of the High Schools. Except as regards one or two matters of trivial importance, the charges made against the Board and its officers were not sustained. Mr Norrie and his family returned to the Home Country in 1878. For several years past he has been resident in South Africa. Information has quite recently reached Dunedin to the effect that Mr Norrie has been fulfilling for some time the duties of head master of the Kimberly Undenominational Schools with much acceptability and success.
MR. WILLIAM MACDONALD, M.A., LL.D.
In the beginning of 1878, "The Otago Boys' and Girls' High Schools Act, 1877," came into operation, by virtue of which the administration of the two High Schools in Dunedin were transferred from the Otago Education Board to a Board of Governors, constituted as follows:—The Mayor of Dunedin, ex officio; two members annually appointed by the Governor; two members elected annually by the Otago University Council; and two members elected by the Otago Education Board. In anticipation of this change, the Education Board had deemed it unadvisable to take any steps for the appointment of a successor to Mr Norrie, and consequently one of the first duties of importance devolving upon the Board of Governors was the appointment of a rector. After full consideration, it was resolved that Mr Brent should be asked to undertake the duties of interim rector, and that the Agent General (Sir Julius Vogel), Dr. Abbott (head master of the City of London School), and Dr. Morrison (rector of the Glasgow Acadamy), should be requested to act as commissioners for the selection in the Home Country of a suitable rector. The choice of the commissioners fell upon Mr William Macdonald, M.A., classical master in the Edinburgh High School. Before leaving, Mr Macdonald, in recognition of his eminence in his profession, and of his distinguished services to the cause of education, received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the University of Edinburgh.
Dr. Macdonald entered on his duties as Rector in Nov. 1878, and for several years, the Boys' High School prospered greatly. But in June, 1884, Dr. Macdonald was laid aside from duty, by a very serious illness; he obtained leave of absence for a time, and resumed work at the beginning of the session of 1885. During the interval, Mr A. Wilson, English Master, acted as Rector of
