from the islands press

From a report in The Samoa Times of the “mass gifting” of electors by candidates in anticipation of the coming general elections.

The presentations have been as much as 100 kgs of beef, 100 cases of tinned fish and $lOOO for each village in one district and up to 20 carcasses of beef in another besides the money and fine mats.

From the Police Blotter, reported in the Marshall Islands Journal, Majuro.

Dec. 24 RELEASED BY MINISTER Minister of Justice authorised the release of Kojang Mizutani based on an urgent request by Secretary of Health for Mizutani to fix the ice at the hospital. The ice box contains two dead bodies.

From the Rengel Belau, Koror Belau’s former colonisers, Germany and Japan who also formed the World War II Axis alliance re-invaded the islands last week and started shooting the place up. The shooting however, was done with movie cameras, instead of guns, as several film crews established a beachhead in the Republic, thrusting Belau into the limelight and making us a centre of international media attention again.

On the afternoon of Thursday, Dec. 21, a West German television crew interviewed President Remeliik at his office in the Judiciary Building. The TV team was filming for Channel 12’s popular foreign news program “Ausland journal” (or “Overseas Journal”). The crew is stationed in the program’s far east office for ZDF German Television at Tokyo, Japan.

From the Vanuatu Weekly, Port-Vila A Ni-Vanuatu undergoing training in England came home “shocked” by the cost of living in Vanuatu compared to that he was used to in England. The man who asked not to be named said while in England, he was easily able to live on an average of eleven pounds twelve shillings (approx. 1,192 Vatu) a week. “Though they also sell imported footstuffs, I still found them cheaper than the same commodities which we also import from say, nearby Australia. This reality came down on me like a ton of bricks!”, the man said with concern.

From a letter by Robin Osborne, of New South Wales, Australia, in the Vanuatu Weekly, Port-Vila.

I recently enjoyed a brief holiday in Vanuatu but, like many other visitors, found the cost of living rather high. After one meal at a Chinese restaurant in Vila which cost twice as much as an equivalent restaurant in Sydney’s Chinatown, my family decided that we would cook our own meals.

From the Vanuatu Weekly, Port-Vila The Le Lagon Hotel has done it again and this time in assuring their guests that in this hot and humid weather, it is best to cool off in a swirling spa bath, rather than on the hot sand!

The hotel has just completed installing ten luxurious spa baths in ten of its rooms . . Mr Makauchi (general manager) stressed that each spa bath, built for two, is “ideal for honeymooning couples.”

From the Cook Islands News, Rarotonga HOWICK couple just back from Rarotonga decided to attend a church service while there. The minister preached a sermon on the difference between right and wrong, between honesty and dishonesty, and gave a stirring address. After the service the minister stood at the gate saying a quiet word to members of

the congregation as they left. As it was raining gently a young lad stood beside him holding an umbrella over the minister’s head. And on the umbrella were emblazoned the words: “Property of N.A.C. Auckland.”

From the “Scene n’ Heard” column in Tohi Tala Niue December and January are the two months when the shooting of pigeons and flying foxes is permitted. These are also the months when the greatest number of visitors are on Niue. It is essential that all shooters exercise the greatest possible care.

Already this month we have had an incident where the accidental discharge of a shotgun has led to the victim suffering very serious injuries. 1 would stress the need for the greatest care in the handling of shotguns.

From a letter by Sin Me, Alotau, in the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier.

I agree with Window Dresser’s leter (Jan. 7) If PNG is a Christian country why do the shops open on the Sabbath?

Sunday after Sunday, thousands of people take off for the playgrounds, rugby matches, picnics, swimming, sailing etc. but not worshipping the Lord.

Our political leaders need to be converted to Christianity to lead us properly and not rely on church leaders to do everything to make PNG a real Christian country.

Japanese prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone’s circuit of the Pacific took him to Papua New Guinea, a country with which Japan seeks closer trade relations, primarily in view of PNG’s vast raw materials resources. Grass Roots, the Post-Courier’s cartoonist was as irreverent as ever of both the visitor, and local dignitaries.