NORTHCOTE SCHOOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 194, 17 August 1936, Page 8

NORTHCOTE SCHOOL.

HEADMASTER'S RETIREMENT. MR. W. J. WERNHAM'S CAREER. I Hundreds of old pupils will be interested to read of the retirement, from September 0, of Mr. W. J. Wernham, headmaster of the Northcote District High School, after 48 years in the teaching profession. Mr. Wernham occupies the top position on the Education Department's graded list of public school teachers. The retiring master was a pupil at the Northcoto public school 50 years ago, when the building had only one room. After winning a scholarship he continued his education at the Auckland Grammar School in Symonds Street, then under the charge of the Rev. C. F. Bourne. He was later appointed to the Nelson Street School, and from there I went successively to Parnell, Newton j West. Whangaroa, Remuera, Gordon, Turua, and Parawai, before taking up a position at Northcote, where he has been ever since. Since he took charge 17 years ago important changes have taken place in the size and ranking of the school. Ten years ago the Juliior High School was established, and five years later this was raised to the status of a district high school. Public effort has raised funds to make important changes in the grounds and playing facilities. Mr. Wernham is greatly interested in flowers, and was for long a member of the Auckland Horticultural Society, occupying for a period the position of chairman. Thirteen years ago he was one of the. founders of the Northcote and Birkenhead Orphans' Club, and for a time served as president. A farewell gathering has been arranged in the High School grounds on Thursday.