SAMOA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 23, 28 January 1891, Page 8

SAMOA.

t <3 • .January A SHOCKING MDELER. News of what: is thought to he a murder ha? boen received from Pago t! 10 victim being one of the crew of the US- warship IroquoN, name , ' Power. It seem? U:u: I'oiver, with some of his comrades, had been on shore, drinking and gambling. He had about 160 dollar*, so far as is known, in his possession, of whicli ho lost fifcy-five. They returned to tiio ship in the afternoon after arranging Co ngain go on shore ami resume their {jarao. Tho weather, however, was rather brui, and only two (Power unci a shipmate mimed Brcnna) left the ship, they swimming in tho direction of the shore. I'ower was not scan alive afterwards, ami Brenna asserts tliat he did not ~ec him after they jumped oil'the ship. Tho trunk of Power's body was picked up the ndxt day near tha vessel. The head had been sovereci from tho body, also both arm? and one leg, whilst thy other leg was cut nearly through, and several other gashes were matte in the back - and chesb. The doctor of too l'roquois iias given hia opinion that thn Hmb» wore eerbainly cut with a knife, which does away with the theory that they in it/lit have been caused by a shark. Brenna lias been arrested on suspicion,, and another person is also under surveillance. ■ THE FLAGSHIP LIEPZIG. King Malietoa paid a visit to the flagship Liepzig on the 2nd, and on leaving was accorded a royal salute of twenty -one guns. Thid completes the public recognition of JNlalietoa by all the foreign Powers interested in Samoa. TAMAS.ESE AT APIA. Some injudicious persona induced Tamasese to come to Apia just at the time the Chief Justice was expected. He is said to be ill, which I believe is the case. However, it was thought, and rightly 80, that his presence in Apia at such a juncture would be dangerous, as he brought a large body of followers with him, and the Consul of the United States insisted upon him leaving town immediately. It is said that he had with him a carefully-pre-pared address for presentation to the Chief Justice, which shows that his visit to Apia, where he has not been for over two years, had a political significance. GALE AND MARINE DISASTERS AT TONGA. Bythes.s. Lubeck, which reached Apia on the 4th, news is to hand of a gale at Tonga which has caused some damage. Two schooners aro said to be high and dry on tho reefs. Fears are entertained for the safety of the Norwegian barque Victor, which lefb here for Tonga about four weeks ago, and at latest advices had not yet reached there. When the Lubeck left Tonga the Austrian barque Teroaa Cossulich was on fire, the fire having originated amongst some cotton which the vessel loaded at Samoa,;

There was quite a gale here in Samoa from the 21st to the 24th December, the Leipzig having to put to sea. The s.s. Palmerston, from Sydney with coal, had to follow the Leipzig to Pago Pago, as the Apia Harbour.was too rough to allow the coal to be transshipped.

The Sporbor left for Sydney on the 27th December. The Liepzig lofb to-d/jy for China, calling afe the Marshall Islands,

A fireman of a goode engine named Charles Lacey recently met with a frightful accident at bhe North Brighton (Victoria) railway siding. Whilst waiting at the siding for the 3.40 up-train from the beach to pass, Lacey gob off his engine to oil a portion of the machinery. The driver cautioned him to keep an eye on the uptrain. Lacey replied, " All right," and almost immediately afterwards he passed round the front of the engine as the uptrain dashed by. He was struck by the buffer of the passing engine and hurled some distance, falling clear of the rails. He was picked up in an unconscious condition. Medical aid was obtained, when ifa was seen that he was suffering from terrible injuries on the head and shoulders, one side of his head being almost completely torn away, leaving a portion of the brain protruding. The unfortunate man was sent to the Alfred Hospital, but there is scarcely the slightest hope of hie recovery. Lacey is twenty-five years of age and is unmarried.