SAMOAN SURVEY PARTY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16839, 31 December 1928, Page 11

SAMOAN SURVEY PARTY

A MISCHIEVOUS INVENTION APIA, Dec. 5. The art of surveying has never been a popular one among tlie Samoans, who lie - aid it, as a. mischievous invention of the white man to roll them of their lands. In the German time, the Samoans probably bad grounds lor the suspicions, for if is believed that the survey of a property generally ended in the. boundary being altered perhaps just a little, but, of course, to the disadvantage of the native. The result- of this practice lias been to give the Sampans an inherent dislike oi the surveyor and his instruments, and lately it was demonstrated that they do not hesitate to back up their dislike in a decidedly practical manner. A property at Palavli, Savaii, had to be surveyed, and the. Survey Department, sent over a native cadet to do the job, in conjunction with a road survey. The cadet managed the load survey without much trouble, hut when he proceeded to work on the property tin Samoan informed him in no uncertain terms that his job stopped at Hie road and sufficient were detailed off to prevent him entering the property. The cadet duly, reported back to Apia, and the .Survey Department promptly sent over,3li'. ,R. B. Crooks to complete the job, accompanied by one or two native assistants and a small escort of militavv police. The party proceeded to Palavli, and it was evidently thought that the authority of the white man would be sufficient to counter any opposition. However the Samoans were determined and at Palavli (lie party were met by a large number of natives m war dress and armed with clubs, knives and spears. Evidently they meant business Mr. Grooks conferred with them and intimated bis intention to-go on with the the work. Without more ado the spokesman of the ,Samoans told him that if bin*, party left the ron'd not a single white man would come out alive on fa it again, a,nd significantly pointed to a Samoan in (lie bush, with a gun. Mr. Crooks endeavored to reason with the Samoans, hut without success. They firmly repealed their intentions to prevent jiii v surveying ! (dug done and I heir war attire and painted faces proclaimed that they were prepared to light. As if wV, obviously impossible to deal with Hie natives Mr. Crook's returned to Apia and reported his movements.-'

Wind the Administration will do over (lie matter now remains to he seen. Tliev have several eld scores to settle with the natives of Palavli, who are preimps the most recalcitrant in the whole of Samoa, ami it is certain that such a revolt against authority as this will not he passed over. Possibly Falavli will be. given a very severe lesson' shortly.— Auckland Star.