AFFAIRS IN SAMOA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 208, 7 October 1909, Page 3

AFFAIRS IN SAMOA.

STOREKEEPERS' AT BAY. POLICEMEN'S EXCITING EXPERIENCES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The policeman's lot in Samoa is not a happy one. The following is publish.d in the German paper at Apia, which arrived by the Tofua to-day:—"Sensa-tional events have recently occurred at Messrs Schmidt Bros.' Avele plantatio 1. A short time ago. the Schmidt Bro-\ were served with a summons for a trivial matter. , They took the paper and tore it in halves before the Samoan policeman who brought it, and abused him. A second (summons was sent by a Chinese policeman, and the Schmidts threshed him with sticks so srver-ly that he arrived back at Apia covered with blood, and had to go to the hospital. Police-Assistant -Possin was entrusted with the serving of a third summons. When this officer arrived at the verandah of the Schmidts' house, fie elder brother, who was Armed with a treble-barrelled gun, ordered him off the premises, and fired. Possin escaped being hit by ducking quickly. In ths meantime, the younger Schmidt appeared on the verandah armed with two revolvers, and whilst tine police officr was beating a retreat under cover as much as possible, several more shot}, eight altogether, were fired at hiin. Fortunately none of them took effect. 'We Injur," continues t3ie paper, "that it is intended to surround the house. ■Hunger and thirst would soon settle the matter in a peaceable manner and prevent calamity and crime."