SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1885, 30 April 1889, Page 3

SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

London, April 25.

Sir E. Baldwin Malet, British Ambassador at Berlin, and Messrs J. Crown, 0.8., and Charles Stuart Scott, C.B;, will represent England at the Samoan Conference.

New York, April 25

Mr Bates, one of the United States delegates to the Samoan Conference at Berlin, contributes an article to the May number of The Century magazine, in which he expresses strong anti-German tendencies in respect to Samoan affairs. He criticises the German policy in the severest terms, and warns England to be on her guard. Auckland, April 26.

The steamer Mawhera arrived from Tonga and Samoa to-day, bringing advices from Apia to the 17th instant. Political matters are quiet, and everybody is awaiting the result of the Berlin Conference. Mataafa is in Apia. His men assisted to float the German ship Olga, although the proclamation of war against him had not been withdrawn. Business in Apia was very brisk. This is consequent on the large expenditure of the American sailors. Supplies of all kinds were plentiful, and the Mawhera, Richmond, and other vessels due would prevent any scarcity. The harbor of Apia shows numerous traces of the effects of the hurricane. On the reef the Adler is lying on her broadside, with her decks towards the shore, bhe is not seriously damaged, and could be floated off if the necessary appliances were at hand. The U.S. ships Trenton and V-mdalia are lying side by side as they sank, and there is no chance of floating either of them. With the assistance of a diving dress lent from H.M.S. Calliope, the majority of the guns and stores were brought up from these vessels, The remains of the Eber are scattered about, the larger portion being under the reef where she sank. Very few bodies have come ashore, and the native divers say that a great many are entangled in the wreck. They have declined to work in recovering the bodies of those lost in the Eber, ns they assert that the locality of the wreck is infested with sharks. The flipsio was successfully floated, and will be sent to Auckland. H.M.S. Raven arrived at Apia via Fiji on Monday, April 15th The American sailors from the wrecked warships are quartered on shore anxiously waiting for vessels to take them to America, Diarrhoea and dysentery were becoming prevalent at the time of the Mawhera’s departure, and about seventy men wore id from these, causes. April 20.

The Star correspondent at Apia writes stating that very disquieting minors are afloat to (he effect (bat a large German force will arrive there in a fortnight or three weeks to renew hostilities against Mataafa. It is generally believed that, despite the Conference, Germany is determined to wreak a bloody revenge on Mataafa for the death of German officers and men at the close of last year. Mataafa is evidently on the alert, for the warriors who had returned to their homes in Savn have been summoned. In view of these rumors the non-withdrawal of the declaration of Germany has a deep and sinister significance. The appointment of Herr oteubal is regarded as an indication that Germany intends to resume the high-handed and violent conduct which created such consternation some time ago. Only a small German fores is left behind, and as the declaration of war against Mataafa has not been withdrawn, that chief might if he chose make matters very awkward for tlio Germans here, end be strictly within his lights as a boiligeront. However, it is morally certain lie will return good for evil. The total German force is 70 marines , and four officers.