SAMOAN NEWS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 452, 8 March 1890, Page 5

SAMOAN NEWS.

Auckland, March 5. News received from Samoa by the steamer Wainui, which arrived this morning, is of a very ordinary character. Business generally in Apia is said to be at a standstill, and the carpenters are enjoying the dolceJar niente. The ship carpenters belonging to the German firm have all been knocked off, no work being on hand for them. Complaints have been made through the Samoan “Times” about the wrecks in the harbour, which came ashore in the hurricane twelve months ago, being left in their present unseemly state. The wreck of the Adler is said to be right in the line of the two leading lights, and actually shutting out the light of the lower one to vessels making for the anchorage, while the other wrecked warships are said to interfere seriously with the tidal current iu Apia Harbour.

The Samoan natives have been making a considerable harvest lately by recovering portions of the propellors of the wrecked men-of-war. It is stated that 150 dollars has been paid to them for one heavy piece of brass or copper metal last week. During the last two weeks of February Samoa was favoured with a spell of abnormally wet weather. Rain fell heavily and continuously, and rendered the life of Apians anything bub a pleasure while it lasted. In the second week the wind increased, and there were heavy gusts on the 13th, 14bh, and 15th, and many predicted a hurricane. However, the sea did not rise, and the Upolu and Vaitele, the only vessels in harbour, were not disturbed. So inclement was the weather that for two days the business places in Apia were closed. The only damage which appears to have been done to the crops is a slight knocking about of the bananas.