Rabaul Roundabout

Prom Our Own Correspondent

GREAT interest and, from certain sec tions of the European community, considerable criticism, was evoked at Rabaul when the Administration re cently announced that a “consolidated school” would be established.

At present there are two separate schools maintained by the Administra tion at the shaky township which is the capital of New Britain. These two schools cater for European and Chinese pupils respectively—a third school is maintained by the Catholic Mission at which Malays attend.

It is the intention of the Administra tion to build a combined school which will accommodate the children of the three races. A block of buildings is in course of construction, pleasantly situ ated at the Recreation Grounds.

The Administration claims that the consolidated school will result in practi cal economy of teaching staff, increased efficiency and a better educational pro gramme for the children.

The new school is expected to open about August, 1950. In the meantime the European pupils are accommodated in a' new school which opened in February. (As reported in January PIM. the pro posal to combine Rabaul’s educational facilities., caused considerable agitation among Rabaul’s European community. A protest was also sent to Australia’s Prime Minister. However, protests apparently have availed them nothing. This is a subject which can be argued pro and con infinitum. It is interesting to note, however, that even in more raciallv toler ant Fiji, for example, each race usually has its own school.) RAIN on the night of February 24 and early on 25th broke all known re cords at Rabaul; 1,094 points were recorded.

This was a culmination of a week of wet weather when 24 inches of rain fell.

Incidentally, the annual rainfall for Rabaul is about 80 inches so that over a quarter of the year’s rain was re ceived in six days.

Great damage was done especially to stores of cement and building materials at the Works and Housing Sheds and to all roads leading out of Rabaul. A dam burst which caused the flooding of the W/ and H. sheds and staff quarters.

Native hospital, prison and barracks were flooded by torrents from Mt. Kombui but little structural damage was caused to buildings. Lighting and telephone sys tems were both disrupted and economy in the use of electricity, which has been temporarily repaired, is reouired.

Greatest damage has been done to roads leading out of Rabaul —the two roads to Kokopo, the road to Keravat and the most vital of all, the road to the Nonga Escape Camp, which was com pletely destroyed. This is the only es cape route for most of the population in the event of an eruption; with the road cut off, Rabaul would be a death trap.

Fortunately the rain slackened off during the next two days—although an additional inch of rain fell—enabling the roads to be cleared. Good work has been done by the Works and Housing men in the area. . All culverts are lost and there are weeks of work ahead.

The total damage is estimated at

£Loo,Ooo.

ON February 1 the District Officer, Mr.

J. K. McCarthy, departed by Cata lina aircraft for a fortnight’s visit to the Talasea sub-district of New Britain,

. Primary purpose of his visit was the inauguration of village councils through put the area. While there the DO also inspected Administration Mission native schools and hospitals.

Ir L9 onnection with the village councils or Kivungs, to use the native name, a number of men have been brought to Rabaul to study the council system here This was operating before the war.

After a three months observation and training course these men will return to their villages and begin the formation of councils in Talasea.

Talasea, which includes the Witu Group is a very large sub-district hav ing the longest coastline of any sub district in the Territory, and a popula tion of about 30,000 natives. There are a number of prosperous plantations in me area, either company or privately owned, including Garua Island Plantation !S e u Property of Mr. Dyson Hore-Lacy, probably the largest cocoa producer in JNtr; San Remo owned by Mr. K. C.

Douglas; Lagenda, the property of Mr!

Jack Thurston, planted and managed by Mr. Rod Marsland; Bali, owned by Mr Harold Goldham; and Numundo Planta tion a property of 10,000 acres owned by New Guinea Co. Numando is a new property acquired by the company just prior to the recent war, and has only a small area planted at present. When fully planted it will be the largest pro perty in the Territory.

MRS. UNA ADAMS was the hostess at a delightful party held at her Malaguna Road home in Rabaul on February 1. She was assisted by her daughter, Marie, and sons, John and Meldrum. Her guests came from Rabaul and Kokopo.

DURING the month the Church of England Ladies’ Guild has been busy raising money for the Church Building Fund.

On February 3 a card evening was held at the home of Mrs. Chris Normoyle, Kombui Avenue, from which the net pro ceeds were UUIO/-. And on February 10 a cake stall was opened for a couple of hours outside the Rabaul Cinema which resulted in £lO.

These two amounts have been handed to the Church Council.

Sister Elizabeth henry, Nama nula Hospital, Rabaul, was trans ferred to Manus during February.

As Sister Henry has been a resident of Rabaul since the latter end of the war, she will be missed by all her friends and as a very capable nurse.

Miss Henry was the guest of honour at a farewell party given by the Namanula Hospital Staff at the Island Paradise Cabaret.

Dr. George Tweedie Of The Phd,

Manus arrived in Rabaul recently to take up duty as Rabaul’s Admini stration medico. Dr. Tweedie, a Scots man, has been in the Territory only about 12 months and was joined by his wife and small daughter a few months ago.

NAMANULA Hospital has been a busy place during February. A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Robin Mackay, Bougainville. A son to the Rev. and Mrs. Rodger Brown, Vunarima, New Britain. A son to Mr. and Mrs. Gloynes, Keravat, New Britain. And a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Dalkeith Chambers, Induna Plantation, New Britain.