DOINGS IN SAMOA.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 171, 21 July 1928, Page 14

DOINGS IN SAMOA.

APIA'S BUSY WATERFRONT. NATIVES RUN A TOTE MEETING TFT,, '\ TFflKr CATCHERS. <Kn.i" mir n, vn (•.•rresi.oiul-nt.) *AI'IA, July li. •M' l,l i,,i. 11.i-- been very busy i crt'iill \ uiili -hipping. iniil except for short iiitrr\,iN. i ithor mi,, or two of the three, im'• r111 l; ~ have been continuously «in• i!'• |. (>ii niie or two occasion* even, ships 11. i\. • been r.impelled to wait outsniile tlie entrance until other boats have i■<iilll• i-lim 1 l<llil1l;. Ueeent arrivals in- . lude tli' l Ki riii'h gunboat C'assiopee, Caiuioiia, i <ifvi;i, Sir Maui L'omare <iu<L the H\;iciuth. The latter is a four-tiin-teil steamer of considerable size, which will take a forge cargo ot' copra from Samoa. It is the same ship which win recently stranded on a reef off Thursday Nl;inil. Ilicren*cd copra production will doubtless lie responsible for further big shipping in the next few months as the buyers appear to be handling a good deal more than in the corresponding period last year. Many of the sheds are full to bursting point, and only temporary relief is granted by shipment, as supplies are coming in steadily. One buyer stated I hat this looked like being a record year tor copra.

Illegal Race Meeting. With the worthy motive of raising funds for a water supply one of the backblock villages of Samoa recently decided to hold a race meeting and forthwith made all the- arrangements except the very noces-ury one of registering the meeting <11 I paying the tax. The authorities, lmvwver. got wind of the fixture and sent a con-table down to give the promotors a gentle reminder of what was due. 'l'he natives were not at all impressed by the representative of the law and indignantly demanded gate money when he appeared on the track. Eventually he was admitted free, and he states that although the horses were slow and the working of the tote, which was housed in a disused fale were a little obscure, the meeting was a decided success. He and another man were the only whites among some 2000 spectators*, so it says something for the power of the law, even still in Samoa, that he was able to collect a bond from one of the defaulting promoters. Robberies in Samoa. Petty robbery is rife just now in Samoa, and every few days report is received of houses or stores being broken into. The annoying part of it is that in spite of the extra police protection, the thefis appear to be increasing while offenders are rarely caught. Some of the more brazen thefts are rather amusing. A resident entered a store and placed a tin of cigarettes and a parcel on the counter while he inspected some articles. This involved a tour round the shop, during which two Samoans came in and made a trifling purchase. This they calmly wrapped up in a newspaper together with the cigarettes and parcel and walked off in dignified haste. When the theft was discovered they were well out of sight and probably enjoying a pull of a made-up cigarette instead of their own evilsmelling tobacco.

Another resident placed his hat in a hall-way while he went upatafrs, Happening to look out the window a moment later he saw a burly native strolling along with the hat under his arm. He immediately made chase and the Samoan tucked up hi* lava-lava and bolted for the bush. The appearance of a native policeman, however, made hini droj) the hat which the owner thankfully retrieved, while the policeman continued 'the pursuit. * The Chinese are more arbitary in avoninp thefts. Apia was excited recently to see n coolie running stretched to his utmost a Ion;; the street while behind, veiling furiously, came another coolie, wielding a bipr knife. Hunter and hunted were both promptly secured and explanations showed- that it was just another case a theft which failed.

Shipment of Bananas. The second shipment of bananas from Samoa to-day by the Sir Maui Pomare indicates that the banana growing industry, which was started bv Sir George Richardson, is likely to become a profitable department of Samoan export. The number of cases shipped, about 1800, is nearly double the first shipment, and on the prices realised last month will show a fair profit to the planter, who, in any case, is protected by a Government guarantee of 5/ a case, which returns a profit. The bananas are all ripidlv inspected before shipment, and only clean, attractive fruit, free from scale is permitted to 11 leave the country.