Nutshell
pp. 131-132 · Read in the full issue
In a Nutshell
FIJI’S RECORDS.— There were three records in Fiji trading in 1972 exports, imports and trade deficit.
The value of imports rose, on pro visional figures, by 18 per cent to $131,347,000, and exports, including re-exports, were up from $61,769,000 in 1971 to $64,601,000. The trade deficit of $66,746,000 was sl7 million more than 1971.
BEBE’S BLlGHT. —Hurricane Bebe in October, 1972, hit the Fiji tourist industry. The number of staying visitors for November, 1972, at 12,658, was 11.7 per cent below the November, 1971, figure. It was the first time for many years there had been a decrease in a monthly total.
But to brighten the picture there was a strong recovery in January/March, with the total at 151,121, 10J per cent higher than the January/March, 1972, figure.
Stone-Age Ruins.— A Team Of
Japanese archaeologists say it has discovered what are believed to be Stone-Age ruins of a village on a Micronesian island. Instructor Jun Takayama of Tokyo’s Tokai Uni versity said he and four other mem bers of the team found the ruins, surrounded by a 1,300 ft stone wall, near the centre of Torn in the Truk Island group late last December. In side the wall, he said, were ruins of a shrine, a plaza, a watch tower, dwellings, a waterway, stone throwers, coral-made grinders and axes made of shells. The team also found pieces of human bones which indicated the inhabitants were prob ably cannibals, he said.
FOR EXILES. —As many ex-Papua New Guinea residents are retiring to the North Queensland area near Cairns, a club has been formed to help them settle down in their new surroundings. There is already quite a community of interest between north Queensland and Papua New Guinea. Farmers from the Atherton Tablelands behind Cairns gave gene rous assistance when parts of the New Guinea Highlands were suffer ing famine conditions.
PINING AWAY. —The famous pine trees on Norfolk Island are not dying of Phytophthora cinnamomi, although some of them undoubtedly have it— as the Foresty Department of the Australian National University said
in early 1972. What really ails them is man, put more scientifically, ecological upset. A three-man study team has recently conducted a survey of 1,000 acres on NI and feels that the trees’ deterioration is due to a combination of factors—including over-grazing, nutrient deficiencies on old farmland, old-age, competition from grass and scrub, and exposure to wind and sea spray. Presumably the pines of Norfolk Island have been subjected to wind and sea spray since they first grew there and these factors are lethal only when combined with other troubles. Phythophthora cinna momi is a fungus that causes root rot.
ECHO OF TRlAL.— Ricardo R Santos, 20, of Saipan, was killed in a motorcycle accident recently. He gained a measure of notoriety in 1972 when he was put on trial for allegedly burning the High Commis sioner’s residence. He was acquitted.
CONSUL IN PNG.— The British Government will open a consulate in Port Moresby this month, with Mr G. J. Slater as the first consul. Mr David Robin, who was appointed honorary trade correspondent for Great Britain in Port Moresby in October, 1971, will advise the new consul on trade matters.
COLDER GOLD. Papua New Guinea gold producers will now be able to benefit from higher gold prices on world markets. The Re serve Bank has exempted them from a section of the Banking Act which requires them to sell their gold to the Reserve Bank. The move was designed to help small producers receive more than the official price of 529.80 a fine ounce. The big gold mining companies, which are mem bers of the Australian Gold Pro ducers’ Association, by arrangement with the Reserve Bank, buy gold back from the bank and sell it on the world market. That sort of arrangement was not possible for the smaller pro ducers because there were so many of them, and because they produced so little gold.
YACHT RACE.— About 80 yachts will take part in the fourth Auckland- Suva race. It will be the biggest racing fleet ever to leave NZ. One Suva yacht, the Betrue, 42 ft sloop, owned by Rue Haymen, left Suva on April 14 for Auckland to take part in the race, which starts on May 5.
RUSSIANS COMING.— The Russian airline, Aeroflot is looking at Aus tralia and the Pacific. A link between Russia and Sydney is under con sideration, and possibly a trans pacific route, via Tahiti. Such a move could be a further boost to the
tourist industry in French Polynesia;, and in the light of the friendly rela tions between Paris and Moscow at present, Aeroflot must have a good chance of getting landing rights at Papeete.
NO MORE ANZAC.—Papua New Guinea has had its last Anzac Day as a public holiday. Chief Minister Michael Somare, announcing the list of public holidays for 1974, said that although New Guineans shared the experience of World War II with Australia, Anzac Day had a solemn significance for Australians which it lacked for New Guineans. He felt sure Australians would continue to hold dawn parades to remember their war dead on April 25.
Png Islands Dlspute.—Austra
lian Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Bryant, started a controversy in late April when he proposed that the three small Queensland islands of Boigu, Saibai and Dauan in Torres Strait should become an Australian Commonwealth enclave within the borders of PNG. Queensland Premier, Mr Bjelke-Petersen, said it was time the Commonwealth made clear just what it wanted to do about the is lands, which PNG wants to retain.
PNG AIRLINE.—The PNG Govern ment wants a larger holding in any national airline for PNG. As. a result of talks in Canberra in April with the Australian Government it will re-think a proposal announced last year for Ansett, TAA and Qantas to become equal partners with the PNG Government in an internal airline after independence.
BOUNTIFUL STAMPS.— Pitcairn Island’s first day issue of Royal Silver Wedding anniversary stamps came up to expectations. From an original supply of 15,000 20c stamps and 20,000 4c stamps, only a few 4c stamps were left.
YAP BAN. —An odd twist to the drought on Yap Island in the Carolines was official action to deter visitors. The local administration was. considering closing the two hotels there to discourage tourists. With the strictest possible water rationing in effect the only visitors allowed were: officials who had prior approval from the district government.
Laughs Taxed.— The Port
Moresby city and Lae councils are allowed to impose entertainment tax. under a new rule introduced by the PNG Cabinet. The rate is 5c for admission charges of 50c or less, 10c on 51c to sl, and 20c above sl.
A DOLPHIN MYSTERY.—Dolphins which recently stranded themselves in South Malekula may have had their navigational systems upset by
fresh water The 231 dead dolphins were identified by Dr Paul Rancurel, a French scientist in Noumea, as belonging to a family which travelled m large schools, sometimes of several thousands. He could think of no other reason for their deaths Fresh water flowing in the sea might have formed a layer over the sea water and absorbed sound waves. As dolphins navigated by a sonar system, sending out sound waves and listening for the reflection off obstacles, the thermoclme (the face where the layers of fresh and sea water met) may have distorted or absorbed the sound waves, causing the dolphins to think they were still m deep water when, in fact, they were running onto the beach. mnvLin nPnAI)TC)
Pioneer Departs. —The Rev Dr
Charles Fox, grand old man of Melanesia, has finally, at 94, left his beloved Solomon Islands. He has returned to New Zealand, to a small private hospital in Hawkes Bay, after 70 years missionary service, which began at Norfolk Island. A large crowd saw him off from Hen-
derson Field near Honiara. Dr Fox (it’s a doctorate in literature) wrote four books and compiled dictionaries of three languages, and the English Prayer Book in common use through out the Diocese of Melanesia was simplified for local use by him.
Lord Howe Air Service.—
Jack Brabham Aviation Pty Ltd, of Sydney is interested in operating a service from Australia to Lord Howe Island with the Australian Nomad turbo-prop aircraft. The company says it could start a service in about 12 months. DCA required a 2,300 ft strip, but the aircraft actually needed only 1,100 ft. It would carry eight passengers at fares comparable with those at present charged on the Sand rmgham service, due to be withdrawn this year. It would not need a subsidy.
The Nomad cruises at 170 knots, and could do the Sydney-Lord Howe flight in about two and a half hours, SAFE. —Nauruan Gamenoa Joram, 29, has a good chance of making a com plete recovery from the bends. He was rushed to Sydney on April 15
by Air Nauru when he showed symptoms of the bends after scuba diving at 250 feet and coming up quickly. He is not a professional diver. In Sydney, he was placed in a recompression chamber at the Royal Australian Navy School of Underwater Medicine at HMAS Penguin, Balmoral, suffering from a paralysed right leg CYCLONE JULIETTE Three peo pl e were killed and hundreds were in jured when Cyclone Juliette swept through Haapai Tonga on April 4 Winds of more’than 50 knots were recorded. Banana plants, coconut palms and food crops were destroyed or badly damaged. Early estimates put the damage at more than $230,000.
About 60 per cent of the houses were damaged
Liquor Reform. The Png
cabinet has approved the liquor re form legislation drawn up after an exhaustive inquiry into drinking in PNG during 1971. Details still have not been released, but the measure will come before parliament in May.