SAMOA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2471, 2 March 1893, Page 4

SAMOA.

Mr R. L. Stevenson, tho distinguished novelist arrived in Auckland by the San Fr-meisco mail and was interviewed by a Herald reporter with regard to the condition of Samoa. He said—" I think Samoa in an excellent placo to liva in, aud lam delighted with it. I have lived there some years now, and I find the climate suits me."

" Your island has been rather pro minently bofore the world lately. What do you think of tho political outlook in Samoa ! "

" Well, if certain officials down there are to continue to rule and to exercise thsir powers as they have done lately, life to a British resident in Samoa will _;oou cease to be worth living." Mr Stevenson here produced "a regulation for the maintenance of peace and order in Samoa," promulgated by the authority of Mr J. 15. Thurston the Bigh Commissioner, aud said he would like to have the greatest possible publicity given to it. This regulation provides penalties for the sedition towards tho Government of Samoa, and sedition is declared to be all practices whether by word or deed or writing having for their object to bring about in Samoa discontent or dissatisfaction, public disturbance, civil war, hatred or contempt towards the King or Government of Samoa, or the laws or constitution of the country, aud generally to promote public disorder in Samoa. Mr Stevenson continued :—" I have reasons more than one for believing that this regulation was mainly directed against me. The Deputy Commissioner sent me a copy, and my whole anxiety is to make it public. The document is an historical curiosity, and is one of the most extraordinary regulations in the form of British law which this country has produced. The definition of sedition is unique in its way. It is seditious to say a word likely to tend to bring about discontent or dissatisfaction with the existing state of affairs. Why, it means that there shall be no such thing as criticism of public affairs, and how would your newspapers like that I However, to be frank, I do not think it was intended to apply to the press, though at any time it may be so applied. It is one of the curious expedients of the High Commissioner, and if many like it follow, life at Samoa would become unbearable. Sir John Thurston must have been misinformed as to the need of such an arrangement. What Samoa really wants is to get rid of the two leading white officials—that is, the Chief Justice and the President of the Council."

" Is the removal of these gentlemen likely to be brought about f" " I can only say that the German White Book made i quite certain that they ought to be removed for in that volume all my statements and charges were found to be correct ?"

" But what about the native quarrel ?" "As to that we may differ among ourselves as to the best method of quieting it, but, with the exception of only one white man, and he not a British subject, all have the same purpose in view," "Do you consider the difficulty to be in a fair way to be settled ?" " Supposing we were supplied with ordinarily honest and capable successors to the two officials mentioned, I think myself that the trouble would soon be set at rest. There are, however, reports that the three Powers will proceed to disarm the natives. This I hear with a good deal of trouble, for such seems to me to be running an unnecessary risk, whereas the thing might be done gradually by regulating the sale of arms to the natives. With a little dexterity the two opposing parties might be reconciled, and for a time at least we might have peace in Samoa, without the cost of a sixpence and without any risk."