Community Centre In

Cook Is.

ON July 30, Mr. G. Nevill, Resident Commissioner of the Cook Is., opened what is claimed to be the first Community Centre in the South Pacific Islands, at Ngatangiia village, on the east coast of Rarotonga.

The building, completely renovated, had formerly been the residence of the head master of Ngatangiia school, the village having supplied the labour for the renovation.

The opening was attended also by Mrs. Nevill, the Official Secretary (Mr.

Wakefield) and his wife, heads of Administration Departments, Arikis and representatives of other education groups in Rarotonga, as well as by a large gathering of public.

The Resident Commissioner and the President of the Further Education Com mittee, Mr. Charles Cowan, addressed the gathering. The Commissioner pledged the full support of the Administration to the welcome project.

The Rev. T. J. Gibson, who took 12 months “holiday” from his Tasmanian parish to take charge of the Anglican church in Rabaul, NG, returned to Australia in mid- July. Unlike other members of his church, he appeared to have no fears for the future of the natives of New Guinea and said that the development of the Territory was in the hands of fine people—both civil and religious. He said that the Administration was going along the right lines and deserves high praise. He was of the opinion that the development of the natives to that of equality with Europeans would be a long process but that they were already a better people than when he had first seen them 20 years ago.