THE-SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to so Master, of so Sect am I." SATURDAY, MAY 18,1878.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 33, 18 May 1878, Page 2

THE-SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to so Master, of so Sect am I." SATURDAY, MAY 18,1878.

■Fob several months past every vessel that has arrived from America has brought the news that a ship of war was to leave San Francisco for here immediately, and - each of those statements have proved to be false. When the Ada May arrived from San Francisco in March last site brought the information that a ship of war was to leave there early in February, and arrive here by the 20th of March, conveying Maruea and others to these shores. Mamea was reported to be on his way from Washington to San Francisco to meet the vessel that had been kindly placed at his disposal, and that there was not the slightest doubt but they would be here by the time stated. March and April passed, however, without the Bhipui war.or tho Samoa Ambassador arriving. Up to Saturday last no news had been received from the States, and those who were looking out for tho promised vessel were beginning to givo it up as a bad job, when in drops tho barque Courier, encompassed by an amount of mystery, having called in ostensibly for water, but in reality, as tho sequel afterwards proved, for the purpose of leaving despatches from Mamea and, we believe, the American. Government. By this unlooked for and unexpected arrival we are informed by the Alt* California, of the-28th March, that "Mamea, the Ambassador to the United States to negotiate the Treaty, will, together with his counsel and adviser, Colmesnil, leave Washington in a few days for Samoa, via Panama, where they will embark oa the United States corvette Adams for Samoa." It will be noticed by this that although Mamea was expected in San Francisco, according to advicos per Ada May, on the Sttth of February, he was still in Washington on tho 28tb of March. Even now, one month after the vessel was positively to leavo San Francisco, 'there seoms to be a glorious amount of uncertainty about the movement* of Mamea and the John Adams, for whilst the Alta gives it out that the point of ombarkation is Panama, we hear from other sources' that tho Adams was on her way for San Francisco, and a letter dated April 2nd, and sent to a resident here gives the following;—" In the way of Washington news, my lost advices were that Mamea would leave in a few days forS;:n Francisco, where the United States .man-of-war Jolro Alliens would meet the'.ii and take them dinvu to Samoa

and Oolmcsnil)." We cannot' understand for one moment why there should be so much mystery and unoer- j tainty in connection with this matter. If everything was plain and above-board where was the necessity of the vessel calling in here to leave despatches, to make the very questionable excOM thai was made I It may have bevii don* foi the purpose of " ehjiiiug " off eager questioners, but in a case of this nature it is a very questionable policy to pursue. The residents of Apia know too much to be made to believe that a vessel ouly thirtyeight days out from San Francisco, with ordinary weather, should run short of water. Then when the real object of the visit is made known it leaves, to say the least of it, a wide opening for people to talk, and, indeed, boa the very appearance of something underhand and scheming. It would look as if it were necessary to get some oracle worked before the expeoted ship of war should arrive. Throughout this Treaty business, from its very commencement, there has been too much mystery manifested to bode any good for the Sanioans, and probably be the cause of some.too sanguine Americans being taken in. From the time that the Treaty was first known to have been signed, the natives have been informed that it means protection, but we must 6ay that such is not to be got out of the Treaty as published, and we do not think for an instant that the United Slates Government intend the Samoans to think anything of the kind. This is simply the work of some interested wire-pullers. We further believe that if the United States Government knew the facts as the are in connection with the party at present holding the reigns of Government here, they would never have gone so far es they have in th's matter. They would have awaited the establishment of a stable form of Government before thoy would have entered into any treaties. The matter has simply been forced through Congress, by interested parties, and those who have voted upon tho matter, other than those interested, have done so without knowing the real status of the Sarnoan Government.

The Samoan Government want protection, ami that from their own people. If the United States Government are in a position to grant them that, well ami good ; we believe that would do good for both countries, more particularly for Samoa, but without this we fail to see what good the Treaty is to either. The past history of Samoa has shown plainly that the people cannot govern themselves without outside help, and we believe that the party who at present constitute the Government are very little, if any, stronger than the opposition party, and, sooner or later, a collision between them is almost inevitable. From what they have been told the Sauioan Government think that in such an event the American Government will help them. But if such 18 the case, they have not yot made it known to the public. That the true state of att'airs has not been made known in the United States we tike from the fact that in tho letter above referred to we find " the Saraoan Government is in good standing ami credit East, and etui get all the moner they want." From this wo can only conclude that the down Easters either consider the Treaty one of protection or they have been misled as to the position of the Samoan Government.

There is very little doubt but what the ship of war so long talked of will eventu- j ally arrive, for the purpose of having tho Treaty ratified, but we would urge upon the otlicial whoever he may be to make it plain to the natives what they are signing. If the Treaty provides for protection or not let them understand it fully. It will in any case cost them a large sum of money—money that they can lii afford to pay—more especially when they are debarred from imposing import or export duties on goods coming and going in American vessels—therefore it is only right for them to know exactly what they are paying for. If they sign the Treaty under the impiession that they get protection through it, and they find, when the time arrives that they rerequire it, that it is not granted to them, there Will most certainly be a split in the camp, and in all probability war and bloodshed would result therefrom. Our object is to see a Government fbmied here that will be able to make good and wholesome laws, and have tho power of enforcing them. Playing at Government has existed long enough. We care not who the party is that is the means of bringing about this desired end, whethor it be Atnerioau, German, or English. We are the champion of the wholo of the foreign rosidouta irrespective of nationality, aud also of the native race. A good Government would bo a boon to both and cause Samoa to prosper, but wo wish that end to be worked by honesty and truth.

The American Consul.—We notice by oi:<> of the San Francisco papers that Mr. Q. W. Gtriffin, at present United States Consul for Samoa is appointed to the consulate at Fiji. A person by tho name of Dawson, an ex-clergyman, was nominated as Mr. Griffin's aucoessor hero, but v.v belio've his nomination hits not

I been accepted. ! A Step in the Riorrr Direction.— We uro glad to see that thu authorities have bocoino alivo to the importance of tho harbour to themselves, and have drawn up a few harbour regulation!*. It was high time thatsoine steps wore t&kon to prevont tho harbour from being tilled up by vessels throwing their ballast overboard We trust the Harbour Master will see that this part of the regulation is faithfully carried out.

Colonel Stein berg er.—On Sit unlay last we wen informed by a gentleman who had arrived that day from San Francisco, that CoL Steinberger had receive.-. an aniotint something like 3100,000 froii the British Government in eompensati')' for his beiug taken from Samoa by Cap Stevens of the Barracouta. Hrul •,. narrator stopped here there migfit :.-••• teen some credit given to the yarn, but the explanation as to how the money « obtained was more than even the must credulons could swallow. It was thus wise: The British Government* not being desirous of bothering with an arbitration had written to the Colonel offering him a certain amount which be refused. Then the Government offered him an advance of 125,000! which was also refused, and then they went on raising it till finally Steinberger closed. The idea of the British Government offering compensation was too absurd for people to believe, consequently it was looked upon as a nice little bit of romance. We are f,le to assert, notwithstanding that it is reported to be spending money with a most lavish hand, that he has not yet obtained one cent from the British Government. According to a letter from a person in the Stateß who is pretty well acquainted with the movements of the Col., written on the Ist of April, " he still hopes to receive compensation from the British Government for bis foroible removal from Samoa by Captain Stevens, of the Barracouta." We fancy that he will be a very old man I before his hopes are gratified.

Trial for Murder.—The trial of Upuia, for the recent murder on Savaii, was concluded on Monday last. At the conclusion of the evidence the members of the Taimua and Faipule retired, and after a long absence they returned. They stated that they could not find the prisoner guilty as he had killed the man in self-defence, but if th*y had a prison they would imprison him. Not having this they had come to the conclusion that tho only way they could punish the prisoner .was by fining him §SOO to be paid into the British Consulate within six months, and condemning him to work on the roads of Apia for twelve months. The British Consul was asked if he were satisfied with this decision, which be stated he was not. Upon .this a long conversation took place between the' Court and the Consul, during which tho latter made several suggestions, one of which was that if theSamoan authorities would pay the passage of the prisoner to Fiji, he would arrange for his being imprisoned there for a term. The whole of the suggestions were objected to. The Consul then stated that he could not agree with a money fine which the Court had admitted would not fall upon the prisoner himself but upon his friends. He had no more suggestions to make, but would have to write to his Government upon the matter. The prisoner was tlion called in end he was informed of the decision of the Court.

Vegetable Poisons.—We have received a copy of a pamphlet treating upon the nature and mode of use of tho vegetable poisons employed by the Samoan Islanders, by the Rev. Thomas Powell, F.L.S. As it contains some useful information with regard to poisoned arrows an 1 spears, avid the means of curing wounds caused thereby, we shall take an early opportunity of re-printing it.