CHIEF SAILS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 690, 15 June 1929, Page 1

CHIEF SAILS

Tamasese Returns to Samoa FAREWELL AT WHARF Bright streamers in the purple of the Mau colours joined the lofua and the Queen’s Wharf this morning when the High Chief Tamasese sailed for home. Friends—Samoan and European—thronged the wharf to bid farewell to the chief. High on the hurricane deck Tamuseso and his wife, Masiofo Ala, who are accompanied by their three children, held ends of the purple stream ers with their friends at the other. In addition to the large number of Samoans on the wharf many spectators were present. As the vessel left the wharf the Samoans on shore chanted a farewell message, the strains of 'Tola mai feleni” and "Lo’u sei e” being wafted across to the Toftta as she moved slowly away from the wharf. Among those bidding good-bye to Tamasese were the Hon. O. F. Nelson and his daughters. Mr. J. Westbrook, Mr. f. O. McFarland. Mr. A. Jensen, Chic" Tauvao and the Rev. A. J. Greenwood. On Thursday evening members of the New Zealand Samoan DetentLeague assembled at the home of Mr. A. Jensen, and. on behalf of the league. Mr. Hall Skelton, the president, presented Tamasese with a handsome gold-mounted ebony walk-ing-stick. Tamasese thanked the league for the gift, and for the work it was iloimr tor the Samoan people. Gaol, he said, had not dimmed his spirit. A farewell meeting was held at the home of the Hon. O. F. Nelson, in Mount Hobson Road, last evening, when there was a large number of Samoans and Kttropean friends pres enf. On behalf of the Mau Tamasese presented Mr. Nelson with a rare collection of Samoan curios, including kava howls, walking-sticks and many specimens of “fine mats” for his services to Samoa. Tamasese said that the reception he had been given since his release from gaol had done much to soothe feelings of bitterness, and he was tak ing back to Samoa happy memories of the welcome accorded him since his release. A hitch occurred before the sailing of the Tofua today. Tamasese wanted to change ever at Suva to go through Pago Pago, and the department only supplied him with identification paper■as a returned prisoner. It was not until live minutes before scheduled sailing time that he got aboard, although it was nearly half an hour before the vessel left the wharf.