The Great Land Case.

Samoa Times and South Sea Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 34, 8 June 1889, Page 3

The Great Land Case.

CoajrwAiA in afaaTalata T. Wat. McAarsro* ajro Co. IN THE HTOK COM MIBSIONHB , B OOUBT, SAMOA. Beta* H. as ChsHsgaa. >*,■. Pspatv CeaV aWoosr, and stasw*. Deans and Qatr,

Thi* wn *a sction brought by ths ntaintiffs. Mr. Frank Cornwall, formarly • planter in Samoa and his wife Manaems. against Wm. MoArthnr end Co., traders, for tr e recorejy of a ram of £60,000 damage*, wbieh th» plaintiffs allege they have tnstained by the defendant* wrongfully *eiiing their l»ndi and taking the produce. Mr. W. 3. Napier of Auckland an> reared for the plaintiffs. Mo**ru. J. P. Campbell of Auckland. B. H. Oarrather* and W, Cooper, of Samoa, for the defendant*, and Mr. B. L. Skeen. of Ramoa. to watch the ease on behalf of Capt. Sinclair (lessee of a portion of the lands.) The ease opened on April 33rd at 10 a.m.. in the British Court at Maputo. Mr. Napier opened the ease for the plaintiffs by reading (he p»»tioubur* of the plaintiffs' claim and the nartionlarsnf the defendants' defence. Be said that this was an action of tfeapa<* which was brought by the plaintiffs against the defendants for the value of the produce of ussfaas lands at Samoa known by the general names of Fasitootai, Faleula. Magi* and lata, and of other lands, and for depreciation of the lands white in the nnlawful occupation of defendants, in sensranenea of their neglect to cultivate the same. In 1886 an action had been instituted in this Court by Manaeaia, Capt. Sinclair .and others (to whom Cornwall had given a lease for die purpose of enabling an action to be brought). That action was an action of ejectment and was decided both in the Supreme Court of Fiji and in the Privy Conncil in England in favor of the plaintiff*, and MrArthur and Co. were ordered to deliver np possession of the lands. Notwithstanding this judgment, however. McArthur and Co. remained in posses(ion of the lands, snd resirtedhy physical fore* all attempts to regain possession. No damages were awarded in the flrxt action for prodnce. as the Court thought Cornwall himself ought to sue for the produce, and that McArthur and Co. would then he enabled to set off a certain debt which he owed them, against the amount which they might be liable for in damages. Mr. Napier stated that the facta •howed that for many Tears prior to 1882 Cornwall and McArthur and Co. were engaged in extensive trading transactions, Cornwall sending copra snd other produce to McArthur and Co., and McArthur and Co. supplying Cornwall with goad*. About 1881 Cornwall was found upon a balanoe of accounts, to be indebted to McArthur and Co. in a sum of over £5,000. McArthur snd O. agreed that they would not request Cornwall at any time for payment of this deht in money but would accept land in payment st the value of 4s. per acre. Notwithstanding thi* agreement, however, McArthur and Co. sned Cornwall for the debt in 1881. ntrd obtained jndg- > "pinnt. Cornwall appealed againat thi* judgment to Fiji, and during his. absence snd before the appeal wasfleard McArthur and Co.. through Mr. Hetherington their.*olioftor issued a writ of seizure and*'sale, and sold all Cornwall's good* and lands at Apia, the latter being bought in by them through Mr. Helherington for a trifling snm. Thi* sals was declared to be illegal by the Supreme Court of Fiji, and by the Privy Council in the action above referred to, and Mo-. Arthur and On. declared to be treepaMers. He (Mr. Napier) submitted that th» only point whioh the Court would have to determine in thi* action wa« the amount of damages which McArthur and Co. ought to psy for the wrongful occupation of the lands; 'he question nf title as against them having been determined in Cornwall's favor in the first action. Tt was true that the defendant* alleged that a few month* ago they had made Cornwall a bankrupt, and had purchased the lands again from hie Trustee in Bankmptov, Mr. Maben; but ha (counsel) would show that the bankruptcy was » nnllitv! was unauthorised by the Judicial Oomminioner at Fiji a* was necessary, and th*t the so-called sale w*« a mock nnetlnn at which there was no bidding; further that the d*> f*nd»nts paid no nwvnev for the Isnds »nd that Mr. M*ben was an emrlovse of their own snd acted not In Corn"■•>H». {«tim>*t hut ut*u th" advice of Mr. J. V. Campbell. Mc*>lhrV* *ofieitnr. Tt would fnr*het be shown that fornwell could not he made a bankrupt here, and 'hst the bankruptcy proceeding* were merely an effort tn •rifle the acrl«n snd Prevent Cornwall *rnm recovering *he **ms»ea to "Men be was fstrlv entitled. fVmwall bad no de«re» to evade rxvment of hi* debt to Mes-rtfim- end Co.. but at tha same time be wa* determined tn en. ♦ores his claim **»!•<«* th*m for the immense losses be bed sustained in eonssquencs of their lawless proeeedMr. Nspl*» then gave sn online of

j»w>*H»4 flit ?•*»«• In At pmrfmtt Lw»4 <Dt* fc* hw Wfi t>Wti«ff»*n4 PJUH.JH.?». . -.1 , *»*. Hm4ml OHw) ■RV. W*W wwl PfP§fw»| BS".i.'.- .' « »- *VjF.«: » .- J^

ploy two bn to oal i.nik tMNn •aa nmnmi sjesnr* a* ■**• •anMtaa" *ja*J*VawfJl|**aj,a**i wa* MMI war* au ovatarown. no labor vm . th*r* aai a lara* amovat of Uhor wo»M bsrsonirsdtokesptheplanta. boo ta order. Tho toll waa vofoenis and food. Thar* war* onlv ahnnt ' ««00 trees at Lata when he vi.ited H. Upon fh* wools of Cornwall'* lands | anon XJpnlu and Peraii. which ha visited, ihatw war* 110.000 noenannt | rrsae in fall hearinir. On none of tho nlantinua waa anv cotton tWM«.. Onprawaa valued at £lO • ton. Ha nrodn*»d a plan which ho had received \ from William Ooa Tn eroovotamt<iat>on hv Mr. Campbell th* witnaaa ttmitiad he had not onnotod all tho tree*, and that onmany of tho landt at Havaii thai* were no traoaa of po**eetioh hv McAr»h>ir' and Co. Ha waa not nrdered off by native*. Ha aaw an agent of ateArthur*a at Falaelapn. On him of I tho lamia ho did not land hnt paused in a boat. Tha hou«e on Matria waa i in good condition, and thtre waa also a copra shed and ators. I Tho witnaaa waa further eroea-1 sxaminod aa to tha number of traas. | Btehard Hetheringtnn - Carrothara i depone-': I wa* formerly known <jy tho name of Hetkerington, and am a 1 aolicitor practising at Samoa. I am on* of th* oonnaal for the defendant* -hrthia oaae. ITp-to 1886 I acted aa aolicitor for Up Arthur and On. I ■noted aa their solicitor in 18*1 in an action oronght by tnom against U*rn* wall for £5500. Mo Arthur and Co. recoverd judgment and I isined a writ of execution against Cornwall'* good* and all other property. Undar thia writ there waa a aal*. I bought the landa at the aale on behalf of McArthur and Co. Subeeqnantly I entared upon aome of tha landa in tha name of tha whole for tha purpose of taking posseaaion. I took possession of Faaitootai, Falenla, Magia, aod Lata. I visited Lata after that on several occasions Cornwall loft Samoa and I removed hi* labor from Lata by order of the Conrt. Their term of *erviee had expired. MoArthur and Co. put no new labor on Lata. When I went there to take away the labor it was quite in working order. Cotton, coconut*, banana*, breadfruit and other fruit* were growing there. The eocoanuta were tha low growing epeciea. Th* plantation waa subdivided into paddocks. Banana* were growing: luxuriantly. Lata fell nut of cultivation because MoArthur and Co. sent no labor there. The oocoanut tree* were stunted hv the growth of vine*, and the road* overgrown. I urged McArthnr and ' Co. to Mipply labor, bat' no labor waa ' supplied. '

Oroaa-examined by Mr. Campbell: McArtbnr and Co. informed me they w»re taking steps to procure labor. When I tiaited Mngia no one waa in charge; the houses for WW were leaky and fnafua waa abundant. I could not find some of thelanda which Cornwall claimed, and I did not enter upon all of them. The witnraa waa re-examined by Mi. Napier, and tyodnced rough plana made by- Papr. Laureheon.' euryeyor for MoArthur and Co. According! to theae plana.in 1882 on Magta, : were. 10,008 eocoanut" trees and on Lata 17.A08.

I Peter Baamuaaen deponed: I am manager of the .German plantation at Mulefanua. I have been 'here 15 yeare Know llagia. Remember Cornwall acnunving it. He left in 1882. Mo Arthur and Co. then took charge. When Cornwall left it waa in good order and condition. Now weeds of a very bad deerription are ahnndan', and it would require a great deal of labor to reatnre it to the condition it waa in. in Cornwall's time. The lower part i« covered with broom and fuafua. Faleula. waa in pretty fair order in 1882. It ia now covered with eenaitiva plant and would ro«t aa much to dear aa to break new ground. An acre of land in oncoanuta nmdncee half a ton of copra per annum. Mc Arthur and Co. hare taken the produce of the landa since 1882. I have aeen cattle there. It would cost 85 to 40 ! dollar* an acre to put the plantation in order.

OroftK-«x*mine<l ♦>▼ Mr. C»rmth»r«: Tn« cotton tu pr»M.T oM whan MeArthur toolt TV)««o««i<>n ■ I w»« nff»r«l it, nnt rnfaftwl to nick ft»«I hail othor work fo» mr Unor. Hnrrtain** h«T« littl» effect on T>l*nt*tlon«; th«» flo not nffoct tn« «nlM»nn»nt. t»«IV Tho nnrrlwmo n» IRM AM no* An «n raw»i dmniMw *n tilts ym»V The cocoannU on Tnlmiln wor» n l'»t> t«o clom.' >in* tntu wnnM m»V» no iliffrrcnco now t)i« fn>M li»»» nn^Tco 1 A» «»itn-Wr Funic Pomwit". ot affMnvtt, do. nonon 1 tout n»"»*« In <wnt>nt ! <«i of »».« lnnnVnnto M«rch. IRM. Tn M»n>h of tlint tm> rtofew'iinhi wronß> fnltr und with fnrc# »«oV no«»»»lon win" Imro »r»r «*«<<• M* now"ton of tnom »n< f»V»n tho nmn'nc*. In cow. Mqnonpo of tfcrir wmnatnl iwwwHiw no V« Wn rtifwW** of Wf 1W"«v In MM on Fatal* ♦»»«•«!»♦• Ma*> rowMnut tr*M MtA on M»M» H.oon. | On YwU wnra nlan growing- o»nn«»« V<m—. and m»n<rna, an* wttnn nl«n. Fortr hWm wara cnnatantl? •*"• nlomifl tnara. On W*«tt«nt*f wn lOflOeoonannt twwa. TTnoti T*»a tliara | war* •'•on* (W.QOfl <»••* ami 60ft a'araa ■ ••'• iwnnfan wf'ii cotton, maina, #o. j Oo# nnn-lroo' lioor wa« 00-«tantl» «m. J nlo**4 on T#*a. TT(w<b «H* aaaona** ■ naa»T<at» mmm afcont Sft.flnft tw#*-"(

an A tat* nnmW" nn rttt.Mkw la*4l foMttft MlUtf»»*«il WttW »M> •»>*«* Af JMt MM HIfM«M m tKWilt* aataMta —%.- *-** aVaaa 4aMaMu«k wma swirpiT on iM4m*njnM wir ivwuitip |APMN*94 pn4 to* AftftW wWB t Md .*>*■. Awrft— n*»H .taj

mow WW IvMs aid awl fran *>•• gleet On Mafftain IMS hn 10.000 ooeoeont trees and 000 oreege treat and a milt of banana plant*. Ilia planationianowinbadnnnditlfla. fa 188Sth»rewer»inFa»itootsinot laai than 600 banana plant*. haeidea i erange. lima, breadfruit rrtee, nil eoonannt I Jean Rfahlln. bv affilavit. deposed i that he was manager of a plantation.! Prior to 1889 he managed at Tabula, I ant) win now manarer at Mntutna for , -the (toman Ooropanr. Tha average ; alas of a ooooenut plantation in £5 j par arr* -par annum. Tha average; value of cotton it £9 nar mar* tmr an. I

num. Whan ha managed far Corn- | wall at Falenla thar* ware running I that* 46 head of cit'R and half of! tha plantation waa laid down in grata, and tha roads were in good condition. Joaaph Hanlcin. efcrlr, deposed that, ha vi»it»d Maria. Fautontai, and Fal- ] aula in April latt. On Magi*. w»rv 18419 ononannt tree*, on Faaitnotai 15001 I and on Falenla 6000. Tha plantation* I war* all overrun with wteda. j I Croat-examined by Mr. Oarruthera: j Some of the weeds on Magia were out j level with tha ground. Fifteen labor- j . are were there. A good hnuta wa* there, alto a copra hnnte, ttoraa, 4o* I taw hananaa, pine-apple*, to. Thottaa Maben, deposed: I acted a* receiver and- trattee in tha alleged banbraptev of Cornwall. The account produced ia a aiatement of all hi* property that I received. There were *o- ', called maetingt of oraditon at the j office of KoArthur and Co. On those j. occasion* the only peraon pretent l>etides myself was Mr. Campbell, McArthnr'a solicitor.' Resolutions were I proposed by Mr. Campbell, seconded I bv Mr. Camnhell. and carried unani. I

mou*ly by Mr. Campbell. I tnldOnnnrall's land*. Mr. CampMl, for MaArthurand Co.. bought them. I received do money but adjusted accounts with Fletcher. I did not apply to th» Deputr Commissioner for instructions. I did not communicate with Cornwall, but t addressed three letter* to him at Apia, Samoa (Br the Court: " This wm a mere ronq.") I entered into poaeession of Magis, Fasitootai. and Fal»ul*. hot ant until after the »ale. I wae placed in -poseessinn by Mr. Campbell. Mr. Campbell drew the conditions of sale. I did not par him any fee for doing eo. I There was aoondition that a purchaser should not require the eanetibn of the j High Commissioner'* Court. I mad» no attempt *n put a caretaker in poa- i session. Did not take po«*ns-dr>n of I tlie produce I saw on the land*. Mr. Campbell gave me the list <>f land* which Cornwall claimed. I adrertieed the sale in the Same* Timu. Ido not think there was one pars >n out*Tdernf ! Mb Arthur and Co.'* and the Getmsn . firm who would be likely to offer a fair j price for thexe land*.. I discontinued ,

on a reanlutinn carried t»v him, Igo< no consideration for .doing ao. ] annght no adria* t'did not aenreli the Court records to asofrtniu the triit ■ t*'»aition of this case. I knew tht SiinrameCuurt of Fiji h»d ieclaredthat KcArtbnr IRd r'JJ had atf fi*tetathea4 lands. I «%« nlfliajrer at Magia for McArthur and fo. I work at timet in their office. I did not know Corawall's addreaa, but did not «nquir* from anyone. I allowed MnArthur to remain in possession after I waa appointed receiver. . Crora-axaminad by Ifr. Cooper: I oonaiderrd it no uaa *»' adrertiae aula in the colonies. If I hud Ido not think thara would have been mora htddart. I ner*r acted aa a trustee in bankruptcy hefore. Baliera thari waa competition for one lot at the tale. I produce plans of the lands made by me. Re-nzaminad: Tha plana represent only the area in coeoannta. Auiruttitt Ntlton, of Ssftine. 8a-

hcen 31 yeart in Samoa, and knaw • Cornwall's landa. DafandKitt have I ooenr-ied them since 1882 end taken [ the produce. In I*B2 ther* wat an abundance of food on the plantations | and a large number of laborers am- j I ployed. In all ther* were sl-ont 94,6<10 oocotnut treat in full hearing. [ Defendant! hare entirely neglected , tha plantations. With proper manage- | ment the plantations in the aevan years nnght to hare yielded not le~a than ! £36.500. The net annnal mine of ' a coconut tree was half.a dollar. Montgomery Betham denoted that ■ for 8 yean ha manttad Falenla, and , in 1882 there were 5000 encoannta on it in full hearing. i Oroaa examined by Mr. Camnhelt: ' Tht trees were planted about 40 fait I apart Tha place ia not now in **ame state aa when I had not. I do not, think Cornwall had cattle running thara. Oenraw Fritchard surveyed the itnd for nomwall. , Re-atamined: I eonnted tha treet nrraelf wlthmjrotr" boyk. 'To tbeOnrt: I did not eat down •by traaa whan I waa on tba plsntaMm i . I.

. "HwiT»Jty Wow*, A-nmfaitt mnhnl Anl«. 4*n>w«l t B* k«4 twt* t»h*H«w» In fhnttH/m iMiiatWMMl •M wt«j«mM«*r «f Tate tor OR* w«H. WMMitrnM** fc-.VnW »fc »W»Mt le Cnrrtnttl at .**H«V*tl. ;JJttßijJ»tf»», wV«ti wan AipnM *n •»»»♦ *mlS lhmJm *»tr •»• iw*4 tf *fvttvtivMfl HKwM i

i af a §t tnat a ajanar. ■ (VwwßßwaiSaTaV 111 phalli II -fS tat hani tM fnttmatntt at ! pUnttHoaa. thara bad only Tieen I two hufrieaaeeanea 1883, and neither ' of thaaa bad done any material damI agarotha nhmtaciean, l I William o*, Anmrisaa aUiaan. and i formerly ajaMtirt Banfaiiiy of State ; to the Malietim Government. aVpnaad br tffldark. that he knww Mr. Sobert I Fletehar, manager for. dafandanta at . Samoa, and alaa Mr. Bpanaer tha lata I rnanaawr. In Jnaa IBM he reeeired

an angroawnant of a ooarayanoa from j Fletchar and Spaaaar of tha landa the ; tubiact of thia haaon from af ana trna •o Wm. MeArthnr and* Go. Ha waa inttrnatad by Fletcher and Hptnjen. , to endearor to fadaoa the Bamoaa Ootarnmant to conrnal afanaama lo to aign tha dead. He waa alao ini ptnutad by them m the atant of rach a onnrae not bang praotieal to offer i to afanaama in oratidrration of her airninr tha dead* 3,900 doDart and tha land and bow* at Faaltontai and permaaeat raarataaanoa for henelf and harebildrwn far a period of IS , yeart and tha education of bar childran without ooat to bar. They alto inatrnoted him to taanW a Bamoan chief called Johwwy Upak to actiaj him in tha malarial mjllbfay bim £2O. He triad for orar * #aak hfe peraua- ! aion and rhraata t|inda>albnaama to aim tha deed. ; ant ehajylntoiv refnaad to do to, waa mnanvanarraajed and «tated ahe wonld the dead and thereby rob her chtlWnVaf 1 their propertr. -j- ■ Robert Lonw INtaan, barriater and I anlinitn*

in qiiottinn. (ataly I »itiUd them. With regard to Lata roeda Me all overgrown. TV*, fjantation haa «|>- parentlr h«eo wafWwty neglected. For nearly a qaai** *f * »«• on the northern bouadiiry there *a» not a tnw. Th*r« wart maay, twee 00 the ground whMi hitheel heme down hy th* weight ol fteriaW. -Two on praoaW&teetfMtaf. *h**f*k were about 3 to 8, fcettifh. s There •M-v* labor. Man* nj tb¥ growing tre>a bad vine* aod feed* growing oa. them, bat no sola, $M tte wow* of < tht land, then are ow»i*K»JO.ooeo. I ahnta treea, (The hlaijf jwtedetail..) Wi* regard to Matfa th* wetted, though , tbere haa> b*ea> peeao rooenl attempt* |to eat doom we*eV. At regard* Faleiila it fe uaietod; aity weodefroai one ! end to the ether. There are ao rim* of rrae* etrept oa two. tiffe- hillooto. On Vaeitontai tbere are ao tmproromeat.. I hare epohoa In Fletcher, manager for dereadaaea. Hi ealtto <oe. "Tt »*••»•* (he ftatarHfeAghtin«r WoArthnr and •».. a* and Qo. had aaott miaaor, Jail -%mM'

•t t>e aura to win artajanaiiy."' ■ ,| Orota-aamnjaad;: JVt not .bnow. all placet of laaaf by their watttw namee. and cannot locate tham 'aft. Did not i oount all thatrraa, but actimated aome. I Hare only been in Samoa thrlomodlha J , Cannotaamar,< ,, sfrahaw«^m*H»w? "fc outatda t»t« Qply «ww ona man en tha lands atFaVasfuDO who aald/kt waa agent for MeiMhar aadOh.-, " B««ra"Pnniani, o* FiajtooiaS, 4a. twwad by affidsrit. that ha know Hr. Fletcher and in September 18** ha waa requested by him to indneo Man. • aam* to aati&n her intareat in the i lands to MeArthnr and Co. fnay { promised him 800 doTitra for Ma aer- | rinat. Ha repeatedly tried to indues ! Mnnaema to do to, and ha offered her : in accordance with Fletcher's instrnctions 3000 dollara in cash, and McMoArthur and Co. wonld support her and her family. Thia obted the aridenca for the plaintiffs. Mr. J. V. Campbell the opened tha

rata lor a»ran-anta. no aara inai | there were thrae abanlnte hart to the rdaintifm aneeaat in this action . (1.) That Manaema hnd racwarad in a prarimra action vh»n the tame causa I«f aeflof, waa in disnnte. f2.) That I Ckfit. Sinclair. thaletVea of the J»nd«. had not bawn foinejl at a ailajn- ! tiff. /8;Y That Frank Cornwall had , ] haenndindicatadaibankmntatlttmoa. I 1 and 'he defMdanta had ra.pnrrlitaed t the landa Vwi his tvnetea in - banki mpter. . Mr. OatnnheH qnotad anchor. ■ i»«ae Jn «nm»r> of hie eontenHnna.' On | tba m«ri»e of, tha, aaaa be alao enfw ' mittad that tha plaintiffs mnat'faft. | even on the e/ridene» already addflead. | bnt ba would <>all orHaneo thtt wmtH p eoncbialve'y ahow that not only bad ; the dafandanta mada no profit- on* of I thaa* landa <«nt tha* tba eaiwt eould no* be woriracT ornatAwta j ~*vi.«M> of tie. Ww Arlne o#a*nra. Mr. rnmwben ♦»^^H*****j^. aaieai fa detail, rawarnaj out •rfoTrbeanrtmftfeo* waa rwafaaWrW • avfoVjaa rfrantrv r>a nbrmHwV ajtnamas. H Ha a-vwrarv orirW«*l Mr. fjjbritwnllV aa. ♦»«o and aeM that W aonaeownrw of btafrWi r waFa>daigr ? Wafro»fmmo> |

nM»?nt«W'to wort A'*-Imm. Wo m«mfHo* rt» WH*wW «l **• ■•**■» ~m4*?WtwWo, «o»»» V '_WJW* Jdu gg_ f f ftg MiJMJIMOjMMpfIOtOO wnooo»

Hadaraoted good WH anga- a* noggin. IWn via ttaabU enananant and ha OOMBiftfcMAteYlHM* atmro* •natty* EnMNW deetroyed •mm aranwaat tiata. A ooeoaaat nmntnHon win Ml nn v. fI»W iwlld by Mr. Napier: I mil <ftiw> occupations In Fiji. Ini a pottoe etrgeont. Iwm onr•Mr at Boot* and Harvey'e plantation in Fiji. It ia about same eiieas Mgi*. Thara wart ealy 480 or 600 ooooannt treat thara; aothiag alee was growing. Hooked after tha eat'le and the etore.. Did not bad Ibo piga or milk tha eosra. I waa net tnanaear ol any of tha etationa. I wtsoverseer on tha N»ti»->'i plantation, nut that i« a sugar pl»ntanan. I looked after tha canaa. I had a piece of find at Fiji, only a fair' mm. but tha mooannt tract on i'. yrcldnl rae half a dollar a tr»a par annum. The price of copra, ahont 1883waa £lO par t»n. Fletcher put m« in' poaaauino of Magia. MoArthur took', tba produce. The trees in toe front vara all good productive treat, They would produce about 100 nuts each it' a pioking. Am now a bumboatman. The wirnest waa farther cross-exam-. ined at.length. Ernest Faderick Allan: Am man*-

ger for the defendant »t Map*. At Fatitootai the land !■ umallr awamp. Several (food haildinns at Hagia, pat; uphy MoArthur and Co. Thar* are 20 or 90 head of cattle and 80 horse* run. ning at Magia. Th* cattle/are all in "good condition. Th* ebeoannt treea hay* alwar* been kept dean. Th* hurrirans recently did damage to the house* ana fence*. A few coeoannt tram war* Mown down. Fnafuaisa badjped and spread* *aafly. There .ha* always b«*n sufficient labor employed on Magia. |' (VM*-*xamined: When 1 waa living J at F«sltootai I waa not at Magia, but visited it and eaw that the labor waa emnloyd. The plantation ia covered with f uaf ua. There are no grass pad• dock* and only remains of wall*. I waa nor th«re during the hurricane of 1883.' Thar* waa not ranch damage don* by the' hurricane. Maotofn ia good for-aoattl*, and therefor* waa not eat down by MoArthnr and Co. oamiot.*ay how much oop»a I have sent to MoArthur and Go. There ar* over 8,000 cocoanut tree* on Magia. I waa there when Sinclair and other* counted them, and agreed to their Sguree. Xam engaged ia trading at Mairia on behalf of Mo Arthur and Co. , Prior to going to Magia I had. bo *ip*ri*noe of plantation*. reexamined : Th*re are only about j 800 or 400 tree* at Fatitootai. I always mad* th* labor work. ftol Henry Krana* d«po*ed I am a storekeeper at Apia. I hare been 22 y*ar* in Samoa. Aft»r cotton ia 1 years old we nsually plantooeoanut*. Oo»ton will yield for about 6 years after nlantin g. hut ia not profitable after th* fourth sear. A pl<iat*r bow only get* If eont* per lb. for eopra. ft cost* tas more to gather enpra pa my own tod than to buy it from the native*. '. The a>*r*g* yield of a cocoanut tresis from 35 to 40 lb*, of copra nor' annnm. Cotton •shanat* the ami. Rare bean through Fahrnla. -Xfr iatao clo»*ly ( jl»nt*d»» -«t ;- : w* oßrf Falaul* to'•>*'■ *had« when passing ia • boat. Will not awaar that the eocosnut tree* at Falenla do not bear on

account or rinse planting. I wat mahagar at M'llafawaa. containing 9000 acre.. Had 450 labor, nor Sanation. Wages about > dollars a month. The wages for Samoa hi la one dollar a day. lUhnve no blset labor on my land. atiKVhen I alluded to the cost of la%or I meant Samoan labor. I lava not bean on any plantation sinoa 1880. To keep a plantation in good order at Tenet one labor to every two acres wonld bo requirod. Reexamined : 1 used to gat 2} caate for copra, hut now only If. James Porter Harper, clerk, deposed be was manager for Mc Arthur and Co. •> Vaaia ia ISDN TT« A t.kn. (!>»•

TW want Wpinp rtnwn we<*nY Good hnildinjra ara on Majria. Ottlo aod horm* war* running on the plaos. nro*»-mmmin#d : I w „. only th*r» for about rix month*. Had no axn*ri*nn* at a plantation ninat r. Th» nativtM fn» from thro* to fonr dolhra a month. Tha wJtn#f« wm foHhoreroacasaminad nt oonaiaaraMo lanath

Smnlitn n>iw*>4 It* want to K»ri« in iM3wi»h Mr.K»»«H« nttn Mr. GomwuH'i rtftxtrtnr*. Ths plantafcon w«» { n fa* nrnVr. TJjjf nwrriwr win th*r», •tm| tint Wxrorm wer» wetter*? «T>nnf in B»mo»n hon»M. Vo tw w»« tnm*. Bn<h<M 'Wfr*. rmwfnpr nn nnH.i |Ti« oneroinnt" rind rattan. W» f«4 »•»•> hVnnn. .TKoiw j w«r» tpftir'Tinfta. I kiwr F»1«i]« wl»#n I w#nt ftui* In 1 Jt*?. Thw* w«« fnaftn mid (#h*r W»*U. anil 111* TW»» «f in* tint** »»• VnVan to ptaca. ■v avfaannjf ffaaartaf* fmoi tha Ama>. Hrafi nr»war r t X Ohi»f nMMfra. ' Am aow-laampTor-, maw* nf MaArthnr an* fK. an 4 aw*. ♦ln» Iwn mil a-httf iW«r» ft oV. | T HaMrmtad • print** panar ,B Mawoan amiw* «»• naH»aa. lfr.ftar. «rIW«T«IH'-iM. > Tww».Hlir We*HW mi* On. wMla I waa at Vaala. Jllflta anraanilt «r« w*r» Iwwrtur. VMlmAmm M>fWw«» Ibn-wMtMNW. IlW« W««»ll**f Of CfMHunofiirit tba eamaata an* eot-

• Tgg fftimn wm forlhorowo* oiio" "Vojooo * *•»*•*; w*»w. ito* tylftMMr .MCfertMMto ftJmV ?*■««»♦ o«fr mhw *— AHM IMMmtA wo 4* otOMOO. m.t.l far Woiftanr oaj Ofc. 4moml ■a <a «b* Mtam of Am Vmm ob Xmn 'a«rfJM* ; iV wowl ■«»"*■•*•» "Jh*» oo— lnngo *» <■• ooooojw o> »»ofco. woo

1( tea* a lb. TnawitnttsM examined at toatidornhlc gg Qeorga iter, byaffiVaraM that he waa manager fvennffl at Matin for MoArthur W ■ that the piace waa kept ia <§■ Ula. chief of Faleata, « knew Fafculaia OorawtllSM W» plantation ia sow batter thalß Mr aa tha traea bear batter. Islail 7 Tha witnraa wa» crota-extjH Henry William HendersonM land, by affidavit. dH|>o««JH 1884 Cornwall" had gitwi H tha teoda for thrae yeart toH Sea Inland Trading CumpanH SanieJ McKenjie. tradenS Arthur anrTtk. ajtboaed ha *■ ger at Lot* and ataxia foiH in former tfmet. Faleula ■ waa not then in good waa built (Trowing on it. Lata 'for four'yaarii. 'Tha■ >it 3f milea from the aoataVfl rocky coast He cleared ■ and planted cotton and oucoafffl cotton waa nlanttd between ■ nnte, and tb» shade of theleM coeoannta would bare a tha cotton. The cotton 'pruned after 1881. ■ Tha »■ taken from the plantation toH ing place by donkeya two tr^B Oro>a-«iamined: The boatfll alongside landing place at LH •oil-on Late waa wary K°wM volcanic. I recognise my tba ttatement produced. ' I aH "stntement aa trna for GardfJ aome montha ago. Tha fl|| contained in it art not gvosijH I waa ill whan I signed it. § "' Tha witnaea waa with groat minntaneat with mm the statements contained in j9 produced, which Wholly cunflaß hie preeant testimony. Jmrar v

To the Court: Capt. Bindn the atatement to me before iS ' B«-examined by Mr. CarrflH aigned the atatement m righjlm «ok with Samoan ferer. I d£S the atatement after I sign*! inf im produced by Mr. Napisr fl@ ■ Mr. Napier then asked thaSKrt to warn the witn'ies not to leiTajjj triat till the caae wax clo<eJ§| (counael) wonld call evideocaM that Mr. McKenxic, only a fejpi a«jo, had examined tb* "t*M|N i the presence of Mr. Sksen, |M end other*, and had aansntera atatement it eantained. Toefg

mm whin ©ailed upon. : f.hy;J- -■■ Capt. H. F. Hufnagel iefm tr»» manager at Vailele pl>n tags the Gorman Company, and h3| experience in cocoanuts. TH annual falue o( a cocoirmiJS from 36 to 90 oanU with iji|j labour. An acre of land Z>im§ ton of copra a year. perttea do damage to war planM atealtaj? eoooanura and br»»dfflM Tlw anrrieane of 1883 did damagVß tJM frulliee, but the big b!ocb«§ t!i<t aet aurTer much. ns^St^ to*Mi«-Obor»«r«Mi »<mßH|| bettet.after a hurricane. '/' . Crou-exaroined : The <wt to* * ton of copra ii about 8 HBHh '•'■ Witnsaa waa farther cro*a-ajH| '.' Robert Fletcher, managnH| Artfmr and Co. at Samoa, denSß arrreavl at Samoa in 1883, .olHfrfcit-tc Mania. It waa in a very bwapaiji Mad* an arrawrement with OnMaJn

: tMwrenenn to «i9er tha I great difficulty to gat labour. Ljtbosr; l kaa been continually tmplowa#l(jfei, t KB3. Tried to get >*°" vsHl|jfc • hfrrtla, but only got 7 or .fpbiaev i Islander*. Magi* hat bttn yplato ■nod ooodirion aim* I MO. a dwelHnfbona*, oopra-houae, ahedt, at*., lav* i b»en erected. Books hare been kept at Mafia, which ahow the product rec«i*iid and •Wndituro incurred by JUArthnr •nd Ob. I produce tht booka.£f , •Ifr. Oamphelt proposed to tender r»Vki In wrid»nea under ArtW») 1U of Order in Oonnofl. 'ZJ afr. Warder, upon »«ni»jMr **' book*, ohiseted to their rNamNfrOkV' the around the* were mntilatajfc;?' ■•• After considerable diMtwdiS; tha Court ruled that the bonk was not receiTahl*. •• it waa mam'Mffy in • mutilated condition. Tbewirflfcioa). tinned: I know William (m. MoArthur and] Co. accused taiutf of era»>»«tlam«Bt. hut tha matter Ma referred an arbitration. whirhjasnlt** farouraMr to MeArthor and m. Tha aid* bv auction of the landa «m well attended, and there waa bidllaf for one Toe. Tha ruling priea W eopra baa been 9 eente a lb ontl lately, when an agreement wm madflayfta trader* not to >t«w wmre than If eeofs. Oraaa^saainaf: WoArinoHJß* On. claim all land* in 8»m«a * which ♦Ww*!!hMeiirH«btUt!e<»*er*e». They now make that Maim. Mthey aleo erafated thfjaame befor* f* mm.

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witMM vm-Pb amMfßh*) •» TMrrtr«wil»«J*. -J3•m. .yif (MhSrWl WUrthar m 4 <K to «s*M «§Vbct »a «A—», «Hjr» Mmf otk« ■tojiDJiii. J JS

UN**) (Tints were alio estopped br •ghJZfcftopport «£*£ I £:.£y ,, E'' ,W »plWi» length, and •ad quoted authorities. * Aitw • hngthy adjournment the •J** not go behind Cornwnll's title They (the defendant.) had ejected ■o* he in th-ir mouth to impoen the «f ni. chums, fo^™ would be » matter for investiga! 1? 7 m? L * Bd C<W«MMoner here- * Ue,,io " ,h j» Court ted to dee] with wm as to the reapeoJlfw nghu ofMeAnhur and Co, and Cornwall. called, «orroboraHne; the laat witness aa far at bia evidence went, but the ••me questions wm 4i»aHowed in •very ease. BOharlea Soaalon oorroJ.orsted the Mdhaea of hi* brother, George Scangin,,wrtb regard to the condition of

t«ia in 1883. 3apt. James Sinclair, recalled by v Campbell, produced power of »#>, Cornwall to himself. B.j D g ed teprodneethe laaae. he declined tbe ground that ha wae not bound woduce hit instrument of title. M: A* Otinrt upheld the privilege ,*- phed by the witness. " Hmjliam Cooper, aolicitor, deposed hj» fOad a statemsnt of defenceby par o* the Court on the 13th March pe*. He filed an amended statement 6v» the 4th April. He knew Mr. Nepier armed in Bamna on 80th March lift, and that he (Mr. Napier) could IWt have aeen the statement of defence before he came to Samoa. feliV. J. P. Campbell gave evidence thai he waa not in Samoa when Mr. Mabea was appointed Receiver in 'Bankruptcy. i' Thi* dosed the case for the defence. S. Mr. Napier recalled Capt. Sinclair and Mr. Sheen to prove that on the 10th of March McKenrie, who gave evidence for the defence, had read orer bia written statement in Captain Sinclair's house, and had agreed to all the statement contained in it. t Thia closing the whole case. Mr J. P. Campbell then addressed the Court on tie law and merit* on behalf of tbs

dofondsati. If* submitted that tht (MjMmte were entitled to judgment cm Or leg*] (pound* mentioned in hit Csewiag sddrn*, end elto on the OMtiti ,of tbe case. The evidence before the Court showed conclusively that the plantations could not have paid working expenses. He reviewed Bad criticised the evidence in deUil, end ronoloded hy en eerneet appeal to life Court to decide in favour «f the defendants. Mr. Campbell spoke for war eix hour*. Mr. W. J. Napier then replied on bejgflf of the ,|Uintf*. i~ *^p~-*• ssoXg au houif. He riaVjrd <b» Mfeuoee set up. and said that after tearing the whole defence the thought wbierHnmt ooour to the minds of the auditor* was that beet eipreseed by iba old sdage, " A mountain wa* in labbnr, and brought forth a mouse." Ow the legat pointe he gushed aueserMa authorities, and analysed the end*noe given, contending that it wae overwhfltningty in favour of the plaintift. . He then entered into elaborate oakulatione to show the amount of damages to which the plaintiffs were entitled, and concluded by adjuring Max Court to give sneb a judgment as should net merely compensate the plaintiffs for the minimum loss through tha lawless acta of th* defendants, but a Judgment that would convince sit woo were inclined to act aathe defendaat* had done " that the wav of the way of the tranegresear is hard," and that those who go outside the lev, aod* eeek by nefarious means to possess tfcemeelves of the properties of others toast In the long run meet with dlee*I tsir. and have to pay a penalty aa In this case, both hw and justice alike imperatively demanded. Tha Court at the conclusion of Mr. Napier's sddreat (Kbt3S) intimated that lodgment would he delivered on May as. at ten a.m. On May J* the Court gave a unanimona judgment in favour of the pWntMs for the sum of £41,376 and oncte. and a judgment m favour of frank Cornwall for .»«»••»• Mob of of the lands in Schedule B: of the etatement of claim (those betegthe Isnde not sued for in the former action). Mr. OtinpW! thjn gtve, notioe of appeal. Mr. Napier asked so allow elocution on the judgment tobe stayed unless the defend. reared by Article llfc and also gave sneurihr I under Article 11*. and la ah» aske* that «M nweaedmtu oa appeal to •tayed uatfl the desWaass paid ell

tli* tetter portteaf th» •ppllwdon, eoatondhur&lltwnld U whir to oomMl tk> dttaUata to p*y «Mto until tht MBtal «M bMM. Mr. N.«fcr rapM, nd £• Obvri nM that Jfr. Napiw* Mtioa w» rtMita«Kb, tad vmU It* gfutod. Tfc* Oonrt tb#n fO*S. Wtlfantttoftomtoof tktetok) on tathrtte will pmtaty amount to ~ ■boat «8000.