MEETING AT MULINUU.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 100, 30 August 1879, Page 2

MEETING AT MULINUU.

On Tuesday afternoon last, at the request of Malieloa.i Sir A. H. Gordon, G.C.M.G., H.B.M. High Commissioner for Western Polynesia, and Governor of Fiji, accompanied by Captain ivnollys, C.M.G., A.D.C.,and other members of his Excellency's staff, A. P, Maudslay, Esq., Acting British Consul-General, for Polysia, Th. Weber, Esq., Imperial German Consul, T. 11. Dawson, United States Consul, J. H.Graves, Esq.,HJJ.M.Consul, and the captains and officers of the various ships of war in harbour, met Malietoa and his followers at Muliuuu. As soon as all those who were invited had taken their seats

Malietoa said he thanked God that lie had allowed Sir Arthur Gordon and other gentlemen to meet him at Muliuuu that day. He felt very thankful to the High Commissioner for coining to Muliuuu to see him, and hoped that this meeting would he the commencement of a new era for Samoa. He thanked the various Consuls, and Captains of ships of war now in harbour for their presenco at Mulinuu on that day, ami hoped that that meeting would result in measures being brought about for the good of all Samoa. Sir Arthur Gordon thanked Malietoa for the cordiality of his reception, and said that he had been commissioned by the Queen of England to enter into a treaty with Samoa of a similar character with those which Samoa had already conoluded with the United States anil with Germany, in order that the friendship and good will of her Majesty towards Samoa might bo finally recognised, and that any dispute which might arise between British subjects and Samoans might in future he the more easily dealt with.

Upon Arriving hore lie hud found Unit those chief* who, when lie was lout here, were in possession of Mulinuu, and claimed to rulo tlio statu, hiul aljandouwi the seat of Uovornmeut, of which his Majesty had for some months held peaceable and tindisturbed possession. lie hud consulted the resident official representatives of foreign, nations and received from them an niiuiiliu nr. opinion tlul his Majestv'ii authority, although Dot undi>put( d, \i.i. i■utliriently established to entitle him to the position of a do facto ruler. It was therefore to Malietoa, as the head and representative ui the tiuinoan .State that

hail to address the request that he would appoint plenipotentiaries to meet those apiHjinted by the Queen for the discussion aud arrangeihenfof the term of the proposed treaty. When that treaty was concluded his Excellency would probably, before leaving Samoa, Venture to offer some advice to Malietoa as to the discharge of the onerous duties he had assumed. He would not now enter into detain), but would confine himself to tho I enunciation of three principles, which, in ; his opinion, Malietoa would do well to keep before him as guides of his couduct. Ist. That in dealing with representative! 01 foreign states he should communicate as far as possible jointly, rather than : separately, and that they, on their part, would no doubt, whenever practicable, also communicate with him as one Ikxlv. Much tvil had been wrought in times past by isolated action on both sides ; bywant of unanimity among the foreign representatives, anil by offorts on the part jof the Samoon authorities to set. one ! power against another to excite petty jealousies on the part of foreign agents, and thus avoid the settlement of matters of common interest to all. Of course in some cases, where matters affecting the subjects of one nntion only were in discussion, individual representations would still have to be made, but as a rule the Consuls would communicate with him as a body, having in view the common, ami in most cases, identical interests of all foreign nations, and the welfare of the Samoan state. His Excellency advised -Malietoa to act in tho same manner, to communicate his views to, and ask advice from, the Consuls jointly, avoiding individual preferences, and being on his guard against, irresponsible adventurers, who had no mission from their Governments, aud sought only their own profit and aggrandizement. 2nd. That he should adopt a policy of much moderation and forbearance towards those who had been opposed to him, ever keeping in remembrance that they were fellowcountrymen, and that "it would be far more creditable to him to settle such difficulties in a peacable manner than by using harshness. 3rd. To keep always in remembrance that whil t it was iio doubt-right that the obligations of Samoa to foreign states should be discharged with rigorous exactitude, ami that tho interests of foreign residents should lx- kindly and favourably considered, yot that his chief ami highest duty was, not to foreigners, but to Samoa, and the Samonns. It was the welfare of his own people that he was bound in the first place to consider. It was in order that he might guide and care for them that he was placed by God in his present position, and it was for the manner in which he had used it for bis people's good that he would one day have to give an account. He would ill fulfil his part if, out of a desire to please foreigner*, be impoverished or injured his own people and made ihem strangers in their own land. The only wish of the Queen of Eugland with regard to Samoa is that it should be happy and prosperous under its own Government, and that that Government should be a wise and just one, acting in a manner intelligible to- the people, and leading them little by littlu m tlie way of progress, not adopting in name whole systems of administration unfamiliar and unintelligible to them, and machinery which they could not work or apply,'but making use of existing institutions and recognising oxisting habits and ideas, whilst bent on their improvement .So long as Malietoa's Government was conducted on these principles so long would it enjoy the countenance, approval, and moral support of the Queen of England. Malietoa, in reply, thanked his Excellency for the kind and encouraging words he had spoken, and said that ho would endeavour to act up to tho advice of the High Commissioner, aud that he was willing to carry out everything that his Excellency or the representatives of the foreign nations would suggest for the welfare of Samoa. He said that they hail already discussed the question of "a treaty with England and that Saga and Malietoa Laupepe had been appointed the plenipotentiaries to treat with the gentlemen appointed by England to make a treaty. In conclusion he wished to inform the High Commissioner and other gentlemen that they bad held a meeting for the purposo of discussing about thenflag. The matter had been left till the return of Mr. Weber, Consul for Geimany, who had been 'aw-ay"oTTa short cruise, and that they had resolved to go back to the old flag which had beou used by Samoa in former days. Saga (Taiinua from Aana) said that they had listened with pleasure to the good words spoken by the High ('ommissiouur to Malietoa; that they were glad to welcome his Excellency, and that they would willingly endeavour to carryout all that his Excellency had said to them.

This conoluded the speech-making. The company were then invited to partake of ava and dinner which hail been prepared in the native style.