The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-05
THE, SAMOAN KINGDOM.
IT'S POLITICS AND BUSINESS UNDER PREMrER
BrEINBERGER-

IT'S POLITICS AND BUSINESS UNDER PREMrER
srERBERoER-
The San francisco CAronicIs has late news from the
Samoan islands,
Premier stenberger has the credit OF conducting him
self modestly far Up TO the date OF the departure
of the Ada May, July the full corps Of government
officers had not been named But the Assistant Pre-
mier known 10 all, in the person of J. +. Waters
of San Francisco formerly grocer on Market street.
and gentleman who left number OF creditors to
mourn his loss The appointment of Waters Assist
Premier great offence 70 the very few decent
Americans at Apa but II said TO be the best that
could be secured from the office seeking portion of the
whites. Another unpopular act was the evyng OF tax
OF $40 per month saloon keepers but this only
unpopular with the vendors OF spiritual comfort The
virtuous and upright element sustained It, Il
thought also that restrictions would be put upon
commerce. but Apia, SO far known, is TO be
free port Only single exception that of heavy tax
on strong spirits OF every kind. II was not definitely
settled as TO how the Kingdom would secure revenues TO
support itself There has been considerable anmosity
exhibited toward United States Consul Foster, late
arrival there The late Consul J. NJ. Coe, has been
resident Of Apia for over quarter OF century, and
was United States representative for over ten years
He had married a native woman and by her reared
large family. Coe was popular with the natives and
well liked by foreigners generally
THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT.
The whole trade OF Samoa has been for years in the
hands of tho Germans or, to be particular
controlled by the house OF Peter Godeiroy Sons, OF
Hamburg Godefroy pre, is the Aston Of that part of
the South Seas When II was dangerous for white men
TO go there he armed and equipped vessel man OF
war, and sent his traders ON board Of 1t IN
millions the saying Is, In the South Seas.
The firm making desperate effort to control the
commerce of Tahiti and the Society Islands. This
house has a new and formidable rival in the New Ham
burg firm of Ruge Hedeman lately established at
Apa. The commercial relations of Americans with
Apa is scarcely worth speaking Of Only three or four
small schooners make occasional trips between San
Francisco and that port
soCIAL DISTINCTION
Up 70 the time of the new ktngdom having been off,
ciay declared the Samoans paid but little attention TO
social rank. few white of English and Ameri-
blood both pure and half cast pounded their pianos
TO the music of the sad which echoed from
the white coral reefs and made laudable efforts
fascinae fantastic naval officers and susceptible South
Sea shippers"
Chronicle representative interviewed several par
ties who have sojourncd in Samoa among these few
late arrivals. The minority held that Samoa
perfect paradise everything lovely in the extreme,
the natives vrtuous and happy the white gentle
men The majority held to the same notion with few
exceptions to wit that the fo-fe eephantiasis was
terrible scourge the island, that the would
dovour gin by the hogshead that all the white
runaway sailors, leech-combers and 'lime ULCERS "
from Australia and other points of the compass You
find hard the sand beach OF lpia you will
the Barbary Coast, exclaimed pios pilgrim from
the isles and he added las virtue the less said about
that the better"