Islands

From the

Press

A warning about sharks in Tam-Tam, Port-Vila Shark attacks in Vanuatu are becoming more frequent than ever.

A young boy was recently killed by a shark at Aroa, North Pentecost. Reports said the boy was swimming with some divers, with a siring of fish round his waist when attacked. His belly was almost sheared completely, which suggested that perhaps the shark was after the divers’ catch when it bit the boy. Tam-Tam would like to inform all divers that it is dangerous to lie a string of fish round their waists while diving. This technique is like a magnet to sharks as they are attracted by the smell of blood.

From the Arawa Bulletin, North Solomons Eight break-ins were reported of which five occurred in Arawa and three in Kieta. Among the five houses broken into in Arawa were two police houses. The homes belonged to the Arawa Station Commander and an officer of the CIB, and the thieves made off with some goods from one of the houses. Police believe the culprit may have broken into these homes in retaliation for police pressure on criminal activities.

From a letter in The Fiji Times from Alison Cupit, secretary for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Our organisation was dismayed to read about the proposal to sell greyhounds to the general public to use for racing. Greyhounds are not just another dog; they will instinctively, and by training, chase and tear apart anything that runs, including people .. When such dogs fail to win or are retired from racing, usually at B'/z years of age, they will probably be set loose. Crossbred greyhounds of which we can expect thousands, are even more dangerous than purebreds.

If you think we have a dog nuisance problem now, just wait until 1000 greyhounds and their off-spring get loose.

From the Tuvalu News Sheet, Funafuti Two lovers have now been missing by canoe for more than a month.

The lovers, Mr Teuhie Pelio and Miss Ailua Soapi, were reported to have disappeared by canoe from Nanumea by night after the boy’s proposal to marry the girl was turned down by her parents.

To date there has been no news concerning their recovery and the islands’ search for them has been called off.

The planets have gone political, reports The Fiji Times, Suva The Alliance Party will win the July general election this year so say the celestial bodies that are said to govern man’s everyday actions. The prediction comes from Mrs Minakshi Patel of Suva, who has made the study of heavenly bodies, the planets, her hobby.

A doggy tale from the Cook Islands News, Rarotonga For some lime a resident of Avatiu suspected foul play. Food from his fridge had gone missing on many occasions. He reported the matter to friends and neighbours. His friends sympathised and helped keep an all night vigil. The other night, however, the culprit was caught. Redhanded too. A neighbour’s dog opened the fridge by pressing the handle with its teeth. Our friend was astonished and could only watch in amazement as the dog took a pound of steak from the fridge.

From The Fiji Times, Suva Vandals have struck the streets of Suva leaving the recently installed new parking meters stuffed with paper clips and nails.

Suva Town Clerk Mr Vishnu Chand said it was deliberate interference by people “who are outright dishonest” ... Mr Chand said the offenders wanted to avoid the new parking rate of 15 minutes for 10 cents.

From ‘Things we hear’ in The Norfolk Islander, Norfolk Island The following is the text of a little note shoved under the Printery door during the week: ‘Why is it that in the past months several people have obtained permits to live on Norfolk Island easily, leaving us to wonder how and why? Yet another person, a professional who has had a lot to contribute in the past, and would have had in the future, was refused. It is obvious to even the most dense that money and political influence count rather too much here. It is also sad to see some of those who make these decisions, playing their self-centred power games, scratching each others’ backs etc, and in the long run giving only a token thought to us ordinary people who live here.

From a letter to the editor, Arawa Bulletin, Papua New Guinea, complaining about the increased drunkenness and associated problems in contrast to

a neighbouring province

It is worth noting, too, that the young people of Buin, even though liquor consumption is free, still recognise and respect their leaders.

They obey and do things the right way even though it’s driving without a licence, drinking in a public place, a funeral, celebrations of important days as Ist September, 16th September, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, or Easter Day etc, or whether it’s political, social, economic or religious matters.

From The Fiji Times, Suva Being grog-doped is said to make one forgetful but the grog left after mixing, kosa, can help keep unwanted dogs from the compound ... (A reader) reports that dried kosa spread over the lawn deters dogs from answering their call of nature on it. He has for the past three weeks kept his lawn in a spotless condition by dutifully spreading kosa every afternoon. Not only does his yard remain clean, but he can also get a better night’s sleep than most other people, who have to cope with howling dogs outside their windows every night.

Extracts from a letter on the problem of littering, Marshall Islands Journal It seems to me that the outer islands are much cleaner than the centre because people in the outer islands are looking after their land and make sure that everything in their land are in good order and also the power of the leadership in the outer islands very powerful to make people in the outer islands have to clean their land. Here in the centre we got lot of problems because many people come to the centre from the outer islands, they are not employees but they just want to live with their family and make

population explosion.

From a report in Tam-Tam, Port-Vila on the birth of a

six-legged calf

Another puzzling feature of the calf is that nobody who has seen it can confirm whether it is a female or a male. A spokesman from the Ministry of Agriculture said, this peculiarity occurs in plants and animals alike. It happens to pineapples, coconut seedlings, chickens and so on. He said, even nature makes mistakes.

From a letter in the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier supporting the idea of estabishing legalised brothels A brothel would be healthier and it would help stop the spread of venereal disease. It is also much more comfortable to be in a house and in a bed than in the bush .. .

And a reply to the above ... Brother, I can fully assure you that you are a double-minded half-wit. You stated that a brothel is healthier and would stop the spread of VD. You preferred a brothel to this K 2 business. How do you judge them? Are you an expert?

I am a Hoskins citizen and assure you that a brothel is profitless.

From the Norfolk Island Government Gazette The following application has been made under the Building Ordinance. Reference: 82/1. Applicant: Mr D. Sanderson.

Location: Taylors Road, east of Bistro Restaurant. Work proposed: Erect pergola (already erected).