The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-08-28
CUPID SENDS MNGARS TIE VENTURA VS. CHINA NEW NS ARE SECURED PRIMITIVE 3 PPAAGA
VISIT TO THE REMOTE ISLAND OF
MANUA.
Two Ohio Men Entertained by King
at a Samoan Hookupu-Naval Station
Work at Pago-Pago.

Judge c. w. Dustin and DR.. c. II.
Humphreys of Ohio, arrived by the
Ventura yesterday from a month spent
at Pago Pago and considerably more
time spent in the South Seas.
/ Government work, in the shape of
| elaborate coal sheds and wharves is
! being pushed day and night" says
of sunday being the only lapse in the
continual labor. 100000 worth of
buildings are already in place the labor
consisting chiefly of white help i'm
ported for the purpose and some ma
tives working at the rate of 81 per day.
I There is at present a small custom
house erected and appropriations have
been asked for the building of barracks
and governors house for the COM
mandante The natives are extremely
| friendly and willing to work at such
labor as they can perform.
1T has been the policy hitherto" said
| Judge Dustin, "to allow the natives to
govern themselves to a certain extent
under civil rule. For example there is
| a native Governor at nominal salary
! of about SIS per month, and native
! judges who act as associate judges of
! the court, the head of which is a white
] lawyer from Apia, JUDGE Edwin c..
Gurr. This court makes a regular cir
cult through the group at stated inter-
walls.
There was held a short time ago
| a native Congress the jurisdiction of
which has not yet been approved by
congress, continued the judge, and l
] have promised to use what influence L
have to forward the recognition of the
matter.
There is at present duty of from
! two to two and a half, l forget the
exact amount, of ad valorem duty on
I incoming goods at the port of PagO
| Pago: a small amount just sufficient to
| pay the port expenses and not present.
ing any great encouragement to SNUG
Cling.
( "While at Pago Pago, which is pro-
nounced as if there was an IN" before
| the "g," ng sounding as in that dia-
| lect, the flag was saluted by the British
cruiser Pylades with salvo of Il guns
replied to by the American collier Aba
renda then in the harbor.
THE harbor is a magnificent one ano
| the country most interesting and mic
| turesque the natives being In very
primitive state as far as their dwell
! ings and requirements are concerned
| Their ufiysique Is splenofd and ~theil
personal appearance attractive. While
in the group Judge Dustin and DR.
| Humphreys visited the island of Manus
a part of the American territory situa
were there lavishly entertained by Kinf
| Manga, a donation party being given II
their honor to which pigs cocoanuts ant
other indigenous dainties We're Offered
by the natives. There is a boys schoo
on the island in flourishing condition
which was also visited
"In the opinion of Judge Dustin the
islands of TUtulla and Manua are, while
ready and possessing the necessary pos
sbilities not likely to develop for SOM
time owing to law instituted by Com
mandante Tilley, which though a wis
provision for the native population
will prohibit development for som'
time. This regulation does not ALLOW
any native to sell his land, nor to leas
it for more than forty years which leas
is subject to the inspection of the au
thorities. These leases may be grant
ed upon the carrying out of certain I'm
provements thus providing for the pos
siblity of the erection of some house
in course of time. Were it not for thi
provision the guileless nature of the ma
tives would be readily imposed upon b
adventurers. it is said
Judge Dustin and DR.. Humphrey
: will stay in these islands for shor
visit taking in the volcano before the
return to the States.