Page:History of Knox Church Dunedin.djvu/59

Rh It is stated in the Annual Report that in 1865 there were Sabbath Schools also in operation at Pelichet Bay, Wakari, and N.E. Valley, with an aggregate attendance of from 100 to 150 scholars. The teachers at that time were as follows:—Pelichet Bay—Messrs John Grant and F. W. Falconer; Wakari—Messrs G. Hepburn and D. McLauchlan; N.E. Valley—Messrs Collie, Veale, Eaton, and Duncan, Mrs Collie, and the Misses Strain. The Sabbath School at Wakari continued in connection with Knox Church until 1867, when the Kaikorai district was formed into a separate ministerial charge. Several circumstances—the chief of which was the recognition of North Dunedin as a separate charge—led to the severance in 1871 of the long-continued connection between N.E. Valley Sabbath School and Knox Church. The school had been conducted with much efficiency and success for a number of years previously by Mr R. Dalgleish and his staff of teachers.

The Pelichet Bay School met at first in Mr Grant's residence, but as the attendance increased a schoolhouse was built on a Corporation section in Albany street granted rent-free during the Council's pleasure. In 1874 the Deacons' Court found it necessary to erect a building in Union street at a cost of £80, the attendance having by that time increased to 70 scholars. In the course of a year or two this building had to be given up, but the school is now admirably accommodated in Albany street Public School, kindly granted for the purpose by the School Committee. On Mr Dalgleish's retirement from the charge of N.E. Valley Sabbath School in 1871 he entered the Pelichet Bay School staff, in which he has ever since rendered most willing and devoted service. In 1874 the school received a valuable accession of strength by the addition of Mr W. G. Jenkins to its teaching staff. Mr John Grant, the founder of the school, remained in charge until his resignation in 1881. On that occasion the following minute was passed by the Session:—"The Session, in receiving the resignation by Mr John Grant of his eldership and his superintendency of Pelichet Bay Sabbath School, record their sense of his services as elder, and especially as the founder of the said school, and as its superintendent for over nineteen years. In conducting the school with the aid of members of bis family for some years under great disadvantages, and in taking the chief burden in erecting