HOUSING SCHEME IN THE CALEDONIA

Dozerdust, Volume 2, Issue 18, 20 May 1944, Page 4

HOUSING SCHEME IN THE CALEDONIA

PRIOR to the arrival of the

Drench in New Caledonia the natives lived in conical huts which only survive today as exhibits in the various vative villages. They are pictured on the pre-war New Caledonian stamps of pre-war days and were constructed on a circular butt,

say twenty foot in- diameter with a steeply pitched. thatch roof, The better examples war.; we 1.1 constructed with a solid centre pole as thick as a sailing ship’s mast and about 18 feet high*

THE CEREMONY.

THE raising of the centre polo was a ceremony in keeping with our laying of foundation stones and the whole tribe assembled, feasted,dancod and .in spasms worked. Nor ropes strong vines or aerial roots were used, and the Ground ths centre

pole sturdy uprights six to eight feet high were placed at intervils of about five feet in a circle of twenty feet diameter. ,Th these uprights were Lashed, horizontal braces, and the rafters wore in . turn fastened to the horizontals and • joined to the peak of the centre pohx.

FORE WINDS.

The spaces between the rafters were interlaced with tough vines and the roof was thatched, first with a raupu-liko rush and then with thatching grass, The peak of the reof was Usually finished with some ornamental shape in woven grass, or \ a carved figure,

NO WINDOWS

THS walls were made of several thicknesses of naiouli bark fastened with thick vines and the roof was ; made overhanging the wall by about three feet to keep the weather from boating direyon the walls. Windows were not provided, and a low square doorway was covered with mattings hangings. The raised door sill was crudely carved to represent an upward fiery figure to guard against strangers entering with concealed weapons of offense ,

DRY AND DARK.

THE completed structure was, dark, but snug, and if a fire was needed then it was just inside the dooway and smoke was left to find its own

way out. ( see page II )