SAMOAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8669, 11 September 1891, Page 5

SAMOAN NEWS.

[FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.J Apia, September 3, 1891. The slumbering disaffection amongst" the natives which had lulled at the time of my last writing has again given tangible evidence of its strong existence. Though Mataafa continues to resident Malie, and to tacitly assume a degree of authority above that allowed to his rank as a high chief, no overt action to contravene this has been taken by King Malictoa," who is either afraid of provoking an open quarrel or not assured of his power to crush his popular rival. This inactivity is naturally haying a bad effect upon the popular native mind? which is ever prone to draw conclusions. The disaffection has reached its height in Manono, and an outrage has beon made by the followers of several chiefs who are known to bo supporters of Mataafa's undeclared claims. A meeting had been called in Manono to clect a native governor for the district, and these chiefs referred to took the opportunity of tho gathering, to endeavour to persuade the Manomo people to make common cause with Mataafa. These overtures were for the most part rejected, and the envoys in revenge destroyed several houses and plantations of those who had affirmed their staunch allegiance to Malietoa's Government. The Malietoa Government demanded that the instigators of this riot should be sent to Apia for trial, hut there was considerable delay in obeying the summons. Eventually, however, after a visit of the U.S. Iroquois, with the American Vice-Consul-and Baron Van Pilsach, Malietoa's adviser, to Manono, six of the principal offenders were secured, and being found guilty, were sentenced to six mouths' imprisonment. It is felt here that unless lirm, yet temperate action, is at once taken, deeper complications will arise between the two factions of natives, and the position is regarded as a grave one.