FAREWELL DINNER TO MR. R. L. STEVERNSON.

Samoa Times and South Sea Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 68, 8 February 1890, Page 2

FAREWELL DINNER TO MR. R. L. STEVERNSON.

--- A dinner was given by Mr. H. J. Moors at his residence on Monday evening to R. L. Stevensn, Esq., on the occasion of the latter gentleman's departure from Samoa, for a few months. The dinner, it is needless to say, was of a first-class character. There were present: Col. de CoetLogon, Commander Hunker, Rev Mr. Clarke, Captain Hamilton, and Messrs. Carruthers, Sullivan, Kirby, and Varney. At nine o'clock the host arose, and informed those present that he had had received a letter from Dr. Stuebel and Mr. Schmidt expressing their regrets that they could not be present, having already accepted an invitation to dine on board the Lubeck. He said he felt MM that ho WOO but giving Voi*e t.. the caatiincato of til that* piesent »hj«« he said thai they want all delighted to hoacwr their distinguished gueet, and ho folt certain thai everyone would regret hia early departure. However, he could any thai it iraa Mr. 8to««MOo'a intention to bo again with as befero tho dose of tho year, and that Mr. Stevenson had purchased property in Samoa, with tho intention of making it Ma permanent rosidoiico. (Hear, hoar.) The speaker proceeded to say that ho thoqgbf aaoh n dotermination on tho part of our distinguished gueot was rortainly highly complimcntary to Bamoo, particuUrly aa Mr. Stevenson had travelled many thouund miles about tlm Pacific hef.»re visiting our island*, and especially as oar friend had aeon Samoa under "the very worst possible iircumstaacca arriving here in oar wot eoaeon, aad ahortly after a desolating war aad a devaatnt*ing harrioano had swept over the land, aad ravaged tho country. The boat deplored the want of aocialdlity in Bamoa, and extolled tho proposal of the 1 Ut. Mr. Ctartun ia fan .or of eatahUahing a literary institute in Samoa, and predicted that tho advent of Mr. Stevenann would give it the impetus which it needed; ia fort, one of oar great wants was tho advent of aneh settler* aa our guost wonM be, peoplo without prejudioae, having no oommercial intereats to worry aliout, or bring tliom into eoufbet with ot'wwa. In ronoluainn, ho would proposo tho toast of the evening." A pleasant and prosperous voyage to our gueet, and a speedy return.'' The toast was drank standing with enthusiasm. In reply, Mr. Stevenson said that from the bottom of his heart he thanked all present for the honour they had dime him, and for tho goodwill expressed. He said that since his arrival amongst thorn he had been treated with great kindness, thanks for which he could only inadequately express. Whilr in England his health was such that for years he has been considered a dying man. Aa a last resort, he had undertaken his journey through the South Pacific, with little hopes of such improvement as had resulted. He was now in much better health than he had been in for a very long while, and was very thankful for it. Particularly had his stay in Samoa benefitted him. Ha said that the wonderful beauty of the place, and the kindness of the inhabitants had impressed hita that wo trad an many- positive advantages with a minimum of drawbacks. Oar mail facilities were ourtaiuly tho beat la the Pacific, Tho oHtnato. even in the rainy season, waa delightful. He aaid that he had hoard that we sometime* have a favor beta, but ho felt sure that at tho place where ha intended to ereet his residence (antaa 700 ft above the a*a level) he weald not ha affeeted by it. It waa vary possible indeed that Samoa would become a famed aanitorium for persons aflioted aa ha waa, that each visitors aa invalida ia evaroh of health, while not exactly the most lively, were cerlaioly not, aa 'a rale, disorderly aad tattodaat viattors. The advent of such faaWftV however doleful, was goneraUy Wm+\* «d he hmed that Samoa wanilofoW aneh attractions as would aad aa build up a In conclusion he returned his very sincere thanks to all present for the honour that thoy had done him. Capt. Hamilton arose to ay that he ana lussaod bare come forty yean, aaanmannama or n ooetor uere la Samoa #'?*idajlthata»and so ha. atom.' Mam the man had: but, for ths fcS. !T" IW"'"**. he had never mi* ■»*>casnfA>iat L aad it took a doctor to discover it. He said that the natives used to ask him if white men ever did die. Their reason for such a question was that they appeared sick and none died. [MORE >>]