Nutshell

In a Nutshell

Crime-Wave

Housebreakings in Port Moresby are now running at the rate of 2,800 a year, a magistrate, Mr M. L.

Mackellar, told a crime prevention seminar in Port Moresby in July. He described the figure as “incredible” in a city with a population of less than 100,000. Mr Mackellar said that 90 per cent of Port Moresby burglaries appeared to involve the selective theft of food, drink, cloth ing and money. The records showed that the only tools necessary for most breakings were pocket knives or even stones. “While houses continue to be built in this breezy old fashioned north Queensland manner, they must continue to remain attrac tive to burglars”, Mr Mackellar said.

'Sticky Beak' Shot

A 69-year-old Australian woman received an arrow wound in the ankle when she was caught between war ring tribesmen in the Highlands on July 9. The woman, who wouldn’t give her name but said she was a PNG resident, said she had been one of several whites who were “sticky beaking” at a tribal compensation ceremony which erupted into a fight on the banks of the Chimbu River near Kundiawa. “I guess I just got

in the way—no one really meant to shoot at me”, she said. The incident prompted police to issue a warning to tourists and white residents who try to get close to “delicate tribal situations”. “If you must have a look keep right out of the way and use a pair of binoculars” said Inspector John Monk of the Chimbu police district. Later, the tribesmen called a truce.

Cooks Tragedy

John Bridgart, 29, assistant secre tary to the Premier of the Cook Islands, Sir Albert Henry, failed to return from a night fishing trip off Rarotonga recently. He went alone.

Later his canoe, containing a torch and other fishing gear, was found, damaged, on a reef near the entrance to Avarua Harbour. A search last ing several days was negative. Mr Bridgart was married, and had four children.

Pig Massacre

Kusaie Island in the Carolines, will soon be pigless. Every pig will be killed in a determined effort to eradi cate hog cholera disease, which had accounted for more than 120 pigs by the beginning of July. Experts ex pect they would complete the eradica tion programme in two to four weeks after which 1,000 young pigs would be shipped in from California as replacements. Dr Larry Dean, the Trust Territory veterinarian said it was suspected that the hog cholera virus could survive in frozen pork for one to two years.

Samoa Sacking

Dr Fanaafi M. Larkin, former Director of Education in Western Samoa, has been dismissed by the Public Service Commission following a commission inquiry into her alleged adulterous association with Leota Pita, a Member of Parliament.

Asked if such liaisons were against the public service regulations, the commission chairman, Mr Faama tuainu Tala Mailei, said such con duct was unbecoming of a person holding the post of a director. The regulations were quite clear about the conduct of an officer in relation to the good name of the service.