AN EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR AT SAMOA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 62, 14 March 1900, Page 6

AN EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR AT SAMOA.

WEN NATIVES KILLED AND MANY

WOUNDED

fittUAUBLE AT A CRICKET MATCH.

By the Union Company's steamer Hauroto, which arrived on the 2nd inst., from Samoa, there reached Sydney a partj r of Samoan men and women who are on their way to the Paris Exhibition, where they will be exhibited and will perform native dances. Some few years ago a similar troupe went on a like tour through Europe, and the present lot are being managed by Mr Marquhardt, who had charge of the former troupe. The natives are directly under the control of a high Samoan chief, who appears to have great influence over them. The party is housed at the Crescent Coffee Palace, in the Haymarket, the same hotel at which the last lot stayed pending their departure for Europe. There arc a- few single men and women amongst them, but for the most part the troupe consists of benedicts and their wives. The chief, in conversation with a "Herald" representative, gave a startling account of a. native cricket match which took place in a. district at Savaii a few days before the Hauroto left for Sj'dney, the principal island of group. It seems that during the match a squabble occurred over the umpires' decision, and before long the competing clubs were engaged in mortal combat. Altogether, it is related, no fewer than five tribes from different villages precipitated themselves into the conflict and. it is said, used firearms, though it was supposed that at the termination of the recent Samoan war the whole of the natives were disarmed. After a sanguinary encounter there were found on the field 10 killed and many wounded.