THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1878.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 34, 25 May 1878, Page 2

THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1878.

Yesterday was Queen Victoria's birthday.and forty-threesepcrategovcrnments, ruling peoples distinct from one another, either in race, language, or political organization, and distributed through ali the five continents of the world, by the saine formal festivities acknowledge their subordination and profess their loyalty to the middle-aged lady who retreats from their homage to the Highland forest at the farthest extremity of her homo ■ dominion. There is scarcely a port on earth where a vessel will not have been dreasod in honor of the Queen. There is something insucha position,quite separate as it is in the world, and almost unique in ■history—for neither Ctesar nor Czar has ever been so perceptible throughout the whole earth—which strangely excites the imagination. Yesterday Queen Victoria liad reigned forty-one years, and that long Teign must, for good or evil, havo produced great effects. To begin with, it must have greatly contributed to mould the thoughts of all political Englishmen. No statesman now in power has any experience of any other sovereign as a person to *be obeyed or advised, 'or managed,' or controlled—has any clear idea what he would do with a person of different temperament, or bo w he would behave if called on to deal with a sovereign of different sex. The occupant of tho throne is, in England, a much more important person to the chiefs of the two parties which guide the country than the country generally smpects. The Queen does not govern, hut those who govern have to reckon with her, and in the necessity for that reckoning is an influence which, in the long years that have passed since 1837, has been, as future historians will perceive, almost incalculable. The long reign, and the steady, though probably in part unoonroionu influence of Queen Victoria hare helped materially to smooth English progress toward a democratic organization of the national life. Down to 1837 the English kings, even those of the House of Brunswick, were embarassincuts—it might be much prized or even loved embarrassments, but stillombarrassments—to constitutional administrators | tint Queen Victoria, partly became she is a woman, ami therefore popular as the actual head of the State, partly because r-lie received her political education from tint Whigs, hut mainly because she has been a degree exceptional among sovereigns, a p'oson.ihlo human being, has been not a hindrance, hut a help. Since 1088 llritish ministers have been accustomed

tu restrain, and manage, and control, and Sometimes even defy - their sovereigns; hut they have had only one with whom they could advise, -whom they could deal with, in fact, as a great and permanent. but still reasonable and reasoning, member of the Cabinet.

A trustfulness has grown up in the Throne of a very singular kind, a trustfulnes like the confidence reposed in the judges, who may have, their opiuious, but will uxccute the law, which is so far as we know, unprecedented in history, and which, whatever its other effects, has immensely increased the freedom of action of the people. They feel that they can go on and govern themselves without perpetually struggling with or even watching the occupant of the throne. Of course the Queen personally reaps some of the benefit of that feeling. She meets with indefinitely more deference, and enjoys indefinitely greater popularity than any of her predecessors. Even the virtues of Queen Victoria, visible as they have been for so long a period, have tended in the democratic direction. Devoted wife, grieving widow, faithful mother, so admirable a manager, that the people who would growl at her extravagance are half inclined to satirize her thrift; always, when the poor are in question, on the philanthropic 9ide : delighting in simplicity rather than pomp, and country seclusion rather than the life of capitals. Moral—Forty-three seperato governments proudly yielding allegiance to a woman. Forty-ono years in public life, aud yet the almost ideal wife, mother, widow. Forty-one years a Queen, and yet delighting in simplicity rather than pomp, and country seclusion rather than the life of capitals.

I Birthday of the Queen of England.—Yesterday, being the fifty-ninth anniversary of the birth of the Queen of England, was distinguished hen; from all ordinary days by a display of bunting both ashore and afloat. Although there were no British vessels in harbour, the German vessels hoisted their colours in honour of the occasion. Deputy Commissioner for Tonga.— A. P. Maudslay, Esq., who has been acting British Consul here for the last two or three months, has been appointed Deputy Commissioner for Tonga. We wish him success in his new sphere of labour, for while he was acting hero he appeal's to have given general satisfaction.

Deputy Commissioner.—R. S. Swanston, Esq., the gentleman who has recently been appointed Deputy Commissioner and British Consul for Samoa, arrived in town per Undine, from Fiji, on Monday evening last. He was introduced to the native Government on Tuesday, and took charge of the office on Wednesday. This gentleman is particularly adapted for this office, by his past experiences, and tho British residents ought to fell happy in the appointment. Indcdependent of his experience as Minister of Native Affairs and Stipendary Magistrate in Fiji, he has, from a previous residence here, a good knowledge of the language and customs of the Samoans. W. J. Hunt's Case.—The appealflin •ease of Mr. W. J. Hunt, who it will be remembered was sentenced before tho Judicial Commissioner here to {[twelve months' imprisonment in Fiji for the part he took in the hanging of Cochrane, came on for hearing in the Supreme Court of Fiji, on the 15th of April. The Attorney-General appeared to sustain the conviction, and Mr. Solomon, instructed by Mr. Truscott, argued the appeal. The ease occupied the whole day, and the Judge reserved Ids decision, winch had not been given up to the date of the departure of the mail.

Sir A. H. Gordon'.—We notice by the Fiji Times that the Governor of Fiji, Sir A. H. Gordon, is about to leave on a six month's leave of absence;. Also that her Majesty has been pleased to confer the Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George upon his Excellency the Governor.

Earthquake at Tanna. Captain Kilgour (says the Fiji Times) informed us that on the 10th of January a severe shock of earthquako was experienced at Tanna, after which forty acres of land at the north entrance of the harbour subsided into the sea; and a wavo twenty foet in height swept over the lower portions of the country. Cn.pt. Kilgour made the entrance to the port in the schooner Stanley a few days after the shook, and observing that the nature of the country was somewhat altered, he deemed it prudent not to tike his vessel into the harbour, but hove to, and went into Tanna in the ship's boat. On landing he was informed of tho earthquake and wave, and learned that considerable damage had been caused by the wave, which had swept away two or three houses, including a large copra store and contents. The depth of water in the harbor has been lessened by six feet all over and rooks previously covered with water were now uncovered. Capt. Kilgour, however, found that the entrance to tho port had not been affected. We Khali probably receive a fuller account of this disaster from the pen of somo resident j through the colonial press.