Niueans Reprieved

IT was announced in New Zealand in early May that the three Niueans Latoatama, Folitoul and Tamaeli —who were found guilty last year of the murder of Mr.

C. W. H. Larsen, then Resident Com missioner of Niue, would have the death sentence, which was earlier imposed, commuted to life imprison ment.

The NZ Privy Council, having considered an appeal against the verdict of guilty which had been upheld by two courts, earlier an nounced that it could find no reason for altering that verdict.

The reprieve was the result of a meeting of the NZ Executive Coun cil which followed several Cabinet meetings.

The men, who had been held for some months in Apia gaol, left there on a TEAL aircraft in mid-May, under police guard, to serve their sentence at Mt. Eden gaol, Auck land.

Observers at Satapuala airport, W. Samoa, noted that the three men, well dressed, smoking Ameri can cigarettes, and drinking cups of tea with other passengers, were apparently quite unperturbed—“on top of the world,” as one onlooker put it. —JPS.

IT Mrs. R. Coote, well-k no w n resident of New Britain, returned to Rabaul in mid-May.