AN ISLAND ROMANCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144860, 11 December 1915, Page 5

AN ISLAND ROMANCE.

'RETURNING SAMOANS. Tie steamer Tamho, which arrived fro urn long Island trading cruise yesterday (says the Sydney Morning Herald),.brought a party of 58 Samoans who wore exiled some years ago by the German Government, and arc now being repatriated. There were 04 Samoans when the party embarked—3s males and 117 females—but the chief, Laniki, on account of a severe illness, had to be left behind with his family on the run to-Sydney at Tarawa, in the Gilbert Islands. They are, if the chief is then well enough;-to conic on by the next boat calling at this port. The party came from Saipan, the southernmost of the Marianne or Ladrone Islands, and,by the time they reach : their native shores; which will ho about three weeks hence, they w-ill have been five months on their.journey, including a stay of three months at Jaluit; in the Marshal! Islands. The -dory of the banishment and repatriation of the Samoans is something in the nature of a romance. The opening scene occurred eight years ago, when 'Dr, -Self was. governor. The offence—if it can bo so called—for which Laniici and about ton others, with their wives and dependents, were exiled was that they wished to know in what manner the taxes levied on the natives by the Germans in Samoa were spent. This audacity on the part of th.e natives was not- trj bo tolerated; for one minute in a Gorman possession, and Dr. Self determined to make a stern example. There was a German _warship in port, about to leave for Saipan, and the opportunity was seized for deporting the malcontents. It has always been said in Samoa, however, that tho real reason for the action of German authorities was, that Laniki and the others were known- to have friendly feelings towards tlie ritish. When the New Zealand forces occupied Samoa ami British rule was re L , established, a strong wish was expressed to the Administrator that, the expatriated Samoans should he brought back, end it was suggested that, if this were d«nb it would have a markedly‘good effect on tbe islanders and be an objectlesson to them of the British sense of fairness. ... So the. Administrator, suggested that the New Zealand Government should invoke the'assistance of the Commonwealth Government in joint representations with' a view to effecting repatriation. Tbe project was not as easv of aernmnlishment as ono might think. The first steps were taken about this time last'year. Early in, January the Governor of New Zealand communicated with the’ Governor-Gen-eral of t’’e Commonwealth, asking “Whether it is possible for the Federal Government to an-pnga for these Samoans being brought from their, place of exile to a. port .-in, Australia?” Thci Marianne-croon was at that time occupied'by the Japanese, and tbe Gover-nor-Genera! suggested that application should bo made to the Japanese authorities. . This ne"estitwted communications with the Bri*i---h Government and messages to tho British Ambassador at Tokio, and finally arrangements wore made in Julv for n.Japancso naval transport to convoy the Samoans to Jaluit. Thor-' they stayed til! the Tam ha nvrivod. A ‘tor leaving Jaluit Die Tamhp proceeded to tho Gilbert and El'ico Islands. ■ , Dr. B. C. Ni O’.Reillv. senior medical officer in' the Gilbert and Ellice groups, who travelled with the party from-tho Gilbert Tsh>ods to Sydney, said .that they wee all enthusiastically■ British, They had pond reasons fpr disliking the Ge'unar.s.'who treated them very badly. “ThevTe a vorv nice let of people,” the doctor remarked "A most intense levo for their own islands characterises all Samoans, and these people were quite heart-broken.out ou Saipan, but. are full of'joy now at the prospect of so sopn, bcbo'd'ng *hc shores of their own beautiful land.” The only member of the party who speaks English is a young follow named George,. and ‘he (iocs so imperfectly.. This is how he told his story:—“We been eight years away. Oh, it is sc Ipug time from our own country. . AW think everybody fovget us and we neve' go hack. We so very sad. One day Japanese warship come to Saipan and haul, down German flag, and put nr Japanese. We know not , why. We very exeitod. We ask. but no one understand. I. speak. English to every Japanese I s<*e.' and .by and by one answer me and tell me about tho war We clad. I’ said. ‘Will von' send iv. hack?’ Ho said. ‘That is Britain’s business.’. It takes se long we Think everybody.forget ns. One dav Japanese shin come along and te'l ns Britain send fens'. and take ns all to Jaluit. We glad Wo laugh; we'cry. we'jump wß v joy.” . Arrangements have been made bv the New Z"ala"<V Government Agent. Mr. ,W. If. , BW.. for their agcinninodotlnn in, .Sydney till the steamer departs., ■