THE GERMANS IN SAMOA.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 161, 9 July 1888, Page 3

THE GERMANS IN SAMOA.

In the course of his lecture on Friday night at the V.M.C.A. Hall, the Key. Geo. Brown referred at some length to the Tongan natives, whom he considered as a good type of the eastern Polynesians, lie mentioned that they had now reached an advanced state of civilisation. Tongana could play Haydn's selections on the organ, and also take shorthand reports of speeches. Mr' Brown devoted some time to describing tho various groups of islands in the Pacific, which was done in a remarkably graphic style. Speaking of the annexation of Samoa by Germany, the lecturer denominated King George of Tonga as the Napoleon of the South Pacific. He was known to be about 90 years of age, as he was a grawn lad in '806, when the schooner Port-au-Prince was captured. He possessed great power, which he had used wisely and well. That fact had saved Tonga from many of-the evilß which afflicted Samoa to-day. There wag no chief in Samoa who had the power to say that he was king. The whole trouble was that the people of Samoa had trisd to set up laws on tho basiß of our English laws. But, unfortunately, they had no Napoleon amongst them, like King George of Tonga. The result was that poor Samoa was devastated by internecine wars. As to (he German annexation of Samoa, he thought that the English nation had no right to complain because another Power had taken that which they would not themselve* touch. The fact was that the Samoans could not govern themselves unless supported by some outside Power. Time after time the Government of that group had been offered to England, and just aa often had it been refused. In his opinion, the British Government ought to have accepted it. (Applause.) It ought to have tauen all the islands of the South Pacific. Not that he wanted to grasp the land ; no, bub bad as we were, he believed that the English nation were better than other nations to look after the interests of the natives of the South Pacific. Islande. Now Germany had annexed the group, and he for one would say, better German rule than the continued warfare which had hitherto distracted the land. The trouble was that Germany was simply keeping out other Powers without acceptingany responsibility itself. Much as he respected the great German nation, he must say that their treatment of Malietoa was utterly unworthy of such a great people. They first made it impossible for him to govern or raise taxes, and then ended by giving him 24 hours' notice in which to pay 13,000 dollars without even making any statement of claims. They simply Baid that damages to the extent of 4,C00 dollars per annum had been done to German residents, and demanded instant restitution. It. was singular that eaoh year the damages had been just 4,000 dollars, neither taore less. Of course Malietoa could not pay, and he was deposed. He could not help thinking that when the story of Samoa came to be written, people would recognise the magnanimity of that dark-skinned kjng, who, while saje amoiigsb his mountain fastnesses in the interior, had voluntarily come in and given, himself up to save his people suffering. Ancl then the great German nation, "which had made war upon him, transported him away to another land to die in exile from bis country. 3e repeated that he considered such conduct waa unworthy of th© German Empire. (Applause,) Still, ifc must be remembered that the German colon' ista had done much fpr the commerce of Samoa. He would nob have the slightest objection if the Germans would properly annex S&moa&ridhoid themselves responsible for its future gpod go vernment. He thought that in New Zealand they should keep their eyes upon the commerce) of the group. The Rev. J, S. Hill showed fifteen pictures of the Island? J?y aid of the limelight, These were briefly described by the lecturer, who als,p devoted same tune to despr'ibjng the, horn? life and peculiarities of the Polynesian race.