THE SAMOAN LAND DISPUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 7, 9 January 1886, Page 7

THE SAMOAN LAND DISPUTE.

Mr H H. Lusk's Return,

Mb Hugh H. Lusk, who left for Samoa about a month ago, in company with Messrs Sinclair and Tiadall, in order to enforce Mr Cornwall's claim to certain lands in possession cf McArthur and Company, returned this morning by the Mariposa. ' A reporter from this office interviewed him at his home in City Road, and Mr Lusk very readily gave the following statement concerning the results of his mission : —I landed at Tutuila, and, as Mr Cornwall's land lies in the other two islands of Upola and Sabaii, I went on to Apia by the first opportunity. My intention was to take formal possession of the land claimed by Mr Cornwall and now held by McArthur and Co., but the Consul begged me to abstain from doing anything of the sort, as the feeling amongst the natives was so highly strung in consequence of the intrigues of the Germans, that a row was sure to be the result, and even a little row mi^ht lead to disastrous consequences. I made inquiries on the subject, and having ascertained that his representations were perfectly correct, I thought it better to tako other stepe. I commenced proceedings against Me Arthur and Co. for the recovery of £21,000 damages, being at the rate of £7,000 per annum for the three, years, during which they have held more than 100,000 acre?, the property of my client. The writ was served a few days before the mail left. They have got to plead here, and the case will either be heard at Samoa or in the High Commissioner's Court at Fiji. it will most probably be held at the latter place, as tho Deputy Commissioner iuformedmethathewouldendeavourtormve it heard there by the High Commissioner himself. The case will come onforhearing in about three months time, and I have no donbt whatever or the success of tho action, as they have no legal ground to stand upon, in fact, they acted upon tho supposition that there was no law, but I ascertained how the law could be brought to bear opon the matter, It may bo that the case may be carried to the Frivy Council, but as to its ultimata issue I h:ive no doubt. As for the islands of Upola, Tutuilft, and Sabaii, which form the Samoan Group, they transcend in fertility all that I had imagined. Vogel is undoubtedly right, for Samoa would be the greatest acquisition this colony could make, and instead of making a loss by governing it, we should make a profit. Although Fiji is productive enough, it is not a patch upon Samoa in this respect. At present everything is in the most unsettled state imaginable, owing to the efforts of the Germans to egg on their opposition King and assert his claims. The land is held on the most uncertain tenure in consequence and everyone is in hourly dread of a row breaking out. In fact, I believe that one is now going on, and in it tho Germans will be swept away. They are a curse to 'he Islands, and I believe , they_ could be easily bought out. Their so called plantations have been conspicuous failures through want of man agement. During my month's stay in Samoa, I lived with the American Consul, and waa in constant communication with tho English Consul. I studiously acquired as much information as possible about the group Two' delegates from Malietoa—a Chief called Sen Va'nu and an interpreter —came up to Auckland in the Mariposa, accredited, I believe, with letterss to the Government, doubtless explaining the strained condition of affairs at Samoa, and again urging annexation. Another Version.-Statement by a Native Chief. An important chief of Samoa, who arrived by the mail steamer, describes the proceedings at Samoa by Cornwall's party as .follows; -"Inconsequence of information received by the mail, Mr Fletcher, McArthur and Co.'c agent, appealed to thq King for assistance in resisting any attempt that might be made to land at Faleula or Fasatootai. The King appointed mo as chief constable, and two officers to prevent a boat's party from landing. The party con elated of Captain Bincloir, Mr H, H. Lusk, and another. They came on from Apia to Faleula in a waterman's boat, and attempted to land. I ordered them off, and they went back into thoir boat quietly.. Had . they resisted, we should have followed out our instructions, which were to use force, if necessary, and we were well armed, The party then left in the boat for Faeatootai, and we proceeded thither also on horseback. We arrived before they did and again ordered them off, They landed but did not come inside of the fence, and then went away quietly, Ws had no ■further trouble with them,"