CONFLICTING REPORTS ABOUT THE FOOD SUPPLY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 404, 21 September 1889, Page 5

CONFLICTING REPORTS ABOUT THE FOOD SUPPLY.

Our Sarnoan correspondent;, writing from Apia under date September 3rd, says :—: — " Eight hundred bags of rice, the donaiion of the Samoan Famine Relief Fund Committee in Sydney, arrived in the Lubeck, consigned to Mr W. Blacklook, American Vice-Consul, by whom it has been distributed in a most judicious manner. This unexpected donation of food was very welcome to the natives, although there is considerable difference of opinion as to the absolute necessity for relief. There can be no doubt that although the reports in reference to the starving condition of the people are greatly exaggerated, yet in some of the districts very great hardships exist. It has been asserted that some have died from lack of food, but upon careful inquiry, I am bound to say that these reports are not substantiated. However, the fact remains that there is, and will be for about two months, a great deal of hardship, especially amongst the old Samoans, so* that the food sent was really of great service. The drought we have had for about two months (a long time here) has seriously interfered with the food crops, otherwise there would not have been any suffering whatever. " In connection with this matter, the London Mission Society were greatly blamed for making their annual collection from the natives, but in justice to them I have great pleasure in stating that they have determined to devote the whole amount collected towards relieving any cases of distress. They have announced in various parts ot the islands that any person coming to them with a note from any responsible person or from any of the native teachers will be at once relieved. One of the missionaries has informed tre that so far there has not been a single application for assistance. I do not think that in any matter which has ever cropped up in Samoa has there been such diiierence of opinion as exists over the food question, as to the necessity or otherwise of the relief given, but on the whole I think the action of the Sydney people was both well-timed and necessary to the Samoans." From another source, we have received the following, which represents the scarcity of food as much more serious than appears from the above account of the situation: — "The rice sent from Sydney by the Lubeck distributed to different districts gave great relief to the natives. Further supplies are anxiously awaited. 'The Vagabond ' returned to Apia after making a trip round the islands, and reports very great suffering in localities — for the next three months nothing but starvation before the people if not helped from Australia."