Nutshell

In a Nutshell

Sand from Betio beach on Tarawa, ene of one of the fiercest battles ■ the Pacific War, will be used in e ceremony of launching the USS irawa, America’s latest warship, an sault ship which is a cross between i aircraft carrier and a tank landing aft. As the ship has been named in mour of the Marines who stormed e Japanese bastion of Betio, the \arines decided the launching cere ony wouldn’t be complete without piece of Tarawa —hence a request the GEIC Government for a litre of md, which was collected from Red each Two (code name on the battle [, an) near the big Japanese bunker.

HAIR RAISING! Thirty-seven mths were suspended in October om the Cook Islands Tereora Col ge because their hair was too long, hey had not observed the rule that, hen the head is upright, the hair lust not touch the collar or cover the ars. Almost all got a hair cut after ispension. Suspension would have revented their sitting for the school srtificate examination. When the cting principal, Mr Tere Tan aroa, was asked why the cachers, many of whom had mg hair, did not also observe le rule, he replied, “I would like le male teaching staff to wear their air short but I wouldn’t force the ;sue.”

Tongans Acquitted.—Two

olice cases against a Tongan ac ounts clerk were not strong enough a go before a jury, a Sydney magi trate ruled in Newtown Court, Syd icy on November 2. The Tongan, •auliasi Semi Taumoepea, 25, em iloyed by the Australian Broadcasting Commission, was charged with hav ng assaulted Siane Niumeitolu at ’etersham, Sydney, on March 17, 973, and with having maliciously vounded Niumeitolu on the same day.

Tie magistrate also dismissed a charge igainst Pauliasi’s brother, Taniela faumoepea, 28, accountant, who lad been charged with having, on Vlarch 17, 1973, at Petersham, hin iered a police sergeant in the exe cution of his duty. The charges rose mt of incidents in a hotel.

Touring Dancers.—The Taa

koka Dance Troupe, made up of 16 Cook Islanders and 10 Tahitians, will spend the early months of 1974

on an extensive tour of the US and Canada. The troupe leader is Turepu Turepu. The troupe will give per formances in most of the major cities and holiday areas.

Cooks’ Basic Wage—Cook

Islands employers agreed to a mini mum wage of 35c an hour, from November 1, after the Premier, Mr Albert Henry, spoke to them on the subject. Mr Henry said he wondered whether all wages, both private and government, should have the same basic rate of 40c. However, he could not force employers to accept 40c at present, and suggested 35.

New Hebrides Cattle.—Dr

Marc Douhet, head of the Caledonian Department of Livestock, recently flew to the New Hebrides to take delivery of 20 Charolais breed hei fers, destined to join Caledonian herds. The growth of the Hebridean cattle industry, centred on Santos, is reflected in the export of meat to New Caledonia which almost tripled in the past two years. Hebridean meat shipments to Noumea totalled 695 tons in the first nine months of this year, compared to 369 tons for the same period of 1971.

Probe Into Past. —Mount

Fauba on Tol Island, in the Truk group, will be the focal point in December of a search by a Japanese archaeological team for clues about the origin of mankind in the Pacific.

An ancient relic was built on Mount Fauba about 1000 AD. A search by a team from Tokai University in October, 1972, uncovered evidence of earlier human habitation —an axe made from a giant clam, a pestle made of coral and fish and human bones. During the search, some shrubs and trees were removed from the relic, revealing a stone pavement, re sembling a tabernacle, and the re mains of dwellings and ditches. In the December search trees and shrubs covering the relic will be cleared away, and shell mounds will be ex cavated. The team hopes to find earthenware which will give important clues.

Keeping The Peace—Fiji

would be willing to contribute some of its 300 soldiers to a Middle East peace-keeping force, provided the UN pays the bill. The Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, said this at a recent press conference.

Maramas Pick Tomatoes.—

A Gisborne, NZ, contractor has ar ranged for 14 Fijian women to go to Poverty Bay in February to pick tom atoes. He has guaranteed them work for 10 weeks.