TALK ABOUT TOWN.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 74, 1 March 1879, Page 2

TALK ABOUT TOWN.

" There's a chiol amaug ye tukiu' notes, And faith he'll nrent theiu." An American paper writing on the Chinese question fays: —" There's more objection to the Chinaman than his pig- i tail. If he comes to this country ou the same footing as the Germans, Irish, i French, and other emigrant*, he must live as they do, according to civilised ways. He must settle down as an Ame- ] rican citizen, marry a wife and bring up : children, and be a respectable individual, and not be a cunning, cow-hearted, immoral selfish little rascal, who makes no ties, lives in swarms in dirty cellars, supports nobody but himself, and so can ' underbid civilised men and starve their ' famalies; and who saves his money in a j bag till he has enough to return to China, I to the worship of his absurd Joss, wh re he laughs in his big sleeve at the ' Melican iiiuii 'he bled for hi* independauce." Tnis is kind of rough on the " heathen Chinee "; aud we ought to be proud to think that it is not applicable to the few Celestials who have taken up their abode amongst us here. A little while ago there was an attempt made by a prominont American citizen to get up the antiChinese agitation here j but I am glad to think he was not only unsuccessful, but became exceedingly unpopular with the rest of the foreign community on account thereof. He has evidently thought twice over the matter, and has wisely given it up. There is nothing whatever to be said against tho Chinese here, either in their social or business relations. One is only sorry to think that they are a striking exception to the rest of their countrymen elsewhere.

" Which I wish to remark " that, like the heathen Chinee, " For ways that are dark And tricks that are vain," the American Consulate at Apia is occasionally " peculiar." Another of those mean, base frauds wliich occasionally come to light in high places, has just been exposed; and for contemptible meanness and hcartlessness is not to be paralleled in the somewhat shady annals of this hitherto not overclenn office. In the time when that ex-tailor fellow Griffin held the reins of office, a widow woman, whose late husband was an American citizen, handed in to Griffin's trust and care, in his official capacity of United States Consul, the deeds of some land, her late husband's property in Fiji. She received from Griffin in return, a piece of paper on which was some writing, and which the fellow explained to her was the receipt, on presentation of which at any time she could regain possession of the deeds ; aud she went on her way in a blissful state of mind, under the impression that her deeds were now as safe as they would proverbially be in tho Bank of England. Sho. being a Samoan unable to read English, took tho document for what it was represented to be, aud kept it under lock and key, it never once entering her mind that it was possible for such a high official as the "faamasino Amelica" to be other than an honest upright man. Poor woman ! she had too much faith in American Consuls; perhaps if she had known more about this man she would have been better off to-day. As time rolled on she married again ; this lime to an out and out Britisher, n..d 1 suppose daring the honeymoon, or some other propitious time, sue o d him of the prop ity left bv the first husband. The pair lately went to the Consulate, and requested Consul Hawaii to .search for the deed amongst the archives, l«ut he couiil not find any trace or clue whatever. It then occurred to the husband to ask his wife if Griffin had given her any paper in return for the deed. She said he had given her a receipt; and produced the document, of which this is a copy:—" United States Consulate, Apia. To Captain Richards, schooner," then at the foot of the sheet "L.S." and some unintelligible scrawl meant for a signature. This was deliberately given by Griffin to the woman as the receipt for the custody of her land deeds, though it is evidently the commencement of a letter to Captain Richards, of the schooner Isabel, with whom he was in correspondence at tho time respecting Mamea's free passage to 'Frisco under the guise of American mail agent After seeing this so-called receipt it is not a matter of surprise tnat the deeds are not to be found in the Cousulate archives. The fellow has uo doubt long ago " raised the wind " ou thein, to some equally un(lCrtitojlous buyer. It is the intention of the nufband of this defrauded woman to communicate with friends in Fiji, in the hopes of being able to sift the matter. If he ever comes across little Griffin's path—and I hoDc he some day will—his most intimate friends will havo a diffioulty in recognising him five minutes afterwards.

The English Government arc notably ever ready to acknowledge any services rendered on their beholf. As another instance of their liberality I am happy to say that Mr. Frank Cornwall has just received from the Home Government, per R. S. Swanston, Esq., Acting Consul, a very handsome monetary recognition of the services he rendered in the capacity of Acting British Consul, during the alisonoe of the then Consul (the late Mr. Liardet) in Fiji. It is pleasant to reflect that in spite of all the red-tapcism and tho tedious routine of that terrible ".Circumlocution Office," Old England nover " harks buck " ou her faithful servant*.

On looking over last week's paper I noticed that the Celestial Ah Mann has changed the name of his hotel from the " Eagle "to the " Lion." I thought it was an error of judgment on his part, as the " Eagle " was singularly appropriate. On making inquiries, however, I leom that the name of the hotel has been altered in deference to the wishes of the American Consul, whose tender and refined sensibilities fancied they saw au ini- ! plied insult to his Consular sign which 1 adorns the front verandah of that illus- ; trious and honorable gentleman's residence, I hear that lie even went so far I as to complain to the British Consul about | the matter; but the Celestial very kindly I and considerately altered tho sign, and I thus, it is to be hoped, brought jieoce to ■ the troubled soul, and highly sensitive nerves of the American Consul. I have not heard thst this official has yet returned his thanks to Ah Mann for the prompt manner in which that individual i so gracefully acceded to his unreasonable ana childish demand. Having gone so far into the ludicrous I wonder that he has not stepped a few paces further and ordered publican Srnaliey to remove his artistically designed representation of the "Eagle" from over his door; especially as Snialley is one of his own citizens, and the " Eagle " is one of those which might very naturally be mistaken for a'vulture.' Surely the parody would be sufficient grounds for its removal and destruction. For the sake of the reputation of the American Consul, I regret that he descended to such a pettifogging piece of business, especially as the pubUo opinion is that it was done more with the intention of annoying the Chinaman than for tho reason stated to the British Consul. In either case it is unworthy of the official position of the man, and being " true 'tis pity ; pity 'tis, 'tis true." A correspondent of mine, writing from Tonga says, "The chiefs and officials throughout Tonga have been instructed to discourage the use of Chilian silver, and to dissuade the people from taking it." This is a step in tho right direction. As far back as three years ago the Tonga Government announced that Chilian silver was not legal tender, and refused to take any of it in payment for taxes, fines, &c. But unfortunately for their reputation for consistency, though they refused to receive Chilian silver, they invariably paid the salaries of their officials and civil servants in that coin : but these servants murmured not, for their hearts over (lowed with joy on being paid, even in " illegal teniler," wages which bad long ago been overdue. My correspondent further says: "On dit that in n few month's time Mr. Baker will have leave of absence after his long and arduous work in Tonga." Somehow I fancy there is a little bit of quiet sarcasm hidden in this sentence. I don't mean with reference to Mr. Baker's " long and arduous work," for anyone who knows anything of that gentleman must candidly admit that he lias worked very hard for the past few years. Early ami late ; from year's end to year's end, and with numberless irons in the fire:—Chairman of a large missionary district; Editor of au English and native paper; medical attendant to the Royal Family of Tubou ; dispenser of spiritual advice and worldly medicine to the natives ; proprietor of an extensive farm and plantation ; framer of tho Constitution of Tonga, and many of the laws ; working Trustee of the Bank and of the Governmeut Savings Bank ; interpreter to the King on all important occasions ; sub-rosa adviser of the Government, and mauy other things too numerous and too dangerous to mention ; the Rev. Shirley Waldemar Baker is truly one in a thousand. But, like most successful men I should say, judging from outward appearances and the palatial stylo of residence he inhabits, Mr. Baker is receiving the reward he expected to get. If Mr. Baker's spiritual administrations have been half so profitable as his lay labour he is indeed an extraordinary man. And to crown all he is to have leave of absence—" it may be for years, it may- be for ever " —and receive a decoration from his grateful Majesty the German Emperor; that is if his Queen sees fit to approvo of the services he has rendered Germany, in return for which this decoration is to bo offered to him.

I beg to be allowed to dedicate tho following —slightly altered from the original —to the author of " A ride to Malua and back ":— " Now, let us sing, Long livo the King, And D n, long live ho; And when he next doth ride abroad, May I bo there to see." I have just been informed by an intimate friend of James Schuster, Esq., of Savaii, that that gentleman has been offered and has accepted the office of American Vice-Consul, or Consular Agent or whatever the title may be, for Savaii. I do not answer for the correctness of this assertion, but give it to the public just as it was given to me by this Savaii squattor, whose statement, on account of his intimacy with Mr. Schuster, may be fairly presumed to have some colour of truth in it. I know, as a matter of fact, that Mr. Schuster, accompanied by my informant came over to Apia this week for the express purpose of seeing the American Consul on business matters; and it is just probable that this alleged appointment is the result. Presuming such to be tho oose I must congratulate Mr. Schuster on being promoted to an offico of dignity and ease. I believe there are a whole five American citizens on Savaii, including Mr. Schuster himself, so that it is not likely his duties will be of a very arduous nature, —for some time to come : at least. My informant ond another' Savaii squatter who is In Apia ot tho! present time, and Is also an intimate'

friend of Mr. Schuster'* int«ml to precede that gentleman to Savaii, so M to have the flagstaff erected in front of Mr. Schuster's residence, and hoist the glorious American flag with all due honours and eclat on Mr. Schuster's arrival. The gentlemen who propone to pay this graceful compliment to Mr. Schuster ou his accession to office are, I am given to understand, " Lima tnoato " and his " Uo." It is presumed by those who know Mr. Schuster best, that these newly acquired honours will sit lightly and gracefully upon him. Cyril.