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At present there are ten scholarship pupils in training, as follows :— Three boys at the Fiji Medical School; Six boys at Te Aute College ; and One girl at Hukarere College. The scholarship this year was won by a boy from Atiu. New Rules and Syllabus.—ln October last new rules for the management of public schools were made by the Minister for the Cook Islands, and also a new syllabus of instruction. Under these rules school-age was reduced to mean any age between five and fourteen so that (with the exception of special cases) no child is to be retained on the roll after the end of the calendar year in which such child has attained its fourteenth birthday. Notwithstanding this provision, the number of children on the rolls for 1935 is in excess of 1934, which is an indication of the rate at which the population of the Cook Islands is increasing. The new syllabus of instruction tends towards the practical side and is designed to suit conditions obtaining for children living in these islands. All usual primary-school subjects are included, but special attention has been paid to the teaching of English, health, and tropical agriculture. It was also borne in mind throughout the syllabus that most of the teaching is in the hands of Native teachers, and for this reason the syllabus is relatively simple and very definite. School-buildings.— -For the most part, schools are of the open-air type, which is the most suitable for tropical conditions. During the recent hurricane heavy damage was done to many school-buildings, .brom latest reports, eight class-rooms are completely demolished, seven structurally damaged, and two residences structurally damaged. There was also much minor damage, and one school-ground was swept by the great waves and littered by tons of coral stones and debris. Where necessary, temporary accommodation is being utilized whilst reconstruction and repairs are being effected. Pomare Medal— There was the usual competition for the seven Pomare medals, which are presented every year to the best all-round pupil in each of the schools where there is a European headmaster. ' Vernon Reed Shield.— -This shield goes to the school showing the greatest proficiency m English for the year, and for 1934 was won by the Avarua School, Rarotonga. PUBLIC WORKS. Roads and Bridges.— -The main road round the island has received constant attention throughout the year, as the surface, being of coral and gravel, requires continual replacement on account of the heavy rainfall and the effect of the heavy traffic. Building up and widening has been carried out at several places, particularly at the Ruaau viaduct at Arorangi. Prison labour is employed almost exclusively for roadwork. Necessary repairs have been done to bridges and culverts on the main road, and also to the Avatiu Valley bridges. The two main bridges in Avarua were seriously damaged by the hurricane, and are now m course of repair. The Takuvaine Valley Road has been kept in repair, and extended into the valley. Further work has also been done on the Ara Metua between Avatiu and Nikao. Since the hurricane the Public Works trucks, staff, and most of the prison labour have been constantly engaged in clearing roads and Government properties of coral rock, stones, fallen trees, and debris, and in the reparation of Government buildings which sustained damage. A great deal of work is still to be done, and this will take many months to complete. Government Buildings and Houses.—Up to the time of the hurricane, these were kept in repair and repainted where necessary. X-ray Building.—A room to house the new X-ray plant was built at the hospital, and the necessary fittings made. An engine-room was also built, and water laid on. Schools.—A new detached class-room, 40 ft. by 20 ft., was erected at the Titikaveka School Telephone System.— Up to the time of the hurricane in February this was kept in good repair. The system was completely wrecked during the hurricane. A large number of poles was snapped off by the wind, and this, together with falling trees, completed the almost total loss of the telephone wires. A start was made immediately to reconstruct the telephone system, and at the 31st March it had been wholly restored in the main village of Avarua, and to the wireless station, three miles distant. Fruit Inspection Office.— This building, which is on the foreshore, was wrecked by huge waves which swept over the protecting concrete retaining-wall. Work of reconstruction and repair is now well under way. Water-supply. —During the year the water-supply extension from Avatiu to the wireless station was completed, and the system was further extended from the wireless station to connect with the Arorangi supply. This work involved the laying of three miles of new mains. In addition, the Arorangi main—one mile in length —was relaid with 4 in. pipes. The Avarua and Arorangi supply systems are now linked up, and there is a continuous line of water-mains from the east end of Avarua to the south-west end of Arorangi, a distance of approximately eight miles.

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