SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1292, 20 January 1885, Page 3

SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

The following is a copy of the letter from the King and chiefs of Samoa to the Governor and Ministry of New Zealand : To their Excellencies the Governor and the Chief Assistant .Rulers of New Zealand. Your Excellencies, —We are KiDg and Chiefs of Samoa. We write to you to make known our prayer and entreaty to Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, that the rule of Her Majesty should extend over our islands, and that it should be entirely at the disposal of Her Majesty's Governmsnt whether they should form a separate colony to be connected with your Government in New Zealand. Our King wrote nearly a year ago offering the sovereignty of these islands to Her Majesty the Queen and the Government of Great Britain, and we have been very anxious for an answer, but no answer has yet reached us. We therefore send this entreaty to you in order that you may forward it to Her Majesty the Queen and Government of Great Britain. We earnestly beg that you will liiten to our prayer, and render us all possible assistance, for our fear is great on account of the information we hayereceived that our islands are about to be seized by Germany. We greatly love and respect the Government of Great Britain, which acts justly and protects well the people who are under its rule. We do not want any other Government to take possession of our country. We pray and ask your Excellencies to make known our petition by telognph to the Queen and Government of Great Britain. We rely on Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain to take means to prevent Germany taking possession of our islands against the wish of ourselves and our people. We trust, your Excellencit'f, by your aid and your entreaiy to Her Majesty the Queen, wi'l bring to pass the setting up of Her Majesty's sovereignty in Samoa. May your Excellencies live long. We are, (Signed) Malietoa, King, Ttjpua, Vice-King, and 52 chiefs. Copy of the petition to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, from the King and Chiefs of Samoa : To Hei Majesty Queen Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. Your Majesty,—We a»e the King and Chiefs of Samoa who write to Your Majesty to pray and entreat you to receive our requests. It is now nearly a year ago since our King wrote to give over to Your Majesty the sovereignty of Samoa. We have been very anxiously waiting for au answer, but na answer has been received. Your Majesty, great is our regard for your Government. We know well our neople will be protected, and we shall 'have pence under your rule, therefore we entreat Your Majesty that our anxiety may be relieved, which arises from our earnest desire that Samoa may be given to your Government. It is entirely at the disposal of Your Maj sty as to whether it is better for us to become an English colony or to be connected with the Government of New Zealand. Your Majesty, our hearts are grieved aud our fear is very great indeed with

regard to other Governments who desire to take possession of our country, which is not according to our wish. We therefore hope Your Majesty will ppoedily come to our assistance and act in accordance with the sentiments expressed in our request. We wish to make it clearly understood to Your Majesty—as the King and Chiefs of Samoa—that wo give over our country to the rule of the Government of Great Britain, and we rely on the Government of Your Majesty to protect our people. We hope and pray to God that Your Majesty and your Government may pro-sper.--(Signed) Mauetoa, King ; Ttjpua, Vice-King ; and 52 Chiefs. Copy of a letter from the King of Samoa to the Queen explaining why ho signed the German-Samoan agreement after sending numerous petitions for annexation : To Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. Your Majesty, —This is to make known to Your Majesty that wo, the King and chiefs of these Islands, have sent a petition to Your Majesty, praying that you would set up your Government in Samoa. We have sent that petition to the Governor of NW Zealand, and have besought him to send a telegram to Your Majesty that he has received our petition. We have informed Your Majesty that painful anxiety hag taken possession of our minds, because we are much afraid of the German lest ho should take our Islands against our will. Your Majesty, —We are in distress on account of the Government of Germany lest they should take our Islands, therefore wo have accepted another agreement with Germany. I wish to make clear to Your Majesty that for that reason I have accepted the agreement against my own wiil and likewise against the will of my Government, but I havo done it on account of my fear, and I thought should your Government be set up in these Islands that agreement would have no effect. I have entreated the British Consul here to make clear to Your Majesty and the Government of Great Britain our great desire to give our Islands to the Government of Your Majesty, I respect extremely the Government of Your Majesty, and trust that speedily you will favorably receive our petition.—(Signed) Malietoa, King of Samoa.