from the islands press
p. 20 · Read in the full issue
From The Fiji Times, Suva All three Suva cemeteries have run out of burial sites.
The acting cemetery officer, Mr Ledua Koto, told The Fiji Times yesterday there was not a single grave site to be had at either the Suva Cemetery, the Chinese Cemetery or the New Extension Cemetery . . . newcomers were being turned away and probably had to find an alternative site at the Nasinu Cemetery.
A caption in the Cook Islands News, Rarotonga, of a warning light chained to a petrol drum.
One of the few remaining flashing lights marking the danger traffic zone in Nikao. The rest, valued at $4OO were stolen.
Like this one they were either chained to the drum or bolted to a signpost.
From The Norfolk Islander, Norfolk Island.
Did you know that “Norfolk Green” is the name given to the drug Marijuana that is now being grown on Norfolk and exported to both mainlands of New Zealand and Australia?
This shocking information was revealed at a combined meeting of the Service Clubs (Lions, Rotary, Quota and Rotaract) held at the South Pacific Hotel last Tuesday evening. In an address to the members of these organisations, Sergeant Paul Macintosh of the Norfolk Island Police Force, painted a depressing picture of how drugs are being grown on the island, taken in ever-growing amounts and now exported to both mainlands for use by drug addicts. We heard that there are three major growers on the island!
From The Tonga Chronicle, Nukualofa.
A 60-year-old Pangaimotu man died on Sept. 9 following an accident involving a .22 rifle. Vava’u correspondent Mr Lutoviko Tapueluelu writes that the Late Po’uli Ikahihifo was dragging a pig by its rope when the pig attacked him. Mr Tapueluelu butted the swine with his rifle, releasing the trigger and shooting him in the neck. He was rushed to Ngu Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
From a report by MR Mr Young Vivian on a one-man trade mission he made to Nauru to sell Niue-grown cucumbers and zucchinis as reported in Tohi Tala Niue.
Mr Vivian said the reception he received from the Nauruans was excellent. “Nauruans have big hearts. I think they deliberately leave out the word ‘No’ from their vocabulary when they are dealing with friends!” Mr Vivian said.
From the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, Port Moresby.
A man has given himself up to Port Moresby police after allegedly shooting dead another man he thought was a duck at the Waigani swamp, on Wednesday.
From the Cook Islands News, Rarotonga.
A twenty-four-year-old youth stopped by police along with three other persons on the back road in Kavera said that he didn’t think he was breaking the law. The court heard that on July 26 the single labourer, Tino Tumai was driving a Honda CG motorbike carrying two people behind him and another in front when he was stopped.
From a letter signed by Joan P., Kolo J., Lose S., Viliamu F. K. and Ene D., in Tohl Tala Niue recording impressions of newly-installed cable television in Niue.
There is no doubt that the CNN News is excellent if you happen to be an American. The flooding in Idaho and the on-the-spot report of an armed hold-up in Texas is of no interest to us whatsoever, except to expose our children to such language as “gunman”, “hostage”, “smack”, shooting-up” and all those other lovely things that the Americans are fond of doing. Again the CNN Sports news is also excellent if you know such things as Red Sox, Oilers, Top of the Fifth, etc. Oh, by the way, you may be interested to know that Aussie Rules is equally as alien to us three hours of it was enough to drive the kids to bed!
From a letter by Makiuti Tongia in the Cook Islands News.
I for one, am for constitutional independence for our nation, and I am pleased to know that New Zealand’s Public servants are actually forcing our nation towards independence. We have been a full colony and a partial colony for too long. It’s time we let go of the yoke and smash it forever.
From The Fiji Times, Suva.
The leading video and music tape dealer in Fiji, South Pacific Recordings, says it has lost about $300,000 over the past three years to video piracy. “The pirates are operating so openly and blatantly that it is hard to believe,” the managing director of SPR, Mr Ravindra Patel, told The Fiji Times.
From The Fiji Times, Suva.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Mr Qoriniasi Bale, says there should be no objection or interference from outsiders if Tamavua villagers wish to submit to public flogging in accordance with their tradition. Mr Bale was responding to Fiji Times questions on whether the Tamavua flogging was illegal. Yesterday, The Fiji Times highlighted the report that Tamavua villagers are being flogged publicly when they are found guilty of disturbing the peace or causing problems in the village.
From the Cook Islands News, Rarotonga.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Normen George has accused senior New Zealand public servants of obstructing the Cook Islands government ... Mr George said the Cook Islands felt like New Caledonia in reverse, while France was trying to hang on to its pacific colony some senior New Zealand civil servants appeared determined to force independence on the Cook Islands.
From the Cook Islands News, Rarotonga.
Suwarrow, one of the country’s atoll national parks is proving very popular with people overseas seeking a place in the sun.
The Chief Immigration Officer Tutai Tom has received 20 requests from people as far away as Scotland and Japan wanting to settle on or be caretakers of the island. All requests have been turned down.