From the Islands Press

Item in GEIC 'lnformation Notes', Tarawa: Members of the general public on South Tarawa are advised that it is now illegal to bury the dead in Bairiki or Nanikai, and prosecution will result from burials taking place in government leased land. The reasons for this step are that the cemetery at the end of Bairiki and the other at Rurubao are both sur rounded by inhabited dwellings, and disposal of bodies at Nanikai has an effect on the earthing system of the radio mast. The District Administration is at present engaged in finding a suitable site for a cemetery, but, in the meantime, all bodies must be buried in the Bikenibeu cemetery. Transport will be provided at government expense and it will be available on request to PWD.

Letter in the 'Cook Islands News': Let's take a lesson from the gay informality of the Duke's visit and commemorate it as the day the Cook Islands finally realised that they were in the tropics and that tropical and colourful clothes are far more appropriate to the climate, and appealing to the senses, than the stiff formal regalia we have been so dedicated to in the past.

Which do people associate more with the South Pacific Islands—colourful "pareu", or black trousers and ties?

Do we want to look like we enjoy life or that we are going to a funeral?

Letter in the 'Tonga Chronicle': I am surprised to note that once again the International Dateline Hotel is becoming the meeting house for procurers and ladies of tinted repute.

A business friend of mine was swimming in the pool during his recent visit and one of these ladies sat on the edge of the pool, feet dangling in the water, endeavouring to make a sale. The oldest profession in the world is commendable in its place, but is the International Dateline Hotel the right venue for this practice? Yet another sad image of Tonga for our visitors.

Item in 'The Fiji Times': People will keep on insisting, "The harlot's life is an unhappy one." Speaking purely for ourselves, we are not convinced of the truth of this viewpoint.

It does not check with the chuckles, giggles, fashionable clothing and general air of well-being of the girls who tumble in and out of the premises just around the corner from us morning, noon and

night.

Advertisement in the 'Samoa Times', Pago edition, from an American living in San Diego: American man, age 49, with no bad habits, with good home and job would like to get married to a Samoan girl with one little girl. Please send

picture.

Item in BSIP news sheet, Honiara: An old man hunting in the Haununu district of Makira recently almost died of fright when the wild pig he was chasing with his dogs collapsed and died without

being touched. The old man prodded the pig to make sure it was really dead, and then ran with his dogs back to the village where, recovering from his shock, he told the story. Villagers decided not to eat the mysterious pig, but when later they found a large dead fish about 12 ft long on the beach, they were reluctant to miss another tasty meal. Encouraged by the old man, they threw caution to the wind and ate the fish, and are still alive to tell the tale.

News report in 'Samoa Times', Apia:

In his farewell speech last Friday, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Alfonso Philipp, said the work of the police was made considerably easy because of the Matai system. He urged that steps be taken to ensure the continuation and strengthening of the system if the country’s stability is to be maintained.

“This is the only newly independent country that has not had any trouble,” Mr. Philipp said, “since it became independent” . . . after the first 3i hours of the 6.30-8 p.m. cocktails, the Prime Minister, Tupua Tamasese, gave an address and paid tribute to Mr. Philipp’s long and faithful service and expressed the government’s appreciation of his dedication to duty. The loud declaration, “On this happy occasion”, by the interpreter, nearly went unnoticed in the mumbling, swaying room.

Sad extract of letter from H. S. Newbery to 'The Norfolk Islander 7 : What worries me is not the inflated cost to travel, because I don't and prefer to walk, but the inflated cost of "Valiant"[a brand of rum] from 7/6 to $1.95 a bottle, and I hear it is going up again, or what is the same thing, the value of my dollar is about to fall again. Therefore I must change from "Nelson's blood" to Norfolk's polluted water. Anyway the scientists say everything is polluted nowadays, including the air over which Norfolk's polluted music (that makes me sick) comes when I'm having breakfast. . . .

Item in 'Tohi Tala Niue': The Kaloama season is here again. At this time each year Kaloama, which is a small fish about 3 in. long, is plentiful round the western coast of the island. The fish are fried or baked or eaten whole. This year there are many different kinds of edible fish round the coast.

It is a common practice that people are not allowed to go hunting at night down to the sea, as the brightness of the torches at night might scare the Kaloama away.

Extract from item in defence of mini-skirts by A. Fegeta, of San Cristobal, in 'The Kakamora

Reporter', Honiara:

We Solomon Islanders should learn that we are part of a society, and not divided partners . . . Mini-skirts beautify our Melanesian girls, and add to their natural beauty. I think it is our turn to respect things and not to merely look at the girls' thighs. Also it is more sensible to look at the face than the thighs, so that you know who is coming or going.