THE SAMOAN COMMISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11060, 11 May 1899, Page 6

THE SAMOAN COMMISSION.

APPOINTMENT OF MATAAFA'S SOLICITOR. Br the mail steamer, Mr. W. J. Napier, Mataafa's solicitor, received some important documents from Samoa, relative to the trouble there. One of the documents was Mr. Napier's formal appointment, signed by Mataafa, as tupu (king) of Samoa, '.lie high chiefs of his Government, eight in number. and also by Mr. J. L. Tolo, secretary.

constituting Mr. Napier " law adviser and counsellor to advise the Government in all matters of state and law in connection with the government of the kingdom of Samoa." Mataafa also wrote Mr. Napier, under his own hand, and in the course of his letter says : — I rejoice and thank you very much for the good advice you gave me, together with your words, that give courage of heart. I am very much astonished at what the men-of-war are doing now in Samoa without reason, I never gave a single order to have anything done that would cause any fighting with the men-of-war, only some things were

done of their own will by some of the com- j mon people, because they were grieved at | heart to see their brethren shot down by the j soldiers (marines). Come to Samoa and be the lawyer we choose for ourselves to represent our side at this Commission. \\ e , will pay you accordingly. We have pre- j pared for you an account of events that have taken place of late in Samoa. Be it known to you that we are very desirous that you would soon come to Samoa." 4 Iu conversation with a Herald reporter, Mr. Napier said. "Mataafa's following is still compact and strong. He lias over 6000 well-armed men, and many of the levies who are nominally lighting on Tanu s side, are really followers of Mataafa. Mataafa. has had his men well in hand, and exacts a rigid and instantaneous obedience from his followers. This is evidenced by the complete manner in which his order to bis Samoan followers to remain outside certain limits has been obeyed. All through. Mataafa has used every precaution to prevent any conflict with the white people, and even now he expresses the utmost friendliness to the three nationalities. All he has determined upon is that Samoa shall not be pilled by a boy king in defiance of the wishes of every chief but one, and of nine out ot ten of the people of Samoa.' Asked as to the possibility of his going to Samoa to represent Mataafa before the Commission. Mr. Napier said Mataafa would probably be represented by him or some competent counsel. Owing to the multiplicity of Mr. Napier's local engagements, lie was unable to say yet whether he could go in

person. STATEMENT BY MATAAFA. We have been favoured by Mr. W. J. Napier with a copy of "An Account of Events that have ' happened in Samoa, written for MaUufa by J. S. 1010, chief scribe. The account dates from April fa, when the Philadelphia anchored in Apia, till April 24, when hostilities were suspended. The incidents which have already been chronicled in our columns arc written down, from the Mataafa point of view, the trend of the statement being that " we did not wish to fight, we only tried to keep the peace." It is stated that on the day of the arrival of the Philadelphia, " we sent a letter offering Admiral Kautz our respects, and thanking him for coming to Samoa, but we received no reply.' Following this is an account of the incidents up to March 31, and under date April 1, the following is written down: —" The English man-of-war went to Aana, and bombarded our women and children, and burnt towns. Hut she first went to Atmi. here she also bombarded women and children. One old man Mas killed at Faleapuna; an old woman was also wounded, and houses burnt. Our people were scattered about among the valleys and mountains, hiding, on account of the heavy bombardment, and the mcn-or-war soldiers pursuing us into the bush. Only the king, Maltaafa, with the high chiefs and councillors, remained in the Mount Aele (Faleula), also a troop of soldiers to guard them. On that day some of the men-of-war soldiers went to seek our people in the bush, and arriving outside of the eastern boundary of the municipality they found out people in the German land (T'anvaaleia). They shot at our people, and killed eight. Our people could not fly away, on account of the continual bombardment. and the men-of-war soldiers being well armed, as also the Samoan soldiers from Mulinuu, who had a great amount of arms and ammunition given to them. Our people were scattered about in the bash, 'I hey took their guns and fought the men-of-war soldiers, with the Samoans, who were with them. Then was killed some English and American officers. This ci.used great sorrow to Mataafa, the king, and to the chiefs of the Government, because no orders were given to do that, but it was (lone by irresponsible people." Referring to the Malietoa natives, the statement says:—"Of the Samoans who are in Mulinuu (with Tamil, a great many were at first with us, but they were importuned by the man-of-war. and frightened of the boni-

bui'dment. Therefore, the man-of-war look and brought tliem to Mtilinuu. All of them have become very proud, because Ibev have received suns and ammunition from the whites. Therefore, they liavo often raised war against us in the' bush. - ' Detailing the correspondence with th» Adroil and the English commander with reference to the cession of hostilities, the statement concludes: "As we were assured for certain of the appointment of three gentlemen by the great Powers coming to examine and adjust this affair, we obeyed quickly (the last order to retire to Faleula). We remain now in Faleula to the west, and Laulii to the east, even to this day (April 2'l). Although we are pained at these troubles, now seen for the first time in Samoa, our lir.pe is not changed, and we wait till tlii< tiling is adjusted. As is the custom of enlightened Powers, we call on the three great Powers to help us. We greatly hoped that there would be nothing done in Samoa' different from the customs of great Powers, but for the first time in this year was seen something new; we were punished without any cause. Not only was the war waged against us, but also against the infiim, women, and children."