FATAL QUARREL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 185, 6 August 1936, Page 9

FATAL QUARREL.

SAMOANS USE CANE KNIVES.

VILLAGERS TERRIFIED.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

APIA, July 26

Sui, a Samoan of the village of Saluafata, east of Apia, was recently busy planting on his taro patch, some distance inland from the beach, when his neighbour Joane came along, carrying a shotgun and a basket .with a sapelu, or large cane knife, in it. The neighbouis got" into a heated argument over the boundaries of their respective plantations, and the argument finally developed into a fight. Joane, it is alleged, struck Sui with the gun, which broke in the ensuing scuffle, while Sui defended himself with a pole he was using for life planting. Then both men grabbed their cane knives, and in the ensuing struggle feui was severelv wounded bv knife cuts on the head and the left hand, while Joane sustained severe cuts on the arms and legs and a terrible blow at the back of the neck, from which he died. The terrified villagers immediately notified the Apia police by telephone, and a police party, with a doctor and coroner, were soon on the- scene of the fight.' Sui was transported to Apia in a motor bus and taken to the Apia Hospital, where he was treated under police custody. If he lives, it is stated, he will be charged with the murder of Joane.

Bot.i Su> and Joane are related to the family of High Chief Tamasese,'