SAMOAN NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1839, 12 January 1889, Page 2

SAMOAN NEWS.

The following interesting letter has been handed to us by a Temuka gentleman, who has received it from a friend who lives in Apia, the capital town of Samoa : “Apia, Samoa, Dec. 27th, 1888. “ When the usual mail closed for New Zealand the other day, we were in such a state of excitement that writing seemed out of the way, but fortunately there is a mail going out to-morrow by one of the men-of-war. Affairs have altered considerably of late. The Germans in their endeavors to assist their puppet king, Tamasese, have run up against the Malietoa party, and find that the rocks they knocked their heads against are a trifle hard. Some German troops were landed with some of Tamasese's men between Malietoa a stronghold and Apia. I presume their plan was to cut off all communication of Malietoa with the town. It was midnight. The Tamasese men commenced to build forts whilst the Germans formed a ring round them for protection. At daybreak some Malietoa men went to see what they were doiog, and two were shot down by the Germans, A fight took place. The Tamasese men fled. The Germans made a stand, but finding that they could not digest with ease the pillt the Malietoa men were doctoring them with, they had to run for it. The result was rather disastrous to the Germans, over fifty being killed and wounded whilst the Samoan Joss was about thirty killed and wounded. This victory for the natives has made things entirely j

worse for all Europeans. Emulated with success it was said that they were gcirg to swoop down on the town and burn down all German houses and kill all Germans. Of course it would be diflicult to make a distinction, and other foreigners would tumble in for it, but 1 have heard that if the Germans leave the Samoans alone they vt-ill not be molested. The real danger is with our German friends, who sesm to act without discretion. They commit outrages on the Samoans, and no mutter how forbearing the natives are, these acts are bound to arouse the innate savage feeling which for years has by the natives been buried. Threats are made by the Germans that they are going shall the town ; then we would tumble \a for it properly. At present Malietoi surrounds the town, and the Germans bold the harbor, so we ore in a state of Beige, unable to go’outside the boundaries of Apia. The natives, thinking that protection would be afforded them by coming into the neutral territory of Apia, brought all tbfcir boats, and they are drawn up in all parts of the town on the beach. Our German's game is'to destroy all these, and already they have commenced. Whilst dining in the Tivoli the other evening we were startled by the report of firearms, and looking up we saw ths Germans making for the town, and firing into the mouth of a small creek. This was out* rageous, we all thought the neutral territory was sacred, and for the treaty to be broken first by the Germans was thought impossible. Rat it was so. The danger is now that the Germans having refused to recognise the neutral territory any longer, bow can we expect the natives to respect it ? They were sold the other day. A boat was going towards one of the mon-of-war. Prepared for a big fight, boats were launched from & German war* ship nod gave chase. The Germans wercK. all armed. They caught the boat and / found some woman in it with the clothes of the officers. They bad been to the laundry, and were being, returned. It seems that they make a lot of blunders. They seized another boat and smashed it. It was that of an Englishman. Near the German firm are marines, they heard and saw some persons amongst the cocoanuts at the back. Firing by the marines commenced, and when all was over they found that they had shot two of their own black labor boys, mistaking them for Samoans. Samoans are entirely different, being well built and fair, whilst the labor boys are jet black, and small in stature, festerday we noticed an armed boat making as hard as it could across the water. They were chasing a canoe with three women in it. The women boat them and got up the river, where the Germans could no loagsr pursue them, ' We are really in a very awkward position now that the Germans take such steps, and there is some story about the whole of Samoa uniting should the Germans desire to annex. To do so will cause Germany to send out troops, and it will be years before they will put down the Samoans. The country is rough and covered with bush, and trained men are no good in the bush against natives. The Germans have done a great deal of shelling, but this the Samoans laugh, at. They do not mind their houses being burnt down, and as for destruction to the trees the natives say they do no harm but save them the of climbing the trees to get the nubs. Some of them think it capital fun, and in one case, where a shell struck the front of a house and caused it to fall, a chief remarked that it was a very good shot. They are very cool in fighting. I saw two men in the first fight in Apia rush behind two cocoanut palms. Just as they had done so a bullet struck one tree sod glanced off. The two men looked at each other and laughed, and appeared (0 think no more of it than it being a cl)se shave. We still have much work with the wounded, and they are all getting on well. They are a wonderfully healthy rr.ce, and recover quickly. Some are shot through and through, yet they live. I see it is very difficult to kill a man. “Dec. 28. “ Last night a meeting was held amongst the Britishers. It is rumored that the English man-of-war is going away. The captain does not look favorably upon us, and is at daggers drawn with the Consul. Probably by next boat you will hear that we have built forts in the town and all go about armed. If the Germans do as they like, and the English Government will not offer protection to us, we will protect ourselves. One thing we are short of arms and ammunition. I would be glad if you could send some—at least, one tor myself, and cartridges.” Auckland, Jan. H. It is reported that H.M.S. Rapid goes hence to Samoa to assist in the protection of British subjects and property.