Local and General News.

Samoa Times and South Sea Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 30, 11 May 1889, Page 2

Local and General News.

A most extraordinary and unaccountable case of self-destruction occurred last Sunday. Mr. Miller, the head carpenter of the German firm, shot himself through the heart while sitting in his chair in his own house. When the news of the rash act was spread around it created quite a sensation. The deceased gentleman was of a quiet disposition, and was held in great respect by the whole community. He was alone in his house at t ho time. Mrs. Miller and family were on a visit to Mr. Coe, Mrs. Miller's father. The late Mr. Miller had closed all the doors just before firing the fatal shot. Some labor boys and the German guard heard the shot and came to • tho front window. On looking through they saw the deceased kitting in his chair, a book, which he must have been reading, and his spectacles on the floor, and a pistol on his lap. Mrs Miller was immediately sent for, her family remaining with their grandfather. The* funeral took place on Monday morning; a largo number of relatives arid frienda followed li'm remains to the grave. The flev. Mr. Mil conducted Hie burial service in an impressive manner, and which was llatened to wia solemn Attention. We believe Aho deceased came here from Fyi and was some time

The following is a list of the, Damn of the officers ot the 17. S. S.' Alert, which arrived here last week from Honolulu:—Commander: J. Q. Green; Lieut*.: 11, Carmodv, F. E. Greene, C. B. llwre; Ensigns: J. J. Kuapp, J. K. Seymour, W. Gilmer; P. A. Surgeon : E. H. Green ; Assistant Paymaster: G. L. Heap; < !hief Engineer: B. C, (lowing; Assistant Engineer: M. A. Anderson. A fatal accident occurred to a Corporal of Marines, from the IJ. S. S. Trenton, named J. Nieholls, on Saturday last. A stack of timber in Messrs. McArthur aud Co.'s sited broke away scmeltow and fell on the deceased, breaking his neck. He must have died instantly. Kr<m*> what we can learn the deceased had a hammock swung from some pieces which were placet! on the top of the stack of timber. Whether the fixing of the hammock was the cause of the stack giving way we do not know, but it was at any time a very unsafe place for sleeping in. If the accident took place at night the results mitsht have been much more serious. We believe several men have been in the habit of sleeping in the shed and close to the staek of timber. The deceased was a native of South Carolina. He has been many years in the service

uuu w«* grenwjr respected oy uic whole ship's crew and trusted t>y his superior officers. The deceased was buried the same evening. The

burial service was read by the .Rev. Mr. Hill. At its conclusion three volleys were fired by the marines over the grave of their departed

Ma tan fa having sen* the. Savaii men to their homes determined to change his lieaii quarters to Vaiela, about a quarter of a mile from the British Consulate, where ho will remain until after the Conference sitting in Berlin has concluded their labors. On Tuesday quite a procession followed the new King to his new residence, three or four hundred of thcTuamasaga marching with their rifles, to the accompaniment of the drum'. The King's flag, a very pretty design, was carried a little instance in the front of the line. Mataafu followed in his usual stately manner. He looked really grand. Then followed his guards, who will remain near him in his new home. I» is to be hoped it will not Ih> lohg until be i: located in Apia and .saluted by the guns of ail three nations -^ On Thursday morning lr.st'athnlf past six o'clock the 1 \h S. S. Nipsic steamed out of t!»e hnrhor, under convoy of the U. S. S. Alert, for Auckland, where she >s to repair the damages received when she was driven ashore iu v the hurricane. The Trenton's steam launch headed the Nipsic to thepasxage, but fidding her services no longer required, returned and reported that the temporary rudder, which had been fixed to the Nipsic, answeied admirably. The A:ert followed out immediately afterwards and both vessels continued steering northwards until out sight. Considerable disscussion has leeu going on amongst seafari"g men all the iime the rudder was beiug maile and fixed, with reference to its suitability for steering the Nipsic to

ivewZealand. i lcert-amiy appeared to answer,well as for as could be observed from Apia. Wo shall bu really glad to liear of the safe fivii\ - al of the shij) in New Zealand. The Nipsic has Injen in Apia nearly six inomhs and more than half chat time she wr.s the only vessel repreHentin.tt the United States in Samoa. Her captain and officers had a trying time of it, but always upheld the honor of their country creditably against the aggres-sivf action of the Qeruian squadron. The humano action of ('apt. Mullati in demandfang that .the German commander should give at least 12 hours notice iteforo he commenced to shell Mataafa'a head-quarters, will long be remembered by the natives It was thin-action that probably savnd many H vas by giving time to Mataaft. to varatethe village. Ail honor to Capt Mullan, his officers and crew. If ever they retusn to Apia they witt receive a'hearty welcome. On Wednesday last a Samoan named Malaga, a chief from Safota, was fired upon near the German flrmV prenAea by one of th« firing imported labor boys. Malaga was in.ibe intestine* ami died next

; day. Thin has caused an immense ' commotion aiiwu-t the natives, ami correspondence has taken place beIween the German Consul and Matanf.i with reference to it. We have male enquiries into the atiair bnt »t■item-mts residing it are *><> conflicting that we must refrain from commenting on the tragedy until n*xf Issue, when we hojie to bo in u jMJsition to give a true report of it. It is very likely an enquiry will bo held by the German Consul, who is responsibly for the punishment of the labor boy who as a servant of the German firm must he regarded as solely under the German Consul's control. It is to a thorough investigation he made immediately, or otherwise the frj&nds of the deceased might be induced to follow the Samoau fashion, and take the matter in their own hands, Me.isrs. McArthur and Co.'s schooner Tafua, which we reported as a total wreck some weeks a:."), has, we are pleased to find, been ! repaired, and is now afloat and ' looking as if nothing had happened ■ her. Great credit is due her cap- ■ tain and owners for their indomitable perseverance in Raving this ves--1 scl. In many other hands she ; would most probably be abari--1 doned.

<J it Tuesday rooming, a little before 11 o'clock, Mr. John Üboney set a light to his kerosene stove. ' Some kerosene must have been ■ spill around the store, which caught tire and created a great blaze. An j alarni was given, and sonic Satnoans foolishly threw water on the stove. This only spread the blaze. Fortunately Mr. (ircvs'iiiihl heard the | noise, an<l on seeing the flames managed to remove the stove from the premises. In doing so he got ! severely burned on the ley, and Mr. Mooin'v was burned in th< fWcc and hands. It was fortunate that assist'vn:'c was available. We ate happy to say that the injuries su ■ tained by Iwth gentleman are not of a serious character.

A number of mechanics and crew ot the U. S. S. Trenton went down to Tutuila on Saturday last iu the cutter Lancashire Lass, t/> assist the M>>!u»n:;ahehi men in building lighters. Ensign White of the U. S. S. N r M>sie went in charge. We believe he will remain on flie Mbnotigahela .Jofi-uiue time.

Our news rum Tuituila staffs states that all is quiet in that district. The chief Lanti who was in prison then 1 has been liberated.

S.iim» of Tamasosc's party who came down to Apia from Tuluila this week were rushed by some of M.ttn.'.f.i's mil) on Tuesday night. Noli ami wesdone. TheproclamatirfiPwhieh Mnra.ifa issued on Wednesday will prevent a recurrence of any further meddling with Tamascse's people.