TALK ABOUT TOWN.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 88, 7 June 1879, Page 2

TALK ABOUT TOWN.

" Thorn's a chiel amang ye takin' notes, And faith he'll !>ront them." Waitixo for the Waxdrahm. I don't believe that in the wliole of the shipping annals of Samoa, a case can be found in which wore anxiety was felt and more excitement caused through such a variety of reasons and interests in the non-due arrival of a vessel than is exhibited in the present case with regard to the good bargue Wandrahm from .San Francisco. From the owners downwards tho cry has been for some weeks past, and still is.— " Where can the Wandrahin be So long and still at sea, Where can that Wandrahm bo Where, Oh ! ichere is she 1" The owners are naturally anxious for tho sake of the vessel and her cargo; the German ship of war will soon require provisions; all the flour on the beach is done, and we have only a few tins of hard bread left. The Etienne is ready to sail for the glorious country New Britain, where dresses, shirts and trousers are unknown, but she requires provisions and must wait not " for the waggon, wait a little longer " but for the Wandrahm. We unfortunates on the beach have almost forgotten the taste of potatoes, onions, ham, bacon, and butter, which are becoming such luxuries that it mokes one's mouth water to think about them. At times we are plentifully supplied—-over-stocked in fact; but the non-arrival of the Wandrahm has raised what are generally considered common necessaries of life into .absolute luxuries. Perhaps the most anxious of the varied crowd who tele such an interest in this barque are those who expect remittances, and those storekeepers who have been giving credit on the strength of the representations of tho expectants. So altogether it is a pretty kettle of fish; yot strong and varied as arc the interests, how many of us in wondering whother any accident has befallen the Wandrahm, give a thought to the fate of her crew,—of those men who " go down to the sea in ships," and bravo all tho dangers, troubles, and hardships of tea life for the bare support of their wives and families at home. Surely they are worth, at least a passing thought, amidst all this excitement of selfinterest.

Tub U. S. Onset ajid thk lliuu Com- ; MlvililNJ.K!. Coi'RT. It is only natural to presume that the second attack on Mr Biualley's house by one of the Hunt boys was induced by the failure to puuish the offenders on the first occasion. This boy, and the rest of the roudy gang of British halfcastes are evidently under the impression that they can, with the utmost impunity 8y I'm as any legal instruments is concerned do what they like in the way of mischief and dumuge to the. , property or person of any Ajnerican ! citizen. Unfortunately for American citizens, and to the great disappointment of those residents who know the had character of these boys Hunt and their associates they cannot through the recent extraordinary action of the Amecan Consul, be brought before the High Commissioner's Court and puni lied for any offence they may commit ugainst an American citizen. The American Consul has. for some reason best known to himself, refused to admit the legality of li.B. % Majcsty's High Commissioners Court, and declines to officially recognise the existence of such an officer of Her Majesty us the Deputy Commissioner at Apia. The case Smalley v. Hunt having been dismissed on that account, these British halfcaste boys are aware that until the American Consul admits the legality of that Court the existence of which ho at present is pleased to ignore, they are in full and undisputed possession of the field as against American citizens. The Deputy Commissioner was, —and is yet, whenever he has the opportunity—fully prepared to give these hoys a severe, and, it is to be hoped, a salutary lesson ; not in the from of a fine, which is invariably paid by the relations of the offenders, but by imprisonment for a certain term, and whenever the nature of the ori'onco warrants it, a touch of the lash and a free passage to Fiji iu the character of stone-breakers to her Britannic Majesty. The good that would have been effected, had the lesson with its attendant punishment that was intended to have been given in the first case against the two Hunt uoys has been prevented through the extraordinary views of tho official who is sent hero to look after American interests, and Americans have no one else to blame for being unable to obtain redress against British subjects here than their own Consul, Thomas 11. Dawson Esq. Of course while refusing t.j recognise the High Commissioner's Court, he lays himself just as liable to be asaulted by these British halfcaste rowdies as his fellow citizens, and he will have to take an insult or an assault from them as quietly as he , has forced Mr. Smalley to do. Cyril.