Local and General.

Samoanische Zeitung, Volume 20, Issue 17, 24 April 1920, Page 6

Local and General.

Mr. Alan Cobcroft, who was recently appointed manager of the D.H. & P.G. plantation at Mulifanua, took over control during the past week. It is understood that Mr. Helg, who has resigned the management, will leave for Switzerland next month via Pago Pago and Frisco.

The motor schooner Ajax, Capt. Steffany in charge, arrived from Niue on Saturday last with 50 Niue Islanders, who, it is understood, will work on the water front, replacing the Solomon Island labourers, recently repatriated. The Niueans are under the control of three native over-lookers, the latter accompanied by their wives.

The following striking notice appears in the current issue of "O Le Faatonu," the organ of the American Govefttment in Tutuila:— "Beware of influenza! It is in the United States, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia; in fact, it is now epidemic throughout nearly the entire world. Beware oi Influenza 1"

Complaints regarding the cost of living in Samoa have been made by New Zealand officials who recently joined the administrative staff, says the New Zealand Herald. There was a large number of applicants tor these official positions at Samoa, and those who were successful were considered lucky. One official, writing to his wife in Wei lington, states that butter in tins, often rank, costs 3s per lb. and was not always obtainable. Fresh meat and fish were almost a luxury, and had to be paid for as such, and fruit —bananas, pines, and oranges —were as dear as in Wellington. Particulars and arrangements of the Anzac Parade, 'to take place to-morrow (Suuday) morning appear in another column in this issue. In honour of the wedding of Miss Susie Scott to Mr. Max Hoeflich, a social evening is being given this (Satur day) evening by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Loibl at their re sidence at Tuanaimato. Besides the special Anzac Service to take place at 10 o'clock to-morrow morning at the Apia Protestant Church, conducted by the Military Chaplain, the Rev. J. W. Sibree, there will also be a service in the evening when the Rev. F. Joseland will give an address on the "The Lessons of Anzac." We are advised by the local branch of the U.S.S. Co., that the Atua will not .connect with the next Navua. Nevertheless there are upwards of 400 tons of Australian cargo for Samoa awaiting transhipment at Suva by the Navua on her next trip.

On Saturday next the Sisters of the Savalalo Couvent School are conducting a bazaar in aid of the new Hall Fund. The bazaar will be opened at 230 p.m. After an inspection of the articles to be disposed of, there is little doubt that competition for them will be keen. On the Tuesday evening following, May 4th, the annual school concert will be held in the new hall. The two functions, it is anticipated, will be .highly successful. The tickets for the concert can be had from the Convent or from the scholars of the school.

In our advertisement columns Judge Roberts announces that he has sums of money to lend, ffotn to on approved security,

The Deutsche Samoa Gesellschaft has a sum of money, /1,660, to lend in small amounts, or as a whole, on first class security.

As peanuts grow freely in the South Sea Islands (observes an exchange), it is of interest to note that the Manila Merchants' Association is moving to have the duty lifted off that article when imported into the Phillipines, as supplies are wanted to keep the cocoanut oil milling plants from being idle part of the time. It is expected that pea-out-growing, for the purpose of oil production, will result in vast areas iu the Phillipines being put under that crop, and will thus create a big industry.

Here is a receipt for dealing with auts : A good way to keep the ants under is by using a teaspoonful of powdered borax and a dessertspoonful of golden syrup, honeys or icing sugar, mixed with about two tablespoonfuls of hot water, the whole well stirred until the ingredients dissolve. The mixture should be placed in shallow dishes or the lids of tins, which should be set in places visited by the ants. They come in thousands to drink the sweet liquid and are poisoned.

A meeting of those interested will be held in the Marist Bros. Schoolroom on Monday evening next at 8 p.tn. to make arrangements lo suitably mark the cousecration of His Lordship Bishop Darnand.

The Yorkshire Herald (says the "Otago Daily Times" London correspondent) devotes a leading article to Admiral Lord Jellicoe's "masterly" report which he has drawn up as a result of his survey of the strategic situation in the Far East and Australasia. The article says: "It displays a sweepingly comprehensive grasp of the whole position in the Pacific, literally from China to Peru, and is a bold, outspoken deliverance in which the requirements are laid down with some minuteness, and the reasons for his conclusions stated with a irankness that is unusual in documents of,the kind. There is no indication as yet that Australia is in any way adverse to his findings, but it is not difficult to understand that the recommehdatiohswill dissipate some of the anticipations entertained in the commonwealth. It had become common belief among Australians that Sydney might become the most important uaval station in those waters, and consequently there may be some natural disappointment that Lord Jellicoe has pitched upon Singapore as the better naval base for v the Imperial fleet which he desires to see organised. The scheme appears to be drawn on * ca " sonabje lines, and soiar seems to have met with general approval from naval authorities."

Members were much interested in the Chinamen's quarters on a cocoa plantation, says the Press Association representative who accompanied the Parliamentary party to Samoa. These were found to be very clean and roomy, and the majority of the party considered resemble the* sleeping quarters at New | Zealand construction camps and stations. Not more than two men sleep in one room, and our administration regulations stipulate thai there shall be ample air Jpace for each man. Indeed, planters, in a pamphlet, complained to members that "cur labour barracks, which had previously been considered to fulfil all requirements, were found untenable for the accommodation of our labour force, and we were compelled to make additions or errect new buildings." Sir James Allen replied that he regretted any inconvenience to which planters had been put, but endorsed the action of the administration, which aimed at ensuring good quarters for indentured labour.

The founding of a club to his memory in Edinburgh is a memorial after Robert Louis Stevenson's own heart, for did he not count conversation one of the high arts of life, says the London "Morning Post." Some of the happiest hours of his youth were spent in an institution of the kind, the old Edinburgh Speculative Society» better known as the 'Spec' Curiously enough, though he was a most regular attendant at the 'Spec' meetings aud was destined to noise its fame abroad, R. L. Ss does not seem to ha V e made much of an imp on his fel-low-members. He was, however, elected one of the society's five presidents—but at the bottom of the poll—in 1872, and re-elected in 1873, when in a valedictory address he gave a characteristic sketch of 'Mr. Stevenson explaining to fellow-members that he is the cleverest person of his age and weight between this and California.'