SAMOA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1865, 14 March 1889, Page 4

SAMOA.

The following is an extract from a letter dated Feb. 11th, and received by a gentleman in Temuka from a friend living in Samoa : Apia is the centre of all business in Samoa and other islands, and is the only foreign town in tho group. It has a population of over 300 souls (foreigners). Of course there nro numerous natives. These consist of men. of all nationalities—G-ermans, Americans, hVench, Swedes, Danes, Chinese, Spanish, English, etc., etc.— all, in their desire to grasp the almighty dollor, literally speakmg, cutting each others' throats. The main dispute is between the Germans on one side and the English and Americans on the other. You, of course, have heard something about it in the news of the Soman trouble. The chief cause of the trouble is the "land." For some years the "Deutsche Han dels und Platagen Gesellschaffc de Siidsee Inselm," or otherwise the German trading firm, have been selling firearms and ammuuition to the natives. The strongest desire of a Samoan is to obtain a good rifle and several hundred rounds of cartridges, Altogether this would cost about 70dol. Before going further I must mention that Englishmen under the jurisdiction of Her Majesty's High Commission for the Western Pacific at Eiji are not permitted to deal in firearms. Americans are, but they sold little. This is one of the few instances where we are handicapped. The Samoan to obtain his rifle, etc., mortgaged his land to the Germans, and in a little while they had a sort of claim over two-thirds of the land in Samoa, and they even went so far as to claim nearly all of it, and sometimes so much that it would be necessary to reclaim about three miles of the ocean all round the island to satisfy the claims of all. The Samoan Government enacted a law that all mortgages, or any dealings with the land, had to be approved of by the king. King Malietoa, observing the grasping nature of the Germans, and the way in which they claimed lands which they had no right to, refused to approve of their claims. Now comes the trouble. The German firm is in a state of bankruptcy, and needed good titles to the lands to represent them as sound assets, but this could not be done without the signature of the king. They then went to work and encouraged a section of the people under Tamasese to rebel against Malietoa. This Tamasese, who is a low, unintelligent puppet, was by his people called king, against Malietoa To obtain German assistance against Malietoa, and with many promises from the Germans that he would soon be king over Samoa, he was willing to recognise all German land claims, and so this big firm began to feel better. In 1887 you probably heard of the German actions in Samoa, when with a fleet of four vessels they landed some hundreds of men suddenly one morning, and proclaimed war against Malietoa and then elected this rebel Tamasese king, and forced at the point of the bayonet all Samoans to acknowledge him. Malietoa to save his people from bloodshed bravely gave himself up to the German authorities, who deported him. The Samoans at that time had great fear of the white men, and considered them invincible and men that bullets would not harm, but now it is different. Eor twelve months Tamasese's government went on, but the people were oppressed and overruled, and at last revolted, which revolt is the cause of the present trouble. The Malietoa party elected Mataafa king, and styled him Malietoa 11. He, with conquest after conquest and many bloody battles, was showing to the world the result of German colonisation, when unfortunately the Germans, in assisting indirectly their puppet Tamasese, came in collision with some of Malietoa's men, when so many Germans met their fate. Since that time it was thought Germany would carry on war with the Samoans, and thus ruin the country with annexation. But fortunately we hear now that America is determined to preserve the independence of our island home. This is what we desire. We don't want annexation by any Power. .Nevertheless, we are in a state of anx ety still, and eagerly watch every dsy for the arrival of more American wars'lips. From the paper I send you you will notice the high-handed way in which the Germans have beeu acting in a contradictory proclamation to one from the British consul. This is only one. We have been threatened with death or deportation if we said or did anything against the Germans here, and our goods are all searched for contraband of war, and probably our letters are read, for in a pro • clamation intended to be issued by the Germane, but stopped for some reason or other, we were not permitted to write any news about the Germans whatever. The Samoans are a noble, finelooking race of people—of a fair copper-colored complexion, handsome figures, and large stature. They are kind and hospitable, and I feel content to remain with them for some years; but German aggression tend-) to arouse the innate savage feeling which for years has been buried.