Samoan News Budget.

Quality of Banana Shipments Improves.

From Our Own Correspondent APIA, Sept. 5.

THERE are hardly any changes in the copra and cocoa market. The local cocoa price has again dropped £5 per ton.

The last “Maui Pomare’’ took only about 4,500 cases of bananas for the New Zealand market, though she is to load about 2,000 cases from Niue on her way back.

A representative of the N.Z. buyers has recently noticed a great improve ment in the quality of the banana ship ments from Samoa and has expressed his appreciation. Unfortunately, this improvement will have no effect on the contract price nor is it likely to lead to larger shipments in the future, so

it does not help the producer very much.

Death Sentence Commuted.

The Niue murderer, recently brought to Apia by the “Maui Pomare” and sentenced to death by the Commissioner at Niue Island, has had his death sentence commuted by the Governor- General of New Zealand to imprisonment for life. The sentence will be served in Samoa.

Successful Race Meeting.

The Apia Turf Club held a successful race meeting on August 29, flag-raising day. A large crowd of natives had gathered, though the European attendance left much to be desired.

Some interesting races were run in the pre sence of the Administrator and an official party from American Samoa. The old racer “Buster” won the Roberts Memorial Handicap, while a newcomer, “Lady Scapani,” a promising filly of the imported stallion “Loyal Irish,” won the Maiden Plate and the Flag-raising Day Han dicap in record time.

Result Of Boxing Championship.

At the Tifaga Playhouse on August 31 before a crowded house, the eagerly-awaited bout be tween “Red” David and “Bill” Scanlon for the heavyweight championship title and the Car ruthers belt took place. Expectations had been rife for weeks regarding the outcome and quite a bit of money had been laid on both contest ants, though Scanlon, owing to his previous ring experience, had been the favourite. A number of visitors from Pago Pago had come over and some of the sailors of the U.S.S.

“Ontario” had stayed behind after their ship’s departure to witness the contest and back up Scanlon, who is a Tutuila boy. The bout lasted the full ten rounds and resulted in “Red David winning on points by a small margin.

The result is very creditable to the young local boxer and evoked intense enthusiasm amongst the local fans. Scanlon’s manager immediately issued a challenge to David for a return bout in three months’ time. Scanlon is confident that he will defeat David in the return bout.