SAMOAN NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2597, 5 March 1889, Page 2

SAMOAN NEWS.

(f'EH MAIL STEAMKK.)

Samoan' news by the mail steamer shows the position to bo unchanged. In war matters there is little or nothing to chronicle. The German war ships in the harbour have abandoned the practice of intercepting native boats, and no hostile movement whatever has been made by them ngainst Mataafa since the arrival of the Wainui on 23rd January last. Several visits of the German Consul to Mataafa's camp have taken place, when the Consul submitted to some of Mataafa's chiefs proposals for concluding the war. It is generally understood that one of the conditions submitted bv the German Consul was the disarming of Mataafa's forces. Mataafa did not see the Consul himself, and when his chiefs explained flu's condition to hitn, ho declined to accede to it. Some arrangement has been come to between the Consul and Mataafa that no acthm on either side will take place untii further advices have been received, Mataafa promising to do his best to prevent any raid on the German plantations by his people. On Sunday, the 10th, during a northeast gale, the schooner Matau, belonging to lingo and Co., parted her cable, was driven on a reef, and became a total wreck. The gale blew on Ihe 14'h with great severity, and caused the total wreck of the American barque Constitution, The schooner Tamaseso drifted ashore. The German war ship Hear, which arrived on the 20th from Auckland, dragged her anchor, and drifted dangerously near the reef, hut was assisted by the Alga, and steamed out of danger.