Marton Post-Office and Magistrate's Court, which were recently destroyed by fire, had not been rebuilt at the time of the writer's visit, in October, 1896. The business of the post and telegraph office was being conducted in premises on the opposite side of High Street. It is understood that the Government intends to erect substantial brick buildings on the site formerly occupied.

Mr. Walter John Chaney is the Postmaster and Registrar of Baths, Deaths, and Marriages. Officer in charge of Telegraphs, Government Life Insurance Agent, and Native Land Purchase Officer. Mr. Chaney was born in Dover, Kent, which he left in 1875, per ship “Langstone” for New Zealand, and landed in Lyttelton on the 10th of December in the same year. Mr. Chaney was brought up to the merchant service in the office of Messrs. Anderson, Thompson and Co., of Billiter's Court, London. About six years after he entered the Imperial Post-office, and was at various places in England, including Leeds, where he resided for five years. Mr. Chaney joined the Post-office at the time when the transfer of telegraphs was effected from private companies to the Government. In April 1876, he joined the New Zealand Post-office, in connection with which he has served in Wellington and Westport, subsequently holding the position of postmaster at the Lyell for two years, and at Hawera for six-and-a-quarter years. At the latter place Mr. Chaney's health broke down owing to pressure of work during Te Whiti's trouble. In consequence of this he was transferred to the Bay of Islands, and during his residence there he went to San Francisco in charge of the mail. After a few years at the Bay, Mr. Chaney was appointed to Marton in February, 1889, and has occupied the position since that time.

Marton Police Station is situate at the back of the site lately occupied by the Magistrate's Court and Post and Telegraph Office.

Constable Alfred Morton Moon is the officer in charge of the Marton sub-police district. He was born in Brighton, Sussex. He was educated at the Brighton college, and subsequently at a German military school. His father was in the Royal Artillery, and was in Canada. Mr. Moon is a good linguist: he can speak French, German, and Maori fairly. He went to sea when young, and came to New Zealand per ship “Electra,” and landed at Wellington in the year 1867. His first colonial experience was in shearing, but he was soon attracted to a military life, and volunteered for the colonial forces under Colonel Fraser, joining No. 1 company (mounted). After two months experience, he was raised to the rank of sergeant, and saw active service on the East Coast, Uriwera, Taupo, and Waikato. Sergeant Moon received a medal for long service, and also one for military service. During the course of the war he was through the Uriwera country under Colonel Whitmore. Sergeant Moon was subsequently transferred into the police force, taking the rank of constable. He was in charge at Foxton, and subsequently resided at Wanganui, and for some time he was on street duty in Wellington. He was appointed to Marton in the year 1887. He is a quick military sketcher, and used to take etchings of the fights in which he was engaged. His ability is frequently used in connection with criminal cases. Constable Moon is also probation officer, customs officer, truant inspector, inspector of factories, and also of weights and measures, and holds other offices under the Government. He was also for some time a mounted scout.

The Marton Railway Station is classed as a third-class station. The building, which is old, contains a public and ladies' waiting-rooms, stationmaster's and booking offices, store and porters' rooms. The engine-shed is at Marton Junction—a mile-and-a-half distant. The goods-shed is of the usual size and design. Ten trains pass the station every day. The stationmaster is assisted by Messrs. G. W. Bennett (clerk), J. Matheson (storeman), H. Martelli and G. Stanley (porters).

Mr. A. H. O'Loughlen, Stationmaster at Marton, was born in Nelson, where he entered the railway service in 1878. After several years he was transferred to Wanganui, and subsequently successively served at Foxton, Hawera, and New Plymouth. He came to Marton in 1892, after three years' service as stationmaster at Waitara.

The Marton Public School is one of the oldest institutions in the district, having been erected about 1866, the building has been enlarged as the population increased. It is still beyond the requirements of the town, there being 300 children on the roll, with an average attendance of 250. The school library contains about 150 volumes, and there is also a gymnasium. The teacher in charge is assisted by four assistants, two pupil teachers and a cadet.

Mr. Edwin Mossman, Headmaster of Marton Public School, was born in England, and came to New Zealand in the early days of settlement. After some experience of teaching in Canterbury, he relinquished the profession for a time to engage in commercial pursuits, but soon resumed it, and has held his present position for many years.

Crofton Public School, which was established in 1878, contains two rooms arranged to seat eighty pupils. It is situated in the pleasant hamlet of Crofton, about one-and-a-half miles from Marton, and has an average attendance of seventy-three. The headmaster is assisted by the Misses Harrison and Mossman.

Mr. William McCreedy, the Headmaster of the Crofton Public School, received his professional training in the Colony.

Mount View Public School, near Marton, has been conducted since 1876. The building occupied contains one large room, and is built of wood. A large playground, some two acres in extent, is available for the recreation of the children A five-roomed cottage for the teacher is attached to the school. The number of scholars on the roll is twenty, the average attendance being sixteen.

Mr. James Smith, who has charge of the Mount View Public School, joined the Wanganui Board in 1893, as master at Makirikiri, and was transferred after two years to the position he now occupies.

Tutaenui School, which was founded about 1871, has fifty children on the roll, with an average attendance of forty. The playground is about half-an-acre in extent.

Mr. N. J. Crabb, the Master of the Tutaenui School, was born in England, and educated in the grammar and primary schools. He holds a D3 certificate.

The Makirikiri Public School, which is situated about five miles from Marton, was established some thirty years ago, and became a State School in 1877. The number of children on the roll is thirty-six.

Mr. Herbert Woodham, the Master of the Makirikiri School, is a native of Auckland, where he was born in 1852. He was educated at the Wesley College, and entered the service of Messrs. A. Buckland and Co., with whom he remained five years. From 1871 to 1877 he was trading in the South Sea Islands, and on his return to New Zealand he became teacher at the Beresford Street School, Auckland. He has since served in various parts of the North Island, with an interval devoted to farming, and took up his present position in 1895.

Marton Private School (Charles Percival Mather, principal). This school, which was established in 1894, is well supported, a good education, including English, Modern Languages, Classics, and other subjects, being imparted. Mr. Mather, who was born in 1868 in Staffordshire, England, and was educated in Winchester, came to Wellington per s. s. “Aorangi” in 1886. For three years before opening the school, he was tutor to Mr. Fullerton-Smith's family. As a musician he is the leader of St. Stephen's Church Choir.