The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-10
SAMOANS NOT CONTENT
THE MATAAFANS, 1T is SAID, WILL
ELECT A SUPREME CHIEF.
Attempt to Be Made to Upset the Rec
concentrations of the Tripartite
CommissiOn--SOuth Sea News.

VANCOUVER, Sept. S.-Advices from Sa-
moa are that pending the final decision Of
the three powers the Samoans are in a state
of uncertainty. The commission Informed
the Samoans before leaving that the Berlin
treaty is still in existence; so is the office of
chief justice. They had no power to alter
change these, and Chief Justice Cham
bers left of his own accord. They had no
control over him. The natives claim that if
the Berlin treaty is still in force, they will
have autonomy, and will proceed to elect a
supreme chief, avoiding the title of King.
1t is rumored that the Mataafa people are
proceeding on that presumption now: 1t is
stated that an attempt will be made to up
set the recommendation Of the commission.
The steamer Warimoo brings the follow
ing advices from New Zealand and Austria
liza:
A Tasmania paper says New Zealand de-
sires to cooperate with Great Britain, Can
ada, New South Wales. Victoria and
Queensland in raising the capital required
for the Pacific cable.
The Madri race in New Zealand is fast dy-
ing out. AT q diocesan synod in yelling
ton, clergymen of the Taraniki district. who
appealed strongly for assistance in the work
among the Maoris gave a sad description Of
the state of things prevailing in many
places. Drunkenness, immortality and sloth
are the chief enemies of the race. Accord
ing to the last census returns, in April, 1896,
the number of Maoris was 80, S54 and 1t was
calculated that during the previous five
years there had been an apparent decrease
of 2 ,139.
A boat crew of the steamer Victoria had
an exciting time with the natives of the
New Hebrides. Captain Williams arrived at
one of the islands week after q recruiting
vessel had shot a native. The natives en-
ticed the boat crew up creek, and then
fired on them I'm revenge. Fortunately, only
one man was injured.
Mr.. FentOn, home secretary of Queensland,
has been inquiring into the pearl industry.
He finds that serious abuses exist regard
ing the recruiting of natives and the treat
ment of native women. The recruiters Of
Tending are very often men owning luggers.
The women are taken away in boats, the
owners alleging they are with their hus-
bands.
The soop Kethannie was lost in a storm
off the Tasmania coast. Her crew of four
A terrible accident is reported from Fort
Mahonga, just outside Wellington, n. Il.
Some members of the local torpedo corps
were detailed to remove an old electric
lighting plant. 1t was found necessary to
explode a big charge of gun cotton The
sapping party, consisting of Sergeant Olive
Corporal Black and Sappers league and
Head. set the mine, and had lit the fuse,
when the charge prematurely exploded
When the smoke and dust cleared away, 1t
was found that the little sapping party had
been practically annihiated. Sergeant Oh
i've, Corporal Black and Sapper league were
blown to pieces.
Owing chiefly to the increase of dredging
operations, the New Zealand gold output for
the first seven months of the year exceeded
by 1880 that OF the corresponding period