die,’ he said. The optimist, on the other hand, gleefully jumped

into the pile of horse manure, began throwing it aside, and said, ‘I know there’s a pony in here somewhere’. Well, folks, sorry for all you pessimists out there, but we feel the tidal storm that struck Majuro has a pony in it and all we have to do is find it. We could look for cleaner beaches if all we do is not dirty them up again. We could look for improved housing if we can restrain ourselves from re-establishing the horrible shacks that were washed away. . . Ah, the list is interminable. The opportunity is ours .. .

From a letter to Solomon Islands News Drum, Honiara Since the Solomon Islands has gained independence, it has been great seeing a great number of our students going overseas, doing various diploma and degree courses. Among these students are some of our most beautiful and privileged girls. This is not at all bad, but the sad thing about these girls is that they can’t complete their specified courses successfully. I’m not saying that they are not intelligent or bright enough. The fact is that about 99% of them don’t think of the taxpayers when they go overseas.

Arriving at their place of study, they start to live a life which they had never lived since they had been at school. Questions from the opposite sex are always positive, not realising the long term consequences which they eventually realize when it is too late. The end product is a group of sorrowful parents, instead of happy ones, waiting for their daughter to return home with an unwanted product both for the parents, but especially the taxpayers. Therefore fellow students, especially the female ones, think twice about the male questions when you are overseas.

Don’t say ‘yes’ when you don’t know whether there is a demand for your product...

Reader’s letter signed ‘Steam and Dry’ in Nauru Post, Nauru Male chauvinism has reared its ugly head - the women of Nauru have been discriminated against by the decision to stop the Chinese laundry service - about the only real service Nauruan women enjoy. Many are too shy to have a ‘foreigner’ come into the home to do their ironing/cleaning. The Chinese who collect the laundry, mend it and bring it back starched provide an acceptable alternative. Expatriates can arrange for housegirls from Location, good luck to them. But why shouldn’t Nauruan women be able to enjoy their laundry service? If it’s a matter of using electricity then either meter the Location and charge for that used above a certain rate, or else stop the air conditioners and let the laundry service continue . . .

From the Norfolk Island News Norfolk Island seems to many visitors to be a simple, pleasant and uncomplicated place. But if you care to look more deeply, and to gain a more informed understanding of the Island, you will find it is as intricate as a piece of symphonic music ... As you talk with people on Norfolk you’ll doubtless hear disagreement on some of the opinions given; Islands attract individualists, with their own strong ideas about many things. But the subjects are keys to knowing Norfolk ...

From Atoll Pioneer, Tarawa, Kiribati Monica was understandably nervous in her first competition, but she has an immaculate swing which will make her a redoubtable opponent once her putting matches the same standard. She was helped throughout her round by some useful coaching from leuan whose serial golf shots and expansive nether regions were recently

given Pacific-wide acclaim . . .