SAMOAN MISSION PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT AT LEULUMOEGA, UPOLU.

Samoan Reporter, Issue 1, 1 March 1845, Page 3

SAMOAN MISSION PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT AT LEULUMOEGA, UPOLU.

In the early stages of this Mission, it was much indebted to the Huahine and Rarotongan Missions for valuable assistance in printing —for from their presses were issued an edition of the Gospel of Matthew, with sundry elementary and other books in the Samoan language. In May, 1839, the first printing press arrived in Samoa. Some considerable delay occurred in getting it removed to its destination, but at length it was accomplished, and amidst the exulting shouts and songs of the natives, it was borne on their shoulders to its resting place.

Operations were commenced in the middle of July, when numbers flocked from all patrs to see

the wonderful “ lomitusi” or printing press; and even to this present time many visit the Printing Office, which is often called “ the spring from whence the word of God flows throughout Samoa, in its length and breadth.” It is a most amusing scene to see the native youth “ working at press” surrounded by a party of visitois, sometimes speechless, with eyes and mouth distended, they appear rivitted to the spot with admiration and wonder, and then again, burst forth in exclamations of delight—while some will lavish praises aud expressions of encouragement on the workmen, who exert themselves to the utmost, to exhibit their skill to their admiring countrymen. For the first three years there was only one press, a demy one, in use, with the occasional assistance of a small card press, but in the close of 1842 another, and valuable, one was received, which has much facilitated our work.

The native lads easily learn the art of printing, but their fickle disposition, and love of change, have always been fruitful sources of difficulty. Much inconvenience and expense have been incurred from time to time, arising from the want of a commodious, and a substantial Office. In 1842 a roughly plaistered building was erected by the joint exertions of many hundreds from all parts of Upolu and Manono, who breaking through their ancient prejudices and jealousies, joined in this work with a zeal that was truly delightful ; but this mode of building was found exceedingly inconvenient, and burdensome, to the people of the immediate neighbourhood. During the deliberations of one of the districts of Upolu, as to whether they should join in the undertaking, one speaker made an amusing proposition. After saying that he did not see why the press should be stationary, and one land honored by continually sending out books to all the others, he proposed that instead of a house, a vessel should be built, to which the printing establishment should be removed, and the vessel proceed in rotation to all the districts in Samoa, and a book be printed, at each place; thus, all cause for jealousy on this head would be removed. The white ants, the great enemies to all buildings in Samoa, soon commenced their destructive ravages on the above mentioned office, and in August 1843, it was in such a dilapidated state, that the erection of a new and substantial stone building was determined upon immediately. This was commenced in the close of December, and the walls were raised to a considerable height, when, in consequence of one of the front buttresses giving way, the whole of the front, and end walls fell down. Many natives, the mason, and myself, who were on the building at the time of its fall, were mercifully preserved. In the early part of April it was again commenced, and completely finished and fitted up, by the beginning of October. It is a thoroughly substantial building—7o by 17ft. The lower part contains, composing, press, and binding rooms; and there are two good upper rooms, of 20 by 17ft. each. There have been printed an edition of Five Thousand of the gospel of St. John ; and editions of Ten Thousand each of the gospels of Mark and Luke—the Acts of the Apostles— the Epistles to the Romans, Ist. of Corinthians, and Galatians—with numerous other publications; including two volumes of our Native Magazine, the “ Sulu Samoa” or Samoan Torch—amounting in all, to Two hundred and sixteen thousand, five hundred copies; or total number of pages, Six millions, three hundred and ninety-six thousand, besides many thousand various sheet publications; which have been issued since the establishment of the Samoan Mission Printing Office. Feb. 23. 1845. J. B. STAIR.