ANNEXATION OF SAMOA. German Flag Hoisted at Apia.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 89, 14 February 1885, Page 3

ANNEXATION OF SAMOA. German Flag Hoisted at Apia.

Deputation of Chiefs to New Zealand. By the anivai of the mail steamer City of Sydney we are placed in possession of fuller and lator details of what ha« been transpiring in Samoa. From our own correspondent's letter dated 26th January, and other sources, we obtain the following narrative of events :-—The German nian-o'-war Albatross has been lying at Apia, on the island ot Upolu, and under its approvul and protection the German flag was, on the 23rd January, hoisted there by the Consul, Dr. Stiibol. At the samo time ho issued the following

Proclamation. "Be it known unto all Samoans that for a long time past the Government of Ktng Malietoa has done that which produces bad feeling and disrespect t' wards the German Government, and has repeatedly broken rhe agreement between the German and Samoan Governments. On thia account I have thought tit to take steps for tho protection of the persons and property of Germans, and consider it pvopei to take possession of (jaamau) the town and district of Apia, in which arc Malinuu and the harbour ot Apia, and to hold them as by the authority of tho Government of Malietoa and the German Government, in proof of v hich the flag of the Emperor of Germany has been hoisted at Malinuu ; and to declare that the German Government only has at this time authority in the places before montkh.ed. Samoans, I state distinctly to you that only the land called the Elecle Sa (neutral territory) has been taken possession of, and that no other part of Samoa has been taken possession ot ; and it is well for you to know that what has been done has not been done in unkindness to Samoa. The German Government is desirous that the Samoan Government should be strong, and continue iriendly towards the German Government. After the present difficulties h'tvo been removed, the land at present taken possession ot will be given up again {tatalaina). I request you not to be anxious, but to put confidence in the German Government, and in me, in which case Samoa will prosper. (Signed) Dr. Stubkl, German Consul-General, 23rd January, 1885." ') he proclamation is made in tho Samoan language only, and the abovo is a translation giving the substantial purport of tha extraordinary document. It is considered at Apia that the German Consul has violated the rules of the municipality, and the English and American consuls at onco is sued the following protest, and had it posted all over the town : — " We, the Consuls of the United States and Great Britain, do hereby make known that we will insist upon the rights of the Convention being obsorved, and doprecate force being used. (Signed) T. Casisius, United States Consul. \V. Churchward, Consul for Great Britain." Our correspondent says : " From these proceedings there is likely to be a lively time at the meeting on Friday of the municipality, and the end will be that the Germans will withdraw the German consul from the municipality. The Germans here are doing all in their power to dethrone the king, and dispute the power of the chiefs. From an interview I had with Swemon, the governor of the island of I'polu, and a number of other chiefs, they said they intend to go to Auckland in the schooner Fleetwing with Mr J. Lundon to see the Governor of New Zealand. Whether they will carry out that intention or not I am not in a position to say, but there is some likelihood of their going to Auckland. The Fleeting will leave here for Auckland in about 14 or 10 days from the 26th of January. At the date of writing, it wbb believod in Apia that the Germans intended to take similar =*tops to the above at Tonga, the object being to intimidato tho natives and pave the way for annexation to Germany. The effect at Samoa, however, will be to drive them to seek British protection, and it was expected that the native Parliament and King would sign a petition to the Government of Now Zealand praying for annexation to this colony."

Wellington, February 9. It is rumoured in political circles that as an outcome of the recent Anglo German negotiations on the subject of annexation in the Western Pacific, England would be willing and is a little anxious that Germany should give up her vested interests in Mew Guinea, and take the supremacy at Samoa. Some of the Australian colonies', no doubt, would gladly accede to such an arrangement ; but others, among which New Zealand is of course included, looking upon New Guinea as a white elephant compared with other groups, are strongly inclined to resent any such arrangement. Communications are passing between the several '-.overnments on the subject, and it is likely they will combine to formally protest against such an agreement being entered into. The New Zealand Government have already taken action in this direction, and through the Agent-General have entered a protest against any steps being taken in the indicated,