76 "TTransactions.— Miscellaneous. 
the part of powerful mercenaries to the quarrelling chieftains. Maafu, a 
Tongan, carved out for himself a chieftainship in the Windward Islands of 
that group, and would have ousted Thakambou had it not been for our 
interference. He is the most likely man to succeed King George in Tonga, 
although he has no just right to the crown. Maafu is a great chief, and his 
friendship is worth cultivating. He rules his subjects well ;—white settlers 
upon his islands can plant and trade in perfect safety. 
The action of Sir Hercules Robinson, in inviting Thakambou to Sydney, 
is highly to be commended. It would be a great advantage if similar 
hospitality were extended to Maafu. Is it not advisable for the Australian 
Colonies to pay some such attention to the principal Polynesian chieftains ? 
The practical lesson of civilization would be a great one, and the bond of 
friendship between the islands and the colonies much strengthened. 
The Navigator Group, or Samoa, is also desirous of obtaining some 
representative form of government, but matters are in a very unsettled con. 
dition. Colonel Steinberger, U.S.A. (a special Commissigner sent by 
President Grant to investigate and report upon the petition for American 
protection made by the chiefs) was very lately appointed Prime Minister for 
life. He did pot, however, long hold the appointment. It is a difficult 
matter for any man to endeavour to control the affairs of both natives and 
foreign residents in the Pacific. The interests are too diverse. The captain 
of a British man-of-war may view in a very different light actions which 
may have been prompted for the sole benefit of the native population. I 
believe that Colonel Steinberger—and I had many conversations with that 
gentleman—acted as he considered for the good of the Samoan people, but 
in doing so he fell under the ban of the foreign residents. On February 8, 
1876, Captain Stevens, of H.M.S. * Barracouta," at the request of King 
Malietoa, removed Colonel Steinberger from Samoa. The native chiefs 
objected, however, to the interference of Captain Stevens, and I think they 
were quite right in doing so. An affray ensued between the natives and our 
men, in which a few of our sailors lost their lives. The Admiralty has 
consequently ordered an investigation into the whole business, and we shall 
shortly be placed in possession of the actual facts of the case. Bteinberger's 
reign was a short one—landing in March, 1875, removed in February, 1876. 
His mode of settling the dispute between the rival claimants of the erown 
(Malietoa the old, and Malietoa the younger) was somewhat peculiar. It 
was provided that each should reign for four years alternately, while Stein- 
berger himself should be Premier for life. 
The Samoan Parliament consists of two bodies—the Tainua and Faipule. 
The Tainua are the sixteen nobles of Samoa, and the Faipule the elected 
body, one member being elected for every two thousand of the inhabitants. 
