SAMOAN NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11901, 26 May 1899, Page 6

SAMOAN NEWS.

. ■ ARRIVAL QP THE COMMISSION. ' IPes Press Association.] : AUCKLAND, May-25. The Monapouri; from Samoa, reports that American cruiser Badger, with the Sajn'oah Commission, arrived at Apia on May 13, and that the Commission is now sitting, 'There has been.no further fighting, to -• ’ ■ - : APIA, May 16. ‘ All ;is quiet. Parties are patrolling the toads, bukf ailed to find any trace of Mataafa’s followers within' the boundaries set by Admiral Kantz and Captain Stuart. The naval officers, were surprised at the strength of some of the Torts which Mataafa had abandbned wben agreeing not. to go beyond the boundary arbitrarily fixed by the naval commanders- Mataafa is reported as saying that had it not been for the orders issued by him tbatnio white men were to be fired: on, several •parties of bluejackets sent out skirmishing ■Would' have heencompletely exterminated, as they were surrounded on: more than one occasion, op all sides by large numbers of rebels Concealed in heavy undergrowth. ’ The cruiser Badger arrived from San Francisco on May 13 with the Commissioners, who took up their residence at the International Hotel. Their first sitting was in prion Tuesday of last week, the day the steamer sailed, and consisted of a conference with the Chief Justice. What transpired , was not made public, but it.was rumoured that a proclamation was to be issued on the following day, upholding the action of the naval authorities. . The opinion is now generaßy held that the Mataafaites will fall in with the decision of the Commission, _ but win decline to acknowledge Tanu, and if he is constituted King, war will ultimately again break out. The Germans are very busy up their claims for losses sustained. One German firm' here claims 60,000 dollars, and the claims of other Germans will amount • to another 20,000 dollars. No estimate of ; the amounts of British and American claims can he made at present, as all have not been seat in. , The British Consul has requested that claims for compensation should be sent " in.' This looks as if the Commission may deal with the question.