XVII.—From Thomas Halliwell, Esq., Head Master of the Middle District School, Dunedin.

Mr., Macgregor having just intimated to me that it is his intention to offer himself as a candidate for the vacant Rectorship of the "Oamaru Grammar School," I beg respectfully to state that I regard his qualifications as being so very high, that I am decidedly of opinion that the Education Board and the School Committee would be most fortunate in securing the services of so distinguished a preceptor. At the present time Mr. Macgregor is ably filling a Private Professorial Chair, almost as successfully, I think, as would be done had we the proposed University already established. Students in the Law, &c., are most earnestly prosecuting their studies in Classics and Mathematics under his direction, and I can most unhesitatingly state that there is only one opinion of him in Dunedin, namely,—"an able scholar."

My own son has been attending his Evening Classical and Mathematical Classes, and it has always been most gratifying to hear his report of Mr. Macgregor's winning and efficient manner of carrying his students through their studies.

Mr. Macgregor is certainly a thorough disciplinarian, and he is, I believe, in advance of many in the profession in his happy mode page 8 of leading his pupils to feel an interest in what they undertake, and in stimulating them to self-culture.

Had the salary offered been about treble the amount, I could more cordially say to Mr. Macgregor- "offer yourself." However, should the Committee elect him, I have no doubt he will soon make his worth known and duly appreciated.