Native Arts

Interesting Display at Rabaul

From Our Own Correspondent.

Rabaul, Nov. 13.

Some months ago it was decided to hold an exhibition of native arts and crafts in Rabaul for the purpose of fostering native craftsmanship and to stimulate an interest in the work which the natives do in their own homes.

As a result, the exhibition was opened on November 8, by the Deputy Admini strator (His Honour Judge Wanliss), and the hall of the Times’ building was crowd ed with interested spectators.

Articles of native workmanship were exhibited from Manus, Morobe, and the New Britain districts. Among articles of primitive manufacture were the very ex cellently finished spears from the Mount Hagen area. The New Britain display, arranged by Mr. J. H. L. Waterhouse, F.R.A.I., was intensely interesting and well catalogued with explanatory cards, showing the use of each article and de scribing its manufacture.

There were also displays from the Vunapope Technical School arid the Go vernment school at Malaguna; these consisted chiefly of well-finished carpen try and cabinet work and showed what could be done by natives, when given proper supervision.

Mr. H. A. Gregory, A.D.O., in Rabaul, was in charge of arrangements and much credit is due to his organising ability, which provided such a successful exhi bition. Credit is due also to Messrs.

Schmidt and Burch, of the Malaguna School and to the Sisters of the Sacred Heart Mission who worked so inde fatigably in preparing the displays.