TALK ABOUT TOWN.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 69, 25 January 1879, Page 2

TALK ABOUT TOWN.

There's a ohiel among ye takiti' notes, And faith he'll orent them."

* ThepolitcoJ atmosphere of Samoa is hazy ; and the chances of my favourite oondidato for the office of adviser to tho Satnoon Government (?) have taken a sudden—though in some quarters not unexpected—turn of the tide. One of the three Foreign postals I hear, strongly objects to the introduction in tho Government P) of any white man until the interests and claims of his countrymen are settled to his satisfaction. Fortunately for him—the Consul—but perhaps, unfortunately for the Somoans, ho demands a settlement of these claims at a tirao when he, through the generosity of a I liberal Continental Government, is in a position to say to tho Samoan Government, —" there is no compulsion ; but you must!" Two ships of war,—even if ono is only a gun-boat,—are not to be snoozed at —by Samoansl

I have received a communication from a gentleman in ro the laud paragraph which appeared in my last wi-eks 'Talk" It is evident that he tits one of tho two caps on his own bead; the letter is iu-

'.ended as a denial of the allegations contained iu my article. But his letter is couched in such a manner as to make it really impossible to publish it, as I had hoped to be able to do, without disgracing the columns of the paper and running the risk of an action for libel. There is no point whatever in his so called denial: but it is simply n tirade of abuse, in which gianuner, sense, ryhme ind reason are conspicuous by their absense. This is the Bton surprising to me as the writer is a gentleman who professes to have had considerable experience on the American press. If that is a specimen of his style of writing while conductor of a daily paper my only surprise is thatjhu has not long before now received the contents of a revolver from an irate fellow countryman, or lying iu the Tombs under sentence on a criminal action for libel. It may be American style of journalism but certainly will not suit here. For the credit of the gentleman himself, 1 am sorry that he did not pell his communication in such a manner as to enable me to insert it in my column.

Move rallies! On referring to the advert'sing columns it will be seen a premier rattle is to take, place in Matafele 00 Tuesday next. Modesty prevents me from saying more, than, as a Birmingham Cheap .lack would say—" Roll up, gents, and take your tickets while there is time !" Cykil.