Page:Picturesque Dunedin.djvu/190

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170
PICTURESQUE DUNEDIN.

the Board asked her to accept leave of absence for a few months. A temporary substitute was engaged, and the work of the School was satisfactorily carried on. In 1875, the average quarterly enrolment of pupils rose to 168. The number of girls receiving music lessons in connection with the school was 77. As the upper division of the school became more and more composed of pupils who had been trained in the lower classes, a higher standard of attainment began to be reached than was at first possible.

In course of time the work devolving upon the Lady Principal, consequent upon the increasing number of day scholars and pupil boarders became so onerous, that, in response to her own proposal, the Board resolved to relieve her of the care of the boarding establishment, so that her time and energies might be confined solely to the superintendence of the day-school. Mrs. Martin was accordingly placed in charge of the boarding-house in July 1876, Mrs. Burn giving up the occupation of the official residence. Mrs. Martin continued to preside over the boarding department until the beginning of 1878, when the Board of Governors, that had been appointed under the High Schools Act of 1877, reverted to the original arrangement, and placed Mrs. Burn in charge of the boarding institution as well as the day-school.

Under the Board of Governors the School continued to prosper as in former years, the only difficulty being the occasional inability of Mrs. Burn's strength to bear the strain imposed upon it by her energy and zeal in the performance of her weighty and responsible duties. With a view to reduce the strain, the Board of Governors in 1883 resolved to secure the services of a highly qualified Vice-Principal, who should also act as Mathematical teacher, and Sir. F. D. Bell and Professor Sidgwick of Trinity College, Cambridge, were requested to make a suitable selection in the Home Country. Their choice fell upon Miss J. J. McKean, who entered on her duties in November, 1883, and has ever since performed them in a highly satisfactory manner. In 1884 Mrs. Burn was compelled, by the state of her health, to resign the Lady Principalship. It is very generally admitted that from first to last Mrs. Burn performed the duties of her office with rare ability, and with a devotion and zeal that could not be surpassed,