms, besides two small rooms, the whole having accommodation for 420 children. The infants' department is in a separate building, which is of wood, and has two rooms seated for 120 scholars. There is a good gymnasium, which is thoroughly equipped with the latest appliances, and the buildings are surrounded by suitable play-grounds. The page 516 headmaster is supported by four assistants and two pupil teachers.

Mr. Edward Earl , B.A., Headmaster of the Middle School, Oamaru, was born at Plymouth, England, in 1858. In 1863 he arrived with his parents in Melbourne, where he received his primary education. He afterwards studied at the Training College, and received a teacher's certificate from the Education Department. For two years Mr. Earl was in charge of the Model school in Collingwood, and came to Dunedin in 1883 to fill a similar position. In 1883 he was appointed to the Middle school, Oamaru.

The Oamaru South School occupies a site of two acres and a quarter in extent, and has frontages to Arun Street on the north, Hull Street on the east and Greta Street on the west. It was opened in the present building in 1877, and the original building situated in Greta Street and known as the old Grammar school has since been demolished. The present building is of Oamaru stone, is of one storey, and contains five large rooms, each 20 feet in height, and thoroughly well ventilated, through walls and ceiling. Each room is adapted for 100 pupils, and there is also is room for the headmaster in the main building, besides two smaller rooms. The infants' school, erected in wood and plaster, contains one large, and two small rooms, and has accommodation for 150 pupils. The school has a very fine gymnasium, which was built in 1897 at a cost of £300, half of which was raised locally, and the rest was contributed by the Board. The gymnasium is complete in every respect, and has the most modern appliances and fittings. These, together with the stage, are all movable, so that the room may, if required, be used for the purpose of public meetings and entertainments. The “Honours Board” of the school occupies a prominent position on the walls of the 6th standard classroom, and displays the names of the successful pupils who have been duxes of the school since the year 1878. Among the names there are those of several persons who have distinguished themselves politically, educationally, or otherwise in the Colony. The headmaster is assisted by a staff of five qualified assistants and three pupil teachers.

Mr. John Harkness Rice , Headmaster of the South School, was born in 1848 at Birr, Ireland, and was educated at the Santry Training College, Dublin, where he studied for his profession and became licensed to teach. For five years before leaving for the colonies, he taught in private schools and colleges in England, and arrived in Port Chalmers by the ship “Atrato,” in 1874. Mr. Rice at once joined the service of the Education Board, and was appointed third master at the Oamaru Grammar school. Two years later he became first assistant, and on the opening of the South school, in 1877, he was appointed to the position he has since continuously held. Mr. Rice is a past master of Lodge Waitaki E.C., and is captain of the cadet corps, which numbers sixty-three, in connection with the South school. He was captain of the I Battery for a similar period, and later had the rank of quartermaster of the North Otago Battalion. He has takeri a general interest in football and cricket clubs, and is a member of the Oamaru Chess Club, and also of the Phoenix Bowling Club and of the Korero Club. Mr. Rice was married, in 1879, to a daughter of Mr. E. Penfold, of London, and has one son and four daughters

The Oamaru Athenæum and Mechanics' Institute . This important institution was established in 1865. The original building, which consisted only of a library and a reading room, was erected in 1867, but a large and important addition was completed and opened in 1883. It is composed of Oamaru stone, two stories in height, and the ground floor is taken up with one large hall, and one of a smaller size. Within the original building there is another floor, which is used as a free reading room, and on the upper floor of the new building there are the circulating library, reference library, a committee room, a general reading room, a reading room for ladies, and a chess and smoking room, in which the Oamaru Chess Club holds its meetings. Altogether the building and its appointments are a credit to the town. In the circulating library department there are about 8000 books, and in the reference library 700. New books arrive quarterly from England, and by this means the library is kept up to a high standard. The number of members is 235, which is considerably less than it ought to be, considering the advantages which membership gives its possessor. An endowment of 102 acres at Ardgowan brings in a revenue of 12s 6d per acre, and there is a debt of £450 upon the building. The entire cost of the premises, including £265 spent on the heating apparatus, under Asburay's patent, was £2150.

Mr. Henry Richmond , Librarian to the Oamaru Athenæum and Mechanics' Institute, was born in Liverpool, England, in 1834. He was brought up to mercantile life, and arrived in Wellington on the 14th of November, 1857, by the ship “John McVicar.” After a year in Canterbury, Mr. Richmond travelled overland to Oamaru, for the Lindis “rush,” which took place in 1859. On the outbreak of Gabriel's Gully he was attracted further south, and was for seven years on the Otago goldfields, especially at Waitahuna, where Richmond Hill bears his name. He afterwards returned to Oamaru, where he acted as an accountant in various drapery houses till the 5th of August, 1877, when he was appointed to his present position, Mr. Richmond is one of the four oldest members of Court Pride of Oamaru, Ancient Order of Foresters, and acted as secretary for seven years. He was married, in 1868, to a daughter of Mr. Edward Allcock, of Leamington, and has four daughters.

Mahan, photo
Mr. H. Richmond.