NEWS FROM SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11147, 21 August 1899, Page 6

NEWS FROM SAMOA.

ALL QUIET.: PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT APPOINTED, POWERS OF THE CONSULS, CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION. [from our own correspondent.] Apia, August 5. As already advised, the Badger left on July 18 on her return voyage to the United States, bearing with her Commissioners Tripp and Sternberg; British Commissioner Eliot remained behind for a few days, as he was desirous of going to New Zealand, for which country he left on the down San Francisco steamer. Ho is expected to pas 3 through Apia on his way to Washington by the up steamer, which passes through here on the 11th inst. All has been quiet here, and the Mataafa party have again, at a meeting with the Consuls in Apia this week, expressed their wish and determination to remain so and await the decision of the Great Powers. Mataafa is still very far from well, and is causing his immediate friends an anxious time, as he is an old man, and has been exposed to a great deal of hardship and trouble throughout his eventful life, and fears are entertained that his system may not prove vigorous enough to shake off the fever from which he is suffering. Before the Commissioners left they instructed the three Consuls to continue the government of Samoa in the same manner as they had done during the latter part of the' stay of the Commissioners in Samoa, and the Consuls issued a proclamation on July 27 to that effect, intimating that "in accordance with instructions from the Commissioners which had been communicated to the high chiefs of Samoa, they continued to exercise all the functions of the Supreme Court of Samoa until further notice from the treaty Powers; that the High Commissioners had appointed Mr. Osbom to be Chief Justice temporarily during the absence of His Honor Chief Justice Chambers, and Dr. Solf to continue to be President of tho Municipal Council of Apia and adviser to the Consular Board acting as the Samoan Government." The instructions of the Consuls went further than this proclamation, inasmuch as it was therein stated that " the Consular Board will have and exercise over all military and naval officers and over the islands of Samoa the same executive power and authority as has heretofore been exercised by the High Commission." This last clause was, not proclaimed by the Consuls, and it is indeed a moot point whether the captains of the warships will feel that they are bound to obey the Consular Board as a Provincial Government; it is not likely they will, and I believe Captain Stuart, R.N., of Tauranga, is reporting the matter immediately on his arrival in Sydney to the Admiral there. The Tauranga departed yesterday for Sydney, via Fiji; she will get into that port about the same time as the Manapouri. Captain Stuart is the most popular officer that lias been in Samoa during the late disturbances, and his officers have acted up to their captain's reputation, and have made the name of "Tauranga" synonymous with all that is gentlemanly and courteous. The warship passing through tho Fiji Group will pick up at Suva Lieutenant Lowis, who has been confined to the hospital there some time with fever contracted through exposure during the fighting in Samoa. The Pylades is expected here in about eight days time. Captain Sturdee's promotion by the Admiralty authorities was received here by Britishers with satisfaction, and is looked upon as a complete refutation of the many vile and false attacks made by persons, through the medium of the Sydney press, upon his humanity and honour as a gentleman. The Falke's officers, it is also noted with pleasure, had given the lie to the unwarranted statement that British warships had been requested to fire on Catholic churches. Truly, we go from home to hear news, and Samoan residents have heard much of the late war, and what happened during it, from papers published in the colonics and at Home, which they never heard of in Samoa itself.

The German ship Cormoran returned to port yesterday from a. cruise round Upolu, of about a week, during which time she visited Mulifanua (extreme west), and Saluafata, in Atua. She reported all quiet at these places. The text of the agreement signed by the two parties with the Commissioners on the - Badger is now published. It is on the lines already published through the Herald, and does away with the kingship, and provides government by an Administrator and a tripartite Legislative Council of three. It also states, " It shall be lawful for districts to elect high chiefs as district governors, to be appointed by the Administrator, whose authority will aim at the tranquillity and good order among the inhabitants of the districts under their control, and it shall be lawful for the Samoans to adopt the old customs with which they are familiar in every district, except in such case where there may be a quarrel or party difference, when the authority of the Administrator shall extend throughout, thus putting an end to rivalry." The Emu was off here yesterday, and sent a mail ashore.

The missionary steamer John Williams was in harbour all the week, but left yesterday.

Warships Torch and Cormoran are both here.

Later (August 9). Major Mair has been busily engaged the past three weeks investigating the claims for losses sustained by Britishers during the late disturbance here. About £14,000 or £15,000 will be the gross amount of the claims of Britishers. What will be done by the Government in these matters no one knows, so that, as far as we can learn, the claims have net progressed beyond being claims pure and simple up to date. It is expected that the losses caused by the direct acts of the naval authorities in burning down houses and buildings for the purpose of military defence and protection will certainly be paid, but many doubt whether anything will be paid for the loss of property looted by the rebels whilst in occupation of the country around Apia. The Berlin Treaty states, that " wishing to provide for the security of the life, property, and trade of the citizens and subjects of their respective Governments residing in or having commercial relations with the islands of Samoa," the three treaty Powers have resolved, at the invitation of Germany, to resume the conference begun in Washington on June 25, 1887, and that they have successively considered and adopted among other things "a declaration respecting the independence and neutrality of the islands of Samoa, and assuring to their respective citizens and subjects equality of rights in said islands, and providing for the immediate restoration of peace and order therein," and in this declaration they declared that Samoa was neutral territory, in which the citizens and subjects of the three Powers have equal rights of residence, trade, and personal protection. They further declared that land titles should be investigated, and that valid titles should be registered. Relying upon these articles in the treaty, people have gone outside the town limits of Apia, have acquired land, and erected houses on the faith that the Berlin Treaty would ensure to them peace and protection. The three Powers have declared they uphold the decision of the Chief Justice, and that his decision is "valid and binding" in the kingship question, and yet it was the disputing of this decision that brought about the losses referred to. The three Powers, to be just and consistent, must surely agree that the citizens and subjects of their respective Governments in Samoa be recouped for their losses in the way of houses and property destroyed by both naval authorities and the native belligerents.

SPEECH BY MATAAFA. The following is a translation of a written speech prepared by Mataafa, and delivered on his behalf by..l. L t Tolo, in the presence

of the Samoan High Commissioners, at the united fono held at Mulinuu on Friday, July 14 last. The speech was followed by a number of suggestions from the Mataafa party, which we also translate. Samoan Times :—

I now address you all at this meeting, endorsing the past utterances which I have already made before the High Commissioners. My wish is with the unanimous sentiment of all the chiefs and people of our party—that there shall be no other king to be made in Samoa. lam confident that this is the real desire of a large majority of Samoans, though there may be a small minority who believe otherwise. This small minority are merely led astray by certain foreign officials, and other- evil-minded foreigners. But I shall be very glad to hear it reported to me officially by the three Commissioners, that they will remove those evil persons from these islands of Samoa— these evil-disposed persons wish to make a king of Samoa, and speak seductive words to blind the eyes of the Samoan people, just to suit their own mercenary purposes ; and it is for this reason that they will always cause trouble in Samoa. When the Commissioners arrived in Samoa it occurred to me as well as to the Tumua and Pule that it would not be profitable to again have a king in Samoa, I am certain that a better, scheme of government can be formed by which Samoa will be peaceful. Let a white official be nominated as supreme leader (administrator), then peace shall reign and put an end to all wars in Samoa, This supreme leader (administrator) should be firm and strong. He should be a good man and act uprightly and impartially to all people of Samoa. As for myself, as well as the Tumua and Pule, we pray that the Commissioners will grant our wishes, that they will now appoint the president as supreme leader. We perceive that he is kindly disposed to all Samoan people and without partiality, so we consider him to be a suitable person for that appointment. Evil-minded whites say that I was the cause of the recent war, which is a base falsehood, and right-thinking people openly declare that I was not the cause of the war. The good people and the large majority of the Samoans duly elected me as king of Samoa. " according to the laws and customs of Samoa." But certain of the evil whites planned tricks, and gave money to certain Samoans for the purpose of making a king, but the making of along in such a wanner could not be right or proper, " according to the laws and customs of Samoa besides, which the large majority of the Samoans would nevei agree to it. Whereas, in the case of there being no king there will be no further opportunity of intrigue afforded to those evil whites. Now, I beseech you, with all my heart, that you will remove them far away from Samoa, and not allow them to stay any longer in the country. I have already promised you, and I now again declare : " That I will do all that is best, and carry out all instructions for the preservation of peace and good order among the people of Samoa," and this I shall continue to do when the Commissioners have departed. I also pray that the Commissioners will assist me in preventing troubles that may again arise like those of the past. I am also desirous that the two existing factions should be no longer termed " The Tanu Party," "The Mataafa Party," but should be called "Samoa in unity." We-heartily render our sincerest thanks to the High Commissioners for the fonos held by them in the different districts of Samoa, where they declared their wish that Samoa should unite. It is also our hope that Samoa should unite —to live in peace and friendship at all times, and to obey all the instructions of the High Commission. Suggested articles to be included in the scheme proposed for the Government of Samoa : — 1. Each district shall have a Governor. 2. Each district shall have the right to choose their high chief?, in the appointments of governor, judge, faipules, and other different offices. 3. Two faipules shall bo elected from each and every district of Samoa to represent those districts in a general meeting of tho Administrator and tho district governors, which is to bo held annually. 4. The Administrator shall not in any way record, nor decide any law or any other matter pertaining to tho system of Government, unless unanimously approved by tho Council in session. 5. An annual tax shall bo levied on every malo Samoan who is capable of earning tho same, viz., one dollar per year. 6. The salaries of both tho Administrator and Chief Justice ought to bo paid in equal shares by tho Three Powers and the Samoan Government. 7. The Administrator and Chief Justice shall always stay in Samoa, unless removed by misconduct or death. 8. Let the matter of Customs revenues be under the control of the Samonn Government and not under tho control of the municipality.