SAMOAN KINGSHIP

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8418, 18 January 1899, Page 2

SAMOAN KINGSHIP

MALIETOA DECLARED KING. FIERCE FIGHTING ENSUES: 73 CASUALTIES. MALIETOA OVERWHELMED SEEKS REFUGE ON BRITISH WARSHIP. RESIDENCES AND CULTIVATIONS DESTROYED. A CRITICAL SITUATION. Auckland, to-day. News by the Alameda states that the Chief Justice, who has been sitting for some weeks to determine the rival claims to the kingship, declared Malietoa Xtinu, sou of the late King, to be the rightful claimant. The German Consul-General has declined to recognise Malietoa or regard the judgment as final. Mata.ifa's supporters surrounded the municipality and fierce fighting ensued, during which the Mataafas had sixty-one killed ami wounded. On Malietoa's side there were twelve casualties. Malietoa's side were hopelessly outnumbered, and were unable to defend the municipality. Malietoa then pulled off to H.M.S Porpoise. Mataafa's followers razed nearly every Samoan residence to the ground, and uprooted the cultivations. The representatives of the three Treaty Powers met and decided to recognise Mataafa as chief de facto of the Provisional Government.

The latter closed the Supreme Court, which was re-opened by the Chief Justice under the protection of a party of British blue-jackets, notwithstanding the protests of the German Consul.

Dissension lias already arisen in the Provisional Government, the Samoans complaining of the dictatorial conduct of Dr Raflel, the President.