ISLAND NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 257, 5 November 1897, Page 3

ISLAND NEWS.

The Samoa "Herald" of the 9th ult. says : " There are two intending purchasers for the Polynesian Lands, which comprise the most fertile and desirable lands in the island of Upolu, and the Company promoted by Lord Cross, Mr Arundel and other capitalists have bought 30,000 acres in Fiji and propose coming to Samoa in search of desirable properties. This means that the abovementioned lands and any other properties obtained by the English Company will be brought into cultivation in the near future."

Another party of '' South Sea Adventurers" are now in the Paciiic Islands, having come down from San Francisco in a 149-ton schooner, the Sophia Sutherland. They left Samoa last month for the Solomon Islands, where they intend to settle and trade and cultivate. There are 18 people on board, including the crew. The Samoa "Herald" says:—"We have made full inquiries, and are satisfied that a decent crowd has started out on a venture. We don't think much of their chances, but that is their business."

The Samoa " Herald" of latest date reports that a meeting of the supporters of the Government and others, amongst whom were included the Consuls, was held at Mulinuu lately, and it was decided that the Consuls be asked to advise their respective Governments to release Mataafa and his adherents and permit their return

to Samoa. They are now in exile at the Marshall Islands, where there lot is none too pleasant, although they speak highly of the treatment which they have received from the German authorities. One of their number—Mulipola—is reported to have died.

A Samoan chief recently adopted a novel method of evading the necessity for weeding alongside a road running through his property. The Samoa "Herald" reports that on October 20th at the Apia Court Malaetai, the chief of Valiloa, was charged with having caused a tree to be cut down and felled across the new portion of the Papaseea Itoad.'. He had done this as he had '' too much property " along that road, and the task of weeding was too great. Before he had been summoned he had found out he had done what was against the'law and had caused the tree to be removed. He was lined two dollars.