Busy Week For Apia

Accommodation in Apia will be at a premium in the first week of June when the people of Western Samoa celebrate the third anniversary of their country’s independence.

HOWEVER, tourists who can wangle themselves a berth at one of the town’s three hotels— Aggie Grey’s, White Horse Inn or Casino—or anywhere else should be assured of an entertaining time.

Besides the usual speeches,

traditional singing and dancing at Mulinu’u, and the annual fautasi (long boats with up to 14 or more oarsmen) racing on Apia harbour, there will also be an inter-Territory sports tournament and an agricultural show.

The sports tournament is being organised by the Western Samoa Amateur Sports Federation in a major effort to boost interest and standards in local sport.

Teams will be invited to come to Apia from American Samoa, Niue, Tonga and the Cook Islands to compete in athletics, softball, volley ball and tennis.

Fiji’s women’s basketball team, which won a gold medal at the 1963 South Pacific Games in Suva, will also be invited to compete against local players.

The visitors will be billeted with local players and supporters. At the same time, the Federation hopes to have some top Australian sports coaches in Apia, for whom negotia tions are now under way with the Rothmans National Sports Founda tion.

• Photo caption; A "fautasi" (long boat) from the small island of Manono which took part in Western Samoa's independence celebrations in 1962.