THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1880.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 139, 5 June 1880, Page 2

THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1880.

Avologies arc still the order of the clay as will be seen by reference to our local columns. "We fear our readers will be nauseated by these delicate morsels, a surfeit of anything, however spicy, generally produces disgust. But necessity knows no law. We will not attempt to justify ourselves for having, as novices in newspaper editing, made a uptake which an adept would have avoided. When informed by those who ought to know, that certain matter published in these columns was of a libellous character, we freely regretted our error, and have made every reparation which it is in our power to make, but we must disclaim having been actuated by any motives of any kind whatever when we published the notice which has caused us so much trouble. While on the subject of apologies, we would beg to inform our readers that we have been instructed by those in authority overjus that Malietoa, a King with whom Her Brittanic Majesty has entered into treaty relations, has complained of certain expressions contained in our issue of 22nd May last, and we are' called upon formally to retract and apologise. We heartily do so, and we much regret that anything which has appeared in our columns should have aggrieved Malietoa. We hope that after the full, ample, nay, abject apologies which we have made that wo shall not be further troubled for having allowed a few indiscreet words to escapo our pen. Municipal Coubt.—During the past week the following cases have been dealt with by his Worship, R. Hetherington, Esq., Municipal Magistrate: —On tho 31st May, Kalogi and Sigelai, two " ;;ay maids," were each fined $5 for the offence of being drunk and disorderly on the public road. —On the 4th inst., Jose Acosta, for an assault and using threatening language, was ordered to pay $3. Fines paid in each case.

Official Dinner.—On the evening of Saturday lust, the day fixed for tho official observance of tho birthday of Hor Mnjesty Queen Victoria, about twenty gentlemen, on the invitation of J. Hicks Graves, Esq., Her Brittanic Majesty's Consul, and Deputy 'Commissioner for Snmoa, sat down to dinner in the Court House, Matafolo. The post of honour was occupied by Mr. Graves, who was supported on tho right by Captain Zeinbsch, Imperial Gorman Consul-Gencral, and on the left by T. M. Dawson, Esq., U.S. Consul. Aftor justice had been done to the substantial repast provided by Mr. Acosta, of tbe Hotel Zur Stadt Hamburg, the chairman proposed the health of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, which was drunk with great enthusiasm, and supplemented by a verse of " God Save the Queen." In the courso of a very enjoyable evening various toasts were proposed, including " The Army and Navy," responded to on behalf of the Navy by Captain Bruce of H.M.B. Cormorant j '• The Chairman," froposed in very flattering terms by Mr. lethenngton, Municipal Magistrate; "The Municipal Board," responded to by Mr. Godeffroy; " The Press," proposed by Mr. Davis and acknowledged by Mr. A. Speirs.

-Successful Operations.— Even in tliis almost perfect climate mankind does not escape the ills that all flesh are heir to. While enjoying nn immunity from fever (tho plaguo of most tropical climates), and other diseases incidental to countries situated in tho temporato xonos, wo liovo here in this Group a complaint, which, while thero may ho isolated cases found in widely diverso parts of tho globe, may be mud to belong peculiarly to the Pacific. Wo refer to elephantiasis. Dr. G. A. Tumor, who latoly left us, iins gained what might bo termod a worldwide reputation for his successful treatment of this disease in its various -phases, and we arc glad to learn that bis place iB ably filled by Dr. Funk, a gentleman who a short time ago camo to our midst. During tho past few weeks Dr. Funk has conducted several operations for the removal of this peculiar-growth, to which foreigners rcsidont here and natives aro alike subject, and wo aro glad to learn Hint in each case complete success has attended the npurutian.

H.B.M's. Bhop Cormorant. This vessel, which arrived in our harbour on Tuesday Inst from Auckland, took hor departure for Savaii on Thursday morning, bound on some political mission. We understand that Malietoa, accompanied by the usual number of hangers-on, honoured Her Mnjesty's ship by taking passage on board : her to Savaii. England's navy in the past has performed glorious and honourable acts, out the historians of this age will have to record that Her Brittanio Majesty's vessels in the South Pacific wcro mostly employed, during the latter part of the nineteenth century, in conveying from place to plaeo as honoured guests, oiled savages (some of them claiming to be Kings!) and recently liberated felnits.

Sin, —I regret to iuforra you that lam tho author of the above libellous and malicious article, also that I am tho Acting Editor of the Samoan Times: That it is totally untrue, and that I offer my most humble apologies to Her Brittanio Majesty's Navy for the insult oontaiucd therein. Andrew Spiers, Actg. Ed. 8. T. To Commnnder James Bruce, R.N., H.B.M.S. Cormorant. Rumours.—lt was rumoured in town on Thursday that a portion of Atua had consented, on certain conditions, the nature of which has not transpired, to join the King. If the rumour prove true wc trust that this new departure will lead to more lasting and satisfactory results than those attained by any of the various agreements and treaties made in Samoa during the past twelve months.— Since the above was in type wo learn that the rumour referred to is incorrect. The real facts of the case are these. On Thursday, letters were received by the foreign representatives in this plac6 from Atua, expressing the wish of the people of that district to join the Government, and desiring that tho two men-of-war in harbour should proceed toSaluafata for the purpose 61 arranging terms. Agreeably to the request of the Atuans, the men-of-war, Cormorant and Hyena, having on hoard the representatives of England, Germany and America, proceeded to Saluafata yosterday, and after the usual amount of native ceremony had been gone through, the late mal-contents expressed their willingness to accept Malietoa as their King. We suppose the other discontented districts will soon follow suit, and while we are not over sanguine, we trust that the action of tho people of Atua is the prelude to better davs for Samoa.

New Buildings. Notwithstanding complaints of dull times, the building trade is at present quite brisk in Apia. No less than three now buildings are in course of erection, and in addition numerous repairs and alterations are being effected on existing structures. Starting at the east end of the town we notice that Mr. Konison is erecting a copra shed in anticipation of the season that has just oponed; next follows Mr. Acosta's premises to which considerable additions have boen made during thelast month. Proceeding along the beach we observe that Mr. A. Sobrcno, manager for Captain Lombard, is effecting considerable improvoiuonm on the Apia Hotel. Arrived in Matafele, the foundations of a building, which, we undorstand, will on completion be used as a restaurant, aro observable. This structure is being built for Mr. Sarin Lee Jang, tho proprietor of the adjoining premises. A little to the westward of Mr. Jang's store stands tho well-known International Hotel, and here the carpenter's hammer is heard busy at work. Messrs. Bell and Lauraison, the- enterprising proprietors of tho International, finding that their present accomodation was too limited, determined some time ago to make a considerable addition to their premises, and they have in course of orectiou a two-storied building on the vacant ground between their old house and tho sea-beach. Judging from the plans, which we have had the pleasure of inspecting, the new building will lit: a very agreeable addition to our present hotel accomodation. Opposite the International a substantial one-storied structure is approaching completion. This building, we understand, is being erected for Mrs. Hayes, an old resident of this place but at present in Sydney, and will bo used as a store. Road Improvement, Etc.—The Municipal Board deserve the thanks of tho community for the vast improvement effected on tho roads within the Municipality during tho past month. Tho heach road especially has boen greatly benefited by tho removal of tho denso growth of weeds and deposit? of rubbish which had accumulated during a long poriod of neglect. Wo are also glad to observe that tho eastern approach to tho Mnlivai bridge, which was becoming very dangerous, has, during tho past week, Leon put in offoctivo repair. While touching on tho subject of town improvements wo would draw tho attention of tho Municipal Board to the filthy habit which tho natives, and even sonio foreigners, have of throwing on the beach, gonorally abovo high-water mark, vcgotablo ami other refuse, and wo think a regulation to prohibit this practice should bo speedily put in force. In some of tho other Groups in the Pacific all vcgotablo and other refuse is destroyed onco a week by tiro, a plan which wo believe might bo followed lioro with great advantage. Residents in tropical climates such as this cannot pay too much attention to sanitary arrangements, and we trust the inhabitants nf Apia will assist .tho Municipal Board in carrying out any regulations which may be issued having for their object tho pi c orvation of the public .health.

Samoan Govirnmext Rkii'latioxs.— "We leam that with the assistance of the gentlemen somo tiiuo ago appointed by the Consuls to aid in framing laws for the better government of the various districts in Samoa outside the Municipality of Apia, the Taimiia and Eaipulo have passed Acts prohibiting the sale of lire-arms, ammunition, and intoxicating liquors ta Samoans, or to any native of the Pacific resident in Samoa j also, an Act prohibiting, nuder heavy penalties, the entrance of Chinese into this Group. Arrangements have not yet been completed for publishing these or other Acts which may be from time to time passed by tho Government, but, for the present, information on these matters may be obtainotl on application to Mr. T. Trood, Mr. J M. Coo, or Mr. Ad. Volkmann, the Consular Representatives at Mulinuu, or on application to Malietoa.