as a providential preparation for the work to which he was called in this colony—the work of shaping and building up the education system of Otago, and afterwards that of the Colony. Educationists of distinction have spoken with approval of the former work, which embraced primary schools, district high schools, secondary schools of a higher grade, and a university. He had, no doubt, the backing of such enthusiastic advocates of education in Otago as Mr James Macandrew, Sir John Richardson, the Cargills, the Gillieses, the Hon. Thomas Dick, Hon. James Fulton, Hon. W. H. Reynolds, Sir F. Dillon Bell, Sir Robert Stout, Sir Julius Vogel, J. Hyde Harris, John McGlashan, Donald Reid, and others; but his practical knowledge was in constant requisition to meet emergencies and overcome difficulties. His able services to education have secured him a permanent page in colonial history; and his work in connection with Knox Church will ever be held in grateful remembrance.
I venture to take advantage of these introductory notes to place on record my abiding sense of the great kindness and encouragement received by me and mine on our arrival in Otago. As soon as our good ship the "Bosworth" dropped anchor in Otago waters (January 1860), a boat was seen leaving Port Chalmers jetty, and making straight for our vessel. Pilot Driver pronounced it to be Captain Thomson's boat, and added that he had with him the Rev. William Johnstone, the minister of the Port. On boarding us they gave us a hearty welcome, wished me comfort and usefulness in the ministry to which I had been called, and presented me with gifts of strawberries and cream, rolls of fresh butter, and a basket of bread—gifts which were as considerate as they were appropriate after our voyage of one hundred and twenty days, and stirred up in an invalid member of my family a pulse of hope. Then began a friendship which in the case of Captain Thomson lasts to this day, and in the case of Mr Johnstone—the faithful in things great and small—continued till he was called to the home above.
At the first opportunity I proceeded to Dunedin to report myself. On stepping ashore, Mr John Gillies (Resident Magistrate) and Mr John Hyde Harris (District Judge) welcomed me
