NEWS FROM SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9368, 27 November 1893, Page 6

NEWS FROM SAMOA.

[IROM OCR OWN C9RRESFOKDKST.] Apia, Samoa, November 12. I'hk departure of the German warship Bassard for your port, enables me to send a. few additional notes, though very little of interest has occurred since the departure of the Mariposa. CHIEF JUSTICE IDE. Our new chief justice, Mr. H. C. Ide, who hails from Vermont, U.S.A., and is a lawyer of experience and repute there, arrived with his" three daughters, as expected, by the Mariposa, and has taken tip his abode temporarily in the Tivoli Hotel. Shortly after the mail steamer arrived he was taken by Mr. Denvers, clerk of the Supreme Court, in the King's boat to Malinuu, the seat of Government, where" the retiring chief justice, Mr. Cedercrantz awaited him. The new and the old officials were introduced to each other by Mr. Cusack-Smith, the British Consul, and after a few complimentary greetings, they had a long private consultation on the Samoan situation. Mr. Cedercrantz left by the mail steamer for Auckland the same evening, and on the following day Chief Justice Lie was introduced to the King, and assumed the duties of his office. THE LAND COMMISSION. The Mariposa also brought the new American Land Commissioner, Mr. William Lee Chamber?, an Alabama lawyer. The Commission has therefore resumed its work. The first contested cases will be the disputes connected with the German plantation at Vaitele, the scene of the late fight bet-ween Malietoa and Mataafa. The title to Vaiteie has always been considered rather precarious, and a keen contest is anticipated. After this plantation has been disposed of the objections of the natives to Mr. Frank Cornwall's claim? at Faleula will be taken, and also the disputes affecting the lands claimed at Faleula by Dr. Browne, of ><ew Hebrides fame. " UNDER TWO FLAGS." A rather amusing blunder occurred the other day when Chief Justice Ide paid an official visit to H.M.S. Rapid. The Treaty Powers agreed that the Chief Justice of Samoa should be entitled to a ConsulGeneral's salute of 9 guns, and the late Chief Justice accordingly received it, of course under the Samoati flag. The other day Chief Justice Ida paid an official visit to the Rapid, but went in the United States Consular boat, flying the Stars and Stripes, and accompanied by Mr. W. Blacklock, United States Vice-Consul General, and Mr. Chamber?, Samoan Land Commissioner. On leaving the Rapid, Captain Sir H. Ogle very naturally hoisted the American flag, and Mr. Ide received his nine guns under the Stars and Stripes instead of under the Samoan flag. The incident was emphasized by the elaborate care taken to land the Chief Justice on his arrival here as a purely Samoan official, he being brought ashore in the King's boat under the Samoan flag. It is hoped that this breach of international etiquette will not lead to serious complications between the Treaty Powers. "HELD IN BONDAGE." The German warship Sperberleft here on the 6th instant, her ultimate destination being Africa. She was to call at Tokelau for Mataafa and his exiled chiefs and take them on to Jaluit, in the Marshall*. There by a strange freak of fate, the fallen chief tan is to occupy the house in which Malietoa Laupepa was confined during his banish ment in those islands. JOTTINGS. After the Bussard leaves us the Rapid will be the only man-'owar remaining here. A lawsuit is pending between Messrs. Wm. McArthur and Co. and the Apia Municipal Council to recover the sum of £1800 due on mortgage of the municipal property. The Council has funds in hand, but refuses to pay its debt. The Rapid has beaten the town hollow at cricket on two successive Saturdays. Dysentery, following on the measles, is committing great ravages amongst the natives in the out-districts of Upolu and in lihe islands of Savaii and Tutuila. Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Stevenson returned here from Honolulu in the Mariposa, but both have been laid up since.