TALK ABOUT TOWN.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 62, 7 December 1878, Page 2

TALK ABOUT TOWN.

" Thero'i o chid anions; ye takin' not**, And luiih he'll ureal them." Many .if our peaceful residents have been startled by the presence, in our midst, of a goldpiosjieetillg party, supposed to have com.- fresh with ('aliforniaii experiences. Such being the case, it is I aeitaiiil.i enough to set our little community on the qui vive when, day after day may be seen, sometimes one and sometimes two of the prospectors—light straight out from California, by thunder! —mouohing along the beach and every now and then stooping to pick up and pocket what they fondly believe to he specimens of the glorious yellow metal, which, say what you will, is the finest lubricator for the world's machinery that has ever been discovered. Hut nothing contributes to the excitement more than the mysterious manner in which these prospectors carry on their operations. They prowl along the beach With heads, and perhaps hearts, bowed down, as if reverently reading "sermons in stones," or looking for crab holes. 'Phis is done for a 'blind," to give the public the impressiou that they arc simply naturalists or natural scientists, not gold-seekers. A watchful observer will notice that one of the party will carelessly kick a stone, from which he has perhaps been reading a sermon. —and after taking a sly glance around to see if anyone is looking, surreptitiously place that stone slyly though quickly into the left-hand pocket of his coat, is ho woaisi one, ,or the right-hand pocket of his unmentionables. They will then resume their slow march, trying in a most painful manner to seem unconscious of their having seen anything or done anything, and in n few minutes more, — kick, look slyly, and pocket again. After the number of specimens they have gathered within the past fortnight many quiot observers, myself included, fully

expected to have an additional startle from these worthies in the form of n Prospectus or thu Croat No I Samoa Gold-Milling and Prospecting Company, Limited. 100,000 shares at S3 per share. The Prospectors and Promoters each to receive 5000 full paid-up shares." -And so on. We have been disappointed; no such pros| tus has yet appeared. If the prospectors don't soon "strike ile" they will have painfully stirl* necks from continually stooping. If they jiitv >t vet discovered what they are'looking for,— no matter: no doubt the (lood time is coming, bovs, Only wait a little'longcr! More excitement in this ordinarily Sleepy hollow' is caused by the announcement which was made in (he Samoa Times last week, to the effect that on the 10th instant the '• tlOvcrninent" will meet for business and try to devise—with the aid ~f th.-ir American friends—some means for a more stable government than we have hitherto had. Of course it will he fully Christmas time before we know anything fur certain, for lie- Tilimua and Faipulc will spend a week or more in shaking bands and feasting. As the general public are all more or less interested in this matter 1 publish the latest state of the betting on the great coming event. In political as well as in horse racing there are always some non-starters and some thoroughly distanced. Without ottering any odds myself, I give the list of the favourites, and tie- places th-v will probably start

Samoa Netting Market, Friday night, 11 30 p.m. 2 to ! on General B r It,— Premier and Commander-in-Chief of the A nu v. 2 to 1 on K nui -Cliief Justice

(i to 4on If t o i g on -Attorney-Gen. 2) tol on I). S. 1' i- e i- -Secretary of Slate and Minister of Elu-

eat ion. to lon Marshal V u g -InspootorGeneralof Police and Minister

of Mines. 2 to 1 onJoui V u ii—Commodore of

the Fleet. 2to lon John A a s Comptroller of Prisons. "lOtnl on donas M. C C- Treasurer and Under Secretary of State. ID to lon Kill 11 ny Minister for the Interior, 2 to I on Mlv. Lo M in a—Providore and Chief Cook. (A new Department specially (created to give this fellow suitable employment. Now. gentlemen, make your bets: