Suspicious Fire Quelled by Chinese

Apia Observatory

Suspicious Fire Quelled by Chinese Watchman

A blaze, originating in a pile of dried cocoanut fronds, nearly caused the des truction of the Apia Ooservatory, West ern Samoa, last month. Fortunately, a Chinese watchman saw the flames and extinguished them before much damage was done.

The fronds were lying alongside the kitchen, a wooden building, situated not many feet away from the mam building, also of wood, with a concrete base.

This is the second time within a few weeks that “accidents” have occurred in connection with the Observatory buildings. On the first occasion an attempt was mads to break in through the front door from the verandah. The windows were smashed by stones and the wire mosquito netting torn from the main door.