A.—4d

38

The Taimua and Faipule shall assemble, every year of their term of office, at the seat of Government, to attend to deliberations about laws and other matters; but they shall not remain at the seat of Government longer than three months every year, and they shall then return to their provinces—with the exception of one Taimua from each province, who shall remain to assist; the King (Eegent) in superintending the execution of the laws, and attending to different Government work in accordance with the laws. They shall also appoint one of their number as Taimua Sili (President). The King or Eegent shall sign all documents by which those laws are published which have been adopted in accordance with the above regulations, and also any other documents, if in any accordance with laws that have been passed. But it is necessary that the Taimua Sili shall also add his signature, because he alone will be responsible in all Government matters, if there should be anything in such documents not according to law. The Taimua who remain with the King (Eegent) to superintend the execution of laws, and attend to other Government matters, shall also deliberate and agree with the Foreign Eepresentatives in Samoa about all matters concerning foreigners, in accordance with the treaties made between Samoa and foreign nations. They shall also consult with the Foreign Eepresentatives in Samoa about measures whereby it will be possible to prohibit or regulate the sale and supply by foreigners to Samoans, and also to other people in Samoa, of intoxicating drinks, arms, and ammunition of war. Article IV. Each province of Samoa shall appoint its own Governor; but, if a dispute should arise in this matter, then it shall be left to the Taimua and Faipule to appoint a Governor for the province disagreeing in opinion; and, if the Taimua and Faipule cannot agree, then the King shall decide whether the Governor desired by the Taimua or that one desired by the Faipule shall be appointed. The term of the Governor's office shall be two years and six months. The Governor shall appoint in his province, in accordance with law, the judges, police, scribes, and other officers; and he shall also superintend, in his province, the execution of the laws that have been published. Article V. The King or Regent shall inform all provinces of Samoa of the day in each year when the Taimua and Faipule shall assemble at the seat of government and commence their sittings, which shall not last longer than three months ; then they shall return to their provinces, and only those Taimuas shall remain who are appointed to assist the King (Regent) according to Article 111. It is the office of the Taimua and Faipule to deliberate and agree upon laws, according to Article III.; but it is impossible for the King alone to make laws, his own office being to superintend the execution of the laws that have been made, according to Article 111. Article VI. For the present, the seat of Government is on Mulinuu. But, of tho chiefs appointed to make this present Treaty, and who are now called Taimua, there shall now assemble at the seat of the Government one Taimua for each province ; and they shall assist the King, take care of the seat of Government, and consult with the Foreign Eepresentatives. The other Taimua chiefs then remaining, being one of each province, shall return to their own province to deliberate, according to Article 111. on the appointment of the Faipule, and on the exchange of any Taimua among themselves and also among those Taimuas who remain on the seat of Government. Then, all the chiefs appointed shall return to Mulinuu on the 20th January of the next year, to commence their governmental work. They shall first deliberate on such matters remaining whereby the Articles of the new Samoan Constitution, as adopted by this Agreement, will be more completed ; and, secondly, they shall turn their attention to different laws to be agreed upon, according to Article 111. Article VII. Deliberations concerning Samoan property destroyed and plundered by the war parties of the last war shall be postponed until tho Taimua and Faipule will be assembled at Mulinuu. Each province shall endeavour at once to take such measures as will enable that minority of tho inhabitants of any such province, having been left by them on account of the war, to return there in friendship. If this is not possible, then it shall be postponed until the Taimua and Faipule are assembled in Mulinuu, and they shall then deliberate on it. The Taimua chiefs who now assemble at Mulinuu are appointed to consult with the Foreign Representatives about foreign property destroyed, plundered, and damaged by the war-parties of their war, and about all matters concerning any trespass upon the neutral ground. The Foreign Representatives will appoint the day and place of meeting for their consultation. Article VIII. This Agreement shall be valid from the day that the chiefs appointed have signed the same. This Agreement shall be delivered into the hands of Captain Deinhard, who will transmit it, on a later day, into the hands of the Samoan Government, for safe keeping; but Captain Deinhard shall have the right of getting a copy thereof, which shall be certified as a true copy by the King (Eegent) .and those Taimua now remaining at the seat of Government affixing their signature thereto. This Agreement has been signed and sealed by the chiefs appointed to make the same.