THE WAR IN SAMOA.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2114, 31 December 1879, Page 2

THE WAR IN SAMOA.

The Helena from Levuka which has just arrived at Auckland, brings the following details from the Islands: —A meeting of the Neutral Territory Government was held to consider what was to be done with tho parties who had encroached on the neutral territory. Sir Arthur Gordon and ' Captain Maxwell, of H.M.S. Emerald, were present. It was considered desirable to have the neutral territory cleared of all armed forces, and Captain Maxwell stated that he was willing to render any assistance possible. On Wednesday evening the Bismarck returned to the Harbor from Eiji, and on the following morning Captain Dauchard met the representatives of the party who had violated the neutral territory agreement and informed him of the decision come to. The fortnight had expired in which they were to vacate the neutral territory, and instead of doing so they had encroached further, and had shown their ingratitude by plundering foreigners’ plantations. A fine was inflicted upon them for this, and they were given to understand that they were to be off the neutral territory by 7.10 a.m. next daj r . The Bismark scut six armed boats ashore and took 200 stand of arms inside the neutral territory. Moegu and another chief were taken aboard as hostages, on resistance being offerred. On Sunday last the heaviest battle fought by the Samoans during the present civil war took place. On that morning the Old Government made every preparation for a general assault upon the Forts of the King party, both by land and water. The King party from their look-out points saw the proportions being made, and orders were at once given to every man to be at his post ready for action. Shortly afterwards, on a signal being given, the Old Government! forces rushed ’from the forts in every direction. The King

party waited patiently till the enemy were well within range and then fired volley after volley, which had the effect of driving them hack, not, however, without great loss. Having completely routed the shore divisions of the Old Government, the King party turned their attention to the party who were .coming in boats. As soon as they got near enough such a warm fire was kept upon them by the King party, that most of the boats of • the old party turned tail. One’or two boats kept on and landed their men a little to the east of the King party’s fort, but they were so warmly received that few of them escaped with whole skins. The killed ; and wounded in the fight are variously stated at from 17 to 20 killed and from 30 to 90 wounded of the Old Government, and not less than 17 were killed outright, and 87 wounded, whilst many of the wounded are dying. The loss of the King party was only one killed and one wounded. On Tuesday morning a division of the King party landed at M alifann, on the west end of the island, and burnt every village belonging to the Old Government between that point and Palecou. A number of men were sent down by the Old Government party to intercept the King forces, and the number of lives lost during the struggle was not less than 130. Peace was brought about in the following manner. On Wednesday the whole of the Old Government supporters from Sevan embarked on hoard the barque Sophie, and and were towed across to Savau by the Bismarck, and. after landing her living freight, she returned to harbor. On Thursday evening the Bismarck proceeded to Safata, in order to send tlie belligerents to their homes. News to Oct. 30 from New Britain states that sickness was prevalent in the mission families. The youngest child of the Bcv. G. Brown is (lead. Mrs Dands has been very near her death with fever and ague, and the same disease so prostrated her husband, the only Enropcon missionary in charge, that lie was utterly unable to render her assistance. A light was threatened between two villages, but through the mediation of the mission order was restored after some trouble.