Government. L.M.S. Mission And

Natives Co-Operate In Papua

Important New Tubercular and Leprosy Hospital Opened by Sir Hubert Murray at Gemo Is.

From Our Own Correspondent

Pt. Moresby, Nov. 2.

A N interesting ceremony took place at Gemo Island, in Port Moresby Har bour, on October 16, when His Excellency Sir Hubert Murray opened a new Tuber cular and Leprosy Hospital for natives

of the large group of villages, near Port Moresby, known as Poreporena.

Mr. P. Chatterton, chairman of the London Missionary Society, welcomed the visitors. He emphasised the fact that the opening of this hospital marked one more instance in which the Mission and the Government had worked together with a common aim. Sir Hubert Murray then cut the ribbon across the steps leading to the tubercular hospital and declared the building open.

His Excellency said he was particu larly glad to perform the ceremony be cause the hospital and its surroundings were the result of co-operation between the Mission, the Government, and the natives. When the natives were first asked to sell land for the hospital, they refused. If it was for a hospital for their people, they said, they would not sell — they would give it freely. That had been the part of the natives. The Government had provided the buildings; and thirdly, the part of the Mission was to attend to the important work that the hospital would do in the future.

Sir Hubert paid high tribute to the Mission, and to the enterprise of Sister Fairhall. He expressed satisfaction that the charge of the hospital should be in

the hands of such an experienced nurse.

The tubercular hospital consists of two buildings, one of which is devoted to incurable patients, and the other to those who, it is hoped, can be cured.

The leprosy hospital stands some dis-

In the centre of this group of Government officials and L.M.S. missionaries, are Miss Fairhall, who is in charge of the new hospital, and Sir Hubert Murray (Lieut-Governor), who performed the official opening. Photo: Gibson (Pt. Moresby).

tance away, and, though not yet com pleted, will be of the same character as the other two buildings. The superinten dent’s house stands nearby; it is an excellent though simple building con structed of sawn timber, iron-roofed, and of fibro-cement. The Samoan helpers and their wives will be housed in a smaller building.

The whole of the work was undertaken by Mr. J, Annan, with the help of 10 natives of the Public Works Department, and they did all the excavating, levelling and building. The whole of the little colony is contained on a level area which

has been built up at the north-west of the island.

Water is supplied from a nest of tanks, containing 12,000 gallons.

A large number of natives arrived dur ing the afternoon and were addressed by the Governor, who laid stress on the fact that the object of the hospital was to stop the rapid spread of tuberculosis in the Poreporena villages.

According to the statement of an old man of Hanuabada, Gemo Island was once used as an isolation camp many years ago before European occu pation. A severe epidemic had swept

through the villages and the wiser nat ives sent its victims to Gemo Island to stop the spread of infection. This state ment is supported by the fact that during the work of excavation a number of skeletons were found buried, showing signs of great age. As far as can be as certained, at no time was there a settled native village on the island.

The new hospital buildings at Gemo Island, constructed over the water’s edge, which were officially opened in October. In the right foreground is the fibro-cement dwelling of the sister-in-charge.

Photo: Gibson (Pt. Moresby).