SAMOA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 195, 16 August 1904, Page 4

SAMOA.

MANUA CEDED TO UNITED STATES. The Samoa "Zeitung" says:— On July 15 Tuimanua and his chiefs handed to Judge Gurr for transmission to the President*of the United States a complete cession of the Islands of Manna to the United States signed by Tuirnanua and Iris leading cbiefa. When we recollect that a little over a year ago the people of Manua were plotting to assassinate Judge Gnrr on account of certain decisions he had rendered adverse to Tuimanua, we cannot but help congratulating him on the diplomacy he must have used to secure the cession at this time. It is another instance of the strong personality and remarkable influence Judge Gurr exercises over the people of Samoa. The district of Manua stands now in the same relationship with the United States as the Island of Tutuila. The Manua Group consists of three islands —Manua-tele (or Tan), Ofoo and Oloosinga. Tan, the easterruost island, has the form of a dome rising precipitously from the water to a height of 300 or 400 ft. tben more gently to 2500 ft. It is 16 miles in circuit. * The principal settlement is on the northwest side. There is an anchorage near the shore, with a cone to land in and deep water, but landing is not easy for boats on account of the coral patches— Oloosinga is three, miles long and 1500 ft high. Ofoo is westward of Oloosinga, has a passage for boats of a quarter of a mile between and anchorage on the western side. The value of these islands to America consists chiefly in their proximity to Tutuila. Just prior to the cession of the islands. Judge Gurr visited Tuinianua mi consequence of trouble having ariseit through his having passed a law prohibiting smoking, and also to investi- ] gate matters in connection with the j work of a Mormon missionary among ! the islander?. Manua held that as i King of the Islands he could do as he j liked, and that his acceptance of the ! Governorship of the islands was adopted ; by him for his own convenience. The United Stages authorities did not send the man-o'-war to Manua. but; chartered the schooner Siaftafi. to take Judge Gurr to straighten out matters with the Manua people. The vessel left Tutuila on July 6 and arrived in Manua on the 9th. Judge Gurr found upon investigation that the suspicions were well founded. He met the people openly and made public addresses to them. The smoking prohibition was overturned, the transactions of the Manua Company are to be separated entirely from those of the and the Mormon missionary remains ,in Manua pending a decision of the Government.