COOK ISLANDS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14586, 23 April 1918, Page 3

COOK ISLANDS.

, — „ .-TECHNICAL JBDUOATION FOR NATIVES. (Special to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. Very little is heard of the progress of New Zealand's island • possession, Rarqtorga, but when tho wireless installation is completed, news will come to ham! more frequently than is the case at present, ,-when only occasionally do we hear of what is happening there. A report has been received by the Hon. Dr. Pomare, Minister in charge of tho Inlands, showjng that technical education ; s making good headway. There are six schools at Rarotonga, with accommodation for 1100 scholars.' Twenty teachers are employed. In addition, the administration has established a technical school, and a branch of this useful work on the Island of Aitutaki, in which five teachers crive instruction in agriculture", woodwork, carpentry, hat-making, and mat-weaving. Arrangements have also been mad© to open similar schools nt Mauke and Mangaia, two of the outlying islands. The scheme includes provision of two scholarships per annum, of a value of ,£2O, to be used for continuing the education of the iwinning- pupils in New: Zealand schools. Another development is the beginning of a general system of trained nurses in< a'il the outlying- islands. A nurse was despatched by the last steamer to be stationed on Aitutaki. Ultimately, this and. the other iV-ands of the group will be linked up with the central island by s '.rail wireless plants, and the trained ivrses will ihav« their scope of usefulness grcatrfy increased by heing abfe to consult the medical staff at Rarotonga when. &n-ergencies arise.