NEWS FROM SAMOA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 387, 12 July 1879, Page 21

NEWS FROM SAMOA.

(per press agency.) Auckland, July 9. Tho German bi - sga,ntine Matautau arrived to-night from Samoa for the purpose of undergoing repairs. She brings papers to the 22nd ultimo. A native at Elsa was accidentally killed at a plantation on the island. Tho Wesloyan mission brig John Wesley is on a cruise iu relation to the mission. A large German man-of-war named the Bismarck i 3 expected daily to leave Samoa for Auckland. The natives of Tonga are busy repairing, as far as possible, the damage caused by the recent hurricane. The destruction is not so great as was at first anticipated. The Auckland schooner Omaha, which left Levuka for Samoa on the 18th May, had not arrived at the latter port when the Matautau left. Fears are entertained for her safety. She belonged to A. B. Donald and Sims and Brown, and was commanded by Captain Murray, well known in the New Zealand coastal trade.

Danger of a civil war at Samoa is becoming more probable every day. Steps are being taken for the safety of neutral parties. Neither faction of natives appear willing to commence the struggle, although both express intentions of going to war. It is expected it will result in considerable bloodshed. The Samoan Times referring to the subject says :—ln consequence of the probability of war amongst the natives, and at the request of both contending parties, the foreign Consuls have taken over the supervision of the neutral territory for the purpose of taking such steps as may be necessary for the preservation of order. Several notices and regulations have been issued by them during tke past week. A good deal of comment as to the legality or otherwise of the Consuls thus acting has been indulged in. Be that as it may, we are of opinion that the steps taken are very necessary, and that though authority thus to act may not be found in their instructions, we firmly believed that the various Consuls will not only be forgiven by their respective Governments, but, under the circumstances, will be upheld. The Consuls deserve the best thanks of the community for taking this extra work upon themselves in order the better to secure the lives and property of their fellow-countrymen. We hope that while the country is in the present unfortunate state of anarchy no one will be so shortsighted as to want to test the legality of acts of the Consular representatives. So far as they have gone at present, the regulations published are certainly very necessary. The following noticeito foreigners was issued by the Consular representatives :—" In case of war, foreigners are warned against aiding or abetting in any way either party to any strife that may arise between Samoans. Foreigners outside of neutral territory are desired to hoist over their property their national flag or white flag, signifying thereby their neutral position. Any foreigner having no consular representative or any Pacific Islander other than Samoan not being subject to any local native authority, shall be dealt with by the Consuls aforesaid jointly. Samoan or any other Pacific Islander, being subject to any local native authority, shall be dealt with by such authority and the Consuls aforesaid jointly, or only one of the said Consuls appointed for that purpose. Punishment for breach of any regulation shall be by fine or imprisonment. Regulations are also made by the Consuls to limit the sale of liquors. It is made penal to sell alcoholic liquors to Samoan natives. Retail licenses are only granted by Consuls in special cases, a fee of ten dollars a month being charged.