Pioneer Of Samoa's Tobacco

Industry Is Dead

From Our Own Correspondent APIA, July 3.

RESIDENTS of Samoa learned with regret of the sudden death by heart failure of one of the most popular and esteemed Catholic priests in the Islands, Rev. Father Xavier Haller, who died at Apia in his 71st year.

A native of Alsace-Lorraine, Father Haller was educated in Belgium and after studying philosophy and theology entered the Society of Mary. After teaching for several years at Marist schools in Belgium, he came to Samoa in 1900, as district priest, serving aj Leulumoega, Vaea, Leone (American Samoa), Loto faga, Palauli, Falealupo and Leauva’a.

Father Haller took great interest in agriculture, particularly tobacco growing.

Importing seeds from Turkey and U.S.A., he improved the native brand of tobacco and was responsible for starting the manufacture of cigarettes from Samoa grown tobacco.

Mr. J. M. Wollev, of Queensland, has taken up his duties as master at the Wau, N.G., school, replacing Mr. L.

Stamper who left the Territory with the second Goldfields contingent for the

A.I.F.