News in Brief

Mana (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 14, 9 February 1978, Page 7

News in Brief

The search for the Tokomea and its 66 persons on board, has been suspended. A recent sighting of debris sparked off renewed search efforts but the flotsam was not identified as coming from the Tokomea which went missing several weeks ago. In the meantime, questions have been raised in Tonga about the strictness of safety measures as relating to local passenger boats. Past examples of overcrowding and other illegal practices have been cited as breaking marine safety regulations. * * * International cigarette company, W. D. and H. O. Wills (N,Z.) has donated $l,OOO toward families of the people travelling on the Tokomea which went missing several weeks ago.

Tonga will soon have its own satellite station. A ten year contract between the Government of Tonga and a big British communications company has given the go-ahead for the earthsatellite station to be constructed in Fongoloa. Messages from the station will be reflected off an American satellite above the Pacific and then to another earth station in Hong Kong and from there to the internationalcommunications circuit. The station will cost the British company nearly three million dollars. * * * The election of the People’s Representatives to the 1978 Legislative Assembly will be held on Friday, April 14, at the Tongatapu, ’Eua, Niuatoputapu, Niuafo’ou, Ha’apai and Vava’u electroai districts. * * * Tonga is one of sixteen countries invited to the 1978 International Rugby Seven-a-Side Championship to be held in Hong Kong on April 15-16. The de-

fending champions will be Fiji. * * * V.S.A. are sending seven Aucklanders overseas on volunteer assignments this month. Included in these are Mrs Judith Abrahams who is going to Tupou High School in Nuku’alofa and Miss Glenis Hales of Albany who is going to St Andrews School in Nuku’alofa. Food supplies for the people in the Ha’apai group are at a critical level since last December’s cyclones, according to a five-man team sent to investigate the situation.

The report says the food shortage would probably stay critical for another six months.