ISLAND NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 245, 18 October 1886, Page 2

ISLAND NEWS.

The Late Volcanic Eriiytion

TREATY BETWEEN TONGA AND THE UNITED STATES.

Proceedings at Samoa,

News from Samoa per R.M.S. Mararoa' shows that tho Gormans aro making strenuous efforts to get the upper hand in all matters, much to the annoyance of the Brifieh residents. It is reported that the Municipal Magistrate of Apia, MrMabin, formerly of Auckland, has boen compelled to make room for a German Magistrate. Tho s.s. Liibeck, first of the new German line of steamers, instead of delivering her mails to the Municipal Postmaster, handed them to the manager of the German firm, and the latter r. quired that all letters should be stamped with the Gorman stamp and pass through their hands. The United States mano'-war Mohican left Tonga for Samoa on October Ist. i The barque Okonom, undor charter of Messrs McArthur and Company, left Tonga for .Europe with a full cargo of copra on October 2nd. Customs duties are now beiDg levied in Tonga, everything, with a score of exceptions, being lOdegs. ad valorem ; timber Is Gd per 100 feet undressed, and Vi per 100 feet dressed. A gentleman on board tho United States warship Mohican, recently in this port, sends us the following notes of that vessel's movemontß since leaving here : — We went to Paneo Pango Harbour after leaving Auckland, and there met H.M.S. Miranda, with Mr Thurston on board. Sho left the same day for Fiji, Mr Thurston having finished his observations on Bamoan affairs.

Arriving at Apia on the 10th September, wo found Mr Bate?, the United States Commissioner, who immediately took up his quartera on board. The Commissioners did not hold joint sessions at all, bo that there is little or nothing made public. Suifico it to say that the independence ofSamoa seems assured. On the 20th September we left for Vavau ißland, where we met the Suva. She had been chartered by Mr Bakor (Premior of Tonga) to go to the ieland of Niua-fu (Good Hopo Island), half-way between Samoan and Fiji groups. It appears that early in tho morning of the Ist Septembor, a torriblo volcanic eruption took place there, soveral craters breaking out

irointhe eummit.discharging heavy showers of wot sand. Every tree on tho island was destroyed, and most of tho villages buried to a depth of 8 to 12 feet. Tho wholo population of 000 (of whom not one was injured) will be speedily removed to tho other islands of Tonga, and relief schooners were despatched immediately on tho return of the Suva. A French man-of-war passed the island soon after tho eruption commenced, but the natives say sho mad& little or no attempt to succour them. Proceeding to Nukualofa (from Noi-afu) with the Premier on board, a treaty of amity and commerco was concluded between Tonga and tho Unitod States, a grand reception being tendered us by the Government. Mr Bates will return to Washington by the Mariposa, and the Mohican will proceed to Valparaiso (via Easter Island). Allow mo to say that tho books, periodicals and newspapers presented to tho ship's library at Auckland wero very much ap preciated by all on board. [At the time of writing, our correspondent was of course unaware of tho fearful earthquakes which occurred at Charleston, United States, on the same day as the volcanic eruption abovo referred to.]