First Steps Taken by the Provincial Council.

It has already been stated that a proposal was made by the late Mr. James Macandrew, in the first session of the Provincial Council, having for its object the establishment of a High School in Dunedin, in which "the higher branches of a liberal education" should be taught. During the second session of the Council (1854) the establishment of a High School formed part of the scheme of public school education adopted by resolution of the Council, and the Home Agents were directed to engage in Britain a gentleman qualified to perform the duties of rector. In the fourth session of the Provincial Council "The Education Ordinance, 1856," was passed; the ninth section of the Act is as follows: "There shall be established in Dunedin, under a Sector or Head Master of superior attainments, and well-qualified assistants, as they are required, a public school, to be called the 'High School of Dunedin,' which shall be conducted on the principles in the art of teaching most approved and adopted in the best schools of Great Britain, it being designed that it shall serve as a model to other public schools to be established within the Province; and at the aforesaid school not only the usual branches of a good elementary English education shall be taught, but also those higher branches of knowledge, the acquirement of which constitutes a page 154literal education; and the said school shall be open to both male and female scholars, and arrangements shall be made for the advanced male and female classes being taught separately."

It is evident that the late Mr. John McGrlashan, who drafted the measure, had in view the establishment of an institution in Dunedin similar in character to that of the Burgh Schools of Scotland, in which there are departments for both primary and secondary education, and in which pupils of both sexes are taught together. As already stated, Mr. Livingston, who had "been selected for the rectorship of the contemplated High School, was placed on his arrival in charge of the school that had met in the First Church building from the foundation of the settlement, but as might be expected the work had been altogether of an elementary character. At the outset of Mr. Livingston's six years' tenure of office, the school officially designated "The High School," was of necessity a primary one to a very considerable extent, scarcely any pupils being sufficiently advanced to enter on the study of the higher branches. But as time wore on, Mr. Livingston, who was an accomplished classical and mathematical scholar, and a most assiduous teacher, succeeded in imparting instruction in some of the more advanced subjects to several of his pupils who had attained the requisite proficiency. Some of his ex-pupils now occupy influential and responsible positions in the Colony, and they speak in terms of admiration of their old schoolmaster's character, and of gratitude for the benefits derived from his instructions.

As years passed on the opinion gained ground that in justice to Mr. Livingston, he should be placed in his right position as head of a High School proper, and that provision should be made for the establishment of one or more elementary schools in Dunedin. In the ninth session of the Provincial Council (1860), Mr Macandrew, who had been elected Superintendent on the decease of Captain Cargill, strongly urged the consideration of this question, and transmitted to the Council a copy of a resolution adopted by the Education Board largely through his own instrumentality. The resolution was to the effect that the time had now come for organising a High School in Dunedin for the benefit of the entire Province: that it should be under the direct management of the Board: that there should be boarding-houses page 155in connection with the school for the reception of pupils from the country: and that there should be two elementary schools in Dimedin, distinct from the High School, each under the management of a school committee. Accompanying the resolution was a letter from Mr. Livingston, in which he stated that although (yielding to circumstances) he had hitherto consented to perform, in a large measure, the work of a primary school teacher, he considered the time had now arrived when he should he placed in his right position as head of a High School. The Provincial Council, however, negatived the Government proposal, and resolved to vote no more moneys for school buildings until the Government should bring in a measure for the alteration of the Education Ordinance.

In the next session of the Provincial Council (Dec. 1860), Mr. Macandrew's Government introduced an Education Bill making full provision for a High School; but owing to the brief duration of the session, it failed to pass. The next session (June 1861) was opened by Major (afterwards Sir John) Richarclson, who had succeeded Mr. Macandrew as Superintendent of the Province. Mr. Macandrew's Bill was again introduced by the Provincial Solicitor, the late Mr. James Ho worth, and was passed. It contained the following provision:—" There shall be established in Dunedin a High School to be called 'The High School of Otago," under a Rector or Head Master, and such number of qualified masters and assistants as the Board shall from time to time consider necessary, in which shall be taught all the branches of a liberal education—the Erench and other modem languages, the Latin and Greek Classics, Mathematics, and such other branches of science as the advancement of the Colony and the increase of population may from time to time require; and the said High School shall be entirely under the superintendence and control of the Board, and shall be maintained and supported, and all salaries and expenses connected therewith paid, out of School Pees and moneys appropriated by the Superintendent and Provincial Council for that purpose, and any other available funds." The same provision was retained unaltered in the Education Ordinances of 1862 and 1864, and under them respectively the High School continued to be administered until page 156the passing by the General Assembly of"The Otago Boys' and Girls' High Schools' Act 1877."