CRICKET IN SAMOA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1797, 23 March 1888, Page 3

CRICKET IN SAMOA

While lovers of cricket are pozallng themselves bow to revive tbat national game ln Victoria, the one-time barbarian Samoans have settled the difficulty m one act. The game was Introduced to the | Island about three years ago by the officers of H.M.S. Diamond, and the sporting Samoans at once saw there was much room for improvement. The ordinary rules were not to their liking at all, ao they arranged matches with 200 a-aldd. The contests lasted for weeks , all work was neglected to watoh the progress of 200 men going In to tot up big scores, frith another 200 m the field. Any tendenoy to monotony was relieved by battles which led to the revival of heathen onatoms, and co the matohes went on from early morning to dewy eve, In the midst of the most intense excitement. At laat things became so bad, and aa ail other interest were neglected for orloket, tha Government had to step m and legislate and put down the game. Men who payed were expelled from the Ohurcb, and this with various measures has subdued the enthusiasm of the Samoao Blackham;, Boyles, and Spofforths. The Rev. J. King, who has recently paid a visit to Samoa, related the circumstances (says the " Daily Telegraph) at the meeting of the London Missionary Society on Thursday evening,