AN IRISHMAN IN SAMOA

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 139, 6 March 1908, Page 8

AN IRISHMAN IN SAMOA

GOVERNS AN,ISLAND. : : (BY . TELEGIUPH—SPECIAL COHP.ESrONI)ENT.) ■ :-fr.-. .-.: : Auckland, March-5. ■ . Iho Apia correspondent of tho''•Herald" fashion of .'a''jovial and rollicking Irishman appointed by the Governor, Dr. Solf, as amptmann. (ruler) :, of b_van.-. Tho appointment, ho says, was a s after tho wH-l,!! H 1 several ; -.espcriences with some ( countrymen 01 ■ liis osvn. \v . Tlig\ '- n \v r n- S?iol ' ''%Q'-was that i ■ ..Milliamsi.would -bo:.'anything but a' success.; He. lacked ; the culture of- ' yet possessed an exuberance of -mother wit and -humour. ~Tho population' of: Savaii ™ r ?, atlv I<T1 < T' 1 ; Avhlt « being, comparatively lew, .and the_ distance from 1 iho seat of Governmenu'at TJp6lu:was thought to'bo a 'furj4ier disadvantage to the Irishman, but lie was , game. to tackle .'and from time y<> time. 'Dr.-Solf; returning from visits ot..inspection to the- would' remark - | a ,"" • was making a ' complpto success of his administration. Tho incredulous- would wag their 1 heads and sniilo awaiting some blunder, to be reported! b'ut were-nover rewarded 1 : for their: patibnt Under Mr. Williams's control tho' Island has progressed remarkably, although -very little of tho money collected;on ;tho Island by t e Government lias been apportioned far expenditure. \\ itli tho limited appropriation at • <jisposal,:hb.has. oxecutcid important.v/ork3 in oho. way of roads and bridges, dosigiiing and oxecuting tho works himself, for tlio exigencies of Island Jife^.demand..that a ruler - must bo his own, engineer; contractor, etc. ■bo great, is the blind faith of tho natives in tms jovial character that when recently the Java flow from a. volcanic outbreak spread riiin in thG native plantations, and incidcntflli.y buried up his-roads and bridges; they appealed to. him to " restrain the volcano '' It was then tnat the power of the' blessed blarney-stone was, tested,, and well did it como through the erdeal. Mr. AVilliams.has all his capital sunk in his home, which is located at MatantOi Savaii.. - This.placo is in. tne. midst.' of tho volcanic country'with its periodic earthquakes, tidal waves, and saltwater rains. His neighbours would quit the locality at-once, but are satisfied to remain alongsido of him. His departure would be followed by the whole neighbourhood. Dr. Soil's . experiment has completely proved itself,- and the scoffers aro now fallin" liito lino with his admirers. .The'fact of an untutored man by force of character.'and natural intuition ruling a population of 12,000 whites arid natives so successfully for years EMist coniDcl the admiration of alii