Population Of Gilbert

And Ellice Colony

MUCH interesting information about the Gilbert and Ellic Islands Colony is contained in the Annual Report on Edu cation for the year 1934, just to hand. This shows that in this colony there were then 32,991 people—Gilbertese, 28,654; Ellice Islanders, 4,042; Chinese (exclusive of in dentured labourers), 41; Europeans, 254.

There were four Government schools with 133 pupils; 17 mission boarding schools with 364 male and 428 female scholars; 31 mission-aided village schools with 878 male and 617 female scholars; and 180 ordinary village schools with 2,153 male and 2,352 female scholars. So far as the missions are concerned, the work of education is divided between the Sacred Heart Order of Roman Catholics and the London Missionary Society. The Govern ment spent £4,990 on education.