from the islands press

From a report in Vanuatu Weekly, Port-Vila, on the successful defence of his South Seas Light Heavyweight title by Ni-Vanuatu boxer Philip Kating. His opponent was Fiji’s Kamisese Vaubula.

Kamisese again went down in the sixth round. When he rose, still in the sixth round, the South Seas Tanna-bom champion punched him right out of the ring! The crowd roared. Some booed.

Adopting his manager, Sakaria Ve’s, style of boxing, he started running away from Kating in the seventh round. In one comer, he began beckoning for Kating to move in. The king faithfully complied and advanced on him knocking him flat on his back permamently, exactly 11 seconds after the start of the eighth round! His manager, Mr Ve, chucked in the towel. It was over and the jubilant South Seas king of the ring proved true to his words.

In confirming his victory to his fans throughout Vanuatu, Kating expressed his readiness to challenge Sakaria Ve for his South Seas light middleweight title any time, any place, anywhere.

From Solomon Nius, Honiara Primary schools throughout the country which are controlled by Provincial Education Boards are breaking up two weeks early this year. The early break-up will affect all Honiara Education Board primary schools as well.

The schools will close on November 1, to allow teachers to attend a nationwide in-service course on new courses in mathematics and English, for primary schools, a spokesman for the primary schools section in the Ministry of Education said. Private schools have been invited to take part in the course as well, but will have to meet their own costs.

From the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, Port Moresby A man has died at Aipanda village in Wabag following a tribal fight over a game of marbles.

More than 1000 people were reported to have been involved in the fight between the Ima and Nandip sub-clans of the Yoma clan.

Headline from the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, Port Moresby, was it reporting a miracle?

“50 march over water”

From the Vanuatu Weekly, Port-vila Police Traffic Section records show that vehicle accidents and paydays have a link especially in Port Vila and Luganville. It is like an old song sung over and over agin. On the 15th or the end of the month, a man drives to a store after work, buys some beer and starts drinking. He ends up causing an unnecessary accident out of drunkenness.

From an article by Gwynne Dyer in the Samoa Times, Apia It has been seriously suggested that the best thing to do with the Republic of Nauru when the phosphates run out in 1995 is simply to buy another island somewhere and move the whole country. It would not take Air Nauru’s six jets more than two or three flights to move the entire population of 4600 and then what is left Nauru could be paved over and sold to the U.S. as a bomber base.

From The Norfolk Islander Twenty-two excited youngs lads the Cubs of Norfolk Island had an exciting night last Wednesday when they went down Cockpit to fish for eels.

They were using hand lines and it was Gilbert Jackson who caught a “whopper” and had to call for help to pull it. Joshua Black

was on hand and the two of them hauled in a beauty it measured 117.5 cm in length (approx. 47 inches), had a girth measurement of 31.25 cm (12 inches) and weighed skg (11V 4 lb.).

A letter signed “Disgusted Leiwas, Malapoa” in the Vanuatu Weekly, Port-Vila I am really concerned at the Bride Price the National Council of Chiefs is setting for women. Is 80,000 Vt the figure suggested?

What is really happening to our sweet culture of exchange of gifts between the two families to ensure friendship and family ties. . .?

Is this subsititute of 80,000 Vt really worth its price? Are woman now a commodity to be sold for a profit? How dehumanising!!