THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1885.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5033, 28 February 1885, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1885.

News received from Apia from the correspondent of an Auckland contemporary discloses not only the fact that a very unsatisfactory state of things exists in Samoa, but gives some information relative to what would appear to be somewbat unaccountable action on the part of the British Government in connection with Germany's action in Samoa: First of all 1 it appearg that a clause in a treaty arrived at between England, Germany, and America, providing that the Samoan flag was to bo hoisted over the place of meetings of the Municipal: Board, in recognition of-King Malietoa's sovereignty,- was violated by the German Consul refusing to allow it to be done. The next thing in the matter of wrong-doing has apparently been—if not the actual fomenting of a rebellion—the encouragement of a seditious movement made against royal authority by several chiefs antagonistic to the King. It is recorded 'that a German merchant, "is tho heart'-and soul of the movement, and that the German Consul is well aware of and connives at the fact." This is, it is conjectured, a species of retaliative action in connection with the expressed wish of King Malietoa and several loyal .chiefs that Samoa , should be annexed to New Zealand. The German Consul has all aloDg acted in a ! very high-handed and arrogant manner, 1 and it certainly seems that the- British and German Consuls are either powerless or disinclined to attempt to check him. It will be remembered that the New Zealand Government, subject to the approval of the Home authorities, intended to despatch the Hinetuoa to Samoa, with the intention of enabling tho petitioning chiefs ,to come to this colony and place their grievances before our Government, but this'-was prevented by the British Govern* raeotr-who decided to send one of their.

men-of-war to the scene. This has been, dons, but beyond making an appearance there—parhap3 to enable the commander to report-—nothing was done, and things remain in a somewhat chaotic state from a governmental point of view. This inertness on the part of Great Britain is very much on a par, wo regret to say, with much of her Government's policy lately, and it would certainly appear that! , the wish of Samoa for annexation to this [ colony, and New Zealand's willingness to take steps in such a direction, do not meet with the favor of the Home Cabinet. This is much to be regretted, not only from a New Zealand point of view, but also from Home considerations, as the amalgamation of closely identical interests coald not but be of benefit to England, as well as of commercial advantage to us, and of service to this troubled country wishing to join us. We can only hope for the return to that energetic policy which has in years gone by characterised 'England's action, and hope that with it this trouble will soon disappear.