SAMOAN MISSION TO NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 7682, 16 January 1886, Page 2

SAMOAN MISSION TO NEW ZEALAND.

INTERVIEW WITH OUR REPORTER. Two Samoan Chiefs, who were despatched by the King and Parliament of Samoa to this Colony, for the purpose of arranging for the annexation of that country to New Zealand, arrived do Wellington on Thursday evening by the Hawea, having transhipped at Auckland from the Mariposa. They at once called upon the Colonial Secretary and presented their credentials, which were of an indisputable character, Mr Morpeth, of the Native Office, was requested to attend on them, and act as interpreter, Constable Trainer being told off to do duty at their hotel (the Nag’s Head). The Samoan representatives, who are two very fine-looking men, are named William Upoio and Sni Mann. They waited upon bis Excellency the Governor yesterday morning, being accompanied by the Colonial Secretary and Captain Lake, of B.M.S. Nelson. The interview, which was of a very cardial character, lasted for some time, after which his Excellency the Goveroot sent a cable message to the Colonial Office. The Chiefs then returned to their hotel, and several gentlemen—amongst them the Hon J, Martin, M.L.C., and Mr G. E. Tolhurat, manager of the Bank of New Zealand—called to pay their respects. , In the afternoon the Colonial Secretary drove them in a carriage to the Queen’s Wharf, and they paid a visit to the Nelson, where they were courteously received by the officers, INTERVIEW WITH OUR REPORTER. Our reporter called upon the Chiefs after Inncb, and met with a-polite reception, all his questions being frankly answered by Ur Upoio, who is adviser to King Malietoa, and speaks English fluently. The other chief, who occupies a position something akin to our Premier, understands English, but can only speak a few odd words. The following is the sub dance of the interview:— Reporter : Do you come as representatives, with fall power to negotiate for the annexation of Samoa to New Zealand | Upoio : Yea. Reporter: Did yon see a London telegram in this morning’s paper, stating that the British Consul at Apia had officially informed the English representative at Noumea that Germany had seized Samoa 1 Upoio : Yes. I know that telegram to be untrue. We did not leave Apia till the Ist of January, and the German mail left the day before. Reporter : Are the natives of your country, as a whole, opposed to German annexation, or only a portion of them 1 If a vote was taken, the same as we do in New Zealand on some questions, would nineteen out of every twenty of your people vote against the annexation of your country by Germany ? Upoio : All the natives, almost to a man, would vote against German annexation. Reporter : Have yon any objection to England making Samoa a Crown Colony, like Fiji ! Upoio : None whatever, bat there is “ too macb by-and-bye’* about the English Government. And whilst that is going on, the Germans are gradually poshing their hold on Samoa.

Reporter : Are there more Germans there than English'; TTpolo : Yes; more than English and Americans put together. Reporter :Woqjd yon have any objection to the Americans -annexing Samoa 1

Upolo ; We would prefer the English first, but would much prefer the Americans to the Germans,

Reporter : Have the Germans treated yonr people badly ? TTpolo : Yes, shamefully. They bad better go to war with ns than act as they ace. doing. If they did that we should know what to do. . Reporter : Have you s»ea in the papeig that Lord Salisbury, the, English Foreign Minister, wrote in strong terms to Prince Bismarck, the German Chancellor, and thnt Prince Bismarck denied that Germany had any intention of annexing Samoa, TTpolo : Yea ; I saw the telegram when I was in Auckland, but I don’t believe a word of it. Pot that down. Whilst they are say-

ing that, the German sailors and soldiers ara trying to grab up my country, Kejnrti-r : What U the population of Samoa ? Upolo : tVe have not taken the census for four years. Then the population was 88.000, but it has increased very much since then, and I should think it is now 50.C00. Reporter ; Do you think it practicable to govern Samoa from Wellington, the same as the Northern and Southern portions of New Zealand are governed ? Upolo : Yes ; we think it would answer very well. Reporter : You have your own Parliament ? Upolo : Yes ;Jwe have two Houses, lam the adviser to ICiog Molietoa, and sic by him when messages are sent from either House. I am sent hero by the King and the two Houses of Parliament, and so is my friend. Reporter: Have you boen able to legislate satisfactorily to your people ? Do you think your two Houses have been successful ? Upolo : Yes; very satisfactory. We could have done very well but for the Germans. Reporter : How old ia the King ? Upolo : About 45 years. Reporter : Haa he any poqb ? Opolo : Yep, two. The oldest la about 12 years. Reporter : According to your Constitution would the King’* sou succeed to the Throne if be were to die ? Upolo : Yes; the same as the Queen of England’s son. Reporter; Did Sir Arthur Gordon visit Samoa, and did he promise to try and get England to annex it ? Upolo : Yea ; be was there seven or eight months ago, and he promised to write Home. Some time after, we received a letter from England, telling us to wait We have been often told to do that.

Reporter : The Maori population of New Zealand is about 42,000. They have four members in the Lower and three members m the Upper House. Would you be satisfied with similar representation, sopposing New Zealand was permitted to annex Samoa T Upolo : Ob, yea. We should even be satisfied with less than that. The interview then terminated. In the course of conversation with the Hon J. Martin, Mr Tolburst, and other gentlemen, Upolo stated that a lot of corned beef need to be sent from America to Samoa, bat the superior quality of the New Zealand meat had driven it out of the market. The currency of the country is Bolivian and Chilian dollars. Before the dollars were introduced, fine mats, some worth from 100 to 200 dollars, were the currency. He hoped they would not go away with the impression that they (the representatives) were not folly empowered to come to New Zealand and arrange the terms for annexation. They had plenty of rifles—Martini-Henry and Sniders —and oonld make short work of any number of men the Germans might send from one vessel. They were not afraid o! one vessel, but . they knew another, and another, and another, would follow the first. That was wh&t they dreaded. They had flax in Samoa similar to the New Zealand flax. Some portions of the country were well adapted for aheep.