THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master. of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1878.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 31, 4 May 1878, Page 2

THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master. of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1878.

The telegraphic information to hand by ■the arrival of .the John Williams has "thrown aaomewhat gloomy aspect upon the possibility of a speedy settlement of the Eastern question. England continues in her warlike preparations, but wheohei she anticipates war or whether she is simply preparing for the worst, so that if she is tried she will not be found wanting, is merely a matter of coujeoture, There appears to be some doubt as to whether the proposed conference will meet, and blame is attached (to 'England. Russia is doing a good deal of spluttering, and feels naturally indignant at the stand Great .Britain is taking in this matter. Having been left to fight the Turks alone, and having had a much harder tussel for tho victory that she has gained than she expected, she considers that sho should have been left alone in the settling up. But as this is a matter that affects tho lasting peace of the whole of Europe, -the other Towers deom thoy have a right to a voice in it. England is suspicious-of Russia, and from the fact of the latter Power appoaring unwilling to submit the whole of the pcaco conditions to tho conference, tho former consider! that there is somothing that Russia has got Turkey seoretly to sign that would make the conference a inero farce. Hence tho reason why Great Britain refusal to take part in the proposed conference unless everything is plain and above board. From Germany there seems to bo litSlo or na apposition towards the settlement of this matter by Russia alone, and although Austria ha» put an occasional word in the matter and appears to favour the views of England, still we think that she is too much under the influenco of Germany to be able to

bo independent in her actions. What the. policy of Bismarck ia in regard to this question is not very clear, in fact we know not whether he has yet laid it before the public, although it is generally ; supposed that he favours Russia. How- [ ever, be that as it may, Great Britain appears to stand alone at present in hei demands that Russia should produce the whole of the peace conditions, and in consequence of this thereto a good deal of illfeeling at present manifested by Russia towards her. But we think the chances of war between them, at present at all events, are somewhat limited. Russia is crippled from the losses she has sustained in her single-handed tight with the Turks, and it is but natural to sup[■'.ll • that the will require a little breathing time before she will attempt to fight a nation that is at all events stronger than the one she has just had such a hard with. It is true that in the event of war between these two nations, England's position would be somewhat embarrassing. The feeling of Turkey is not so mueii in favour of England now as it was prior to this war, and if Turkey •were to side with Russia it would increase the dimeulty considerably, for the British fleet would not be able to enter the Black Sea and attack Russia from that quarter. With the aid of Austria .he war might be carried on on land, but >f course we cannot tell how far Austria is likely to bo allowed to assist England m such an event, and if this means wen Dot open to England she would tind it a .cry hard job to get at Russia, in fact it would be useless on her part to attempt .:. However, we think that England is [uite in the right to have nothing whatever to do with the Conference unless everything is placed before them. The tinui settlement, ui this vexed question is what is wanted, and this most certainly cannot be accomplished without the parties who are to deliberate upon the matter and settle it are made fully acquainted with the true stale of affairs as they exist botween these two Powers.

Divinl Service.—We have been requested to state that should the barque John Williams |bo successful in getting away for Tutuila to-day, there will Service in the Foreign Church, Apia, tomorrow. On the other hand, however, .ervice w.ll be held as usual. Destroying Pkopeuty.—On Tl.u day night last a number of lialf-east* Samoans amused themselves by tearing down the pickets thai ate being place.. around the eemetary. ...<\ 01 the pail bags, in conse-iucnoe u; uicir firmness were co apletely de troyed in ..i proee As the perpetrators oi tnis wonui. a

of mischief are known, it t» ;r Uoj. that they will be made to pay death . r their trouble. Deputy High Commissioner o? Polynesia.—The Evening News, of March 14, has the following:—"A letter has been received by .Mr. Robert S. Swanston, now in Sydney, whose name is well known in connection with Polynesian ari'airs, from Sir A. H. Gordon, Governor of Fiji, and High Commissioner of Polynesia, offering him the position of Deputy High Commissioner of Polynesia, and to lie stationed at Samoa The salary is fixed at between XoOJ and XtiOO a year, toget er with fees. It is to be presumed that Mr. Swanston will fulfil the duties of the late Mr. Liardet as Consul at Samoa" We believe that Mr. Swanston has accepted the appointment, and left Sydney for Fiji on the 13th of March. He may therefore be expected to arrive amongst is at an early date. School Teacher. —The teacher for the shool in Apia, who was expected to arrive in tho John Williams, from Sydney, we are 60iry to say has not arrived. Up to the time of the departure of tho vessel from Sydney, a suitable person had not been obtained, but as the matter has not yet been given up, we may yet hope to see one down by the next vessel from Sydney.

Missionary fob Tutuila. —We notice among the passengers of the London Mission Society's barque, John Williams, the Rev. C. Phillips, who has been appointed to minister to the spiritual wolltarc of the natives of Tutuila. The rov. gentlomau is only a few months out from Englaud, and will probable leave here for tho scone of his future labours to-day. No doubt the natives of Tutuila belonging to the L.M.S. will be glad to welcome Mr. Phillips, for they have been for some considerable time without a white pastor.

Presentation. —We take the following from the report of the Sydney committo of the London Missionary Society : —" We may mention a pleasing fact, that all the ladies of tho South Sea Missions united in tlie purchase of a testimonial to Mr.i. and Captain Tuple, as a token of thoir osteoni for the captain and his wife. The captain received a telescope, and Mis. Tuipic a beautiful tea service." New Guinea Expedition.—Wo notice that a sohooncr of 101) tons, called tho Colonist loft Sydney for New Guinea, on the 20th of March, with some twenty passengors. She was to call in at Conktown and pick up twenty more. Theso men, the papers say, arc determined to settle tbo question as to whether tbero ia gold to ho obtained in payablo quantities or iint,. Tboy are well equipped and provisioned, and aro said to bo men of considerable gold-field experience. They are woll armed, but it is to be hoped that thoy will not be called upon to iuo them for any other purposo than to provide gamo for their table.