SAMOAN AFFAIRS. Berlin, May 6.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 367, 11 May 1889, Page 4

SAMOAN AFFAIRS. Berlin, May 6.

The sub-committee appointed by the Samoan Conference has agreed upon a basis of settlement, and it is hoped the Conference will terminate in a week. The ex-German Consul, Dr, Knappe, in his published despatches attacks the Ameiican sailors, and asserts that Mataafa ordered his followers to abstain from rescuing Germans during the disastious storm in March. The Samoan Conference held its second meeting on Saturday, and received the report of the sub-committee appointed to consider the land question. It is understood the report was considered satisfactory, and another subcommittee was appointed to consider the future form of government of the Islands. It is expected the Samoans will be asked to elect their own King, but it is anticipated the question of the foieign control of this ruleu will be likely to raise considerable difficulty. The Conference is discussing the question of kingship, with a guarantee of orderly government in Samoa. A Land Commission is to be appointed.

Makoare. the Maori charged with the murder of Kobert Uollan at Mahia, is the owner of 2,000 sheep and a number of cattle, which he has been running on- a block of 8,000 acres of land, some freehold and the reat subject to the interests in ifc of other natives. On his journey down in the boat from Mahia to Napier he was greatly exorcised -over the problem of whom he should leave the sheep to, talking quite freely on the subject. .His final resolution was—" Well, never mind, I won't leave them to anybody yet. I will wait till the Court is over, and if I lose I shall then make up my mind who will havq the sheep."