New Look For Pitcairn

Education and Architecture

NOTES from Mr. P. P. Ward, of the Seventh Day Adventist Mission, tell us how the “New Look” came to Pitcairn Island—although the Look, in this case did not concern skirt lengths.

He writes: Pitcairn’s new school teacher, Mr. A. W.

Moverley, MA, 8.C0m., Dip. Ed., with his wife and nine-year-old daughter, Diana, arrived at Pitcairn from New Zealand by the RCS “Awahou” on July 21. This little steamer, chartered by the High Commissioner’s office, brought from Fiji materials for the new school and teacher’s residence.

The island boats met the ship and it was not long before the men were busy bringing ashore the materials that filled the vessel. Then for three weeks our boats went to and fro till all was safely ashore.

A small motor launch that Captain Webster had brought towed the boats, speeding up operations considerably. Right at the last were two Diesel engines which are to be used for generating electricity for the school and the teacher’s home.

Happily the weather was good nearly all the time of the unloading, but there were some anxious moments and all were relieved when the task was finished.

The men are busy now carrying all the materials to the site of the school at Burau, at the western end of Adamstown, which is far enough out to be like a tiny suburb.

Some of the local men are helping on the building, which is in charge of three tradesmen from Fiji. Sounds of their hammers echo across the valley as I write. It is expected that the work will take several months to complete.

We have heard of “the new look” with regard to clothes elsewhere. We shall certainly have “a new look” on Pitcairn Island when these new buildings are finished. With their several tanks, cement walks, sewerage and electric lights, paint and gardens, they will surely make a great difference to the look of the hill side.