Mr. A. Y. Smith , Headmaster of Waianiwa Public School, was born at Whitsome, Berwickshire, Scotland, and educated at the Kelso Grammar School. He was also for some time under the well known army tutor, the Rev. George Frost, of Kensington Square, London, and while there had as fellow-pupil, and, indeed, as room-mate, Lord Kitchener. Mr Smith arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship “Star of Tasmania.” in 1867, and for four years followed country pursuits. He entered the service of the Otago Education Board as a teacher at Waihola Gorge (now Milburn) in 1871, was appointed second master of the Oamaru Grammar School in the following year; five years later he became assistant master at the Otago Boys' High School, Dunedin, and held that position for fourteen years. In 1891, Mr Smith gave up teaching, owing to ill health, but resumed his profession in 1896. Mr Smith served for some years as a volunteer in the Oamaru Rifles, in which he held the rank of lieutenant, and was well known as a marksman. As a footballer, he represented Otago in 1877, and was a member of the first Otago team which toured New Zealand. While in Oamaru he was captain of the football and cricket clubs, and in Dunedin was one of the earliest members of the Carlsbrook Club.