OUR SAMOAN LETTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6063, 23 April 1881, Page 6

OUR SAMOAN LETTER.

[fxoji our own cormsfoxdest.] j ■"•' Apia, March, 1881. Since February. 11 (the date of my last letter) it appears that the commander of the German war. vessel at Saluafata sent an invitation to the chiefs of the Atuas to come up to a conference at Saluafata. It appears that while on their passage they were ohased by the King's party, and one killed and two or three wounded.' What transpired at the said conference has not come to hand at "date. ; ■■ ; ■■■'■■ •■••■ ■-..'••. -V ■ ' ■ " -.' February 17. —The', natives of the, Atua party fired at a half-caste's boat in broad daylight, putting three shots through it. The case was represented to the American Consul (the half-caste being an American), aud settled by the commander of the German war ship at Saluafata. The two natives who fired the shots were fined 15 dollars each, which was paid. " . February 23.—There' has been very heavy and constant rain for some days. We hear of two natives. o£ the King party being shot by the Atuas, while gathering young cocoanuts to eat.. Yet there is great procrastination in warlike'affairs. The' two parties are constantly watching each other, and there is no prospect of a settlement.;'.; The I. G. Consul has purchased orleased the residence of the late Mr. J. C. Williams (many years H.B.M. Consul in Apia), to convert it into a hospital. ' , ' •

Our municipal affairs' at the present time are anything but satisfactory to the public. Here we have our Magistrate .brought to book for temptation to a native woman, which has not been.proven.. ' ' . : Things altogether are looking serious, and we only hope they are at the worat. In spite of all the missionary training, the natives seem not to know what to do "to get money. March 3.—Our harbour is still bare of shipping. Some little alteration is made in the quarantine laws, and* it will be arranged that when the pilot boards a : .vessel, if there is no sickness on board the vessel will be allowed to come in; but if, oh the contrary, there is sicknesss on board, the yellow flag will be hoisted and the vessel kept outside till boarded by the health officer. Everyone is frightened of the measels or other contagious diseases visiting these islands. March 4.—News from Savaii has reached us, giving an account of what can be called nothing but murder. About fifty of the Atua side attacked four of the King party, and of course killed some and wounded the others, with no thought of making any prisoners. .......' ./--■-.

Trade of course, in the absence of shipping, is still frightfully depressed. The natives have little or no money, and can only exist by' making continual raids on the foreigners' property. I understand two more German warships are expected. The general opinion it that the red-tape routine is working in the old countries in a way of which we here know nothing about at present. . '