A.—4

18

Harbour Section. Lights, Buoys, and Beacons. —Replacement of the moorings securing No. 1 buoy in Apia Harbour is being undertaken. The old moorings have carried away, and new cable and anchors are on order. Floating Plant.—Launches and coal and water lighters have been overhauled as required. The s.s. " Lady Roberts," employed mostly in maintaining communication with Matson Line vessels passing through Pago Pago and Suva, was despatched to Fiji for overhaul, and at the end of the year under review was running satisfactorily. The vessel is old, however, and there are indications that extensive repairs or replacement may be required within a comparatively short time. Casualties. —During the year one locally-owned trading-launch was lost, fortunately without loss of life. On the 29th November the scientific investigatory brigantine " Carnegie," at anchor in Apia Harbour, was totally destroyed by fire, resulting from an explosion which occurred during the loading of benzine fuel by the vessel's crew. It is regretted that the disaster involved the deaths of the master of the vessel and one member of the crew. On the following day the s.s. " Trongate " which was in Apia Harbour, proceeded to Gardner Island, in the Phoenix Group, in response to SOS signals, and effected the rescue of the twenty-four survivors of the crew of thirty-five of the s.s. " Norwich City," which had been wrecked on the island on the evening of the 29th. A surf-boat and crew of Ellice, Niue, and Tokelau islanders were placed on board the " Trongate " by the Administration, and the bravery of these Natives in effecting communication with the survivors on shore in spite of heavy and shark-infested seas has been recognized by the award of medals by the Royal Humane Society.

Overseas Merchant Shipping, Post of Apia, Western Samoa, for the Year ending 31st March, 1929.

Also, in addition to the above : Inwards —3 British warships, 1 British Navy oil-tanker, 1 French warship, 4 American warships, 2 American yachts. Outwards —3 British warships, 1 British Navy oil-tanker, 1 French warship, 5 American warships, 2 American yachts. LABOUR DEPARTMENT. The labour situation was marked during the year by a strike of Chinese, which occurred in August. Approximately 350 men were involved. The strike was not connected with actual conditions of employment, but commenced through labourers of one clan or tong (locally known as the " Hoi Yin " men) objecting to the retention as foreman on one of the New Zealand Reparation Estates plantations of a " Taumun " man—a member of the other principal clan represented in Samoa. The Estates management had no justifiable reason for the removal of the foreman, and the strike continued for nearly three weeks. The situation culminated in a riot, which occurred at the

Inwards (all Steam). Outwards (all Steam). Number Number of Tons. Cargo. of Tons. | Cargo. Vessels. Vessels. June quarter, 1929 .. .. British 17 23,082 3,528 18 26,806 4,165 Foreign 1 3,759 60 1 3,759 1,034 18 26,841 3,588 19 30,565 5,199 September quarter, 1929 .. British 16 17,903 2,306 18 18,046 4,603 Foreign 2 6,118 610 2 6,118 436 18 24,021 2,916 20 24,164 5,039 December quarter, 1929 .. .. British 26 24,438 2,549 24 24,295 1 6,519 Foreign 2 3,471 1,170 2 3,471 28 27,909 3,719 26 27,766 6,519 March quarter, 1930 .. .. British 19 19,971 3,559 20 20,023 j 3,742 Foreign 1 3,405 42 1 3,405 1 1,109 20 23,376 3,601 21 23,428 4,851 I Year ending 31st March, 1930 .. British 78 85,394 11,942 80 89,170 19,029 Foreign 6 16,753 1,882 6 16,753 ! 2,579 84 102,147 13,824 86 105,923 i 21,608