Papeete's Growth

A New Suburb

From Our Own Correspondent.

Papeete, May 17.

IN spite of the business depression pre vailing throughout French Oceania, some important improvements are now being carried out by the Papeete Muni cipality.

The old Contributions building, a wooden structure in the last stages of de cay, has been torn down, and the officials given temporary accommodation in the hitherto vacant premises adjoining the Commissariat of Police. It is understood that new offices are to be constructed, later on, at a more convenient site near the wharf. In the meantime the old site, which consists of nearly a whole block situated between the Governor’s palace and the sea front, is rapidly being transferred into a small park which will be greatly appreciated by the townspeople and prove an extra attraction from a tour ist standpoint. As the site is already shaded by some fine old trees, all that now remains to be done to turn it into a really beautiful garden is a little levelling and the planting of flowering shrubs; this is now being proceeded with.

Another development which will be of permanent benefit to Papeete is the laying out of the new suburb known as Farepiti.

This is situated near the eastern limit of the town, upon land formerly worked as a sugar plantation by the Brander family, which was divided into lots some years ago and sold. The site is high, and com mands a fine view of the Moorea peaks in the distance.

Here, the Municipality has laid out a wide avenue of about a kilometre in length, with a line of flowering trees down the centre, to separate the two directions of traffic. The cross avenues, which are narrower, are also to be planted immedi ately with suitable flowering trees of a smaller kind. Quite a number of new residences have been built in Farepiti during the last year or two.