APIA, SAMOA.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1190, 3 July 1874, Page 2

APIA, SAMOA.

THE GREAT GOLD DISCOVERY ALL BUNKUM.

[AUCKLAND EVENING STAB ] May 20 1874. The departure of the Geraldiue, which is to connect with tho Kenilworth at Haawai, enables me to send some few particulars of the state of trade here and other news. In the first place I must tell you that we have been much amused by the receipt of tidings by an Auckland Evening Star which found its way here some six weeks ago, that Mr Williams, our consul, had brought to Auckland from Samoa, some rich specimens of goldbearing quartz, said to have beeu found on his estate, on this island. You will be surprised when I tell you that this is the first we have heard of such riches being at our elbow. The report that there is gold here has been prevalent for a long while, and a good many search parries have been out, but they have all returned without success- Tho last party went out iu Marcii, The idea seemed dying out when we heard of Mr Williams' specimens. That gentleman has not returned since. By the llallie Jack-son, schooner, which arrived here on the 18th from Sydney, we hear that ho is lying in a dying state in that city. His sou •'- -\kiug charge of his consular duties-- u< Trado has been rather dull here lately, and the storekeepers complain of having very little to do, A gold rush would be a' fine thing if the gold were only here, but I am afraid that it is improbable. Messrs Godeffory and Co., the German firm who have up to within the last few months done ali the business here are now threatened with very powerful oppositioTi, which ought to operate very beneficially for tho place generally. An American firm at San Francisco, Messrs Diamond and Co., have started somo vessels to trade here, the first of which, the Brigantine Ivallao, came into the port of A.pia with a general cargo on tho 2nd hist. Having landed her cargo she has sailed for a trip round the islands collecting copra. She is expected back in Apia in a few days, and she will then fill up, and take in passengers for San Francisco. Besides this opposition from without, Messrs Godfrey have a rival firm in Messrs Edomau and Co., old residents here, who are also commoncing to export produce. It is time that we had some fresh blood infused into our trade, for it was getting in a very stagnant way. The merchants had it all their own way. It is they who are responsible for our wretched coinage. The dollars, as they are called, are merely iron or some base metal coated with silver. Everything is paid for hero half iu these and half in kind—that is, iu stuffs for clothing, knickknacks, etc. I should recommend anyone who comes here to stipulate that he receives his pay in gold j if he docs not he may find his savings, if he has any at leaving, rather difficult to negotiate elsewhere. Tho cotton is now nearly ready for ginning. Tho crop is an average one—in some parts it is above tho average. Our relations with tho natives continue to bo of tho

best. It may surprise New Zealand settlors who are inclined to grumble about taxation to hear that a system of taxationis in vogue hero among the natives, and submitted to without a murmur. Every man pays to the general fund one dollar per month. It is rigorously collected, and the chiefs aro very honest iu applying it to the purposes of Government for which it is intended. This tax is voluntarily paid by the Europeans, and these get protection from nativo depredations in consequence. If a store is broken into, or anything is stolen from a white man's house, the proprietor at once communicates with the chiefs, and they often find out and punish the thief. There are rumors flying about of a disturbance among the natives at the island at Savai. It is asserted that there is likely to be a fight here, but the reports are not at all well grounded. One of the great chiefs (I forgot his name) died at Manaua about a month ago. The missionary barque John Williams is at present lying in the harbour.