Wellesley Street Public School occupies an extensive site opposite Albert Park, Auckland. The main building was erected in 1878, but many additions and improvements have since been made. There are in all twenty rooms of various sizes, and the accommodation may very fairly be described as good, The staff includes the head-master, Mr. Ralph Stewart, and nine assistants—three ex-pupil teachers, six pupil teachers, and three probationers. About 750 boys and girls are on the roll, and the average attendance is 655.

Mr. R. D. Stewart, Head-master of the Wellesley Street School, was born at Bristol, England, and educated in that country. He left his native land for Auckland in the ship “Jubilee” in 1874, on account of ill-health, and, on his arrival in Auckland, engaged in commercial pursuits, entering the service of the well-known soft goods firm of Messrs. Archibald Clark and Sons, Shortland Street, where he remained some years. On the passing of the Education Act he went up for his examination as a teacher, and, on the result being known, was at once offered an appointment under the late head-master, Mr. H. Worthington, whom he succeeded after the latter had conducted the school for more than twenty years. Mr. Stewart, Prior to receiving his present appointment, was successively head-master at Waiokaraka, Thames, and Onehunga. He takes great interest in the work of the Educational Institute, and has been president of the Auckland branch on three different occasions; in 1896 he was elected president of the council of the New Zealand Educational Institute, and is still a member of its executive.

Mr. W. R. C. Walker, First Assistant Master at the Wellesley Street school, was born at the Thames, in 1868. He was educated at various schools, and completed his studies at the Auckland Grammar School, and Auckland University, where he obtained his B.A. degree in 1897. On leaving the University College, he went into the Auckland Teachers' Training College, where he remained one year. After holding appointments in various schools, he became first assistant master at the Wellesley Street school in 1897, and still holds that position.

The Beresford Street Public School, which was erected in 1879, is a large and handsome wooden building of two stories, surmounted by a belfry. It consists of seven large class-rooms, four lavatories, and other necessary appurtenances. The upper floor is used for the children in the standards, and the lower for preparatory classes. Two spacious playgrounds, for boys and girls separately, surround the building. An excellent collection of apparatus for teaching chemistry has been provided by the teachers and children, and there is a good library of about 600 volumes. There is also a piano for musical tuition. The teaching staff consists of the headmaster, seven assistant teachers, and seven pupil teachers. The number of children on the roll is 740, with an average attendance of 640.

Mr. E. T. Hart, Headmaster of the Beresford Street Public School, was born in Birmingham, England, in 1850. He received his primary education in that city, and was subsequently appointed a pupil teacher in a Birmingham national school. Soon afterwards securing a Queen's Scholarship, he entered the Winchester Training College. Here he remained for two years, making such progress that, at the early age of twenty-two, he was appointed by the Birmingham Education Board headmaster of the first new board school in England. In this school Mr. Hart had assistants nearly twice his own age. The Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain was chairman of the Board. Mr. Hart had not been many years in his new position, ere failing health compelled him to resign, and, on the eve of his departure, he received from the Board a handsome testimonial in recognition of his services. Coming to New Zealand in 1879, he was for two years engaged in farming in the Kaipara district. Here he soon regained his health, and in 1881 became first assistant in the Beresford Street School. Three years later he was appointed headmaster of the Nelson Street School, and in 1888 headmaster of the Napier Street School—a building constructed somewhat on the model of a Birmingham school, and erected from Mr. Hart's own idea, embodied in a plan by Mr. Batty. In 1892 he received his present appointment. Mr. Hart holds an English teacher's certificate, a full drawing certificate, and three science certificates from South Kensington. For many years he has been a member of the New Zealand Educational Institute. As a bowler, Mr. Hart has been a member of the Ponsonby Bowling Club since its inception.

Mr. E. T. Hart.

Napier Street Public School, which was opened about 1886, is a wooden building of two stories. It was erected after a design of a Birmingham school, and is octagonal in shape, all the rooms on each floor opening into one central hall. This plan of building has many advantages, but it also has disadvantages, and several alterations have been made since the building was erected. The standards, as usual, range from I. to VII., and the school possesses good apparatus for the teaching of science. In 1900 there were 721 children on the roll, with an average attendance of 657.

Mr. Charles Morton Carter, Headmaster of the Napier Street Public School, is a son of the Rev. Charles Carter, a missionary in India, and was born in Ceylon in 1854. After receiving his education at Leicester and Blackheath, England, Mr. Carter returned to Ceylon, and after remaining in that tropical isle about ten years, came out to New Zealand in 1880. Entering the teaching profession in Auckland in the same year, he spent some time at the Mangere, Pukekohe West, and Beresford Street schools, in the last of which he remained eight years; he was promoted to the position of headmaster of the Napier Street school in 1892.

Nelson Street Public School is one of the oldest in Auckland. The building is of wood, and contains eight class-rooms. A set of apparatus for teaching science, provided by the headmaster, is of great value in this branch of school work. The school is provided with a good library of over 400 volumes, and ample play-grounds for the children surround the building. The number of scholars on the roll (1900) is 500, with an average attendance of about 450. The staff consists of the headmaster and eleven assistants and pupil-teachers.

Mr. Bartholomew Cronin, B.A., Headmaster of Nelson Street Public School, was born in 1848 in Cork, Ireland, and was educated in his native town. He came to New Zealand in 1876. and about four years later entered the service of the Auckland Education Board. After teaching in various schools, he received his present appointment in 1888. Mr. Cronin married in 1879 Miss Gallagher, daughter of Mr. Edward Gallagher, of Otahuhu, and has three children.

The Chapel Street Public School was established by the Auckland Education Board in 1887, for the purpose of taking charge of the walfs and strays on the streets, who would not attend the ordinary state schools. The school is a great success, and has more than realised the expectations of its founders. A truant officer employed by the Board is always on duty, and brings to the school boys and girls found on the streets. The headmaster, too, has exceptional powers, and in the discharge of his duties often goes to the homes of the children to bring them to school. All the standards from I. to VII. are taught, and the children make very satisfactory progress with their work. At the annual examination of 1900, out of 179 who were presented 156 passed—a result highly creditable to the headmaster and his staff, considering the class of children taught, and the special difficulties necessarily met with in such a school. The school is provided with a special apparatus, for teaching geography by means of limelight views. This system of teaching is very successful, the children manifesting great interest in the work. There is a drum and fife band in connection with the school, which promotes interest in their work amongst the older boys.

Grafton Public School was originally situated in Grafton Road, but the site was not a suitable one, and the building was not large enough to meet the requirements of a rising district and a growing population; therefore, the Education Board purchased some allotments in Nugent Street, off Khyber Pass, and in 1878 erected thereon the main portion of the present building. Since then three large rooms and two small class-rooms have been added; and there is now sufficient accommodation for about 620 children. The playground has been asphalted; tennis courts have been formed; horizontal bars, parallel bars, giant strides and inclined ladders have been erected; and during the last three years the whole school has been thoroughly renovated, and now presents a clean and attractive appearance. The staff consists of the headmaster, Mr. William W. Hill, six assistants, and six pupil teachers, besides probationers and candidates.

Mr. William Wilfred Hill, Headmaster of Grafton School, was born in Cheshire, England, in 1860, and is the second son of Mr. Alfred Septimus Hill, Khumree, Mount Eden, Auckland. He was educated at Strathallan Hall, Douglas, Isle of Man, and privately, and arrived with his parents in Auckland by the ship “Sam Mendel,” in 1887. At first he engaged in farming and surveying in the Waikato, but in 1885, he joined the Education Department, as a probationer at Ponsonby district school, under Mr. Benjamin Bailey. Subsequently he was appointed to the charge of Mahurangi Heads and Mahurangi Heads West from January, 1886, to February, 1887, and was afterwards successively at Matakana Head, Mullet Point, and Lower Matakana. For a time he was in temporary charge of the Big Omaha school, and was afterwards appointed headmaster of the Russell school, Bay of Islands, where he remained four years. In 1892 he was transferred to the Grafton Road School, as first assistant, and eventually succeeded Mr. Healy as headmaster. Since his appointment the attendance has increased so much that additional class-rooms have had to be provided.

Ponsonby Public School was established in 1878, and was carried on in the Ponsonby Hall, near the Three Lamps. Mr. Benjamin Bailey was the headmaster, and he started with a roll of about fifty scholars. In 1880 the present main building was erected in Church Street. This building contains seven class-rooms, and is surrounded by a spacious play ground. The Infants' school is situated on the opposite side of the road, and contains four class-rooms. Mr. Bailey conducted the school for twenty years, and held a first-class record. The number of scholars on the roll (1900) is 700, with an average attendance of 620. The teaching staff consists of the headmaster and fourteen assistants.

Mr. James Collett Dickinson was appointed Headmaster of the Ponsonby Public School in April, 1900, and had been previously for many years Inspector of Schools under the Auckland Education Board. He is the son of Mr. John Dickinson, and was born at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England, in 1852, where he was educated. After leaving school he served for five years as a pupil-teacher, and during that time won an important scholarship, taking fourth place among nearly 800 candidates. He then spent some time in the British and Foreign Schools Society's Training College, afterwards receiving the appointment of first assistant master in the “Friends” Endowed school, Lancashire. His next appointment was that of head-master in the British School, Snowland, where he remained seven years. He came to New Zealand in 1882 and, in the following year, entered the service of the Auckland Board of Education as first assistant in the Wellesley Street school, in which he remained three years, and was then promoted to the head-mastership of the Newton West school, where he remained until his appointment as Inspector of Schools in 1889. In the course of his studies, Mr. Dickinson has obtained full drawing certificates (South Kensington), certificates in stages II and IV in mathematics, and two advanced certificates in physiology, applied mechanics, and physical geography. Mr. Dickinson married in 1886 Miss Elizabeth Stewart, daughter of Mr. John Stewart, of Argyllshire. This lady was educated in the Free Church Training College under Dr. Morrison, and distinguished herself by taking the premier place in scholarship for the whole of Scotland. There are three children by the marriage.

Richmond Road School. This school was established by the Education Board about 1887 as an auxiliary to the Ponsonby district school, and with Mrs Rooney as head-mistress. As it was situated in a growing district, the school rapidly increased in size, and, though at first intended for young children page 210 only, all standards were soon represented. As a result of an agitation on the part of the parents of the district for a head-master, Mr. H. Ellis was appointed to the charge of the school in 1896. Mr. Ellis resigned in 1898, and the present headmaster, Mr. T. U. Wells, M.A., was appointed in his place. Since Mr. Wells' appointment the school has rapidly increased in size, and in 1899 the Board was compelled to provide accommodation for between 200 and 300 more scholars.

Bayfield Public School. This school is situated in Jervois Road, Ponsonby, and stands on a large piece of ground, ornamented with some fine trees. The average attendance of children is 250. The teaching staff consists of the headmaster, three assistants, and three pupil teachers.

Mr. James Christie, Headmaster of the Bayfield Public School, is a native of Cape Colony, and arrived with his parents in Auckland in 1864. He was educated at the Thames and at the Auckland Grammar School. Mr. Christie began to teach at the Thames, and subsequently had charge of the Kihikihi school and the Waiotahi school. He received his present appointment in October, 1896.

The National Schools Vigilance Committee Of Auckland was appointed by a public meeting of citizens held in Auckland on the 3rd of November, 1893, to protest against the effort of the Bible-in-Schools party to have the Irish Scripture text-books introduced into the schools of the Colony.

Mr. George Squirrell, who is Secretary to the Committee, is an ardent upholder of the present secular system of education. He has been chairman of the Auckland City district schools committee for the past three years, and is also president of the Public Schools Amateur Athletic Association. Mr. Squirrell takes a lively interest in everything that pertains to the welfare of the school children.