SAMOA.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 474, 24 May 1890, Page 6

SAMOA.

(EROM OUR OffS CORRESPONDENT.) Apia, April 29th, 1890. ORGANISING THE NEW GOVERNMENT. Since the completion of the signing of the Treaty, matters political have been in a state of quiescence. It was expected that ere now temporary appointments would have been made to the positions of Collectors of Customs and taxes, but owing to the British Consul not having received instructions similar to his American and German colleagues, no action could be taken. Howexer, I have been informed that these instructions arrived by the mail yesterday, so I have no doubt that steps will be taken to give effect to these instructions. Business is improving greatly. There are four ships on the ;Way from America for different business houses here, and copra is beginning to come in. MURDER AND CANNIBALISM. We had a sensation hero last week in the discovery that a Line islander had been murdered, and part of his body eaten. The man, who was old and silly, had been missing for over a week, but as he was somewhat peculiar in his habits very little notice was taken of hia prolonged absence. On the 20th inst. his body was discovered, the head being some distance away and most of the flesh gone. Tho local doctor made an examination of the remains, and declared that the man had been murdered, that the head had been cut off by a knife or some similar instrument. It is generally believed that the deceased became involvod in some quarrel with the foreign labour boys who are employed on the plantation on which his body was found, and that they killed him and ate part of his body. The German Consul has been investigating the matter, but so far no trace of the murderers has been discovered. DAY OP THANKSGIVING. , Thursday, May Bth, has been proclaimed by King Malietoa as a day of national thanksgiving for the restored peace and, it is hoped, prosperity of Samoa. Public services are to be held in all the native churches. BUSINESS WANTS. There is great need here for the establishment of both a bank and insurance office in Samoa. Now that the bodies would have reasonable security for their investment here, it is hoped the want will soon be supplied. ‘ THE WARSHIP ALEXANDRINE. The German warship Alexandrine arrived from Auckland last Friday. She leaves again for the Marshall Islands to-morrow, leturning to . Samoa in about two months, when tho Sperba is expected to relieve her. About thirty of her crew are down with influenza, which has also made its unwelcome appearance on shore in a modified form. ARRIVAL OF THE MOHICAN. The U.S. Mohican has arrived at Pago Pago for the purpose of relieving the Adams, which latter vessel left Apia for Pago Pago last night, where she will take in coal, and proceed on her homeward journey. The departure of the officers and crews of both the Adams and Alexandrine is greatly regretted, as during their somewhat prolonged stay here they have become very popular. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL. The Roman Catholic Cathedral here, which has been in process of building for several years, is rapidly approaching completion, and, it is expected, will be ready for occupation by the end of the year.