SAMOA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 267, 10 November 1893, Page 3

SAMOA.

NATIVE AFFAIRS QUIET.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Apia, November 2. ' Since my last letter, affairs in Samoa have baen tolerably quiet. ' Aboub one-third of one year's capitation tax has been paid in by natives, but there seems to be little probability of the remaining amount being paid. What has been received is principally from the districts which were sup-' porters of Mataafa in the late rebellion. The Consuls have received information that the Treaty Powers are agreeable to disarming the natives, and that they will render the assistance of their warships for the purpose. It is thought that this important) question will have to be postponed until next May, owing to the shorb time which must elapse before the hurricane season starts,

THE MEASLES EPIDEMIC.

The measles epidemic is still raging fiercely in the outside districts, and is causing much suffering amongsb the natives. In Apia, where it first appeared, it Beems to have run its course, leaving, however, a great deal of sickness in the form of gastric fever, dysentery, etc. to follow it. There is considerable difference of opinion as to the number of deabhß which have resulted. The medical authorities assert they haveibeen few, but native reports give much larger numbers. Ib is, however, hard to authenticate the native reports. One thing, however, is certain, that the prompt action of the Government and Municipal Council in giving explicit instructions to the natives as to how the disease should be dealt with has prevented great mortality, and ib is moat likely that from two to three hundred will be the maximum number of deaths which can be credited to measles.

DEPARTURE OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE.

Baron Conrad Cedercrantz, Chief Justice of Samoa, takes his departure by the Mariposa to-day, returning to Europe via Australia and the East. Although he has been a much-abused official, and his public aote have frequently aroused hostile criticism in the past, yeb he has managed bo live ib down and his departure is very generally regretted. The Samoans, particularly, are loth to bid him farewell, as they have the utmost confidence in his integrity and capacity. The speeches made by the Kiner and Government ab his official farewell were most affecting, and had the merit of sincerity. Mr H. C. Ide, his successor, is expected to arrive by the came steamer as Baron Cedercrantz takes hisdeparture in.

H.M.S. KATOOMBA.

H.M.s. Katoomba left on bhe 14th ulb. for Sydney, via Fiji and other ports. __ She chanced to be present in Samoa aba critical time, and Captain Bickford (who was the senior captain on the station) has won golden opinions for the tacb and ability displayed by him during a troublous period* Her place here has been taken by the Rapid, which arrived from Fiji on the 50bh ult. She will remain here, it is said, until the end of December.

MATAAFA EXILED.

The German warship Sperber leaves on the 6th instant for Fakaofa, the Marshall Islands, New Britain, and German New Guinea. She will take Mataafa and the other rebel chiefs from Fakaofa to the Marshall Islands, where they will be detained for some time. She will afterwards proceed from New Guinea to Africa. The Bus Bard remains in Samoa until the end of preEenb year. RUMOURED PURCHASE BY NEW ZEALANDERS. A rumour, which, needless to say, hat caused much joy, has lately been current here to the ettecb that a syndicate was being formed in New Zealand for the purpose of purchasing the whole of the German interests in Samoa. The rumour has nob been'denied by the representatives of the German firm in Apia. VARIOUS ITEMS.. The recent rise in the-price of copra is having beneficial influence on business here, and if ib continue for a while our prospects tor the coming year will look much brighter than they have for long past The mission barque John Williams, which waß compelled to return to Apia because of an outbreak of measles, left on the 7th ult. for Mauha and theHervey Group. The German firm here have resolved to discontinue the cultivation of cotton ab the end of the present year, owing to the fact thab it does not pay. The London Miesion Society are about to commence the erection .of -a new church tor the use of the foreign residents of Apia. It is now known that blight has made its appearence amongst the coffee plantations of the German firm. This will mean great loss to them as they have been ab considerable pains to culbivate and bring coffee Jq> perfection. Their plantation has long been" one of the show places of the islands, and the coffee produced second to none in the world.

The German barquentine Anna Wickhorßt arrived to-day from a labour recruiting cruise. She brought 67 labourers, which, considering the size of the vessel and the fact that she has been absent for five months, cannot be regarded as a satisfactory return.

Information has at last been received of the appointment of a United States Land Commissioner, and he is expected to arrive by the Mariposa.