THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1880.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 136, 8 May 1880, Page 2

THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1880.

Mrsicri'.M. OuiitT.—During tho past week the following cases wore '<lis]insod in Hiis Court: —Tauese for amusing himself by brutally assaulting 'his bcttcr- !' 'K, was ordered (n spend bis Riiperfllions icrgy for fourteen days on the roads.— inte, for absconding from a vessel on Kird wbiob ho was employed as a snilor is fined 8-s.oo.—The R. C. .Mission for ■wing u borse stmv on neighbouring ■ rty was fined s3.ftP. ■ .rnu!i\xcK at IVbi.Kpa.—-On AVod- ■ \:-.\ a omuifdoiußle amount of excite■v 'vas caused in town by the news . disturbance which liad oeeiirrcd ..„a morning in the villairo of I.elepn, oloso to the residence of Mr. J. M, Coe, Ivro Tapitneniis hnd been nearly killed. <>n nutkirtf: inquiry wo found th.it trio report hnd been'much exaggerated, still it is'evident that the disturbance for a short, time assumed a very serious aspect. So far as we can learn, tho trouble arose lirnugh an attempt to carry out a tietisiou given in the Aniericnn ('onsiilar ■ 'lit a short time ago regarding a ion of land situated in Lelepa, thitt ol being claimed by Mr. J. M. Coe . it occupied, un till Wednesday morning by natives. Mr. (,'oe, who holds what he considers a good title to the land in iquefttiou, warned tlia natives peroral tl'Uvti Hi ijnit, lid without the desired

effect. ITo "then had recourse to the American Consular Court, and bad there a decision in his favour, the natives being ordered to remove their houses within ten days from the dato of judgment. This they failed to do, and Mr. Coo proceeded on Wednesday morning, with the assistance of some imported labourers, to : remove the houses. The labourers were cautioned to withdraw if any show of | resisteuce or violence were made by the j Samoans, Mr. Coe being anxious to avoid n collision ii possible. No sooner had the Tapitueans made a start to remove the obnoxious .structures than the Samoans gathered in considerable numbers and ordered the intruders to desist. This' the Tapitueans did, but whilst they j wore retiring the Samoans threw a ' volley of stones, severely injuring two I of the labourers. Word of the disturbance having reached Mr. Dawson, ' American Consul, in this place, that '. gentleman proceeded to the s-jene of | action, and in the face of an excited | mob of Samoans, well armed, hoisted the American flag over the disputed | land, informing the assembled crowd j that if they dared to remove the emblem of his nation speedy and severe punish- j ment would bo inflicted on them. We ! are glad to learn that Mr. Dawson's I determined attitude somewhat quelled j the unruly spirits, and yesterday the j leaders of the disturbance expressed I their regret at what had happened. ; After the commotion had somewhat! subsided summonses were issued by ! the Municipal Magistrate to the principal actors in the affray, calling on them to appear before the Municipal Court and answer to a charge of a breach of the peace and assault. The offenders, however, failed to answer the summons, and as the police force is too small to pope with an armed mob, no further, . steps W"re taken. Mow that wo have a • war-ship in harbour steps might be taken to bring the rioters to justice.