REVIEW OF THE SITUATION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 304, 3 October 1888, Page 3

REVIEW OF THE SITUATION.

Matafa, who has been proclaimed King of Samoa by the Malietoa party, and who,, according to our cablegrams, appears to b6 it warrior, of ebnsiderable ~ prowess,, '„ is a nephew of the deposed King Maliefcoa. Malietoa is now understood to be on board a French mail' steamer on the way out from Germany to Sydney, and en route for Apia. What may be the motive of the German Govern- , ment in this change of front, it is difficult to imagine. One theory put forward is that the German authoi-ities, -after having; deposed King Malietoa, ,and set up Tamasese in his stead, discovered that the Malietoa party was really far more powerful than they at first supposed, that .it was in fact perhaps twice as strong as the party serving under the chief Tamasese. Tamasese is spoken of as a base-born chief, and the Sainoans are very keen on the su,b : ject of being ruled by- blue blood. -They have therefore resisted tho severest compulsion which has been ejcercised ' with the view of forcing them to adopt' Tamasese as their King. Their legitimate ruler, King Malietoa, having been forcibly deposed, they have appointed in his stead his nephew Matafa. Advices received by the last mail from Samoa stated that the followers of Malietoa were •fully ' determined to drive out Tama*sese. .The latest information about the acfion of the Germans at Samoa was that ' they had -landed troops at Muliniu Point, the old native capital, and that is where Tarnasesp has now taken refuge from tHe'on- i -slaught of the- warlike chief Matafa. This stalje of affairs has probably been brought about in ignorance of the fact* that Malietoa was on~his"way/back from Germany. " ' The schooner Vindex, whose ciaptain is .reported as killed by, a stray' ballet, left Auckland -about 12 months ago,.and.Captain. Bissetfr was not then _in Tcharge. 1 J.'lt isl presumed r however, 'rtha'theMs a\ captain 6i the same, name who has visited this^pOrt on.. , one or Wo occasion 1 , but who" is not very well known; here. s '<" <C ',>' - : '