THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1880.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 121, 24 January 1880, Page 2

THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1880.

JJjvIXK Skkvick.—Tho Rev. Tlioihhm Puwoll will (D.V.) hold divine service in tho Foreign Church, Apia, on bundav ,(to-i)iorrow) at 10 a.m.

Shock or EARTHQUAKE. —Yesterday]) morning] about ouo o'clock, a sharp shock •. of earthquake was felt in Apia. Its i iluration was about two seconds. TltK Weather.—The past few days have been extremely sultry, causing people to complain of headaches, and of being otherwise indisposed. Considerate rain has fallen, and it looks at present as if there was plenty more to fall ere wo have lino weather. Neglecting to Pay for a Gin.—A native of Fasitoouta, named Tuala, was, on Monday, the 19th, brought up before Moepnu; Governor of A ana, on a complaint made by Mrs. Hayes of Matautu, Apia, of having obtained a gun from her anil neglecting to pay for it as per agreement. The Governor decided that Tuala cither at mice pay for the gun or ho would seize native property or land and sell to the amount of the debt. Municipal Court.—On Tuesday last, before H. S. Swanston, Esq., P.M., a I charge of killing and eating a pig, the I property of John Upolu, was brought against Saloi and Soonuiui, two Sainoan natives. The charge being proven they were fined So each, or twelve days imprisonment. Saloi paid his fine, but the other preferred to take it out. On Wednesday Mr. J. Acosta was fined §lO for keeping his houso open after hours, Commercial Agency at Tutuila.— The United States Government lias informed the United States Consul at Apia that a Commercial Agency has been established at Pagopago, including only the island of Tutuila. Mr. Matbew Hunkin hies been appointed Vice-Commercial Agent for that place, with consular functions only, and that all judicial matters arising within the agency must be brought to the attention and consideration of the United States Consul at Apia. Our Roads,—We have to congratulate the Municipal authorities upon the satisfactory state of the road through Matat'ele. In the days of yore it would hnvK Leon necessary, in order to keep ones feet dry, to wear sea boots, after tlu quantity of rain that has fallen within :bo last few .'ays. Now, however, one can traverse that part of the town, comparatively speaking, in slippers, and keep dry feet. Wo ' would advise Messrs. Parker, and Acosta, so to arrange the spouting around their houses as to allow the water to fall on the sea side of the bouse instead of into tin! street. As it is now, the fall of water is not only detrimental to the n,ad, but occasionally gives passers by a shower bath which is neither convenient nor pleasant. The approach to the Mulivai Bridge has been repaired, so that pedestrians can now cross in safety. A Howl from a Disappointed Adventurer. —In a letter in the New Zealand Herald, of December Uth, headed "Americans in Sanioau Affairs," and signed "An .American," appears the following remarks regarding the character of the residents of Samoa : —" The people in this place are baldly in a position to be very critical in regard to others. A community made up of adventurers and renegades from every country, whose highest aim ill the intervals between their attempts to overreach one another, is to drink kava and slander women, is hardly a proper judge of good conduct and strangers. A man in Apia who will not lio and cheat whenever occasion serves must feel as lonely as Lot in Sodom." There is one thing certain that the writer . of this quotation would never " feel as lonely as Lot in Sodom," for in the letter . above referred to lie has shown great pro- ' clivities to lie, and we doubt noi that ti.e • cheating was -iot far olf. We defy this detractor to point out two adventurers : and renegades left in the country now that he and his bosom friend and distinguished lackey, with all bis wounds, have left our midst. Tin character of the Apia people is too well known for a iion-dci-eript adventurer like "An American " to be able to damage it, and his false charge upon the matter only goes to show that he, having been foiled ill his " littlo game" of obtaining certain bonds, feels " kinder bilious."