THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1877.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 12, 22 December 1877, Page 2

THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1877.

li r.Y. another publication of this journal ti J :cs place Christmas will have come a i i gone. Christmas, tho time when " Peace and good will towards men "

s] lould exist in every heart. How many hj ippy recollections does the sound of t 'hristinas bring crowding upon us. In (l ur school days, how we have looked f irward to this merry-making time. 1 n.*auso WO knew we should have at least ;■ fortnights holidays in which to romp

ii'iout and do almost as we liked. Then ii -i we have advanced in years, and turuu j from boy to youth, how we have greeted -i!)is .season of the year, knowing that we v/oilld be able to get away from our

office, store, or whatever work we may have been engaged in, for at least two days. Then the happy lovers look forward to it in anticipation of the jolly time they will have in the shape of pic-nie.s, parties, &c, accompanied by the one who is dearest to them. The parents of a scattered family look with anxiety and pleasure towards this time, because they anticipate there will be a meeting with some absent ones upon this day when so many happy reunions take place. The absent son often looks forward to this time to meet the loved ones at home, his letters have often said " I will be at home on Christmas." All this refers more though to bygone days, and the scenes of our happy childhood's home. Frequently, when in a dtdl mood and pondering over these things. we are inclined to feel sad. We feel that wo are isolated, neglected, unknown, and uncarcd for by those who are surrounded by every luxury that the eve could wish or the heart yearn for. This is not so, we are thought of and talked of more than those who are always at home. Then let us cheer up, and although wo do not need the yule log burning to keep us warm, anil although WO may not have tho ('hristinas tree to look forward to for sport, let us make it a Merry ('hristmas for ourselves by kindly greeting those who may (eel dull at recollections of former days. Lot us feel happy because we believe our friends who arc afar oil'are happy. Lot us look into our album and fancy for the time that we am all together ar.iini I the j family table,'and lot us drink th Hi

Apology.—Whether it is owing to the extreme sultriness of the weather during the past week, or whether it is the proccss of acclimatising commencing operations, we known not, but first one and then the other of our staff has been compelled to " cave in " through sickness. Not being able to rill up their places in this pari of the world, it has resulted in throwing us very much behind in our work. In order to supply our readers with the paper as usual, we have been compelled to "double" one or two advertisements. Looking at it in a spirit of generosity, and considering Christmas is so near at band, we feel sun' that our readers will forgive us upon this occasion.

Sir Arthur Gordon.—At last, wo believe, the document making Sir Arthur Gordon High Commissioner f>r Polynesia has been signed, and is on its way out from England. It is expected to arrive in Fiji by the end of this month. Upon its arrival, we believe it is the intention of Sir Arthur Gordon to take a cruise around the various groups of islands, coming to Samoa about the end of January, What are to bo Sir Arthur's powers under this commission we are at present unable to tell.

Tutuila War.—On Saturday morning last, the Government schooner Elizabeth left here for Tutuila, taking with her some 200 of the native warriors, and three field pieces, together with a considerable quantity of ammunition, for the purpose —if they can—of exterminating Manga and his party. But if they should succeed they will have to fight hard, and the bloodshed will be greater than was ever known in any previous war ; that is if the opinion of old hands is worth mything.

Meeting: or Native Chiefs.—sir Arthur Gordon, Governor of Fiji has sent a letter to the Taimua and Faipule, stating that he is sorry to hear that they are at war, but advises them to give it up, and live in peace amongst themselves. He also states that he has received the Queen's reply to the letter sent by the Chiefs of Samoa, and also asks them to call all the chiefs together the first week in February, when he will be here and bring the reply with hiin. He says that he wishes to have a talk with them, so he should like to have the wholo of the Chiefs at the meeting. We presume that the talk means some political advise as to what they should do, and how they should act, but we are of opinion that simply advising those natives will bo like throwing water upon a duck's back. As a rule they will listen very quietly to advice, but they very seldom act up to it,

Fatal Accident.—Ycstcrilay morning a young man named August Kloose, a sailor on board the German ship Cesar Godeffroy, met with an accident which resulted in instantaneous death. It appears he was sent up aloft about six o'clock to unbend the sails, and whilst in the act of unbending the main royal sail, he by some means lost his hold and fell to the deck, coming into contact with it head first, which smashed his skull very much and broke his neck. The unfortunate deceased was a native of Luelieck, and was unmarried. His remains were taken to their last resting place yesterday afternoon. Every vessel in harbour had their flags half-mast in consequerico.

lU:<;atta and BPORTB fob Boxino Hay.—The regatta ami sports which we have'looked forward to, in the hope that we would have something to relieve the dull monotony of Island life on Boxibg Day, have fallen through, Wo believe tlii« has been owing, partly to the want of rapport by the public, and partly to the lujcewarmness of some of the com-

OHTUAKT.—By the arrival of the mail from Fiji we are placed in possession of the information of the demise of ! Mr. G. J. Smith, and Mr. J. B. at ! Stewart, members of the hue firm of G. .1. Smith, and Co., trading at Matautu. i The former gentleman was a batchclor, and was on his way to England. He suffered a good deal from debility, and died within a day's steam of Malta. The latter gentleman died in Fiji, where he had been suffering severely ever since he arrived there from here some mouths ago. Ih-died on October ."Ist. and his funeral was largely attended, fie leaves a widow, and several children in England to mourn their loss.

New Aukivals.—During the past week our population has been increased by several new arrivals from the neighboring islands of Fiji. Amongst them we notice that another lawyer—Mr. R. J. I'. Sullivan—has put in an appearance, and intends to commence practice at once; but what at we are at a loss to tell. Although we may have the limbs of the law, we are minus the trunk, without which we think the limbs can be of little use. Ko doubt, we will have law courts hero some day, but we do not think that day is so close as these gentlemen seem to imagine. However, as long as they have brought plenty of the gold and silver oysters with them, and are prepared to wait till the good time arrives the public will not object to take a turn out of them first. Another Annexation in the Pacific. —Another annexation in the Pacific seems (says a London correspondent) to be looming in the future. It appears that a deputation of eight or ten chiefs from Samoa have lately waited upon Sir Arthur Gordon in Fiji, for the purpose of asking liim to establish a British protectorate in the former island. Strange to say, the deputation was accompanied by the well-known Lieutenant Woods, who cut so prominent a figure under Cakombau. This fact will hardly recommend the application to the British Government. There is a strong belief in Polynesia that Germany is very much disposed to try the experiment of founding a colony in Samoa, the importance of which place in every respect is said to be much greater than that of Fiji.— " Citizen," August 10, 1N77. Public Meeting.—On Tuesday evening last a public meeting was held in the Foreign Church, Apia, to take into consideration the matter of the Vailelc School, and the Cemetery at the back of Apia, The meeting was well attended, their being about thirty gentlemen present. The Rev. Mr. * Powell was called to the chair, and, after stating the object of the meeting he called upon the Rev. Dr. G. A. Turner to commence the meeting by explaining how matters stood. The school was dealt with first. A letter was read from Tli. Weber, Esq., the Consul for Germany, apologising for not being able to attend. ])r. Turner stated, that a number of years ago the members of the Loudon Mission Society resident in Samoa, together with seven of the foreign residents had been appointed Trustees of the Yailele School Land. These seven foreigners were nowall dead, and it was for the meeting to elect seven more to take their place. He also stated that after frequent applications from the members of the London Mission Society residing here, the Society at home had given their sanction to the amount ef £IOO per annum for five years being devoted towards the payment of a schoolmaster. It was proposed that the Trustees elected that night should be elected for a term of three years, and should any vacancy occur by the death or removal by any other means, the balance of the Trustees were to till up such vacancy. This was seconded and carried unanimously. The following gentlemen were then elected to be Trustees for the Vailelc School: Capt. Turnbull, Messrs. Dean, Hamilton, Alvord, Decker, Volkmann, and Williamson. Some desultory conversation then took place about canvassing the town the next day to try and find out how much the public were willing to subscribe for five years towards the maintenance of a schoolmaster and his wife. The sum of some £7O was offered amongst those present at the meeting. It was agreed to send for a schoolmaster per John Williams, the Missionary barque which will probably leave for Sydney to-day. The matter of the school having been disposed of, the cemetery question came before the meeting. Mr. Pritehard, who is the agent of tlio parties at present holding the land upon which is the cemetery stated, that as soon as a committee was appointed to attend to it, he would convey the land over to them for the public. It was proposed, seconded, and carried that the ofi'er of Mr. Pritehard be accepted. It was then proposed, seconded, and carried, that a committee of live should bo elected, and that their term of office bo five years. Should vacancies occur they are to be filled up in the same manner as the Trustees for the School. A committee of five were then elected, and we believe they will shortly be on the track for money to'clear and fence the cemetery. This is a matter that has long needed attending to, and we hope that when the committee wait upon the residents, they will show by their liberal subscription's that they do Dot intend to !«• outdone by

othor place* in the cleanness, neatness, and general order of tin' ccmotory, The mown* '■'"'"! witl if thank i' • D'3o.

I'livisuwonrHY LllihltAUrv.—Three o! the Trustees of the tehool which it is proposed to start, canvassed the town on Wednesday last, for the purpose of ascertaining how much they could get guaranteed towards the support of a schoolmaster. We must congratulate them upon their success, for they obtained a guarantee of about £llo'. This speaks volumes to the credit of our small community. By this means the Trustees were able to send an otter of £2OO per year for a schoolmaster, and we are of opinion that this should bring us down a really first-class teacher. Estate op G. J. Smith, and Co.— This estate, which has given so much trouble of late to all who have had anything to do with it, appears to be in n fair way now of being finally wound up. Not only have they turned insolvent, but two of the number have gone where business of this life will trouble them no more. Mr. G, A. Woods, who arrived from Fiji on Saturday last, has, we understand, arrived with full and undoubted authority to turn everything into account on behalf of the creditors. Thus end* one of the great South Sea bubbles.

The British Consul.—On Tuesday morning last the British Consul put in his appearance amongst, us, after an unexpected absence in Fiji of time months. It seems to have been very unfortunate for him to have gone when he did, for he appears to have dropped into the wolf's mouth by doing so. We feel sorry that the eases, particularly that of Maitin's, should have gone against the Consul in the manner in which it has. It seems to us that it gives a license to British subjects to assault any other British subject, and the Consul has no power to give redress to the assaulted one, for lie cannot imprison, and even if he has the power to tine, he has not the power to collect that tine as far as we can see. Under these circumstances, what are British subjects to do when they are assaulted ? We suppose if he is able he must tike the law in his own hands and strike back again, and if he is not able, get his big brother to help him. However, it is to he hoped that the much talkcd-of Commission of Sir Arthur Cordon will be for the protection of whites as well as natives.