Samoa

Fatal Road Accident In

From Our Own Correspondent APIA, October 27.

UNUSUAL circumstances attended a fatal traffic accident here on September 21.

The Coroner was told by various Samoan witnesses that an old Fijian plantation labourer, Samu, was riding in the centre of Papaseea Road, towards Apia, when a car, driven by Mr. K. Meyer, came swiftly around a bend. The horse was thrown back, and Samu was carried along for some distance on the bonnet of the car.

Witnesses said that the car drove on.

Samu, badly injured, was rushed to hos pital, but died. The horse had both fore legs broken, and was shot.

Meyer said that he stopped his car about 40 yards after the collision; but, as he could not see anyone on the road, he went on to his plantation. Then, finding that his car was damaged, he telephoned the police that he had struck a horse on the road, A constable said that the car was con siderably damaged and showed many traces of the collision.

Judge Luxford gave a verdict in accord ance with the evidence. Kurt Meyer was thereupon charged with manslaughter.

In the trial before Judge Luxford and four assessors, the Samoan witnesses gave evidence different in important respects from the evidence given at the inquest.

They admitted that they had discussed the matter with others and had been in fluenced by talk that they had heard.

For this reason the defence claimed that there was no case. Judge and assessors accepted this argument and accused was discharged.

Mr. Meyer is one of the pioneer cocoa planters of Samoa, and is prominent in social and sporting activities.

Mr. C. E. Pennefather, District Com missioner of Fiji, departed from Sydney for Suva by the Mariposa on October 16.

Captain Percy James Roberson, for merly manager of the British Phosphate Commission in Central Pacific, died at North Sydney, N.S.W., on October 29.

Coming to Australia from England in 1900, he joined the E. and A, Line in charge of vessels running between Aus tralia and the East. Thirty years ago he went to Ocean Island as Harbour Master for the British Phosphate Com mission and later became manager at Nauru. In 1930 Captain Roberson re tired and had since lived in Sydney.