LATER SAMOAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5473, 2 June 1879, Page 5

LATER SAMOAN NEWS.

Br the arrival of the German war Bhip Albatross we are placed in possession of files of Samoan papers to the 17th May, from which we take tho following items : —. The Rev. J. Marriott has arrived at Apia by the Mission barque John Williams. He has come out as assistant to the Bev. Dr. G. Turner, in the training institute at Malua. A native of Salelavalu, named Metauli, while on his way home from Palauli, in a native taumualua, was severely wounded in the back part of the neck by a sword-fish, Which jumped from the water into the boat. Gr. L. Houston, who has been sojourning in Samoa for some time past, left per schooner Madona, to attend the annual training of his regiment—the Royal Renfrew Militia." Rev. George Pratt, who is a member of the London Missioa Society, with his wife and family, will leave Savaii in the Reconnaisance. With the exception of a short.absence in the .Loyalty Islands, he has been forty yejirs in Samoa. Mr. Pratt has always been known as a zealous, hard-working missionary. He is an able scholar and an accomplished linguist, and has contributed largely to the native literature of Samoa. Recently the house o£ Ah Wing, at Matautu was broken into, and property to the value of about 250 dollars extracted. Another Chinaman's house at Matautu was entered on the same night, and cash to the amount of 100 dollars taken therefrom. CROWNING THE SAMOAN KING. Oh Saturday, the 3rd May, the much vexed King question was settled, for the time at least, by the Tuamasaga party taking the initiative, and crowning Maleatoa as the King. About 3 p.m. the King, together with his • standard-bearer, and a deputation appointed by the Tuamasaga ohiefs, proceeded from Matafele to Mulinuu. Having arrived at the malai, or public square, opposite the Government flagstaff,, the King was placed in a chair, surrounded by his supporters. Tueatafu, the principal speaking man of the Tuamasaga division, ( then went down to the Taimua and Faipule, or "Government," to invite them to come and witness the crowning of the King. About half-an-hour's discussion here took place upon the subject, which finally ended in Tueatafu telling the Government that he was going to crown Maleatoa as the King for ever, and if they liked to come and witness it, all well and good, and i£ they did not, it would not make any difference. Tueatafu then returned to the King party, and informed them what had passed between himself and the Government. After this had been done two pieces of cannon which were on the ground were loaded, the flag run up on the Government flagstaff, 21 guns fired, and Maleatoa proclaimed King after the Samoan fashion. How this matter will end it is hard just now to say, but the Government party talk of fighting. The general opinion is, however, that they will not bo able to obtain forces enough to face the King party, and they will eventually have to give up the idea.

Commenting on the above circumstance, the Times of the 17th May says:—lf anything were needed to prove the utter inability of the Taimua and Faipule to govern Samoa, that proof was given on Tuesday last, when they called upon the foreign consuls to try and induce them to specially protect Mulinuu and themselves. Where now is the boasted strength of the so-called "Government?" They hear that the Tuamasaga party intend to turn them off their much-loved point, md they fly to the consuls for protection. Had they been wise they would have listened to the advice of Mr. Weber, the German Consul, when he, at a meeting of the Consuls at Mulinuu, called by tho Taimua and Faipule, for the purpose of receiving their advice as to the advisability or otherwise of availing themselves of the services of a certain foreigner, told them that they did not require any foreigner at present in their Government. By the action of the Taimua and Faipule after the meeting of the Consuls, it would appear that they had determined to have the said foreigner in their Government, no matter what the Consuls sail to the contrary. Now they are beginning to suffer the consequences of their obstinacy, for we firmly believe that, had they taken the advice of Mr. Weber, and not accepted the services of any foreigner, the present difficulty between themselves and the Tuama9aga would have been amicably settled ere now, and the possibility of bloodshed over the matter have been obviated. In order to consider the request of the Taimua and Faipule to protect them upon Mulinun Point, a meeting of the foreign Consuls was held on Wednesday. It was decided that the Consuls could only interfere in so far as their various contrymen were concerned. Over purely Samoan affairs they had no control, and that Samoans mnst settle their own difficulties. In years gone by a certain area of ground between Lctogo on the east and Faleula on the west had been agreed upon by both native and foreign representatives as neutral ground in all Samoan fights, therefore the Taimua and Faipule are perfectly safe so long as they are able to hold their own upon the Point •without recourse to arms. Once the Tuamasaga have tho power to remove them by police or civil force from the coveted spot they must go, and expect no support from any Consul. During the past week or two it has been sought in a certain quarter to lead the Taimua and Faipule to believe that there can be no neutral gronnd in the event of war breaking out. We have to inform these advisers that that question has already been settled, and it will not be good for them to experiment upon the matter. The German Consul, wo feel sure, has the authority, will, and force, to protect German property within the above-mentioned boundaries, and as German interests are in the majority, the minority are thereby protected, "and we feel sure that we are speaking the mind of every foreigner (the advisors excluded) when we say that the German Consul will received their support, if necessary, to preserve the neutrality of the abovementioned area.