NEWS FROM SAMOA.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 19 November 1901, Page 4

NEWS FROM SAMOA.

(Froji Dunedin Times Coehespondbnt.)

Auckland, Nov 15

The Rev Dr Geo. Brown, general secretary of the Australasian Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, has_ just returned from Samoa after a brief visit to the islands. Dr Brown states that during his stay he had several interviews with the German Governor at Apia in connection with mission work, and was most kindly and courteously received. In regard to the state of the islands under German rule, Dr Brown says that so far as he could ascertain from personal observation, and in his intervie rrs with the European residents and natives, everything was quite satisfactory. The natives were quiet, the taxes were being paid, and the modified form of self-govern-ment adopted by the German authorities had so far proved the best possible for all parties. A start has already been made by a large company, who had secured land to the eastward of Apia to plant cocoanuts and cocoa. It was quite certain that tbe climate of Samoa was admirably adapted for the growth of cocoa. This had now passed beyond tbe Ptate of mere experiment, as several nourishing plantations wore already in existence, and had proved highly successful. The market for cocoa was practically unlimited, and Dr Brown predicted that at no distant date the export of the article from Samoa would be very considerable. During the stay of Dr Brown in Samoa there were several deaths amongst the Europeans, the most noticeable being that of the United States Consul (General Osborne) and Herr Bause (the Imperial German Colonial Secretary). The latter died from the result of a buggy accident.