Samoan Youth In Search

of Adventure Would-be Pirates and Stowaways See Too Many Movies

From Our Own Correspondent

Apia, Sep. 6.

CONSIDERABLE excitement was caused in Apia at the end of August when it was discovered that six Samoan boys had absconded with the motor launch “Wyban” owned by Messrs. A. G.

Smyth & Co., Ltd., and had left Apia harbour for an unknown destination.

They had stolen also two dinghies from the New Zealand Reparation Estates and the Government launch “Pilot,”

The “Wyban” had been fully loaded with a cargo of provisions and was shortly to have left for the island of Savaii. She carried about 50 gallons of gasoline on board.

One of the gang is a young part Euro pean boy named Brewster.

The runaways, who are probably in spired by Wild West and crime movies, are reported to carry several shotguns and revolvers.

Though they have now been missing for over a fortnight and airplanes have repeatedly searched the coasts round Samoa, no trace of the boat has so far been found. All ships in the neighbour hood have been instructed to keep a sharp lookout for the “Wyban.”

One of the stolen dinghies, however,

was found beached on the coast of Savaii at Saleloga, where it had probably been carried by the current. rE call of the British steamship “Em pire Honduras” at Apia was also marked by some excitement. On the eve of her departure several members of the crew were involved in an affray with Samoan taxi drivers.

After she had left with 1,600 tons of copra on board consigned to the British Food Ministry, she had to return to port when it was discovered that not less than five Samoan boys had hidden on board as stowaways.

The boys were handed over to the Samoan Police and will be prosecuted for their attempt to seek adventure on the high seas.

Mr. G. D. Chamberlain, Chief Secretary, Western Pacific High Commission, left Suva by plane on October 7 to make brief visits to the British Solomon Islands Pro tectorate and the New Hebrides Con dominium.

Mr. Gordon Clarke, manager for the PCB at Madang, New Guinea, arrived in Sydney on leave in October.