Afamasaga.

Death Of High Chief

Picturesque Career Ends.

From Our Own Correspondent.

APIA, August 4.

DURING a meeting with the N.Z.

Commissioners recently, High Chief Afamasaga collapsed and was taken home, and a short time afterwards he died.

Afamasaga was a well-known and interesting personality, who, for the last few years of the “Mau” trouble, had been closely connected with the Administration. Only recently he was appointed Faipule and he was consid ered an active adversary of the “Mau” movement, Afamasage’s career had been vivid and adventurous. Previously one of the foremost of the Samoan chiefs, with a remarkable and fluent knowledge of the English language, he founded and conducted a co-operative society among the Samoans, which traded on its own account and was running a large motor vessel between island ports.

But, as in all similar ventures, the end came all too soon. The company col lapsed, with a shortage of funds.

Afamasaga was blamed for the failure and, sentenced to a term of imprison ment, disappeared from public life. He was also deprived of his chiefly title and known under the name of Lago- Lago.

But a few years ago he staged his come-back and offered his services to the Administration. His former “mis takes’’ were condoned, and he even was given back his former title, though he was

known in public by the name of “Saga.”

His rehabilitation was complete when, a few months ago, he was appointed Faipule.

Afamasaga was of genial personality and had many European friends. He had married a sister of Mr. S. H. Mere dith, a former Legislative Councillor.