SAMOAN DEPORTATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 January 1928, Page 5

SAMOAN DEPORTATIONS

PRELIMINARY “DEMONSTRATION” (Special to Press Assn, by Radio.) APIA, January 13. The town of Apia is simmering with excitement to-day on the occasion of the deportation of Messrs Nelson, Gurr and Smythe from Western Samoa. Yesterday three hundred Samoans rowed to Apia from Savaii, and they demostrated along the beach front. The men were openly carrying canecutters’ knives, and a few of them bore guns, which they fired in the streets. They also fired in front of the Administrator’s building. At noon everything was quiet along the beach. The Tofua leaves at three o’clock this afternoon with the. deportees. FAREWELL MESSAGES. APIA, January 14. The deportation of Mr. Nelson and Mr. Smythe took place this afternoon. It proved a quiet affair. Yesterday’s ebullition apparently had exhausted the enthusiasm. Mr. Gurr is remaining at Apia for a week or two, when he may go to San Francisco, but he will certainly be deported. Messrs Nelson and Smythe were farewelled by the leading merchants of Apia at the office of Morris, Hedstrom. Ltd. At the embarkation in the afternoon, the Samoan chief wished Mr. Nelson a good journey to “Carry on the good work.” There is a general feeling of relief in Apia that the threatened thunderstorm was only a rumbling.