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Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 78, 29 March 1879, Page 2

Dr. Van Camp.—This gentleman was a passenger from Sydney to Sau Francisco by the P M. steamer City of New York, which called at Auckland eu loute, on the 7th January. SalltE.—The "Government" fired a salute of 21 rounds at Mulinuu on Monday, in honor of the anniversary of the birth of the Emperor of Germany. As there was only ouo gun in use the time occupied in tiring was,considerable. \V hoofing Couch.—For the past few weeks we have been visited by ipiite an epidemic of whooping cough. It appears to be in a very mild form, however, for we have only heard of two deaths from its effects; one at Malua, the other at Fagalii. The latter was connected witn bronchitis TnOMAS Rf.xxf.lX,- This man svho. it will he remembered, murdered Captain Holler at the island of iioutaritaii, a few months ago, was discharged from custody in Auckland, Judge Gillies ruling tha,t there was no legal power in New Zealand to retain the man in custody, to try him there, or to semi him anywhere else for trial. His Honor in delivering this judgment, deeplj regretted the existing state of die law wuiah ueces sitated him discharging the prisoner The newspapers from one end of New Zealand to the other comment upon the case, and almost unanimously join in the regret expressed by Judge Gillies.

Road Making.—While wending our way through the town on Thursday morning last, wo came upon some thirty natives working on the roads. Thinking the " Government" had beeu casting its net and had obtained a haul of prisoners, wc made inquiries, and imagine our disappointment when we were informed that the roadincuders were not prisoners, but the " Government " itself. Yes, there were their Excellencies the Taiinua and the Faipuli; their Honors the Judges, together with " Prince " Mamea—all the members of the " Government," except their adviser—were engaged carrying kits of sand to fill up hollows in the road between the International and Occidental Hotels. While wo are glad to see this august body making a start to do something for their living, wo do not think it speaks much for their strength and power as a " Govennnent " when they cannot obtain labourers to do their roadwork. We notice that they knocked off at 10 o'clock, and have not since resumed work. No doubt from the amount of charting they got, they have come to the conclusion that roadmaking was rather a degrading occupation for men of their standing to be engaged in. Surely, if they have the power they profess to have, there arc plenty of young men who have broken the so-called laws, who might be got to pay the penalty on tho roads. Why not arrest some of the Tuamasaga "rebels and make them do the roadwork, so that we may see the tableau of this farce '< Echo answers, why ?