SAMOA VISITED

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 117, 19 May 1937, Page 12

SAMOA VISITED

THE GERMAN CONSUL

A PLEASANT TRIP

The Consul • for Germany in New Zealand, Dr.. Walter Hellenthal, returned to Wellington this morning after his first'official visit to American Samoa and the mandated territory of Western Samoa, both of which are included in the area for which he is responsible. Dr. Hellenthal left by the Government motor-ship Maui Pomare a month ago. During his stay in Apia he was the guest of the Acting-Administrator (Mr. A. C. .Turnbull). On May 1, which is a German national holiday, a function was held in the German" Club. On the following' day tribute was paid to the memory of those who lost their lives in the native wars and in the disastrous hurricane that forced the warships ashore many years ago. At the German memorial Dr. Hellenthal placed a wreath and was followed by the Acting Administrator and others. Forty or fifty wreaths were placed. The Acting Administrator then placed wreaths on the British and American memorials, and Dr. Hellenthal followed suit. After the function the German community were hosts at an open-air festival. Dr. Hellenthal said there were about 500 Germans round Apia, and they were living in the closest harmony with their neighbours, The friendliest spirit prevailed among all.nationalities and sections of the community. On May 6 Dr. Hellenthal left on the Government pilot boat for Pago Pago, where he was the guest of the Governor and naval officer in charge (Mr. Milne). Pago Pago, he said, was a naval port, and there was only one German there. Dr. Hellenthal thought Pago Pago one of the finest ports in the South Seas, and very similar to another crater port in New Guinea. The naval authorities placed the sloop Ontario at his disposal and he travelled in it back to Apia, where he arrived on May 8. Apia was decorated with flags for the Coronation, but as the Matua left early in the morning of Coronation Day, Dr. Hellenthal was unable to attend the celebrations, although he had been invited. Dr. Hellenthal said he had travelled in ships of all lines in the South Seas, but the Matua was the finest tropical vessel of them all. . He arrived back in Auckland yesterday afternoon. This was Dr. Hellenthal's fourth visit to the South Seas in three years, and he has a fine collection of native weapons and objects of native art, some of which he intends to present one day to a museum. He added to his collection during this trip.