TALK ABOUT TOWN.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 93, 12 July 1879, Page 2

TALK ABOUT TOWN.

" There's a i hiel aniang ye tukiu' notes, Ami faith he'll oivut them." All things considered, I think it would have b ■ . better if Mr. Richard Uotherington, barrister and solicitor, Apia, Samoa, had left unwritten his letter which is published in the Samoa Timks of 2Mb June, and refrained from publishing Mr. Ollivier's apology. The matter was of no interest or importance to any one in Samoa except the writer himself ; but as In- asked for the publication of a letter which he should have kept in his private drawer, the renders of the .Samoa Timks naturally ask—" What is it all about < Who knows Mr. W. M. Oilivier; who is he ; what has he been '. A few old residents of Fiji who are living here can only answer those questions. What was the row about 'i The same people only can answer that question. They, aud they only.—some two or three—are the only persons to whom Richard Hetheringtou's letter to the Samoa Timks can possibly have any interest.

There is a rumour about town, in consequeuco of certain statements having been made in influential quarters, that Mr. Consul Dawson is agent fur some American land company and has been purchasing some land here on behalf of the company, that a denial of this statement lias been written, signed by a number of residents, and will be sent to Washington. 1 perfectly agree with the wording of tin: document, and admire the spirit ami sense of justice in which this matter has been taken up. Some of Mr. Dawson's official acts have been pretty freely criticised by myself when I thought it was my duty to do so; and 1 am therefore the more pleased to have had an opportunity of subscribing my name to a document refuting certain charges with which that gentleman has been maliciously and unfairly accused. 1 believe in fair light and —fair play. UVIIIL.