Islands

From The

Press

From “This and That” the New Zealand Anglican diocesan missionary committee newsletter.

The first scripture publications ever to be written in Tokelauan have been released by the Bible Society of the South Pacific. “Jesus Power” is a scripture comic telling the story of the growth of the early church as recorded in the Book of Acts.

From the Arawa Bulletin Mr Benkenansi was also replying to criticisms made recently by the Provincial member for Arawa, Mr Denis Sareke, that people have often been cheated by sellers of fresh food at the Arawa Market. Mr Sareke said a lot of people in Arawa have complained to him about the quality of fresh food, especially potatoes in baskets being arranged cleverly so as to hide the bad ones underneath the good ones on top. Mr Benkenansi said his Community Government has met and discussed the problem and a resolution has been passed in favour of setting up a separate market for the people of North Nasioi.

From the Marianas Variety The other night, Kimo, Lono and myself were enjoying a happy hour down at the Big Z discussing which was the most powerful group in the world. I thought it was the US military especially the 7th Fleet. Lono thought it was the Arab bloc because of all the petrodollars they had to spend. Kimo stumped us both. He said “The environmentalists, of course!”

“Please explain yourself,” I asked. “Well”, said Kimo, “who stopped the superport project in Palau, despite the petrodollars involved?” “The environmentalists,” Lono said brightly. “And who is fighting the construction of an ammunition wharf at Orote Point in Guam?” continued Kimo. I hadn’t heard about that. “Yes”, said Kimo, “the environmentalists are claiming that the noddy tern and brown booby are endangered species and the wharf would finish them off.” “Brown boobies are an endangered species in Guam?” I exclaimed in mock horror.

“No, no, the bird you booby!” “Oh”, I sighed in relief. Then I remembered something terrible. “Did you know,” I said, “that the Marianas Duck on Tinian is an endangered species as well?

Does that mean that there would be no military ...” I couldn’t continue. It was too horrible to contemplate “That’s right!” interjected Kimo, “now you see who is the most powerful group in the world?” Lono and I shook our heads in agreement.

From the American Samoa News Bulletin The Department of Agriculture announced today that African snails have invaded the Tafuna area, despite a six month battle by department officials, public health crews and volunteer groups to control the spread of the giant destructive pests. Director Pemerika L. Tauiliili said the snails, which were originally spotted in the Satala area and later spread into other villages on both Tutuila and Manu’a, have infested about 10 acres of land surrounding the Van Camp sludge-dumping area m Tafuna. “Residents of this area are asked to help the Department of Agriculture stop the spread of the snails by reporting any sign of the giant snails to the department by calling 633 5276 or stopping by the Agriculture Office at the Fagatogo Market Place,” Tauiliili said. “This new discovery is a serious threat to agriculture, as Tafuna borders the major agriculture areas of Ili’ili to the west and Pava’ia’i and Faleniu to the north.”

From New Hebrides News Issuing a new currency involves the taking of many decisions, for example, shape, size, design, and denominations of the coins and notes. Another most important matter to be decided is which overseas currency the new currency will initially be linked to — the French franc (the country which takes most of our exports); the Australian dollar (the country from which we buy most of our imports); or some other currency with which we have no trading connection, but which might afford certain advantages, such as the US$. Although currency remains very much an alive political subject, and the present dual currency causes considerable inconvenience to customers and shopkeeper alike, it is unlikely that any early decision-making process could be set in motion at least until the present political difficulties have been resolved.

From the Norfolk Islander: Some impressions given to us by Judy Jarvis who, with husband Keith, flew to the States by Qantas Jumbo 747 (“Qantas service terrific”) and came home in the new Norfolk Island Airlines Super King Air from Wichita, USA . . . Places visited on their trip; San Francisco: “Just like we see it in the movies. We did go through Chinatown there and were fortunate to go when we did as 10 minutes later there was one of those mass killings we read about, five people killed, 11 injured. They were visitors to San Francisco quite unexplainable.”

Mr John Rao, secretary, Central Board of Health, Suva, in The Fiji Times on disposal of a dead dog: If a dead dog is found on a road or on the public footpath and if the ownership cannot be ascertained it would have been reasonable for a public-spirited person to bury it.

From a story written by a Western Samoan student on New Zealand, reprinted in Savali, Apia: I asked myself a question; why I’m here? I missed all the things I shared with my friends in Samoa, especially my parents.

This is a very beautiful country, really eccentric. As a result of my new adventure, I start to forget my parents, but thank goodness I was not dominated by these new foreign ideas, I still want to be with my parents. I have friends in New Zealand, but no brother. A child depends on his parents, but to me I have no one to depend on, I’m just like a log in a big ocean . ..

From Stan Ritova’s Here and There column in The Fiji Times: A friend of mine, a member of a well known European pioneering family, was propositioned in one of Suva’s main streets the other day. He did not detest the idea but he was curious. The approach was made in a busy street by a 20-year old, or thereabouts, who had all the requirements that an ageing gentleman would desire. “Would you like a woman?” he was asked in English and without thinking he replied in the woman’s language, “How much?” Realising that my friend was a local she scooted for her life.

From the Pacific Edition of Off Duty, a monthly magazine distributed to US military personnel: The government of Spain had joined the island of Guam in seeking the canonisation of Fr Diego Luis de San Vitores, the “Apostle to the Marianas.” Fr San Vitores, a Jesuit priest, was martyred in 1672 on the beach of Guam’s Turnon Bay— now a resort hotel strip— after a native Chamorro chief objected to his baptising an infant in the Roman Catholic faith. If canonised, Fr San Vitores will be the church’s first saint from the Western Pacific area, north of the equator . ..

From a leading article in The Fiji Times: Motorists convicted of careless driving, particularly where it involves a death can expect a hefty fine, suspension of driver’s licence and even a prison sentence. The captain and senior officers of the (wrecked) T abilai have been found guilty of carelessness in the control of the vessel. But all they received was a reprimand. They could take another vessel to sea tomorrow.

On facing page: Top: Map of areas near border with Papua New Guinea most subject to Irianese unrest area is shaded in top right hand corner map. Below: Indonesian President Suharto (centre) and former Governor Acub Zaical with the highly successful Irian Jaya Persipura soccer team.