THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1879.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 75, 8 March 1879, Page 2

THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1879.

It is a work of super-crrogation to call attention to the uncertainty of our postal arrangements. The opportunities for communication with the outside world are numerous enough ; it is the uncertainty attendant on the arrival and despatch of mails that causes annoyance. But what caps all is the knowledge of the fact that twice a month a mail steamer passes within a few miles of this island, and what increases regret is the thought that ere this something might have been dono to establish communication with those mail steamers. The harbours of Apia and Pagopago are both easy of .access; approach to both of them is free from the obstructions which endanger navigation in the Fiji group. But it would be quite vnnecessary for the steamers to do more than call off ono of these harbours, and land mails and passenger in the pilot boat. A.u hour's detention would thus suffice. At the presont day wo foar there is but little prospect of auy such programme being carried out. From a business point of view it is nobody's interest to inaugurate such u change; some even desire to remain in statu quo, while the general public have neither the power to bring it about nor the means to pay for the luxury. Samoa must thei-efore bo content to bo within two months' hail of Europe, although she lies close to a mail route winch incroafes in importance each year. Like many other things tliis question is one of time. Apia is so wnnraphically situated that it must eventually become a port cf call for tho San Francisco mail steamers, and likewise bo tho point of departure of branch steamers to various parte of Oceania.

Aicriox.—We have been requested to' cnll particular attention to the monster unreserved sale of general merchandise, which will bo held by Mr. Alvord, on Tuesday next, at the Hotel lur Stadt Hamburg.

Acusta's Fkrky. —Wo are glad to be' able to stato that Mr. Aeosta, the euterprising proprietor of the Hotel gar Stadt | Hamburg, who is ever on the look-out for something whereby he may turn in j au honest penny, ha* started a ferry-bout where but a week ago Mr. Williumsou's bridge stood in all its glory. AVhile this is not nearly so convenient as the bridge was, yet it must be admitted that it is an institution which we could not well do without. We hope, therefore that the spec will prove a paying one.

A Samaritan Wasted, —The bridge that joins Matafele to Apia wants mending. The firm of Messrs. Godetiroy and Sou acted the part of the Good Samaritan to the public a week ago, by repairing this structure at their own cost. Unfortunately, however, the heavy rain oJ this week has washed away some of the approach, so that it wants a dollar or two spent upon it in order to make it safo for people to cross when the dark nights return. But as we do not think it right that any one person or firm should be saddled with the expense of repairing these public conveniences, we propose that a subscription bo started at ouco for this object. Accident.—On Monday night last, a somewhat serious accident happened to Mr. Young, United States Marshal. On the night in question he had occasion to go out, and during his absence a tree had fallen across the path leading to his house. Upon the left hand side of this path there is a well with a brick guard about eighteen inches in height, but without any covering, whatever. When returning and comiug hi contact with the branches of tho fallen tree, Mr. Young, thinking he had got off the track, turned to the left, when he stumbled against and fell across the well, saving himself from falling to the bottom by the most strenuous efforts. IHe was severely injured in the cetitie of the chest, where the left ribs join the

breast-bone ; and one of his ribs was froo tared below the left shoulder blade. Mr

Young is being attended by Dr. Geo. A. Turner, and we believe is progressing favourably. A short time after this, Mr. M'llhenny, who occupies tho same house with Mr. Young, was returning home, and, making the sanio mistake witli regard to the fallen tree, fell head first into the well. Fortunately there was very ! little water in it at the time, and this gentleman escaped with a mouthful of mud and a broken finger, which we hope will not prove a serious detriment to his painting capabilities.