Notes From East
pp. 65-66 · Read in the full issue
Samoa
A Pacific Islands resident, who was in American Samoa in April, sends the following interesting notes on conditions there: —
Sadie Thomson’S Inn
THIS famous building has now passed out of the hands of the Meredith family, of British and American Samoa. It was sold by sealed bid, in February, and the highest bid of 12,500 dollars, by Mr. Max Haleck, was accepted.
So he now owns the place; but he cannot yet occupy it, as the lease has another year to run. The lessee and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Browne, are at present serv ing a prison sentence for accepting and selling government property, and Mr.
Browne refuses to relinquish his lease.
Mr. Haleck naturally is trying to get the lease cancelled, but so far has been un successful. Shades of Somerset Maug ham!
Flag Raising Day
APRIL 17 was the 48th anniversary of the day the American flag was first raised in Eastern Samoa, and it was celebrated, as usual, with parades and speeches, sports and boat races on the harbour, and dancing and singing com petitions. Large, happy crowds thronged the malae until a late hour.
In the course of speeches it was men tioned that the Government intends to instal a larger generating plant for electrifying the whole island, and also to launch an intensive campaign against filaria.
On April 26 the Governor and retinue will proceed by Navy craft to the Manua Group, to celebrate Flag-raising Day there
Visiting Ships
TWO American yachts have been in port at Pago. One is a small craft called the “Langsyne,” and the other a beautiful, big two-master, called “Yan kee.” The crew are young Americans wanting to see the world, and paying their snare of expenses.
The “Yankee’s” owners, I think, are Mr. and Mrs. I. Johnson, who are mak ing their fourth world tour. I under stand that from Pago the yacht goes to the Solomons.
There is a rumour that the “Corsair,” 3,000 ton yacht formerly owned by the late Pierpont Morgan, may visit Pago in October, on a Pacific cruise.
Visitor
MR. HAROLD GATTY was in Pago when I was there. One of us saw the stranger in civilian clothes, and asked one of the young American clerks in the supply depot who that was.
The reply came: “Him? Oh, that’s a guy called Gatty—he’s here about fish, or something.” Apparently young America has never heard of the famous navigator who helped their Wiley Post around the World.
War Veterans Return To
School
THE American scheme for allowing War Veterans to catch up on schooling lost during war years is being re peated in American Samoa. So there one sees young Samoan men, of between 20 and 30, trotting off to High School again, with the Government paying them approximately 120 dollars a month until they graduate. What an incentive to go to school! They don’t need jobs—and many of them get married on their school “fees.”
Wireless Stations
11TE heard the Apia broadcasting ff station very well in Pago, and as a rule their programmes are very good. Tutuila has a station which they call 2VUV, Armed Forces Radio Station—
but I do not think it is audible anywhere outside of Pago.
Price Of Copra
THE price of copra in Pago, as paid to the growers, is 10 cents per lb.,
and this works out at about £52 per long ton (American) and £62 per ton of 2,240 lb. Most of the copra comes from Manua and Swain’s Island. We were not impressed with the plantations we saw on Tutuila. They are sadly over grown, and the coconut trees that are visible are scraggy and badly chewed by the rhinoceros beetle, about which the local Agricultural Department (if one exists) does nothing.
HMAS “Arunta” left Sydney in early June for a goodwill cruise to New Cale donia, New Hebrides and Fiji. Flag offi cer in Charge of the Australian Squadron, Rear-Admiral Farncomb, is in command.
It is expected that the “Arunta” will re turn to Sydney in early July.
The Rev. J. D. Roberts, of Windsor Congregational Church, Brisbane will leave shortly for the Moru district (Papua) for mission work. He will be accompanied by his wife.