SAMOAN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 76, 30 March 1935, Page 12

SAMOAN NEWS.

TORRENTIAL FALL OF RAIN. PRICE FOR COPRA DROPS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) APIA, March 20.: Just before the close of the hurricane season torrential rains and heavy nor'westerly squalls have set in. On March 19 two steamers, the Hauraki, from Vancouver, and the Inverbank, from Fiji and Tonga, had to cruise outside Apia, as the weather did not permit their entering it. Plantation roads are in a very bad state and it is doubtful at .time of writing whether the Hauraki can obtain her full quota of bananas. Unfortunately, the' price of our staple product, copra, has dropped considerably on the London market during last week and from the previous rate of £12 2/0 per ton it has gone back to £10 15/, a reduction of £1 7/G. In consequence the local price has been reduced again. Of the large quantities cut by the natives at the higher rate nearly 3500 tons are to be shipped by the Inverbank and Carisso before the end of the current month. The Governmfent steamer Matai paid Apia a short visit on Sunday last, to take some lepers to the leper settlement at Makogai.