The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-09-15
.NATAAFA MADE ALI Sill.
NATIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
FOR SAMOA.
Governor Solf Makes Public Announce
ment of Germany's Intentions and
Swears in the Native Samoan officials


APIA, Sept. 6.-The Germanization of
Samoa goes on. Practically all of the
officials under the tripartite agreement
have been replaced by German officials
The form of government in local mat
ter has now been pretty well settled.
The announcement of what this will be
and the appointment of the native Off
Gals was made at Mulinuu August IA.
Mataafa is given the highest position of
any of the natives and is styled Ali
Sill.
In making his announcements and
appointments Governor Solf said:
1T gives me much pleasure to see be-
fore me all the Chiefs representing the
great families who from the oldest
times have been the rulers of the Sa-
moan Islands of Upolu, Manono, Apo
lima and Savaii 1t is well known by
you that Samoa did not enjoy a good
government nor a strong government;
neither did any lasting good will to one
another exist formerly in this country;
on the contrary, wars were continually
being waged from year to year.
ION this account the Rulers of the
three great powers agreed to hand
over these islands to His Majesty the
German Emperor, that he might extend
his protection over them. And all the
High Chiefs of Samoa expressed their
thankfulness to the Kaiser, to Her Ma
jesty the Queen of England and to the
President of the United States of Am
erica for having completed this ar
rangement, and they declared on vari-
Gus occasions their loyalty to the new
ruler of these islands.
And now His Imperial Majesty has
been pleased to appoint me to be His
Representative here and has given me
instructions which l did not fail to
communicate to you and which were as
follows:
THE Governors authority shall be
paramount in all Samoa, extending to
all white persons and to yourselves the
Samoans. 1t is not the intention of the
German Government to force the Sa-
means to adopt our habits and customs;
it desires to respect your old traditions
and ways as far as these are not
against the welfare and security of in
dividuals. The Government has con-
fdence in the Samoans that they will
be able to govern themselves subject
to the complete control of the Governor,
and promises to make such laws and
issue such orders as shall be for the
benefit of the country, and in conform
ity, as stated above, with Samoan ideas.
1.-The head of the Samoan admin
straton shall be one High Chief styled
lie Ali Sill who shall be the channel
through which the wishes and orders
of the Government are conveyed to the
Samoans.
HE shall have a Council: The dis
tricts shall be ruled by district chiefs,
Taita'iitu Judges shall be appointed
for all districts; appeals from their Ge-
cisions to the European Chief Justice
being allowed.
The affairs of the villages shall be
directed by village chiefs, Pulenuu.
Policemen shall be appointed to
carry out the orders of the authori-
ties"
IT am highly gratified today with tho
pleasant sight which this assembly af-
fords me; let us rejoice at the peace
now reigning in Samoa by the Grace of
God; let us be thankful to His Majesty
the Kaiser the Emperor of Germany,
the Tupu Sill also of Samoa, has es-
tablished friendship amongst you, and
it is His Imperial wish, that all persons
may be happy and prosper and obey
the laws of His Government in Samoa,
for it will be lasting.
81 now therefore formally install Ma
taafa as the Ali Sill and appoint the
Chiefs here present to their respective
offices.
THE oath of allegiance will now be
taken by the Ali Sill Mataafa and the
other Chiefs"
The Governor accompanied by Judge
up a position in front of it, when Ma
taafa advanced and took hold of the
German colors, which the Governor and
Judge Knipping were holding, and on
the oath being read Mataafa repeated
it, the Governor at the conclusion
shaking hands with him. Then follow
ed the chiefs from the other districts
who had also been chosen; they adj
vancing and taking the prescribed oath
in patches, at the conclusion of which
each party was passed to his spiritual
advisor to whatever sect he belonged,
so as to explain to them the course of
the oath they had taken.
The Governor has appointed the fol-
lowing gentlemen to be members of his
council: r. H. Carruthers, w. G. Dean,
P. C.. Fabrcius, H. Gebauer, o. Riedel,
M. Rosenberg, H. Schmidt. The Coun-
Gil elected as chairman Otto Riedel
mataafa made alii sill