THE FUTURE OF SAMOA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10034, 27 April 1894, Page 2

THE FUTURE OF SAMOA.

THE LATEST FROM THE ISLANDS,

(Per United Press Association.)

Auckland, April 26

When the Mariposa left Apia everything was quiet, and there had been no renewal of fighting, although the situation is still somewhat uncertain. The Samoa Weekly Herald of the 14th writes:—"The Savaii people have not yet gone home, and appear to regard with disfavour the steps taken to Btop the war. On Thursday or Friday, after the consul's visit, tho Aana party of Government warriors went through that district as far as Mulifanua, cutting down trees and committing other depredations. The Aana people cannot comply with the agreement made through the consuls to surrender their guns and carry out the provisions of that agreement while confronted with a party of armed men thirsting for more blood. On Sunday last some black boys, who came from near Utumapu, reported 300 Atua men in the bush near that place. The Vaimauao people at onco prepared for the fray, aud in a very short space of time started for Utumapu. On arriving there they were unable to find any Atuas. It is extremely improbable that any were there or in that vicinity during the week. A claim has, we are informed, »jeen made against the Government for damages committed by the Government troops on the property of the French Mission at Leulumolga. It is asserted that they destroyed a considerable amount of school property; also insulted girls attending the schools, Since writing the above the large number of Savaii people, we are informed, have left for their homes. A largo falo'.o was given to the remainder of them yesterday by tha Tuammsaga warrioru at Afega."

INTERVIEW WITH MR W. J. NAPIER.

(Fuoir Oim Own ConitESFOKDENT.)

Auckland, April 26.

In view of the proposal oi the New Zealand Government to annex Samoa, and its possible effect upon the colony, a representative of the Hernld waited upon Mr W. J. Napier, who has frequently visited the place professionally, and who knows the circumstances of the islands well, and also a good deal of them politically. On one occasion he was consulted professionally by Mataafa, who has been lately deported, and he also knew Malietoa. This was in 1886, Binco which he has been frequently to Samoa.

" Until the Treaty of Berlin," said Mr Napier in response to a request for a little information, "there was practically no Government iv Samoa. There was a native king, of course, but ho was actively opposed by a large section of the people, and had no real power. The system created by the Treaty of Berlin has utterly broken down. There can be no peace until the native kiugship is abolished. To me that seems to be a preliminary step to secure order."

" Would the natives object, do you think ?" " Not in my opinion. They would rejoice if the government of the islands was taken over by Great Britain or New Zealand. JVt.iny of the chiefs have told me so. But there is so much mutual jealousy among the chiefs, aud such a strong partisan spirit, that so long as tho kingship exists there will be a sort of minial ure war of roses between the rival factions. The place is essentially one for one-man-rule. Subject to the supervision of the colonial authoiities, one muu, I believe, could perform the offices of administrator or governor, and chief jastice, and all the other duties pertaining to it."

"Then you approve of the action of the Government in trying to secure the islands ? " " I certainly do," was the reply. "They are and will be in future of enormous strategic importance. They are right in the track of the mail route via America, and are almost in the centre of the Western Pacific, and if they were firmly governed they might become the West Indies of Australasia. The land is very fertile and immense' tracts are still in a state of nature. Samoa alone could be made capable of supplying Australasia with all the coffee, Bpices, and fruits these growing populations require." " What would be required there ? "

"Tho first necessity," was the reply, " after order is secured is to make roads. A main road is required from end to end of Upolu, If that were constructed —and it could be at a nominal cost by native labour aud an abundance of shingle—the country would be completely opened up for settlement. The natives like and would welcome a firm, and at the Baine time sympathetic, Government. Austerity and harshness would only provoke sullenuess aud disorder. But little, if any, force would be required in the form of police once the natives knew the supreme authority was vested

in New Zealand. The moral force of a man-' of-war would be sufficient to ensure pesce. As to Tutuila, which is 65 miles from Apia and is practically untouched by civilisation, I travfraed on foot a considerable portion of the inland, and never saw any soil except a deep black ioam on a rock substratum. It would be capable, if developed, of supplying fruit to raillionsi Savaii ia also very fertile. Nearly all the land claims have been adjusted by the Land Commission set Up by the Treaty of i Berlin, and which was the only redeeming ! feature of that treaty. That Land Commission set an example to our New Zealand Land Courts for celerity and dC3pitch in inveetiguting titles. If the country were well governed, 11 think it would be frequeßted by man cf wealth from the Colonies who desire a period cf repose from the exertions of business or of political life. Mr K. L. Stevenson, the novelist,

asems to be enjoying a very hippy life, and has made for himself a beautiful home on the hills. He has done a great deal for the social and political regeneration of Samoa, and he would always bs a vigilant and fair critic of any Englishman who might be sent to administer tha afl!jir3 of the islands. As far as the Europeans

living there are concerned ; they are a highly intelligent and Btiperior people, so that no difficulty whatever need be apprehended from the whites."