Samoan News
pp. 58-59 · Read in the full issue
“Palolo” Season is Approaching
From Our Own Correspondent.
APIA, October 18.
ABOUT a fortnight ago the dry spell in Samoa, which had caused an in fluenza epidemic and done considerable damage on the plantations, was at last broken and ample rains set in to the joy and satisfaction of the hard struggling planters.
We are approaching the “Palolo” sea son, when the mysterious worm, dweller
of the deep seas, invades the coasts of the South Sea Islands and is eagerly pursued and caught by the natives, who are ex tremely fond of the tasty delicacy. As “Palolo” time always means a lot of rain we are sure of a sufficiency in the near future.
Maui Pomare Busy
Numerous officials are due for leave in New Zealand, and our “Home” steamer, the Maui Pomare, is fully booked for the next few months. To give banana planters a chance to make a badly needed few shillings for the Xmas season, the Maui Pomare is to shorten her stay in N.Z. in November, in order to make two trips from Samoa with banana cargoes in December.
The quality of Samoan bananas, as re cognised by the N.Z. buyers, is very good and it is a great pity that we have to be satisfied with the small shipments by the Maui Pomare, when we could easily ship double the quantity, thereby enabling us to buy considerably more goods in New Zealand to our mutual benefit.
New Organ
A splendid new organ, specially built for -the tropics, donated by a Catholic Mission Society in Aachen, Germany, was landed by the last cargo steamer. The organ is to be installed in Apia Cathedral, which had to undergo some slight altera tion to receive the large instrument. Un fortunately, the organ builder who was to undertake the installation, was prevented from travelling to Apia by the last Maui Pomare so that the work, which was to have been completed before the Christmas holidays, may be somewhat delayed.
Bishop’S Tour
His Lordship Bishop Darnand with the Rev. Father Deihl left recently by the Makoa for an official visit to Wallis Island, seat of the College and Seminary of the Diocese. Father Deihl will also visit the Roman Catholic community in the Tokelau Islands. The Bishop and Father Deihl are expected back in Apia at the end of October.
Cocoa Crop
The cocoa crop of Samoa for 1934 pro mises to constitute a record in produc tion, as it will probably surpass the pre vious high mark of over 1200 tons.
Natives should produce about 250 tons, while the N.Z. Reparation Estates, the
Government concern, might also reach the 250 tons mark.
In spite of the dry spell and wrong winds, weather has been generally more favourable to cocoa production than in the past years; while a large area of new cultivation has come into bearing.
Personal Items
By the October Maui Pomare, which brought only a few tourists this trip, Mr.
Littlejohn, a popular Post Office Official, left for Wellington, N.Z., where he has been transferred. Mrs. Littlejohn, the daughter of our Postmaster (Mr. E. E.
Dunwoodie), accompanied her husband.
Mr. Dunwoodie himself will go on vaca tion in December next. Mr. Littlejohn has been replaced at the Post Office by Mr. Prout.
Mr. Dyer arrived in Apia recently to work at the Apia Observatory.
Mr. Robson, Resident Commissioner of Savaii, left by the Maui Pomare for a well earned holiday in New Zealand.
Some of our oldest European residents recently celebrated their birthdays in good health. They are Mr. Paul Hoeflich, 78 years of age, and Mr. G. W. Partsch, 82 years of age. These gentlemen are not the oldest inhabitants of our Colony, as there are several ladies and gentlemen higher up in the 80’s.
Dr. Lambert, the well known represen tative of the Rockefeller Foundation, and Dr. Watt, Chief of the N.Z. Medical Ser vice, have completed a tour of Savaii to investigate into the effects of the injec tions in connection with the Yaws Cam paign, conducted some time ago.