Nutshell

In a Nutshell

Prime Minister’S Damages.

—Fiji’s Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, agreed in December to accept $5OO damages as a settle ment of a libel action against Pacific Daily (Fiji) Ltd., publisher of Pacific Review.

The Prime Minister claimed dam ages for libel in an article in the January 26 issue of Pacific Review, alleging that he had used public money for a political campaign.

Mr. K. C. Ramrakha, for the de fendants, expressed “extreme regret” in the Supreme Court for “comment which went beyond mere political comment on the public conduct of the Prime Minister and imputed mot ives of corruption and dishonesty”.

FEWER SAMOANS. Western Samoa used to have one of the fast est rates of population growth in the world. Lately, however, there have been signs that the rate of growth seems to be decreasing, and if this trend should continue in future the danger of overpopulation may be averted. According to a preliminary count of the census which was held on November 3, the total population of Western Samoa was 143,547, com prising 74,227 males and 69,320 females, representing a 9.3 per cent, increase over the 1966 census total of 131,377. The 1966 total repre sented a 15 per cent, increase over the 1961 census total. However, the rate of increase for the period 1966- 71 would have been 16 per cent, if the number of those who emigrated was taken into account. The corres ponding rate for 1961-66 would have been 19 per cent.

Judges Galor E.—The

first Judicial Conference ever held in the South Pacific Islands will open m Apia on January 10 and end in Pago Pago on January 13. Attending the conference are the chief justices of American Samoa, Western Samoa, Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, the United States Trust Territory and the United States.

GENEROUS AUSSlES.—Western Samoa’s road construction and main tenance programme has been receiv ing a big boost lately, thanks largely to the Australian South Pacific Aid Programme, under which Australia

has channelled heavy road equipment worth $A56,000 in 1969, 5A160,000 in 1970 and $A233,000 in 1971 into Western Samoa. As a result, road construction and maintenance have generally been speeded up and greatly improved in quality. Australia is con tinuing its aid and on their way tc Western Samoa are two bulldozer: and two graders for the road-sealinj programme in Savaii and soon to joh them are a rock crushing unit anc two rollers. The Minister of Works Tupuola Efi, has announced that h( will seek further aid from Australii worth SAIOO,OOO.

Niue’S First “Hotel”.—Wor]

has begun on Niue’s first governmen guest house, a 20 double-bedroome* building featuring an unusual eight sided core block which includes lounge overlooking the sea, dinin room, entry foyer, shop, office an kitchen. There will be accommodi tion for up to 40 guests in 10 dowr stairs and 10 upstairs rooms, eac with its own shower and toilet facil ties and a verandah with a view ( Alofi Bay. Design is by Mr. T. C. I Hayward, senior overseer in charj of building services, and the cost $220,000. Opening date is mid-197 NO OIL STRIKE.— Tonga’s hop* of riches through an oil strike been abandoned—at least for the pr sent. Drilling on the site of Kumifom No. 2 at Hofoa on Tongatapu w stopped at the end of Novemb when no signs of oil or gas we found at 5,529 ft. The future of c exploration in Tonga will depend ( a meeting of the consortium partne in Europe in a few months after ge logical information obtained in t exploratory drillings has been studie Meanwhile, there’s another search f treasure in Tonga—the bullion frc the wrecked English privateer au Prince which sank off Haapai 1806. Mr. Joe Tu’ilatai Mataele, w says he has permission from the gc eminent to look for the treasure, i tends to dive for it some time January. He said that he and 1 partner, Mr. Charlie Orotera, a Js anese fisherman married to a Tong girl, had seen what looked like stroi boxes on the ocean floor covered lumps of coral. Articles brought Nukualofa by Joe and Charlie November, believed to be from 1 wreck, were said by the police to brass. Later, Mr. Mataele shov three brass bars to people Nukualofa.

AERIAL BATTLE.—The fight operate a domestic airline for Pa[ New Guinea looks like being a thr cornered one, with Qantas enter the lists against the two Austral

“locals”, Ansett and TAA. Mr. R. J.

Ritchie, Qantas’ general manager, visited PNG early in December to size up possibilities of running an airline for an independent PNG.

Qantas, he said, was willing to run such a service which would also operate to Guam and was also inter ested in establishing a chain of tourist hotels in the territory. His company was willing to operate for, or on a share basis with, the PNG Govern ment.

Murder Charge.—One Man

has been charged with murder, three people were killed, eight wounded and 180 arrested after a weekend of battles in the Western Highlands of New Guinea in the middle of Decem ber. The murder charge follows the Jeath by stoning near Togoba, seven miles east of Mt. Hagen, of a Euro pean, 32-year-old John Bradshaw, Df Queensland. Riot squads using ;eargas, were out twice during the weekend.

No Samoan Visit.—The Fact

finding tour of American Samoa by i US Congressional sub-committee in jarly December was cancelled. The Congressmen were to have heard evidence regarding legislation for the provision of an elected governor for American Samoa and also planned o investigate complaints about con ditions under Governor John M.

Taydon, and then go on to Micro lesia. Latest news is that two of the our team. Interior Committee staff members from the US House of Rep resentatives, will visit Guam, Palau md Saipan between January 6 and 14.

Nauru Service.—Air Nauru

expects to inaugurate its twice-weekly 7 28 jet service between Melbourne md Nauru, with onward legs to Majuro and Tarawa, on January 29. fhe republic’s independent airline in ends to give Fiji’s Air Pacific a run or its money in the region, and lopes to build up tourism over its ectors.

Gaoled For Man

SLAUGHTER.—Edwin Muller, a !8-year-old Swiss national, of Basle, Switzerland, was gaoled for 18 months vhen he was found guilty at a Lae itting of the Supreme Court in PNG )f manslaughter. The prosecution had illeged that Muller had aimed his :ar at three men in boundary Road, -ae last January and had killed foby Kakle.

South Pacific Forum.—The

second South Pacific Forum will •egin in Canberra in late February, Drobably February 23, and will be ittended by the President of Nauru md the Prime Ministers of Fiji, Western Samoa, Tonga, and the Cooks.