FAR FLUNG WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 234, 4 October 1927, Page 10

FAR FLUNG WORK.

EDUCATION IN PACIFIC. NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE. MR. J. CAUGHLEYS VISIT.

Visitors to Fiji from Auckland, seeing so many boys wearing the familiar lion rampant, might be pardoned if they thought the colony invaded by a party of pupils from the Auckland Grammar School. The explanation, however, is that the same badge has been adopted by the Suva Grammar School. This is but an outward and visible sign of the important part played by New Zealand in educational matters not only in Fiji but throughout an extensive area of the South Pacific Islands. By arrangement with the various Administrations, the New Zealand Education Department supervises the school systems of Western Samoa and Fiji, as well as Niue and Cook Islands, which are a part of New Zealand. For these distant posts teachers are selected and are appointed on the understanding that their superannuation and grading goes on as though they were in the Dominion. This necessitates an annual inspection, and this year Mr. F. N. Bake well, M.A., retired Senior Inspector of Schools, is inspecting Cook Island. The inspection of Niue, Western Samoa and Fiji lias just been completed by Mr. J. Caughley, until recently Director of Education for New Zealand, who returned by the Tofua to-day.

I Niuo was the first point visited by Mr. Caughley. This island has two Government schools for native childre 1 with European headmastei i and native assistants. There are ten other ois conducted by the London Missionary Society. The work of educating the children on this lonely outpost, it was found, was being carried out very well. A Unique. Island. "This island," said Mr. Caughley, in the course of an interview, "is composed entirely of coral, and thus presents many unique natural features. Caverns and crevasses abound both in the shore cliffs of coral and the hills inland, also of coral. There arc no springs, nor streams, nor even pools on the island, the whole of the water supply being obtained by catching the rainfall and storing it in ooncrete cisterns. In spite of this the small island, five miiles long and eight mil - broad, supports a population of 4000 industrious people. The soil is irr general shallow and much broken by outcrops of coral, which prevent any regular system of plantation. Nevertheless, Niue • Island grows some of the best bananas in the Pacific, and in normal seasons produces a large amount of copra. The natives manufacture a very • fine type of panama hat which should find- a ready sale in New Zealand." There are only about twelve vr'-dte people on the island, and. these and the natives did everything to make my visit a pleasant and happy one."

From Niue Mr. Caughley proceeded to Samoa, which he had previously- visited in a-similar-capacity four years ago. |On that occasion General Sir George Richardson conducted a conference at which representatives of the four missionary societies which conduct schools in Samoa were present besides Mr. Caughley. A general system was then agreed upon and provided for a gradation of schools from the simple village school to the most advanced one training teachers, village pastors and a small number of youths for clerical and other occupations. On the present visit Mr. Caughley found that this system had developed rapidly and had attained a very high standard. The co-ordination of all grades of schools and the co-opera-tion of the various societies were very gratifying. In all about 20 villages in the main islands of Upolo and Savaii, and in the small island of Monono were visited. The European teachers were not only working efficiently, but, under the inspiration and example of the Governor and his staff, were taking a real personal interest in the welfare of the Samoan people. A large number of native teachers also showed the results of good training and in nearly every case were earnest and thorough in their work.

Not Impeded by Political Strife. In spite of foolish rumours to the contrary, said Mr. Caughley, he found that the work of education was very little interfered with by the political agitation which had been carried on during the past year. In every village he was i eceived most hospitably with tiie usual courteous ceremonies and presentations, and in nearly every case the chiefs (pulinus) and the pastors witnessed and took a great interest in the inspection and the examination of the children. In all respects he found that education had advanced greatly during the past four years, and that the Samoans everywhere highly appreciated the work of the Government on their behalf. Even in one of the avowed mau (affected) villages the chiefs met the visitors most cordially and expressed their appreciation of the school work, and asked for two more buildings in their district. The request was acceded to and the new schools were opened three weeks later.

Speaking to some gentlemen, Mr. Caughley found cm every side confidence m the splendid work by the Adminstraticn in Samoa. This could be seen iu the entirely remodelled shop front, where a beautiful parade had taken the place of a very unsightly series of sheds and broken ground. The roads throughout the islands had been e>:tecded and greatly improved, many miles of road being tarsealed. The villages had. in many cases been entirely rebuilt on more sar.itarv -lnes, a.though tie Jrainoan village was a?way S rotea for it,j cleanliness. Manv o. them had now « heiter water supply ana more hygk-me sanitarv conditions vorK of the hospital had been wonderfully extended, and it, serves Wl - e becoming more and more utilised br *i»e Starooaaa. J *

j Work In Fiji. L S^ moa ilr - Caughley proceeded to Fiji, where he spent four weeks visiting a cumber of tchools ia the main island oi Viti and also on the islands of Kadarr. (pronounced Kardavu) and Ovalau. He found that the system of co-operation arranged duriti™ ' 4 * s previous visit four years ago wa* working very satisfactorily. Year by year thu New Zealand Education Department was able to select with in<*reasin« satisfaction the kind of teacher most suitable tor this irland colony. The people in the various villages were most kindly and hospitable, even when Mr Caughley and his party had unexpectedly to put up for the night at one place owing to rough weather.