THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1879

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 102, 13 September 1879, Page 2

THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1879

'l'm htwoi the Convention providing that that portion of this island, eompri ••■■l iii-iil.- tin- boundaries of what is DOW I ion as the neutral territory, should

I•• framed intu a lias ■ fated <s.n>ideruble uustuuteiit n. certain quarter*. The OaUsN assigned for :..-• discontent are, in the Brat place, Unit men an important step«ln>uld be taken mxl *he Convention concluded without those-who are interested pecuniarily in .the matter having been consulted, or an opportunity'uaving been given to them .to offer .some suggestion ni to what would lie the best course to take. In tho second place, and the complaint whieh-sooius to be made the most of, there appear* to bo a fear that not only have they mil been allowed n word to say a* to how tliey should be taxed, but that wl:eii taxes have been levied they are not to be permitted to say a word in the matter uf their expenditure. That work, the impression is, will be .monopolised by the three representatives of the countries which have entered into treaty relations with Samoa. So far as the alleged ground for .tiie /first complaint is concerned we fcave to state that tho public themselves are to blame on aocouut of their inactivity iin matters relating to their own welfare as a community. Wo have, upon more than ouo occasion, urged theaeeesaity of n public meeting being called for tho purpose ef having Apia formed into nrjounicipality; or for the purpose <jf takiijg-6ome steps for tho preservation «*f rguod order in our little town. Our ideas were considered very i;ood, but the abmghty dollar stood in the way of their being carried intoeil'ect. Had there been any desire shown. «u the part of the public to preserve some kinfl of law and order amongst themselves ; had they had the islightest.'Organisation in their midst, we have no doubt they would have been called upon to take part in the Convention above rcfca'Uii

AVith regard to the second complaint, we really cauunt see that tliev have any cause .fur it whatever, aceording to the terms of the Convention. It is certainly the intention of the framers of the articles of the said Convention that there shall lie representation. The first, article provides for. the fouup.tion of the municipality, and defines its boundaries; the second prnvKes: that "raioll town and district shall hejplaced under, the Government of a Municipal Board consisting of those foreign Consuls resident in Apia, whose nations entered iuto Treaty relations with Samoa. Representatives of every such nation having a Consul'ir. fSamoO) slut/I at a future period lie added' ,to tike said Board," >tc. It is qjjjtuj pinin ito us. that, the framers «f 'the* articles.of tW<: Convention intended that the public should have representation in the Council-meetings oftthe Muniei-' pal Board. Had it read, "lteprescntotives of every such nation . . . mmj . . ..

be added," then there might have boon' some fear that the foreign ( 'onsuls were desirous of, ami intended to, curry on the business of the Municipality without help from outsiders; hut the imperative nhall puts all grounds for such fears to flight. We have no boubt that the •'future period," jut which .thisiyoju-moti ' , tntkm is to be.all.QrmltwilhU&afi soon as the neeessnijy preliminaries have been gone through. The establishment of a Municipal Bound here is not such :\n ,e*H}" mutter as itie in a civilised country kWhe.se the law provides the preliminary rmoflswes for the construction of the Board. For instance, in the Australian : .colonies when a.town contains a certain number.oi* .householders they are entitled lito be incorporated as a .Municipality. Xhe. »u;.iuest for such incorporation • having: been granted to them, .the h>w settles (according to ttie.numbor.ofira.ta* payays) .how many representatives .s!aH .form ithe Council, .and how such rcpro•WUtfttlveN shall be elected, and «> on. Tim*' being uoiinw hero fu it her than the CunvuHtien fwoviding for the establish* nient of the .Municipal Board, the foreign Consuls have to tilid out what assessable property there is within the boundary,to arraugu how many representative! then shall be, how they shall he elected, what qualifications are necessary, ami other matter*. When all this is done we have not the slightest doubt that the Consuls will be only too glad ,to have the assistance of some representatives in govern--Uig.the town, .for it is well knowu that they each have as much to do as .tboy Wo .about in Uioir.njliciul duties, without being pVOl" ambitious to burden themselves .vjth that which is essentially .the duty (>f the ratepayers. It is hmu-'Ui UOtUSp ,to grumble, and it is the nature of same f>i-< •pi-* to meet troubles halfway : but in this particular niattur we would advise those who feel inclined to grumble, not to he in too groat a hurry, for we feol certain they wul get the reprutoDtation they require in due time. •

CuM'Ktr.—ln the report of (lie cricket match ]ih»y»'.l at Ynilele, which apjieaivd hour hat Issue, Mi Keball it credited with one nm instead of t»eJ»<\ in the second innings, and Mr. Breather with three ram instead of four. 1)!'. :.'K \M> DIsOKOEBM'. — Frank Tho:: i- wn Bu id >•'•. ■ ii 1 ucsday last! befi re tlio Neutral Terrif rj I being drunk aud disorderly. DrxSER.- On Wednesday night last Mr. James .Laurenson, <i the [ntuniulioual Hotel, entertained a muulier ol the warrant ofßeei? of the U.S.fc. JLatkasranafe to a dinner. About tatty persons sat down to a most suinptuous.repast. The dinner wus vet out in the' billiard-room, which wns -very tastefully decorated. After tho usual toasts had been proposed ami responded to, the company dispersed well satisfied with the evening's-onter-tertainmeut.

Auction Sales. —Our local auctioneer, Mr. J. R V. Alvord, appears to have his hands pretty full of business just now ; on Thursday 1m had si large sale of dry goods, yesterday i* disposed of a quantity .of "provisions at .public suction, and on Monday next he will oiler 41 u cases of potatoes, and 47 boxes of onions. Owing to the number of vessels which have arrived here during the past few weeks the •market is completely glutted with JHO.visions, a»l, in consequence, most of the .articles aso fifty per aeut. cheaper than ■they iveretthree mouths ago. Its an ill wind thaUblowfi nobody good, and poor (paterfamilias is very glad at .the.dhtuige things have taken. Mkktinu of Aan.v. —On Thursday, .4th of August, the old Malo had a meeting with all Anna, for the purpose of getting them to make war on lialietoa. It was held at Leulumoega, the capital. The Bpoakats of tho districts of Faleastu and Fusil no said they were in favour of the old Government, and would light for them; that now they called upon nil Anna ito come forward and help the old Government in their distress. The speaker of Leulumoega said the same. The speakers for Nnfaalii nmUFasitootai stated that they had bled ier .'Malieteu and would do so again ; thoy were .for a new Government and.now people. -When they saw .all Savnii, Aaua, Tutuila, .and Afcna there to help the old Govern.intuit, then they would bo there too.so.as tto lutvo a settled Govcrniiient. They, were not for lighting, yet it' Malietoa wanted them they would go. One part of Sainpuala is neutral, the other part for tho old Government. The Falelatai speaker said, you call upon us to help you. Who was it slpw my children, that I have just buried, awl fir whom, [.am crying'' see,isny tears aiv-Jiot dry ! Who killed.them, ajul why werstthsy'dostroyed iby you.! Oh, no J cannot como. to .you ; lam iin distress, mourning for mv children; J want rest, and then if.'jMalictoa wants .me, I will take my elubrand go to him. Saumtau speaker said, i was building a ik-w house, and who came and to ik the sides away so that I could not finish :t .' V\ ho took all my substance away

did it:- Ik-iiv .!.■; 1 have collected ma-; .tiaiil wit.ii >vhich to linisli the hj uise, aixlwhen finished, 1 will invito Lite new 6*5weruinont to ebrue and live in it—live,in vpeace with me. The Kaga people .<lid nut attend tho meeting, but it is ,well .known that tliey are for .Mflliutoa. The Taimua and Faipule had to go hack home 'disconsolate.—Communicated.