REID, JAMES (1838-1920) was born at Carmyllie, Forfarshire, Scotland, and educated at Arbroath High School. After teaching for three years at Podge school, Carmyllie, he entered the Edinburgh Training College in 1860 with a Queen's scholarship, and then spent a year in training at Moray House. After teaching in Scottish schools until 1865, he came to New Zealand as first assistant in the Auckland High School. From 1868 to 1870 he was amalgamator to the Wha Gold Mining Co., Thames, and in 1871 he went to Otago to resume teaching. He was appointed in 1880 rector of the Tokomairiro district high school, of which he was in control till his retirement in 1906. Reid was a sound classical scholar and a courageous modernist. In 1880 he introduced the teaching of chemistry, and in 1881 woodwork classes. In 1885, after consulting the education board, he introduced other technical subjects, and later he instituted commercial classes and home science. Reid died on 16 Nov 1920.

Cycl. NZ., iv; Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Scholefield, Tokomairiro District High School (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 113

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