This Month’s Features

•VANUATU Editor Angus Smales was in Port-Vila for the July 30 independence celebrations. He describes the events accompanying the demise of the old New Hebrides condominium, and the most painful birth yet of an independent Pacific Island nation 11 •ARTS Gwenda and Jimmy Cornell, in the first of a two-part series, give a rundown on the performing arts side of the memorable Third South Pacific Festival of Arts in Port Moresby 17 •FRANCE IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC An overview, written by a highly responsible French observer, of France’s present and future role in the region. Published for the first time in English, this treatment of a highly controversial subject is certain to raise eyebrows from Port Moresby to Pago Pago (and maybe even Papeete)2s •TANNA In an article entitled ‘Martyrs and Mercenaries’, The Rev K. C. Calvert, who has many years’ experience of missionary work on this Vanuatuan island, backgrounds its endemic political troubles 29 •BOOKS Reviewer Spiro Zavos finds the new Albert Wendt novel proof of the stamina of ‘a literary lion’ 39 •TRAVEL Jimmy Cornell tells the tale of his brief but memorable love affair with the island of Abemama, in Kiribati 47 •TRADE South Pacific Trade Commissioner Ron Hegerhorst reports on the commission’s first year of operation 53 •SHIPS A stand-off settlement is reached in a seamen’s wages dispute involving the Pacific Forum Line 57

Books 39 Cook Islands 29,31 Deaths 65 Festival of Arts 17 P'ii 19, 21, 43 France in the South Pacific 25 Hawaii Islands Press 51

Kiribati ..JJL..47

Letters New Zealand 19 Pacific Report ...9

Papua New Guinea 19, 39, 41, 55 People 33 Political Currents 25 Ships 57 Shipping Services 63 South Pacific trade S 3 Tonga 19, 23, 24 Ttadewinds 53 ITavel 47 Tropicalities 19 Vanuatu 11, 23, 29 Western Samoa 39

Yachts . 60