THE ROCKTON TAKES AWAY AMERICAN SEAMEN.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 373, 1 June 1889, Page 3

THE ROCKTON TAKES AWAY AMERICAN SEAMEN.

The A. U.S. N. Company's fine steamship Rockton left here on May 1, taking 450 of the American shipwrecked sailors and 17 officers, leaving on shore here the Admiral and sfcaff, and about 85 officers and men. Their leave-taking of the scene which has proved so disastrous to the American navy was very affecting. On one part of the beach near the wrecks of the Trenton and Vandalia their comrades who were being left in Samoa had taken up a position, and were cheering lustily, while a short distance away about 600 or 700 Samoans had congregated, and were engaged in cheering and singing songs, wishing well to the departing sailors. The fine band of the Admiral, which was on board the Rockton, was playing, while the crews of the Nipsic and Rapid were crowding up into the

rigging of their ships to help in the parting choers.

THE SAMOAN LAND CASE. The now notorious land case, Cornwall and Manaema v. Me Arthur and Co., was commenced in the High Commissioners' Court, before Deputy Commissioner Do Coetl-'gon, and Messrs Dean and Gurf, who sit as assessors. It is not likely to be concluded for two or three weeks yet. It really seems rather absurd to have a case of such magnitude, where there are so many knotty law points involved, tried before a gentleman without the slightest legal or business traini< g.

THE GERMAN ATTITUDE. Dr. Knappe left here by the last Lubeck for Sydney, on which vessel his successor, Dr. Steubel, arrived. A retired German officer named Yon Btilou has taken up his abode with Tamasese as adviser, secretary, etc. He, however, is ! a poor substitute for Brandeis as far as ability is concerned, but he no doubt answers the purpose of keeping the German Consul posted as to what transpires in Tamasese's camp, and in endeavouring to prevent defection from Tamasese's party. Constant communication is maintained between Tamasese and the German Consulate.

THREE MURDERS AND A SUICIDE During the laso fortnight we have had three murders and a suicide. In fche first place a Samoan murdered another, whose relative in turn (on the principle of blood for blood) killed the murderer. The other case occurred to-day, when a black boy in the employ of the Deutsclien Handels Company deliberately shot a Samoan. The German magistrate sent some police and arrested the murderer. A most deliberate suicide occurred on Sunday, the sth inst. F. Miller, foreman carpenter in the empty of the " Deutschen Handels und Plantagen Oesellschaft," shot himself through the heart with a revolver. His wife and children had gone out and he was alone in the house, when he committed the rash, yet very evidently premeditated, deed. No possible cause for suicide can even be surmised. His funeral took place on Monday, at which the Rev. J. W. Wills read the burial service. No formal inquests are held here.

FATAL ACCIDENT. A sad accidentoccurred on Saturday, May 4. The shipwrecked American sailors, after the gale, were mostly lodged in McArthur and Co.'s copra shed and other outbuildings. Since the departure of the Roekton fche men now here were ordered on the above date to move into a timber shed belonging to the same firm. A heavy quantity of timber was stored on the beams overhead. As one of the men was fixing his hammock a beam gave way, and the poor fellow was crushed to death by the falling timber. This took ulace aboub 4 p.m., he was buried at about 6 p.m. Had that beam given way during the night, many men would have suffered.

SCARCITY OP FOOD. The Samoana are stealing fowls and othe r food wherever they can lay their hands on them. Their plantations have been neglected during the late civil war, so that they are compelled, in most caees, to be depen dent on tinned meats, biscuits, and bread, which, when they have a good supply oi their own food, they do not patronise to a great extent. If all political matters could be settled, then ib would take some time before a pood supply of food could asrain be raised. As an example of how things grow, it may be mentioned that a breadfruit tree which was blown down on tho 16th March la^t, bursb out into leaf during the third week in Apiil. The owner carefully lopped oft the branches quite short and raised it again into its former pcsition.