SAMOAN FEAST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 115, 16 May 1936, Page 11

SAMOAN FEAST.

MR. NELSON'S RETURN. NATIVE CELEBRATIONS. j kava ceremony ani> dinner (From Our Own Correspondent.) APIA, May 7. The visit of a New Zealand Cabinet Minister and a prominent member of the Labour party to Western Samoa, to investigate Samoan affairs, and the impending return of Mr. O. F. Nelson, are still the general topic of conversation. Though there are Europeans and Samoans who do not view Mr. Nelson's return with favour, the great majority believe that he will be willing and able to co-operate with the New Zealand Government to bring about a final settlement of political difficulties. Among the Mau followers the most ardent section are the people of the 1 Palauli and Salailua districts, on the I south coast of the island of Savaii, under ' the leadership of High Chief Autagavaia, ' a strong opponent of the New Zealand : administration. On Friday, May 1, a ! flotilla of ten fautasis (rowing boats) : from the Savaii district, arrived on Apia j beach, flying Mau flags and bringing I about COO men, women and children from I Savaii to Apia. On their arrival a j Government medical officer and the chief ! of police explained to them that infecti--1 ous disease had broken out in Apia and I Upolu, and that by order of the GovernI ment all communication between the two islands was to be stopped. They should, therefore, not return to Savaii before three weeks. High Chief Autagavaia replied that j they should have been told of that before their departure, and that if the authorities wanted them to remain in Apia for three weeks, the Government would have to supply their 600 people with food dwi'ing the period. On the following daV, the Palauli and Salailua districts gave a great "ta'alolo" or ceremonial dance and feast to the Mau

I committee at Vaimoso village, in celebration of the impending return of Mr. Nelson. Full Samoan ceremonial was duly observed, and after the dances, the j Kava ceremony and various speeches, an elaborate and abundant dinner was i spread out for the large gathering. Over a hundred large pigs formed part of the feasting. In the evening the Savaii visitors gave some additional singing and dancing performances for the benefit of their Apia hosts. On Tuesday, May 5, the Savaii fautasis departed from Apia on their homeward voyage to Savaii.