A.—4b.

The Chairman.'] An imported article ? —Yes, it is a tinned product of the United States. I understand that the Medical Officer has made tests, upon which he will probably give evidence, that if beer is made from " All in One " according to instructions, then the product would have no percentage of proof-spirit, but if they put other ingredients into the mixture, such as sugar, then they would obtain alcohol in quantity according to the amount of sugar that had been used and according to the way in which it was made —other circumstances being taken into consideration, of course. But if beer is made from "All in One" as it should be made, then there should be no alcohol. The local name for that beer is fa'amafu ?—That is the common term applied to it. Mr. Slipper.] With regard to the fa'amaju which you have had in the Courts, Mr. Braisby, can you give the Commissioners any idea respecting the percentage of proof-spirit that has been found in that fa'amafu ? —Yes ; although, of course, only that fa'amaju comes before the Court which has been examined and found to contain more than 3 per cent, of proof-spirit, and anything below 3 per cent, does not come before the Court. I think that the highest percentage of alcohol which we have had in this Court is 8 per cent. It averages round about from 4to 6 per cent. ; that is the probable average. Do you remember what it was in Pogai's case ? —I do not remember, but I can find out. If nobody objects to my reminding you, it was 8-2 per cent. ? —Yes. Is there much of this fa'amafu being made and drunk ? The Chairman.] That is, exceeding 3 per cent. ? —I do not think there is as much made exceeding 3 per cent, as there is less than 3 per cent. That is my opinion. Mr. Slipper.] Of course, there are no test cases available, are there ? You could not put your hand on any figures to be certain about that, could you ? —No; there are no figures available. Is that home brewing of alcohol —that is, fa'amafu exceeding 3 per cent, proof-spirit—spreading and increasing, or is it not ? —I do not think it is increasing. It certainly has not increased the last two years. Have you had trouble with regard to any other illicit alcoholic drinks besides fa'amafu ?—Yes, we have the distilled spirits. We have paid much more attention to the distilling of spirits than to anything else, because that, in my opinion, is the worst feature —perhaps I should describe the character of some of the residents of this place : My observations since I have been in Samoa—and I have seen a lot of it —is that the half-caste is all right if he does not get too much drink, and especially if he does not get too much liquor. The Chairman.] What does that mean —too much drink and too much liquor ? —Well, drink is beer usually, and liquor is worse. Referring to spirits ? —Yes. I have noticed that if they start drinking spirits they do not finish, in most cases, until they either go clean out or the drink is finished —that is to say, the spirits are finished. As soon as all the stocks of spirits were finished there was a demand for other spirits in any form ; and the Chinese coolies realized that spirits had value, and they commenced to make distillations on the plantations. From what ?—From native fruits, and principally from cocoa-juice—that is, when cocoa-beans are fermented there is a liquid runs away from them, and this is gathered by the coolies. They make a crude form of still and distil that liquor from the cocoa-beans, and when distilled that is known here as cocoa-juice. Mr. Slipper.] Are there any other forms of vegetation or fruits ? —Yes, they also take the green mummy-apple, cut it up and ferment it, and make spirits of that. They make this not to consume themselves, but for sale. What about the use of bananas and pineapples ? —Yes ; also in a few other cases they have used other forms and varieties, such as bananas, &c. Now, you have some of that spirit in your office now ? —Yes. What is the percentage of that ? —As far as I can remember, that is about 45 per cent., which is very low for spirits. Judge MacCormick.] Do you mean 45 per cent, of proof-spirit ? —Yes, 45 per cent, of proof. Mr. Slipper.] What have you had it up to in other instances ? —75 per cent. Any higher ?—I am not sure. With regard to this 45 per cent, you have, if you put it on the table and touch it with a match, will it burn ? —Yes, anything over 40 per cent, will burn. Did this sort of thing go on when the police-permit system was in force and the open bars were in existence ?—No. Does not this illicit manufacture of liquor increase the difficulties of the Police Force very much ? Not very much. Can you patrol the country properly with the small force you have ? —I do not consider that we need to patrol it, so far as this is concerned, beyond four miles of where we are now. Can you say whether or not this home manufacture of alcohol is doing any harm to the Natives ? —No, I could not say that. I know of a few Samoans round Apia (I do not consider them as being natural Samoans at all, as they are not living the real Samoan life) who will drink it when they get the opportunity ; but I am referring to Samoans who work on launches and boats and live with Europeans and come into contact with Europeans. They, I know, will drink it. Ido not think that it is ruining them. Home brewing, especially of fa'amafu, is, as a rule, not carried out in detail by the white person —man or woman —who is making it; the work is usually done by their Native servants, is it not ? —I suppose that in some cases that is so. I suggest to you that it is a fact that Natives are learning to manufacture it ?—lt may be so.

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