Ownership

Quarrel Over Land

Leads to Samoan Native’s Death

From Our Own Correspondent.

APIA, August 2.

THERE are in Samoa eternal dissensions, court cases and squabbles going on since the oldest times amongst the various tribes and families of every Samoan vil lage over titles and rights to native lands. A special Land and Title Commis sion has been appointed by the Adminis tration, and holds sittings whenever neces sary to decide and arbitrate in these mat ters. Sometimes, however, the natives de cide to use their own methods and revert to the ways of the cavemen to obtain redress.

At the back of the Upolu village of Tuanai (west of Apia), two natives, Sifaga and Siaosi, working in a taro patch, started to argue over the ownership of the land Sifaga was working on. When Sifaga and his family laughed at Siaosi’s claims to the land, he became so angry that he seized a crowbar and, it is alleged, hit Sifaga with it. The blow caused him to drop to the ground insensible.

At Apia Hospital Dr. Mitford operated at once on the wounded man, who had sustained a fracture of the skull. The doctor was unable to save his life and Sifaga died on July 15.

Siaosi has been arrested and charged with murder.