SAMOANS’ WELCOME

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 255, 24 July 1936, Page 11

SAMOANS’ WELCOME

Mr. O. F. Nelson Arrives

at Apia

THOUSANDS GATHER Coming Meeting With New Zealand Mission (Special to the Press Association.) (Received July 23, 8.35 p.m.) Apia, July 22, With the arrival of Mr. 0. F. Nelson by the Maui Pomare at noon to-day, celebrations in honour of the homecoining of the Mau leader reached a climax. All Samoa was at Apia for the occasion, which was marked by enthusiastic and orderly demonstrations of joy. When the vessel dropped anchor in the roadstead she was immediately surrounded by a large fleet of rowing-boats manned by 400 Samoans chanting songs of welcome to the beat of drums. A touching reunion took place on board between Mr. Nelson and his relatives, who went out on the pilot lauucn with Messrs. Langstone and O’Brien, of the New Zealand mission, and the Acting-Administrator, Mr. A. C. Turnbull. Mr. Nelson shook hands firmly with members of the official party and expressed-deep gratitude at being home again.

A magnificent reception awaited him ashore, where thousands of natives wearing Mau uniform lined the road along the sea front. Mr. Nelson was grieved to learn that the high chief Tuimavava, a staunch supporter of the Mau, who had walked over two miles in order to be present, had collapsed and died a few minutes previously. ,

With the band playing martial airs, the big parade, a mile long, wended its way in the scorching sun to the village of Vaimoso. Here a service of thanksgiving for the safe return of the exile was conducted by a native pastor. Later Mr. Nelson, with the goodwill delegates, participated in the kava ceremony, after which Messrs. Langstone and O’Brien returned to Vailima. while Mr. Nelson and the Mau committee made a devout pilgrimage to the tomb of Tamasese and other Samoans who lost their lives during the trouble in December, 1929. Mr. Nelson spent the rest of the afternoon with his family. To-morrow morning he will meet the goodwill mission, which is anxious to arrive at an agreement before leaving on its homeward voyage that evening. In the afternoon the celebrations in honour of Mr. Nelson will be continued. Samoa is a land of ceremony. Ritualism is deeply rooted in the social culture of the people. A new house, a new boat, the birth of a child, the death of a chief or the election of his successor, in fact anything and everything that denotes change or a new condition is ushered in with appropriate observances that have themselves changed little since time immemorial.