CORRESPONDENCE.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 10, 8 December 1877, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

We are always willing to give insertion to letters of explanation or interest, but we wish it to be distinctly understood that we do not endorse the opinions expressed, or language used, by our correspondent*. Our ideas of passing events will bo found in our local or editorial columns. TO THE EDITOR OK THE SAMOA TIMES. Sir., —I object to the tenor of the remarks of yuur correspondent " Sinbad " in your issue of Saturday last, because : First—He says that your paper is "to us—valuable" Does he intend to insinuate that it is only valuable to us < I trust that it will prove so to many out of Samoa as well as "to us." Second— His remarks regarding the burying ground are a perfect enigma. In referring to your leader on the subject he, after apparently Hativ contradicting himself, concludes " Good, let the dead rest." Why, Sir, it i.- because we wish to think of the dead as " resting in peace," that I trust our community will not let the matter rest. The state of the burying ground at present is such as to cause one to feel far from comfortable at the prospect of the possibility of being laid there, and even to make one almost imagine the dead turning uneasily in their graves.

Thirdly—What he .says about tho education of Foreign children shows a want of information on the subject which one would not have expected from any old resident In fact, I would submit that " Rip Van Winkle" would have been a more appropriate cognomen than " Sinbad," for it is very apparent that the writer must have been asleep almost, if not quite, as long as the veritable original Rip. Had he not been so he surely would have known more of the matter on which he addresses you, and not have made the erroneous statements he does. And further, when he did wake up, if he had taken the trouble to enquire, he would easily have obtained all the information he desires from almost any of our " oldest inhabitants," at all events from those who interest themselves in such matters. It was in November, 1850, that some: of the principal residents of this place bought what is now know as the Vailclo School Land, from the late J. C. Williams, Esq., for the purpose of establishing " an institution for tin: education of Foreigners children in Samoa." The price which they agrecil to pay for the said land was fifteen hundred dollars, inclusive of a subscription of five hundred dollars from Mr. Williams himself. At the same time five hundred dollars was paid over to Mr. Williams, leaving a balance of an equal amount, which they agreed to pay -in three or four months," thereafter." But a good ileal of difficulty was experienced in raising the money, and in 1853, thenwas still a balance due of two hundred and forty dollars, and the Trustees applied to the Missionaries of the London Missionary Society to try and obtain that sum with the help of friends in the colonies, and at the same time they associated "the Missionaries of the London .Missionary Society who are, or may hereafter be," residents in Samoa," with them as co-trustees. The document from which I have just quoted is signed by the following gentlemen,—George Pritchard, Robert -Ami, Charles Fruean, John Baker, Harry De Loos, Nathl. j! Hill, and James W. (,'. Devoo. The sum was raised, and the closing balance paid over to Mr. Williams, in Sjyduey.in 1853. When the land was first leased 1 do not know, but in 1865, it was leased for a period of twenty-one years to the late Mr. Charles MaeKarland, for the sum of four dollars per month. This lease lapsed last year on account of the. payments not having been paid up for a year or two before. In the early part of this year, notices were posted on the notice-boards by order of the Trustees, offering the property for lease, but up to the present time no tender has been sent in.

To return, there have been in the past, some six teachers employed by the Trustees, and of course, while the land was leased the proceeds were appropriated to help in paying the salary of the teacher. The last teacher, Mr Shaw, left in 1870, and in 1872 a balance lying in my hands was voted' by a full meeting of the Trustees to assist in paying for the repairs of the Bethel Lhapel, which was then re-roofed, floored, lined, painted, and lighted at a cost of over five hundred dollars. H was thought by the Trustees, that as tho church had sustained considerabl.. damage from its having being used as a school it was only fair for the money t<> be used in helping to pay for the repairs. At the present time there is one annual payment, and one or two smaller sums in hand, but we have neither been able to rc-lea.se the land, nor to obtain a teacher

1 . I hope this explanation will satisfy binbad, and I would remind him, that now, for the first time-thanks to your valuable paper-have we an opportunity of Presenting reports of public trust* in BUCh a way as that all may know what w i-eing done, Formerly, meetings of tho liustous were intimated from the pulpit of the church, un.l, for tho moat part, DOW in the church, with open doors Where " Smhid," ,n- any one else, might have got all the Information ho desired

I I would now appeal to him, ns hu wems much interested in this mutter, to at oneo, make the Trustees u liberal oiler for the lease of the Vuilrle .School Ul " 1 ' "'"' tl"w help on II dueatlon cause j and farther I make him this otier, that if he will lind B suitable man

■Bs a Teacher-- out; who will be approved m>y the Trustees—the London Missionary ■ Society will guarantee the sum of £IOO ■ per annum, for at least live years, to I help in paying his salary. Apol gising for trespassing ift so great ■ a length upon your valuable space. 1 am, Sir, Faithfully yours, (Skohgk A. Tt: its Kit, Ml)., M.C. Apia, 7th December, 1N77.