Samoan News

Scientist for Puka Puka Is.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Apia, Nov. 17.

MR. BEAGLEHOLE, a young New Zealand-born scientist, who arrived in Apia from Pago Pago, has left on a voyage to remote Puka Puka Island (one of the Cook Islands) which is visited from time to time by the Makoa from Apia. Dr. Beaglehole, who has studied at Yale University, U.S.A., for several years, intends to devote himself to research studies on the Island for six months. He is an anthro-

pologist and ethnologist, and his special purpose is to find new material regarding the origin of the Polynesian race. The Puka Puka people have definite racial peculiarities.

Samoan Reprieved

The death sentence of the native Samoan murderer Siaosi of Tuanai, has been commuted to imprisonment for life.

Store Destroyed By Fire

The first serious fire for years in Apia broke out on October 29, when the store of Mr. Theodore Brunt, at Tanugamanono, was completely destroyed. The fire, the origin of which is unknown, broke out shortly after midnight, and spread so fast that Mr. Brunt’s son narrowly escaped being suffocated.

Death Of Mr. Himphill

Mr. J. Himphill, an American naval pensioner, who a few years ago had acquired property near Apia, and settled down to live there, died suddenly on October 24, at the age of 50. By his genial manner he had made many friends during the short time of his residence, and his sudden demise was generally regretted.

Samoan Coffee Praised

That Samoan coffee, which has been produced in small quantities up to the present, is of splendid quality and would fetch a good price in the New Zealand market, was stated in a letter written recently to Mr. F. M. Jahnke, pioneer Samoan planter, by Mr. Berendsen, Secretary of External Affairs in the New Zealand Cabinet. Mr. Jahnke was the first to import seeds of Hobusta coffee from Ceylon to Samoa, and he also grows; Arabian and Liberian coffee on his plantation.