A.—4b.

visit to New Zealand. Mr. Nelson left for New Zealand on tlie Ist July, 1927, for the purpose of promoting the petition to Parliament of March, 1927. It must be remembered that the Administrator at this time knew nothing of this petition, but apparently that it was to be presented to the New Zealand Parliament was known to the Native members of the Mau. It was made plain to us that the Native members of the Mau had formed the most optimistic anticipations of the results which would follow Mr. Nelson's visit to New Zealand. These opinions were probably encouraged by radios sent by him from New Zealand to the Citizens Committee at Apia. This is indicated by a letter dated 25th July, 1927, written from Apia by a man named Anapu, addressed to the heads of his family and Ma'opu of Tuia'ana and to the chiefs and orators of Sa'anapu, which letter was produced in the course of the Administrator's evidence. In this letter the writer says : " The chief thing in the wireless message is that Samoa is to be cut off from the control of New Zealand. Mr. Nelson will return with a verdict as to which Government is to have control of our country, but New Zealand is finished with Samoa. This is absolutely true, and the crown of victory is now within our grasp." Under these circumstances the Administrator considered that it was necessary for him to take prompt measures to suppress the organization of the Mau, and to secure that the large number of Natives in Apia should disperse to their villages and districts. After the creation of the Mau the Administrator was faced with a trying position. The Natives were definitely divided into two parties—those loyal to the Government and those in the Mau. The adherents of the Mau, as we have pointed out, were very numerous, and if the organization was permitted to carry on it would be impossible for the Administrator and his officials to perform their duties under the mandate. Each step taken by him was met and countered by the activities of the committee of the Mau, who remained in and around Apia. His first steps were directed to stop the dissemination of Mau literature and propaganda and the collection of funds for the organization. He therefore ordered eight chiefs, who were actively concerned in the Mau, to remain at their homes in or near Apia. Five of these orders were made on the 25th November, 1926, and three on the 12th January, 1927. Among the persons affected by these orders were Matau Karauna, Ainu'u, and Alipia. The principal Samoan concerned in the Mau was Lago Lago, and with him was associated Faumuina, an influential chief. After the failure of conciliatory negotiations by the Administrator with these two chiefs they were, on the 20th June, 1927, ordered to leave their villages—namely, Pesega and Lepea respectively— and to remain in Apolima during the pleasure of the Administrator. It may be as well to state that the order in Faumuina's case was later varied so as to require him to remain at his own village, Lotofaga, instead of at Apolima. In June, 1927, it became, in the opinion of the Administrator, necessary to ensure the dispersal of the Mail Natives in Apia to their homes elsewhere, and to require the Natives in Apia to remain at their own homes and not to travel elsewhere. He accordingly served orders upon each of the Natives against whom he was proceeding, requiring them to return to their villages outside Apia. These orders were not obeyed. The Administrator had also been informed that steps would be taken by the members of the Mau to frustrate and render abortive the malaga which he was about to undertake throughout the Island of Upolu. jjfp An instructive correspondence is contained in Exhibit No. 29. % On the 21st June, 1927, a number of Natives wrote to the Administrator asking that an investigation should be made into the grievances of the Mau before their representatives, Faumuina and Lago Lago, were deported, and that there was likely to be a disturbance of the peace if the deportation took place before an investigation was made to clear up the matter for the benefit of the people. On the 23rd June, 1927, the Secretary for Native Affairs replied that the Administrator was very pleased to receive the letter, and that it gave His Excellency great pleasure to know tli at they wished to meet him. The letter further stated that His Excellency the Administrator would be glad to meet the writers of the letter, and, as he would commence his malaga around Upolu on Monday next, he would soon be in their

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