Per s.s. Wainui. (From the Samoan "Times," September 7th.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 404, 21 September 1889, Page 5

Per s.s. Wainui. (From the Samoan "Times," September 7th.)

We hear bhab it is the intention of Malietoa and Mataafa to change their headquarters to Manono for a few months until the result of the conference is forwarded to Samoa. The most friendly feeling exists between Mnlaafa and Malietoa, and, from what we can learn, each seems to desire the other to assume the greater honour of kingship. This we believe to be the case, and if bhev are left to themselves the matter of the future ruler of Samoa will be easily settled. We are informed that Dr. Steubel, H.LO.M.'s Consul in Samoa, has acquainted Tamasese and his chiefs that they must not continue to depend on German support any longer. Dr. Steubel also stated that his nation was most friendly to Tamasese, but Germany had made arrangements with other Great Powers which debarred Germany from* supporting any one particular party in Samoa. If our information is correct this is a commendable 6tep of Dr. Steubel's, and, with the exception of our difference of opinion with reference to the punishment of the labour boy Moe, we must admit that Dr. Steubel's conduct since his arrival here, as tar as we have become acquainted, has been exercised to prevent further troubles. On Sunday morning Malietoa attended divine service at the London Missionary Society's Church. He was accompanied by some of his chiefs and a guard of fourteen men. After service he was conducted in the same manner to his home. In the evening Mataafa, who is a member of the Roman Catholic faith, attended divine service at the Marist Church, also accompanied by some chiefs and the same guard who attended Malietoa in the morning. Mr Forrest, manager for D. S. Parker, has received and accepted an appointment from Messrs Donald and Edenborough as their manager in Rarotonga, and left last Wednesday evening by the s.s. Richmond. Mr Forrest has been only a few months in Apia, and few gentlemen, if any, have gained such a number of friends in so short a time. By the s.s. Richmond, which arrived on Tuesday morning, Captain Bosanquet received despatches which hastened the departure of H.M.s. Opal. The Opal sailed next day for Sydney. Nearly every day we hear of native drunken brawls in and around Apia. Mataafa's police, although fairly diligent, ai - e powerless to prevent the natives from procuring intoxicating drink, when facilities are thrown in their ' way such as are now frequently practised by the cunning contrivances of some of our foreign residents, who engage in this nefarious trade in preference to more honourable employment, on account of the enormous' profits attending it.