Brief News Items From

The Cooks

® American recording companies ai. showing a keen interest in songs of tH Cook Islands and of other Cook Island material. One company recently wroi to the Further Education Officer askin for recording's of musical games, chant) the Polynesian flute, and an old persoj telling ?. lerend or f«lk-*a!e The interei; has been aroused by recordings recent!; made by Mr. Ronald Syme, a writer a present resident in the Cooks. • About 3,00 ft cases of tomatoes loads at Atiu Island in October by the inter island vessel “Mahurangi” were lor when, due to engine trouble, the car® failed to connect with the “Wairuna” fo Auckland. “Mahurangi” was towed 0 port by “Rr.nnrh.” « Four new concrete water tanks, wit) a total capacity of 60,000 gallons, wen completed on Puka Puka atoll in October The Public Works construction team under Mr. Tai Nicholas, completed thd task in one month. They had earlie erected similar tanks at Manihiki am Rakahanga. • Pastor Tariu Teaia, who went t) New Zealand nine years »»o to can for the welfare of Cook Islanders til Auckland, was recently granted the status of a Minister of the Gongres gational Church and will be transferring his headquarters to Wellington at the enu of the year. He and the Rev. Mr. ChalUi are invariably present at the arrival hi Auckland of every aircraft and passenger vessel from the Islands. • TUMU KORERO, a new publication of, by and for Cook Islanders, publisher by the Further Education Office, issue*; its first copy in September and has beer; favourably commented upon. • Mr. John Webb, of Rarotonga, It Acting Resident Agent, Mauke, in thu absence of Mr. Stanaway on furlough. • Palmerston Island, which until now has been leased by the Government t#i the Masters family, has been given t*J them as Native Customary Land. Mn Ned Masters has been recognised as th*£ representative head of the family. • Miss Maria Tuaeu, of Aitutaki, was married to Mr. Percy Henderson, Furthers Education Officer, at Rarotonga on September 3. The wedding was attended; by a large number of friends and»i relatives.

About 80 per cent, of Fijian soldiers who have spent their two-( year-term in Malaya are volunteer--; ing for a second term after leaver spent in Fiji. This is officially de-i scribed as “gratifying.” Other in-i terested onlookers express concern! that the interminable military situa tion in Malaya should take the bests of Fiji’s young men away fromr their country for so long.