In an interview with Mr Napier, solicitor, that gentleman gave the following interesting information in regard to Samoan affairs !— Mataafa removed in great state from his former entrenchment at Magi Agi to his present residence. He did this immediately on the onening’of the Berlin Conference. The King’was dressed in pure white, entirely unarmed, and was preceded by a bugler, drummers, 200 armed men in double file, and his flag-bearer. The same number of armed men and drummers followed.. There were also three reconnoitring skirmishers leading the procession by about a quarter or a mile. The whole scene was striking, the physicpie of the troops being exceptionally fine, Mataafa expresses a sincere desire that peace might be permanently established. He has a horror for war and looks to the future with hope. He is a devout Roman Catholic, attends mass every morning, guarded by four armed men, and frequently in the even* ing tells bis rosary beads, His house is about 200 yards from the beach in a beautifullysituated bay, and in the centre of a oacoannt grove. Should the Germans meditate any hostile movement they could easily shell the place from outside the reef, "Mataafa has no fear that any warlike movement will be made by them. He expresses the deepest regret for the unfortunate affair at Vailel, wherein 20 or 30 German sailors were shot j but avers that his men fired only when they saw their fellows fall; he was not present, the Samoans engaged being only a small cutpost. Notwithstanding the disclaimers of Dr. Hnappe, the German Consul who has been resalted, it is now clear, and is even admitted by the Germans themselves, 'that the midnight expedition was intended as a manoeuvre whereby Mataafa would be disarmed by a coup de main, and T&masesa’s predominance restored. . . _ , , DEAF.—A Person cured of neatness and noises in the head of S 3 years’ standing by a Simple Remedy, will send a description o£ it raa» to anv person who applies to Nicholson, 175 William Street, Melbourne,
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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 318, 29 June 1889, Page 3
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337Untitled Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 318, 29 June 1889, Page 3
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