The Education of the Nauruans

Nauruans

r T , HAT enthusiast on the subject of * native education, Mr. W. C. Groves (who is now Director of Education in Nauru) has .aunched an interesting ex periment in Nauru which should be worth watching. He has taken charge of the Boy Scout Movement in Nauru and he has produced in connection therewith a neat little newspaper entitled the Nauruan Scouter. It gives, in English and Nauruan, in parallel columns, all the news which is likely to interest the young Nauruan spouts, and a good deal of news of general interest.

The idea obviously is to inculcate the ideals of the Boy Scout movement among the Nauru natives, and introduce a new interest into their community life (a subject that is close to the heart of Mr.

Groves), and also to encourage the Nauruans to read and think. The Naur uan people are a good class of Micro nesian, in which Polynesian traits pre dominate. Their eagerness to acquire education will assist Mr. Groves in his work.

The Nauruan Scouter carried the warm commendation of the Administrator, Commander R. C. Garsia.

Mr. Benjamin William Grey Costello, of Gire Gire Plantation, Kokopo, New Guinea, died suddenly at the end of August, aged 42. He was one of Rabaul’s most popular and public-spirited citizens.

Arriving in New Guinea in 1922, he was a dentist for a time before taking up planting and trading interests. His home at Gire Gire was one of the finest in Kokopo District. At one time he was interested in the Kokopo Hotel, and also was on the Morobe goldfields for a while.

As a member of the Rabaul Ttirf Club, Mr. Costello was an enthusiastic owner and rider.

Mr. Chris. Slattery, of Middle Park,

Victoria, sailed from Sydney for Rabaul,

New Guinea, by the Montoro on Septem ber 22 to join the District Services Department as a cadet. Mr. Slattery was formerly a student at Xavier College, Melbourne.