FROM SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9014, 29 March 1888, Page 5

FROM SAMOA.

ACTION OF THE GERMANS.

TYRANNICAL PROCEEDINGS.

IMPRESSIONS OF AN ANCKLANDER!

Last evening a Herald representative interviewed Mr. J. P. Campbell, solicitor, who has recently returned from Samoa, at the Northern Club, on Island matters. The conversation is given in narrative form ; and some portions of it will be specially interesting to our readers, as giving a historical reviow of German aggression in Samoa. KING malietoa's DEPOSITION AND DEPORTATION.

" Left Auckland on the 2nd of July, in the schooner Daisy, belonging to Messrs. McArthur and Co., arriving at Suva on the 18th of July, and departed on the 2(ith, reaching Samoa on the Bth of August, where I found that Sir Charles Mitchell was at one of the Fiji Islands, Taviuni, and was therefore unable to interview him. Upon my arrival in Samoa, the DeputyCommissioner, Mr. Symonds, having been attacked by fever, had gone to Tonga to the residence of his father-in-law, the iiov. Mr. Moulton, and that consequently the Deputy-Commissioner's Court was closed. Mr. Symonds was daily expected to return to Samoa, and I awaited his arrival for the purpose of instituting proceedings in the High Commissioner's Court. Pending his expected arrival, I proceeded to Messrs. McArthur and Co.'s plantation, about '20 miles to the westward of Apia in the island of Upolu, and upon my return .about 23rd August found four German men-of-war in Apia harbour. The morning after my arrival I had occasion to go to the British Consulate, about half-a-mile from the township of Apia, and upon returning found my way intercepted by a detachment of German marines, who were firing with revolvers at two targets on the other side of the main road, and had to make a long detour for the purpose of getting to the road on the other side. I remonstrated with the marine who stopped me on the impropriety of firing across tho main road, where people were constantly passing, but was peremptorily told I would not be allowed to pass, and must go round. On the same evening, I was informed a demand had been made upon King Malietoa for payment of 13,000 dollars, for injuries done to a German on the evening of the Emperor's birthday, and for cocoanufs and other produce alleged to have been stolen from German plantations. King Malietoa was advised by British residents in Samoa to ask for a few days to assemble' his chiefs to consult with regard to the demand made,

and certain Europeans were prepared to advance the money if the necessary time had been given to prepare the securities which were required before theadvancc could be made. A letter was sent to Mr. Becker, the German Consul, asking for time. A reply was sent to this letter on the following morning that no time would be given, and before Mr. Becker's letter was delivered about 1000 men fully armed were landed on the beach at Samoa, in front of Govern-

ment House. This force rushed Government House, seized the archives belonging to the Samoan Government, and began searching the adjoining houses for Malietoa, who, having eluded the German spies, had goao to Afiga on the previous evening. One of the principal Samoan chiefs, named Seumanatafa, was mistaken for Malietoa, and marched down at point of bayonet by German soldiers to the beach, whore some of the ollicers who knew Malietoa, recognising that they had got hold of the wrong man, ordered the chief to be released. Malietoa and his followers then took to the bush. Several hundred men fully armed accompanied him. Detachments from the German fleet were repeatedly sent on shore lor the purpose of securing Malietoa, and advanced into the jungle, where they would have been repeatedly cut off and decimated by the Samoan forces, if they had felt inclined to take advantage of their position. After some time, Malietoa, feeling that he was not supported by the British and American Governments, and threats having been made to destroy sundry Samoan towns (Satupaitea having in the meantime been burned down by the German forces), voluntarily came in and gave himself up to the German Consul. Within half-an-hour of his doing so, he was taken on board the German warship Adler, to Cook town, where he was transferred to the Albatross, and is believed to be now at the Cameroons.

TAMASESE MADE KIXO FXDEK GERMAN* AtTSI'ICES.

" On the day after the landing of the German forces, Tamase.se, who had been in rebellion against Malietoa, was brought up to Apia, and taken 011 board the Bismarck, his flag run up to the masthead and saluted with twenty-one guns. He afterwards made a procession through the town of Apia, accompanied by Commodore Heusner, Consul Becker, and a number of Samoan chiefs marched down to Mulinu Point, where his flag was again run up, and again saluted. After tho assumption of the sovereignty by Tama?ese, the American Consul-General and the British ViceConsul stated that they continued to recognise Malictoa as King, and advising the Samoans to await tho decision of the Washington Conference. THE OUTCOME OF THE WASHINGTON CONFERENCE. " When the conference met at Washington Germany demanded to have the mandatory power in Samoa for five years. This was agreed to by tho representatives of the British Government, but strongly opposed by Secretary Bayard on behalf of the American Government. Conference adjourned for the purpose of enabling the representatives to consult their respective Government!?, and in the meantime the action detailed was taken by the German Conference. Upon tho re-assembling of the Conference, the American representative commented indignantly upon the action of tho German Government, and refused any longer to sit with the representatives of the other Powers, thus breaking up the Conference. ABOLITION OF THE AriA MUNICIPALITY. " Instructions were apparently received by Mr. Becker, the German Consul, to do away with the municipality of Apia, and a meeting of the municipality was convened for a certain date, at which meeting Mr. Sewell, the American Consul-General, having failed to appear at the time specified for the meeting (although he was then 011 his way to the place at which the meeting was to be held), no meeting took place. Mr. Becker then issued a proclamation, that as the American Consul had refused to act with his brother Consuls, tho Municipality was dissolved, and that the Samoan Government had temporarily assumed jurisdicI tion within the municipal limits. The munij cipal property, including the pilot station, gaol ana court-house, were then taken possession of by the Samoan Government, and Tamasese's flag hoisted on the pilot station flagstaff. Much indignation was j expressed by British and American residents at this, to their minds, unwarrantable seizure of the joint property of the three Governments having treaties with Samoa. REFUSAL, OF BRITISH AND AMERICAN RESIDENTS TO PAY TAXES. " In consequence of the action of the German and Samoan . Governments, the principal British and American residents in Apia refused to pay taxes to the Samoan Government, and ojae of the few French traders, M. Laferriere, joined in the refusal. The Samoan Government, through their representative, Mr. Martin, a German who had been appointed Chief Judge of Samoa, made a demand upon M. Laferriere for some 50 dollars, the amount of his tax; and M. Laferriere refusing to pay, they seized his stock and furniture to the value of several hundred dollars, and took them away. At the sale the first article put up realised 54 dollars, being the amount of claim and expenses. Mr. Martin then informed M. Laferriere that ho could obtain tho balance of his stock and furniture, but otherwise they would be stored at his expense. M. Laferriere, being advised that the action of the Samoan Government in taking away his goods was entirely illegal, refused to send for the unsold stock and furniture, and made a claim upon the Samoan Government for some 6000 dollars for illegal detention of his goods, and damage done to his business by their removal. A copy of this claim has been forwarded to the French Consul at Sydney, to the admiral of the French fleet at Tahiti, and to the French Governmental Paris. The result is now being awaited with considerable interest at Samoa. Two or throe evenings after the seizure of M. Laforriore'a goods, an indignation meeting

was held, at which resolutions were passed condemnatory of the action of the St'moan Government. At. that meeting one of the former supporters of German interests, and who had in the meantime conveyed his property to an American, over which property the flag of the United States was hoisted, appeared at the meeting, proposed one of the resolutions, and cordially endorsed and joined in the action of the meeting. His appearance there was caused by the deportation of three high Samoan chiefs, who were seized by the police of the Samoan Government, backed up by German forces, thrown into prison, and without trial or investigation sent on board a German schooner, it is currently reported chained hand and foot to the mast, and sent to the Marshall Islands. INTERFERENCE WITH BRITISH INTERESTS. " Affidavits have been sworn by Samoan chiefs and British residents of Savaii, and lodged in the British Consulate at Samoa, in which it is alleged that one of the traders for the German firm in Savaii and an officer belonging to the German squadron, informed the natives that if they did business with British houses and British trading firms, or sold their copra to them, a German man-of-war would be sent down to punish them, and they were reminded of the fate of the village of Satupaitea, which had been burned down by the men belonging to one of the German warships. THE PILOT STATION EMBROGLIO. "The pilot station, which had been seized by Consul Becker, and handed over to Tamasese, was conveyed by the owner to Mr. Sewcll, in trust among other properties to satisfy a claim made by an English firm. Mr. Sewell demanded possession of the property from the Samoan Government, who removed their goods therefrom, and delivered possession to Consul Becker, who alleged a claim on behalf of Mr. Webber, the manager of the Deutsche Handel Company, and said he would hold the property in trust. He placed the seals of the German Consulate upon the door, and defied the American representative to interfere. After considerable corresponce between Mr. Sewell and Captain Day, of U.S.s. Mohican, lying at Apia, and Consul Becker, the dispute was referred to their respective Governments, and a reply is now being anxiously awaited. PRESENT POSITION OF AFFAIRS IN SAMOA. "Although matters are apparently quiet in Samoa, the natives are extremely dissatisfied with the action of Germany and the truculent policy of Tamasese. Many of Tamasese's former adherents are disgusted at his having allowed himself to be made a tool of by the German Government. Taxes to the extent of 47,500 dollars have been imposed upon the Samoans throughout the islands, payable in the months of June and August, which the natives are quite unable to pay without mortgaging- their lands, which will, probably, result in their ultimately falling into the hands of the Germans." REPRESENTATION'S TO HOME AUTHORITIES. Shortly after the German occupation of Samoa full accounts were forwarded to Lord Rosebery by Mr. Campbell, who has received a courteous acknowledgment of the same. During his stay in Sydney ho had a long interview with Lord Carrington, the Governor of New South Wales, on Samoan matters. His Excellency said that he could do very little, as the matter was in the hands of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific; but he expressed great interest in the narrative, which, ho said, was more interesting than satisfactory, lie was desirous to do all in his power to promote and conserve British interests. THE MANSLAUGHTER CASES. In the case of McDonald, charged with shooting a Samoan policeman, the accused has been remanded, awaiting the decision of the High Commissioner, although the Deputy Commissioner passed a strong opinion that there was nothing against the accused, the prosecution having failed to prove that the man's death was occasioned by a gunshot wound, and that if so occasioned it was a pure accident. As to the second case, Mr. Hills, a missionary belonging to the London Missionary Society, who is charged with causing the death of a Samoan woman by retaining a letter addressed to Dr. Funk, and by negligently and unskillfully treating the deceased, was acquitted of the charge after a trial extending over nine days. The prosecution in this case failed to give notice to produce the letter in question, and no secondary evidence being allowed as to its contents, and it having been shown that Mr. Hills had advised the natives to take the woman to Dr. Funk for medical treatment, and refused to prescribe for her, the case was dismissed. In both cases, Mr. Hetherington appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Campbell for the defence.