LONG SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22499, 17 August 1936, Page 11

LONG SERVICE

THE NORTHCOTE SCHOOL HEADMASTER RETIRING MR. W. J. WERNHAM'S CAREER After serving a period of 48 years in the teaching profession, "Mr. W. J. Wernham, headmaster of the Northcote District High School, will retire from September 6 on superannuation. He occupies thf top position on the Dominion's grading list of public school teachers. Fift.v-six years ago Mr. Wernham was a pupil at the public school at Northcote, then a building of one room on the same site as the present institution. Winning a scholarship, he continued his education at the Auckland Grammar School in Svmonds Street, then in charge of the Rev. C. F. Bourne. He was appointed junior assistant at the Nelson Street School, and taught successively at Parnell, Newton West, Whangaroa, Remuera, Gordon, Turua and Parawai before going to Nortlieote, where he has been associated with important educational progress. Since the time he took charge 17 years ago tho size and purposes of the school have been extended. Ten years ago the Junior High School was established, and five years later the status was raised to a district high school, which has a fine record of progress. Substantial additions have been made to the grounds, and playing facilities have been considerably extended, mostly by means of funds raised by public effort.

For several years the homo gardens schema inaugurated by Mr. Wernham for school pupils was successfully carried out at Birkenhead and Northcote. Mr. Wernham has a great interest in llowers and ho was associated for a long period with the Auckland Horticultural Society, of which he was chairman. Ho was one of the founders 13 years ago of the Birkenhead and Northcote Orphans' Club, in which he served for a period as president. A farewell function has been arranged for Mr. Wernham on Thursday afternoon in the High School grounds.