ARRIVAL OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER OF WESTERN POLYNESIA.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 20, 16 February 1878, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER OF WESTERN POLYNESIA.

Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon, Governor of Fiji, and High Commissioner of Western Polynesia, has at last arr'ved in our midst. This visit has been talked of for some considerable time, and it was expected that it would have taken place at the end of last month, but the hopes of those who were anxiously looking out for the distinguished visitor were not realised until last Sunday morning. Hope was just beginning to give place to doubt when a steamer was sighted making for our port, and a further look through the telescope discovered the Governors flag flying, which created some little excitement. Shortly after one o'olock the Sapphire let go her anchor. The Governor's suit consists of Arthur Gordon, C.M.G., Private Secretary, and Captain L. F. Knollys, C.M.G., Aide-de-camp. Chief Justice Gorrie, of Fiji, accompanies His Excellency as Judicial Commissioner. Mr. Home, Director of the Royal Botanio Garden, Mauritius, is also a passenger by the Sapphire, On Monday at 1 o'olock His Excellency made his OFFICIAL LANDING, the yards of the Sapphire being mamied, and the usual salute fired. Upon arriving at the house next to, and occupied by the proprietor of the Samoa Hotel, which His Excellency has secured as his temporary residence daring his stay here, he was met by several of the British subjects with the following address:—

"To His Excellency, The Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, K.C.M.G., Governor of Fiji, Her Majesty's Lord High Commissioner, and Consul General for Western Polynesia, &0., &a, &o. Your Excellency,—

" We, the British residents of Apia, beg to express the great pleasure which we feel in being permitted to welcome your Excellenoy to Samoa. " We have for some time been 'looking forward to your arrival trusting that through your Excellency's influence a better state of political affairs may be brought about, and anarchy and misrule give place to peace and a stable government.

" We deeply regretthatyour Excellency should -have arrived to find that Her Majesty's 'Consul had been removed by death from! our midst; but we feel tho more thankful that you have come, so that arrangements can be made to protect British Interests hem

" We beg to exprenit our fervent hopo that your Exccllonoy'n viuib to Samoa may be productive of very much good to both the \rJiito residents and tho natives,

and may be the commencement of an era , of peace and prosperity for Samoa; and that your Excellency may long enjoy health and prosperity is the prayer of “ Your Excellency's most

" horrible and obedient servants, " The British resident* of Apia."

His Excellency replied that should he ' he able to make his short stay here of any advantage either to the interests of the British residents in Samoa, or to those of the residents generally, it would more than repay him for having undertaken the expedition; that he shared the Xt expressed in the address as to the litous circumstances under which he had arrived here; but need hardly say that the removal by death of the resident agent of Her Brittanio Majesty’s Government would only be to him a fresh incentive to guard from injury the interests of Her Majesty’s subjects here. He had not been aware that it was intended to present him with an address, and he in consequence had prepared no reply. The gentlemen present would therefore he hoped excuse his doing more at present than simply thanking them for their welcome, and expressing hope that he might meet them frequently during the remainder of his stay. On Tuesday His Excellency had an interview with the Taimua and Faipule at which he delivered the following address:— “ I have come to give you the answer of Her Majesty the Queen to the petition you last year addressed to Her to take these islands under Her gracious firotection. The Queen is gratified to earn that in times of danger and difficulty you look to Her for help, and she is on Her part desirous to promote your welfare. But the vague proposal you have made is not such an one as she could seriously consider. It would be impossible for Her Majesty to accept the onerous responsibilities of protection without a corresponding right to direct the action and policy of those protected. Such a right it is manifestly not your intention or wish to confer, and under these conditions Her Majesty—(were she otherwise disposed to do so) would not act honestly by you in assuming a protectorate which must necessarily lead to an interference in your domestic affairs—if not an absolute direction of them—such as you do not desire or contemplate. Such a protectorate could only be accepted for selfish purposes and with a full knowledge of the fact—(which you do not perceive)—that it must tend to the entire and permanent transfer of the Government and destinies of Samoa to foreigners of the protecting nation. The Queen therefore declines to accept your offer, but I am directed to express Her grateful appreciation of the feelings which prompted it; and to assure you of Her solicitude for the stability and prosperity of the Samoan State. It is the Queen's desire that you should possess a strong and efficient government, one strong enough to keep order and maintain the authority of law among both Native Samoans and the Foreigners settled among you ; and one of such a nature as may be respected by’foreign states. Before I leave Samoa, I shall make you some suggestion towards effecting this object. Meanwhile, it will be well to take advantage of this opportunity to settle several pending questions. The late Consul of England has imposed on the Government ot the Samoan State several fines, and has intimated to you that pending their payment, the islands themselves are held pledged to Great Britain. It will be for you to show me whether any of these fines ought to be cither wholly or in part remitted, and for us mutually to arrange for the prompt discharge of the remainder. A number of Samoans of the party defeated in the late hostilities in this island, have, as you are aware, been permitted to encamp in the English Consul’s garden. I see no reason why so unusual a protection should be prolonged, and I shall bo ready to put an end to it, so soon as you have given me proof that the lives of these refugees will not be thereby endangered, that they will not be exposed to greater molestation or inconvenience than those who have obtained the intervention of the German Consulate, and that you possess the power to enforoe obedience and restrain violence. It hag been reported to me that a murder has been committed by Samoans on the person of a laborer employed by a British subject in Savaii. I have to request that this allegation may be at once investigated, and that, it it be found true, merited punishment may be inflicted. Her Majesty the Queen has made provisions, winch I will communicate to you, for (he better government of her own subjects in the Pacific, and for the establishment of Courts having jurisdiction over them. The arrangements for this purpose may be made more effective by an agreement with the Samoan State, into which I have no doubt I shall find yon willing to enter. It will also be requisite to make some arrangements which shall guarantee the security of life and property to foreign residents, and the maintenance of otoer and tranquillity throughout the land. As the Taimua and Faipule are teo numerous a body to negooisto with as a whole, I have to request that you will select some four or five of your number, ani empower them to discuss these matters with me, and enter into an agreement with respect to them. In conclusion, I beg to express my hearty satisfaction at being time enabled to return your visit to me in Fiji, and to nssure you of my earnest desire to aid and assist you in the difficult teak you have here to perform."