GREATLY IMPRESSED.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18267, 29 December 1924, Page 4

GREATLY IMPRESSED.

THE VISIT OF SAMOAN

FAIPULES.

NEW ZEALAND A WONDERFUL

COUNTRY. (BTZCILL TO "IXB FUIS.") AUCKLAND, December 27. Tho party of Samoan faipulcs, the ''wise men" of Samoa, are greatly impressed -with New Zealand. "New Zealand is a country that 'will prosper; tho people abide by Gospel," remarked Toclupe, one of tho grand old men of Samoa, in an interview yesterday. Surrounded by tho makings of the white man, and in an environment that was essentially European, the faipulea gat in the drawing-room of the Y.M.C.A. after tea peacefully smoking their pipes and untouched by the modernism of everything. They could be likened to rare old pieces of china in an up-to-dato bungalow. Here they were, their feet curled up under their lava lavas, their brown tweed coats an imposition of Christianity that detracted from their grandeur and picturesqueness, silent and wise, a characteristic of their race, but ever courteous and approachable. The very antithesis of things was striking. If only one could have penetrated their minds or read the thoughts in their fcoon clear eyes, one may have gleaned that, despite their genuine pleasure of being in the land of the white man they wcro yet dreaming of tho land of their fathers, the land that Tusitala loved and sung the praises of through the pen. But who could tell? Toclupe, speaking through an interpreter, gave some of his impressions of New Zealand gained during his visit here. New Zealand was indeed a wonderful country', and his first visit to the land of a white man had jniirmod him of its greatness. The factories and the industries of this country were things to be wondered at. Everywhere he went he saw prosperity, happiness, "and the brotherhood of mankind—things that ensured the future prosperity aud greatness of the land, Tho hospitality and tho kindness of tho people, said Toclupe, were things tliat would ever be remembered; things that made them love and admire the pakelia. Their anticipation of the greatness of the Dominion was realised. Everything they saw pleased them. New Zealand was everything good that they imagined it to be. The various churches were very kind to entertain them. Everything was welcome. The roads and the sanitary conditions could not be better, while the scenery was beautiful, and much of it gave them cause for admiration. "The people of New Zealand abide by the Gospel." said Toeiupe. "Tjiis i 3 somethiug that we praise and think good." Iu reply to a Toelupo snid that he was pleased with New Zealand's administration of Samoa. All tho orders, he realised, were for the good of his land, and he knew that the right thing was being doae. Throughout New Zealand tho Government officials had been nothing but kindness itself to the party, aud tho white man's rule w.ts just and good. Toeiupe asked the interviewer how the people of the Dominion wcro impressed with the party's visit, mid when he was informed that New Zealand was proud and glad to have them hern, a smile lit his grand old fai-e. The faipule3 are returning to Samoa on tho Tofua. which is to sail from Auckland on January 3rd.