Nutshell

In a Nutshell

Lig Catch

Captain Parea of Tahiti recently anded a huge marlin off Papeete, t weighed 814 lb (within 40 kilo ;rams of the world record) and was 3 ft 8 in. long. Captain Parea is he master of the 37 ft charter fishing ioat, Taumata. The marlin was the econd 500 lb-plus marlin boated by he Tumata in 10 days. The marlin /hen put on the scales attracted a iig crowd of onlookers, including the levitable children.

In Dead Honoured

Thirty men killed on the job during he past 15 years were recently re lembered at the unveiling of a lemorial at the SEN nickel factory t Doniambo, in Noumea. Most of he accident victims worked at the nelting works, although others died a accidents at the company’s various aland nickel mines. The worst ccident year for the SEN was in 973 when six men died from burns rom molten nickel.

Even Killed

The worst accident ever seen on lew Caledonian roads caused seven eaths in mid-February on the iuamenie River bridge, near La Foa. i a head-on crash on a single lane ridge, a Mobil petrol tanker over irned and a Peugeot van with seven assengers plunged 10 metres into the ver below. The mutilated bodies f victims remained visible to hom ed spectators as a special crane was riven up from Noumea to extricate ame of the dead. The tanker driver as the only survivor.

Es, We Have No Bananas

Banana producers in Western amoa failed to meet the quota of 000 cases for the first shipment for month to New Zealand in mid ebruary. A producer blamed high ast of fertilisers and labour and the •w price—$2.30 for a 50 lb case— btained for the bananas. Growers auld also get $3 to $4 for a 10-hand jnch at the local market. The ship ient was made, for the first time, 1 cases made from shocks produced Y the Japanese timber mill at Sina loga and Vaitele. One producer lid it was almost impossible to nail le lids on the cases.

Boating Mishap

Mrs Ricardo J. Bordallo, wife of the Governor of Guam, had a brush with death recently when a boat carrying her and four other women from Truk overturned between Fefan and Dublon. The women were in a glass-bottomed boat, the property of the Continental Hotel, Truk, which was carrying them from Tol Island back to Moen. They encountered heavy seas, and the casings of the glass tore loose, finally giving way altogether. Everybody went forward; then a wave washed four women overboard, leaving Mrs Maria Stolo behind, caught in the cabin. The boat overturned, and her only way out was through the open bottom. She called for help, and the other women rescued her. The five of them clung to the side of the overturned boat till rescued 20 minutes later by a govern ment boat.

Exam Cheaters

Similarity of marks made it obvious there had been mass cheating by about 30 children at Penang High School, Fiji, in the university entrance examination. A New Zealand official flew to Fiji to investigate the matter.

The NZ Education Department later cancelled the passes of the students.

There was also an investigation at the same school into the school certificate results of about 35 other children.

Fiji's 50 Center

Fiji’s 50c coins went into circula tion on March 3. They joined the traditional 50c note, and will be in circulation for a trial period of 18 months. The 12-edged coins, specially minted by the Royal Australian Mint.

Canberra, are of cupro-nickel, and carry the same image of the Queen as other Fiji coins. The design on the reverse is of a drua (Fijian double canoe).

Tauloto Rescues

Tonga’s Tauloto became a salvage ship on its March voyage from Nuku alofa to Sydney when it took in tow the ketch Seawind. The ketch dis appeared from its mooring in the Georges River, Sydney, in October, 1974. The Seawind, valued at $14,000, belongs to Mr Angus Gib son, a science teacher.

A freighter, the Maheno, sighted the Seawind about 135 kilometres east of Sydney, and took a man off it, but it was unable to take it in tow. The man was later charged in court in Auckland with the theft of the ketch. The Seawind apparently drifted till it was picked up by the Tauloto on March 5. Captain James Stott, master of the Tauloto, said the sails were in tatters. Karlander, which has chartered the Tauloto to Tonga, may lodge a claim for salvage rights,

More Bangs!

A French warning to shipping to keep clear of the underground nuclear testing sites of Mururoa and Ganga taufa atolls does not mean that fresh tests are imminent. A French Defence Ministry spokesman in Paris said the warning, issued in February, was permanent, and valid throughout the year. The area round the atolls is not a prohibited zone, but a danger area.

Miss Leone Rankin, eldest daughter of Bob and Sophia Rankin of Apia, and her bridegroom, ex-Peace Corps volunteer Kirk Dillon of the United States. The wedding, in perfect weather at the Roman Catholic Cathedral, Moamoa, took place in February, and was followed by a reception at the Rankin home, Vaoala.

Leone and her husband, who is a marine biologist, are living at Dunedin, New Zealand, where she is attending the Otago Medical School.