MALICIOUS DAMAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 210, 5 September 1930, Page 7

MALICIOUS DAMAGE.

OUTRAGES IN SAMOA.

PILOT LAUNCH SUNK.

ARSON" AT OBSERVATORY,

(From , Our Own Correspondent.)

APIA, August 29,

The activities of those wlio are eeekingto harass and hinder the Administration continue. One of their latest efforts was the sinking of the Government pilot launch in the early hours of August 6. She was seen floating by the watchman of a nearby vessel at 2 a.m., but was invisible at daybreak. Subsequent investigation showed that she had sunk at her moorings in about three fathoms of water.

It took two daye to raise the launch, as the work was constantly interfered with. by a big swell. Upon examination it was found that a number of big holes' had been bored in the hull. It is thought that she was sunk to prevent a detachment of police from, being sent to Savai'i.

On August 13 a deliberate attempt was made to set lire to one of the residences at the Apia Observatory. 'Dried coconut leaves, collected nearby, were piled against the .side of the building and ignited. Fortunately the blaze was noticed almost at once by the Chinese carpenter, who roused the staff, and the fire was extinguished' with little difficulty and before much damage was done. This is the third time that the Observatory has received attention, but the damage on previous occasions has been confined to broken windows. Since the Observatory is strictly non-political it igj difficult to imagine why its destruction is being sought.

The perpetratoivs of these latest outrages are not. known, but the police believe that there is a fairly large gang operating. Previous acts of vandalism include an attempt at burning the Native Office and the total destruction of the Post Office by fire, both being definite cases of incendiarism.