first went to St. Stephen's, never having seen a ship, policeman, piano or football, and not knowing the difference between a half-crown and a two-shilling piece. He had come to town to be educated in more ways than one. He marvelled at the huge buildings and the trams. Looking out a tram window on one occasion he sprang to the other side of the car believing that a lamp post was heading straight for him. Most of his brother pupils were Maoris. That irked him, but did not stop him from working hard at his studies. In his second year he passed the Public Service examination and then went pupil teaching at Newmarket School. Leaving St. Stephen's he vowed there would be no more Maori for him. He could not have been more wrong. The headmaster at St. Stephen's, whom he respected and loved dearly, kept bothering the young teacher to take a job at the school. He offered £80 a year and keep. It was a millionaire's offer to what he had been getting. He was soon back at St. Stephen's, his vow to “finish with the Maori” conveniently set down In his job of teaching the Maori boys English he felt he needed to know the Maori language. He took it up and mastered it. Gradually he became interested in the Maori people. Reading of their traditions and history, he was won over and devoted his life to the Maori race, especially to Maori youth. For many years he lectured on Maori education and Maori matters generally. He published Te Reo Maori and Maori Pronunciation. Through Te Reo Maori, the familiar little book with the pretty Maori cover designs, his name is now known throughout the country to those with an interest in the Maori language. While teaching at St. Stephen's Smyth decided to study for his B.A. degree on a part time basis. This was despite the fact that he had never had the time or money to attend a secondary school—St. Stephen's was a primary in his pupil days. While studying for his degree he was bringing up a young family. Getting the degree was a stiff climb but he made it, finishing his studies in 1930 when he was 37 years old. The Greek course nearly stumped him, as he had never seen any Greek before starting university, Twice he failed the subject, but on his third shot he made it. During the second World War Mr Smyth was a captain in command of A (Ngapuhi) Co., 2nd Maori Battalion, stationed at Ohaeawai. He wanted to go overseas but, because of his age, was not allowed, and he was sad when, one dark dawn he stood quietly on the side of the road and watched his men marching for overseas. At that time St. Stephen's was closed. It had been shut down in 1942 and was not re-opened till November 1946, when Mr Smyth was appointed acting headmaster. From the date of its re-opening it was exclusively a secondary school. Mr Smyth was appointed headmaster in 1947. Because of the school's shaky financial position he never pushed for the salary he could have commanded. His interest in the Maori was so great that he refused many better paying propositions. He revelled in work and in overwork. The strain took its toll on his heart, and forced him to retire early this year. Enforced retirement bewildered him. He had counted on another ten working years and had geared his retirement plans to fit. Sudden retirement caught him without housing provision and this brought a new worry to a man for whom worry was bad. Four months after his retirement he was dead. Quietly reminiscing at his daughter's sunny Pukekohe home one day, not long before his death, Mr Smyth said that he felt he owed everything he had enjoyed and achieved to the years when he attended St. Stephen's. St. Stephen's had baptised him, confirmed him, and given him the privilege of climbing every rung of its ladder.

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