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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 6, Issue 2 (June 1, 1931)

In and About Western Samoa

In and About Western Samoa.

Lying almost due north from Vavau, 347 miles nearer the equator, is Western Samoa, administered by New Zealanders. The two islands, Upolo and Savaii, are mountainous and well wooded.
Swallows’ Cave, Vavau, looking outwards.

Swallows’ Cave, Vavau, looking outwards.

Here there need be no yearnings for running water. The supply is plentiful, and the growth luxuriant. Western Samoa is the most fertile of all the islands visited during the tour. Its range of products is extensive, and this is helping the territory to weather the economic storm due to the low price of copra and rubber. Samoa grows splendid cocoa, which has fetched a price very close to the best in the world, and the Tofua, on our trip, took away from Apia ninety tons of this valuable product, worth at least £60 per ton. Rubber has been cultivated successfully, but the trees are being rapidly, cut out owing to unprofitable prices. Bananas page 46 provide a good regular cash turnover, and New Zealanders are the consumers.

One could give a long catalogue of interesting sights in Samoa, but the finest attractions of the place are the clean well ordered villages and interesting native life. Perhaps the pace of organisation has been a little too fast for the native, but evidences of good health and improved education are points to the good.

From Apia the Tofua begins the homeward run, calling again at Suva to return its labour complement. On the way is passed Niuafou Island, better known as “Tin-can Island,” because of its unique mail delivery system. Only during a few months of the year is it possible to make a safe landing on its precipitous volcanic shores, consequently a monthly exchange of news with the outside world—apart from a small wireless station maintained by the Tongan Government—has to be effected by natives swimming out to the steamer more than a mile off shore. The outward mail is carried in a tin on a stick held above the water, and the inward, more bulky, is enclosed in large biscuit tins, soldered up and provided with a light tow-rope. The Tofua is seen many miles away, and on her arrival off the main settlement, the swimmers are waiting with a cheerful hail. A few “kicks” of the screw in reverse, overboard goes the tin mail and up come the exchanges. The interesting business is over in a few minutes, and the Tofua is many miles away on the Pacific before the Niuafou swimmers reach their rock-bound shore and the little group under the cocoanut trees, waiting for the monthly mail.

“Here health, and peace, and contemplation dwell.”—Smollett. View of Lake Rotoiti, North Island, New Zealand (about 1890), shewing the village of Mouria in the middle distance.

“Here health, and peace, and contemplation dwell.”—Smollett.
View of Lake Rotoiti, North Island, New Zealand (about 1890), shewing the village of Mouria in the middle distance.