Dalefield Public School, which is four miles south-west of Carterton, by road or rail, is conducted in a wooden building containing two rooms. The school grounds—about two acres in extent—are well fenced and planted with trees. The school possesses a splendid library, containing about 200 volumes. Mr. James Hodder is chairman of the school committee. The headmaster is assisted by a certificated mistress and a pupil-teacher.

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.

Dalefield Dairy Company, Limited. Factory, Dalefield; office, Council Chambers, Carterton. Directors: Messrs. W. Booth (chairman), A. Gallon, N. Nielsen, J. Hodder, J. Stevens, and G. Waterson. Secretary, J. Monerieff, junr. This very successful Company was established in 1887. The factory dealt with no less than 501,425 gallons of milk during last season 1895–96, and turned out about 240 tons of cheese.

Mr. James Moncrieff, junr., the Secretary of the Company, is a son of Mr. James Moncrieff, of Waihakeke, and was born at the Isle of Wight in 1861. He was educated in Scotland, and came to New Zealand with his parents in 1884. His father settled in Waihakeke, and in 1891 the subject of this notice came to Carterton, where he was appointed rate collector to the three local bodies. In 1895 he also secured the position of secretary to the Dalefield Dairy Company, Limited. Mr. Moncrieff is married to a daughter of Mr. Henry Braithwaite, of Waihakeke. As a member of the Masonic fraternity he is attached to the Carterton Lodge of Freemasons.

Mr. Jas. Moncrieff.

Hart, John, Farmer, Dalefield. Born in South Australia in 1861, Mr. Hart is the second son of Mr. Seth M. Hart, of Carterton. He came to the Colony with his parents in 1864. His father, after living at Pahaukeratahi and other parts of the Wairarapa, finally settled at Dalefield in 1870. On his father's retirement from active life, Mr. John Hart took over the farm, which he is still successfully working. In public matters, Mr. Hart was for some years a member of the Dalefield School Committee, and takes a keen interest in local and general politics. Mr. Hart married Miss M. A. Udy daughter of Mr. John Udy, and has two daughters.