PROGRESS OF SAMOA

Shannon News, 15 March 1927, Page 4

PROGRESS OF SAMOA

TRAINING OF TEACHERS. rl * EXTENSIVE BANANA PLANTING ; APIA, February 11. 1. The refresher course established h by tbo Education Departments lor the native teachers has proved a det *_; tided success. Over 80 ■ teachers from all over Samoa attendcd tho recent course in Apia, where they obtained instruction, in the local technical school and were given lessons in agriculture. Valuable knowi ledge will thus bo sent all over = . Samoa.. Special instructors on the ‘ various matters been enrolled ‘ and the Somoan teachers carry away '-. -with them tho lessons given by the best man' in Samoa on tho various - subjects. Men like Mr. Cobcroft, a planter of many years standing, arc ;■ - assisting in the work. The dominant idea of the training is to teach the natives how to use their lands and P •to use their hands as well as thCir [% heads. This refresher course has ' • been going for some time now and is y proving a great asset in the develop,'Y ment of tho schools. W Extensive banana planting continues to be carried on by tho Samoans in readiness for the new steamer . which is due to arrivo in Samoa * about October next. It is to be hoped that the Fairpules in New fv: Zealand will be given every opportunity to see how the Fiji bananas ; are disposed of on the Auckland market, and also shown the value of efficient packing. Mr. Newton, of the Agricultural Department, recently spent a month in Fiji, collecting useful data with regard to the banana industry. It is reported that Captain von Luckner and a party of Germans are on a cruise of the South Seas. They are to leave America shortly and the Y; ' report is that they will visit Samoa ■J and other mandated territories, fr Tho latest .statistics for Western Samoa show a good increase in population, thus - marking a definite steady increase during the past few years. In 1924 the excess of births over deaths amounted to 1123. In • ' 1925 the Increase was 1176. Now the like increase at December 31 . last was 1243, bringing tho total nativo population up to 38,966. '/I - Although there has been something like £50,000 spent in motor-cars in V ; - Apia during the past two years, the £ annual sale of O. F. Nelson and Comb, Pany, Ltd., was well patronised, and ifi It is stated that the natives spent H'-,; their money very freely. ;|r At last Mr. Nosworthy, Minister of ■!j Ex tornal Affairs, is to visit Samoa. ■%-. visit is timed for May or June next. Originally ho promised us to Vi: come in October or November last. i-c - and he was not able, owing to presi sure of business, to keep that appointment. Mr. Nosworthy will attend tho Fono of Fairpules and dis■Jp- cuss nativo matters with the native ■E . representatives. Ho will also give the Europeans every opportunity of havJ Say on mattcrs which afMik * Chinese Consul at Apia, Mr. left on, a ,trip to Aus-

tralia, via Pago Pago. Mr. Chuu was almost murdered recently while trying to look after the store of a countrywoman. Three men rushed into the store at night, with the intent of robbing the place, and the consul was severely -wounded in defending himself and tho store. The robbers decamped after the wounding took place, without looting the place.