Popular Apia Official

Retires To Cocoa Pltn.

From Our Own Correspondent

Apia, May 14.

ONE of the most popular officials of the Western Samoan Gov ernment, Mr. H. S. Newton, has just retired from his position as Director of Agriculture after 30 years of valuable and efficient ser vice. Mr. Newton joined the ser vice in 1919, later became Produce Inspector and has taken an active and successful part in the agricul tural development of the Territory.

He initiated the Samoan banana industry in 1923 and, in spite of temporary set-backs, established its present flourishing position as the third important revenue producer of the Territory.

He also contributed greatly to the development and expansion of the cocoa industry and by rigid en forcement of quality standards, estalished the high reputation of Samoan cocoabeans overseas.

Mi'. Newton, some time ago, pur chased a cocoa plantation and after his retirement will devote his prac

tical experience to his new venture.

He will be succeeded as Director of Agriculture by Mr. Michael Akenhead, an Englishman who has come to Samoa from the Gold Coast where he was connected with the Agricultural Department of that Territory.

U About 30 guests attended a party at the residence of Mr. and Mrs.

V. C. Gabriel, of Samarai, Papua, on May 12. Mr, Gabriel is the Manager of the local branch of Burns Philp (NG) Ltd., and the party was the occasion of the becoming of age of his son, Vernon.