SAMOAN AFFAIRS. Visit of H.M.S. Miranda.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 93, 14 March 1885, Page 3

SAMOAN AFFAIRS. Visit of H.M.S. Miranda.

The last mail from Fiji brought information of the arrival of H. M.S. Miranda there, after a visit to Samoa, but no particulars were furnished. The Miranda returned to Sydney on February 26th. The following are the particulars of her cruise :— She left Sydney on the 13th of January, at daylight, and proceeded under steam for Samoa, which was reached on the 4th instant. The German gun vessel Albatross was in Apia when the Miranda arrived, and the island was in a state of great excitement owing to an intrigue which, it was alleged, had been set afoot by the Germans for the depos tion of King Malietoa, and the raising to the throne of a chief known to be amenable to their influence. The rebels, who were found to bearery small minority, with little or no influence amongst the people, were openly enoouraged l>y the Germans, who had actually gone so far as to land a body of men from the Albatross [ and turn the king out of his house, which I they then took possession of, and hoisted the' German flagover it. When the Miranda arrived, the flag, still flying, was guarded by armed blue-jackete, afid Malietoa had taken up his quarters at a considerable distance from his former "place." The natives generally strongly resented this act, and expressed themselves as antagonistic to the Germans, whose usurpation of authority over the island they altogether objected to. Whilst the Miranda vas lying in Apia harbour, a striking instance, at once of the popularity among the natives of the British flag and the disfavour with which the German colours were viewed by them, was shown. The natives crowded on board the Miranda daily with all sorts of "trade," such as oranges, bananas, limes, and other fruits, &c, while not a solitary canoe was seen alongpide the Albatross, the natives fight" ing shy of her. The arrival of the Miranda acted as a sort of check on the blusterings of the rebels, who kept themselves particularly quiet during her stay at Apia. As the Miranda's orders did not permit of her interfering in the dispute between the islanders and the Germans, she left Apia on the 12th instant and proceeded to Suva, Fiji, in order to coal and see whether there were any fresh orders for her at that place. She arrived at Suva on the 16th at daylight, coaled, and as there were no freph orders, started for Sydney in the afternoon of the same day.