PRODUCTS OF SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19141, 6 October 1925, Page 11

PRODUCTS OF SAMOA.

EXHIBITS FOR DUNEDIN. INTERESTING COLLECTION.. AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIES. [from our own correspondent.] APIA, Sept, 21. Samoa will be well represented at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition at Dunedin, For some considerable time Mr. H. P. Ritchie, the Director of Agriculture, has been busy preparing the list of exhibits, which will be divided into two classes—agriculture and arts and industrial. In addition an exhibit wil be forwarded by Mr. Rutherford, the superintendent of schools, showing the work of the native scholars. The agricultural section includes copra, cacao, cotton, rubber, kapok, coeoanuts, coffee, kava, nutmegs, bananas, papava% citrus fruits, candlenuts, tobacco, yarns, kola-nuts, neanuts, arrowroot, sugar-cane, Samoan woods, various preserves many other exhibits. The chief difficulty in preparing the collection has been Uaft preservation of the fruits fo that thsf would arrive in good condition. Rubber latex was tried, but proved a failure, but Mr. Ritchie believes that he has solved the problem so that the fruits will arrive in good condition in their natural colouring. The exhibit that should attract a lot of attention is. a bale of Burango cotton, grown by the natives. Expert opinion on this article will be watched with considerable interest. Another exhibit that wil! hold the attention. of very many people is the cocoannt one, which comprises 14 varieties. Otllers will take special notice of our woods, which are of economic value. There are 40 varieties in this section, and the exhibit is worth studying. One other product that will cltum attention is the "sun-dried banana," or as it is sometimes called, the "fig banana. ' This food is dainty, delicious and wholesome, and once known is sure to take the public fancy. Curiosity is the word to use when the cocoanut crab (Birgus latrol is seen. The one exhibited was caught behind the village of Lefsigß', and when shown in the Director of Agriculture's roorn, pulled a heavy chair, to which it was attached by a strong cord, across the room. Specimens wilt be seen of flying foxes, birds, butterflies. moths, fresh water eels, and prawns, rhinoceros beetles, etc. People will also get a fine ulea of Samoan art. There is a varied assortment of turtle-shell work, such as brooches, ear-rings, bracelets, rings, necklaces; the collection of baskets, trays, fine mats, tanas, kava bowls and cups make up a fine displav, and show thai the Samoan is a great deal cleverer than many people know The Samoan fishing canoe, carved out of a "mosooi" tree, will not pass noticed, Mr. Ritchie- will go to Xew Zealand in charge of the exhibit.