WONDERFUL!

Evening Star, Issue 19792, 16 February 1928, Page 4

WONDERFUL!

SAMOAN CHIEFS’ TOUR For the first time in their lives two Samoans have— Ridden in railway trains. Seen ice and snow. Gazed with wonder on Mount Cook. Travelled in tramcars. They describe it ail as “wonderful.” “ We caunot find words to express all we have seen,” they said to an Auckland ‘ Sun ’ reporter. Tanaa and Karene, chiefs of Western Samoa, have just completed a journey which to them is more amazing than the ‘ Arabian Nights.’ Both are well educated and closely associated with education in Samoa. They were sent to New Zealand by the Administrator, General Sir George Richardson, as a reward for their loyalty during the recent trouble. Despite the fact that they had never seen or travelled in a train before coming to the dominion, Karene said that ho was tired of it before he reached Wellington. The journey from Auckland was too much without a break. Words failed Karene to describe the journey he and his friend had as far south as Dunedin, where they met many people and saw sights tho memory of which will always remain with them. Mount Cook—it was wonderful, Dunedin—no, it was not cold —just as hot as Auckland. Karene’s eyes flashed enthusiasm, but his vocabulary did not come to his rescue when attempting to describe the mountains. A visit to the Feilding Agricultural College appealed to both the Island visitors. “ When we saw it we thought ‘This is the best way of doing things, and it will be best for Samoa.’ “ What we have learned in New Zealand is that everybody works,” was one of Karene’s observations. “In Samoa we grow food, but just for ourselves, not to send away. We noticed that even on far-away farms the people work, and send things away, because they have the transport. We will tell General Richardson how the people in New Zealand grow food’ to send away.” The Samoans talked with one of their boys who is working at the Newmarket Railway Workshops. “He says that when he has finished learning his engineering he will return to Samoa and build railways,” said Karene.