School at Tahiti Leper Station
p. 40 · Read in the full issue
From Our Own Correspondent.
Papeete, June 12.
ONE of the last public ceremonies per formed by His Excellency Governor Montagne before his departure for France was the inauguration on May 4, of a new school house at Orafara leper station, which occupies a beautiful valley on the north coast of Tahiti, about 8 miles from Papeete. The patients interned at the station total about 122 persons, who have been brought together from all the scat
tered islands comprising the Colony of French Oceania.
A large number of Papeete residents made the journey to Orofara to be pre sent at this important function, which marked a red letter day in the lives of the unfortunate inmates of the settle ment. Speeches appropriate to the occa sion were delivered by Monseigneur Ame dee Nouailles (Vicaire Apostolique de Tahiti), Mile. Cadoustow (school mistress of the leper colony), Monsieur Robert Teai, and Monsieur Henri Grand (Presi dent of the local branch of the Red Cross Association).
In his address, Monsieur Grand gave a resume of the work accomplished by the devoted French ladies who have enthu siastically attached themselves to the Red Cross Organisation. Initiated some two years ago, the society has since been instrumental in bringing about many beneficial changes at Orofara. The com mittee has instituted an anti-tuberculosis campaign and raised funds, by means of the sale of special stamps, for the free distribution of cod liver oil and other preventives.
Monsieur Grand also paid a warm tri bute to Governor Montagne and his wife who, ever since their arrival in the Colony, have taken a very keen personal interest in all Questions affecting the public health, and have shown a special solicitude for the welfare of the inmates of Orofara.
Rev. John W. Burton, General Secretary of the Methodist Missionary Society of Australasia, sailed from Sydney for Western Samoa by the Mariposa on June 26. He will make an official inspection of the mission stations there and attend the centenary celebrations of the arrival of the first European Methodist mission ary at Manono Island in 1835. Mr. Burton will return to Australia in August.