SAMOAN TROUBLE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 85, 21 January 1930, Page 3

SAMOAN TROUBLE

OFFICIALS IN PERIL.

MR HALL SKELTON’S COMMENT,

CPer Press Association.)

AUCKLAND. January 20. ,Mr Hall Skelton, solicitor, who arriY«l from Samoa by the Tofua to-day, said' , “The night of Tamasese s funeral saw a large force of fighting men, armed with great strength, appear from out of the darkness. High Chief Faumuma and myself had the greatest difficulty in staying iheir hands from taking the heads off the Administrator and the police, which they could quite easily have done. The Administrator and staff little knew how close they Were to decapitation. They evidently were greatly afraid as they were barricading the police quarters, a force was posted to protect the Administrator, and they were calling on civil officials to take up rifles. The Samoans were so thoroughly enraged at the death, of what they termed their l>eloved king, Tamasese, that it was marvellous how they desisted from revenge. “At my last meeting with the 20 chiefs, they opened their meeting with a prayer. Through an interpreter 1 found out what their fervent prayers were. The main theme throughout was, ‘ Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do, 5 anrl calling for assistance to give them strength to guide them not to stain their hands with the.blood of murderous, revenge. One old chief was particularly pathetic, when lie prayed to he given the light to understand why it was necessary to have them murdered, and whether it was wrong to require an * eye for Jin eye ’ from the police. ' “To say there was a riot was absurd. The matter was all over before a riot could happen. To say they gave notice to the Man that the wanted men would be arrested was well known to be untrue and it was a mere afterthought. To say that- Constable Abraham was chopped down with an axe and then beaten to death, and that this was the cause of the police firing, was untrue.

, “When an old man named Westhrooke called at the office of the Administrator and said, ‘ I enter ray protest against this outrage as a Britisher,’ the Administrator ordered liis immediate arrest. He was roughly handled. and although very old and halfblind, was locked no. Apparently, three hours later, the Administrator ordered his release without his being charged. Mr Westbrooke is issuing a. writ for £IOOO against Mr Allen for alleged illegal arrest.”

NAVAL ACTIVITIES. " V 5 MAU UNIFORM PROHIBITED. WELLINGTON, January 20. News by the Maui " Pomare dated Apia, January 13, states:— Naval activities so far include the dispatch of a party of five marines aiid four radio operators, who left <pn hour after H.M.S. Dunedin arrived yesterday for the extreme western, point of Upolo, to establish a temporary wireless station there. A motor launch is also stationed there as well as a force of police. The main object is to endeavour to prevent any Samoan crossing to Savaii Island, on - the other side of Apolima Strait. At the moment all leading Savaii members of the Mail are in Upolo. the capital of which is Apia. With the same object in view, a party of eight armed seamen left early this morning in the harbourmaster’s launch to patrol the coast between Apia and Savaii, to trv to locate any native boats which might attempt the passage across. At 8 o’clock this morning a party of 20 police and a platoon of marines left by motor lorries on the 15 miles journey to surprise and round up natives in the villages, in the hope of collecting 50 “wanted” men on criminal charges. of the Man all wear a uni; form, consisting of a dark blue coloured lava., with white band around the edge. Endeavours will be made to arrest all natives wearing this uniform.

A reserve platoon was landed this morning and billeted in a house about one mile outside Apia, on the road to Vailiraa, while . another partv established headquarters in a flat on the waterfront.

Flight-Lieutenant S. Wallingford, in charge of a Moth seaplane, has established a base for flying operations near the pilot station. Cruiser Fires Salute. Many residents of Apia were somewhat startled when a salue of 15 guns was fired from the Dunedin yesterday afternoon, as the Administrator (Mr S. S. Allen) left the ship after returning the call of Commodore Blake. From the ship people could be seen running out of houses on the waterfront, and also from the Catholic .Church, The boom of the guns echoed in the distant thickly-wooded hills. However, the residents soon discovered that no bombardment was being carried out, but that courtesies were being paid Mr Allen. "

So far it appears unlikely that there will be any show of force by the Mau. However, when they are met in sufficiently large numbers there is always the possibility of a clash. Their arms comprise knives, stones and sticks. Stones particularly they are aide to use with extreme accuracy and deadly effect.

The Administrator, with Mr Lewis (Secretary of Native Affairs) and Mr Braisby (Commissioner of Police), left this morning to sift out and identify “wanted” men if they are caught in the bush.

Events Since the Riot. Following the rioting on the beach on December 28, members of the Mau lingered about their two strongholds, Yaimoso and Lepea, which were their headquarters,, three-quarters of a mile from Apia, while small parties remained in Matut, a village to the east of Apia. Various Fonos (meetings'* were held, some of which were attended by Mr Hall Skelton, of Auckland, and others. After- the deaths of Tamasese and others the natives were busilv engaged for several days in funeral feasts at Vaimoso and Lepea. During the following week the Mau hung about during which time the inquest on Tamasese and the others was commenced. It lasted several days, and really developed into a Court of Inquiry. Mr T. B. Slipper, solicitor, appeared in the interests of the deceased, and also for the Mau. His request for a free conduct from arrest of several Mau witnesses was not granted, it being held- unreasonable. The inouest has not been finished yet.