MARIJUANA'S ON SALE NEAR SCHOOL

A HIGH school principal says he is not surprised at the National Fire
Authority's finding that student smoking marijuana started a dormitory fire.

Ba Methodist High School principal Nacanieli Rawaico said he had
spotted a sidearm flask at the scene on the morning after the fire.

Mr Rawaico said marijuana was being sold near the school.

He said such a flask had gone missing from the school laboratory days
before the fire.

Mr Rawaico said when he asked a science department teacher to explain
what the apparatus was used for, she informed him that it was for
distilling and refluxing.

It is believed the sidearm flask was used as a "bong", or water pipe,
to smoke marijuana.

"I was the one who found the flask but when I came to check on it
again, it was not there," Mr Rawaico said. "It could have been taken
by the police."

The findings last week revealed that the fire started from a bong
related to marijuana smoking. He said he did not ask the students as
there was a lot of academic time already wasted in the aftermath of the fire.

Mr Rawaico said he would leave the investigation to police.

However, he said all those affected by the fire had recovered from the shock.

He said the school had a fundraising drive in an effort to get a new
dormitory built.

Mr Rawaico said they received help from the Tuvalu High Commission
and women of Sorokoba.

He said the Tuvaluan mission had taken care of its students' bedding
and provided $3500.

"The money is deposited in the school account and if the students
need money, they can ask for it."

The old dormitory, which was burned down last month, usually
accommodated 30 students, Mr Rawaico said.

He said at the time of the fire only 12 students were using the
building, because the other 18 students had become day scholars.