Polynesians In Europe

PROPOS the visit of a party of Maoris to Sydney recently on their way to Europe, a party of Samoans were taken on a similar expedition many years ago. Apparently it was not all plain sailing for the promoter. The story is told in the faded pages -of loi Karanpn. a belligerent little sheet that was pub lished in Rarotonga (Cook Group) to wards the close of last century.

The Samoan party numbered 24 “fine, handsome, strapping girls,” and thev were taken to Europe “with the idea of making a fortune out of the dusky dancers.” “But the promoter has re cently returned with his cargo in good order and condition.” wrote loi Karanaa on June 11, 1898, “and devoutly thanks Heaven to be rid of the beauties. He had signed a heavy bond to restore the girls to their South Sea homes, and declares that he would not take such a contract again for all the jewels in Asia.” The struggle to keep his charges from eloping with Con tinental swains, it was stated, had al most proved too much for him.”

As a matter of fact, more than one Polynesian girl has married a Continen tal, and an aristocrat, too. A part Tongan girl is an Austrian countess. On the death of her husband some years aero, she married another member of the Vienna nobility: she has resided in Europe for many years, and has not returned to her native island. There was also the more recent case of Anna Chev alier, the Papeete born film star of “Tabu.” When Anna went to Europe she married a Polish count, but a year or so ago she returned to Tahiti.—E.R.

Mr. J. J. Peddie, who has been Bacteriologist and Dispenser for the Administration of Western Samoa for some time, left Apia for Wellington, New Zealand, by the Maui Pomare in

August.

Mr. James Burns, chairman of direc tors of Messrs. Burns. Philp & Co. Ltd., returned to Australia after visiting Europe and America bv the Mariposa on

September 7. He was accompanied by

his wife and family.