Western Samoan Newsletter
pp. 33-34 · Read in the full issue
From Our Own Correspondent
Apia, Jan. 21.
A WEEK before Christmas, the wet season set in with torrential rains pouring down day and night. Bad weather conditions, however, did not seem to interfere with the Christmas buying and business generally was re ported to be very bright with Europeans and Samoans spending freely. Good prices are being obtained for copra and cocoa, and the Apia stores offered a good variety of seasonal goods.
However, as a result of the devaluation of the £stg. and the increase in import duties on dollar goods through the change in the conversion rates, imports of goods from USA and Canada are de creasing rapidly, with the exception of essential goods not obtainable elsewhere (lumber, oil, tyres and motor vehicles).
The Collecter of Customs has circularised importers warning them that dollar al locations for 1950 have to be drastically cut down.
Two steamers with large cargoes ar rived in Apia just before Christmas—the Waikawa from Sydney and the Waiheme from Vancouver. It is unfortunate that shipping services from Sydney are so ir regular, as local importers are eager and willing to increase their orders from Aus tralia for goods which cannot now be imported from the USA.
DONATIONS collected by Apia firms and Government departments for the Makogai Christmas Fund, for the leper patients at Makogai, Fiji, amounted to £lB4/14/7, of which the firm of O. F. Nelson & Co., Ltd., collected £145.
TEN Samoan schoolchildren have been awarded New Zealand Government scholarships to attend New Zealand schools in 1950. Of the ten children,
seven are Samoans and three local-born Europeans of mixed descent.
A PLEASANT little function took place on December 9 at Aleisa land settle ment for local-born European settlers, when the new Government School for the 140 children of the settle ment was officially opened in the presence of the Hon. Pautua and repre sentatives of the Government. Whilst the Government had contributed the materials and supervised the work, the actual labour had been done voluntarily by the Aleisa settlers and the roomy and attractive school building reflects the greatest credit on all concerned.
A musical programme was given by the school-children under the direction of the headmaster, Mr. R. Collins and his three assistant teachers. The school orchestra played light music. School certificates were presented to pupils by the Director of Educations Mr. D. R.
Lambie.
DURING the absence of the High Com missioner in New Zealand and the secretary to the Government, Mr. J.
B. Wright, on leave, the Chief Judge, Mr.
C. C. Marsack, has been appointed Act ing High Commissioner and Mr. L. M.
Cook Acting Secretary. Mr. R. S. Agnew has been appointed Collector of Customs.
Four of the ten Western Samoan Scholarship winners who are now in New Zealand.
Photo by Superflash, Apia.
MR. D; G. McCracken, headmaster of Avele Boys’ School, left Samoa for New Zealand by the last Matua after terminating his term of engagement in the Territory. His departure is regretted by Europeans and Samoans alike. His successor is Mr. R. G. Hoare who has been teaching at Avele School for several years. :: :; ;; THERE is considerable building activity in and around Apia at the present time. Morris, Hedstrom Ltd’s, new
premises are nearing completion now and when finished will greatly enhance the Custom House area.
The large building of the Methodist Mission, near the Apia Post Office, is also in course of construction. At Motootua the buildings of the Intermediate School and the Malifa Infant School, as well as a special building for school broadcasting purposes, are going up, while a number of dwellings for teachers and officials in the same suburb are also under construction.
Apia is at present a hustling and very busy place and the general appearance of the town and its surroundings is bound to be greatly improved as a result of the work now being done.