Notes From Tonga

Government “Fleet” Laid Up—Trouble With Native Police

From Our Own Correspondent

Nukualofa, June 1.

THE two Government despatch ves sels — “Hifofua” and “Tokaga” are still out of commission, the one lying at anchor and the other sareen ed at the samll island of Pagaimotu.

In the case of the “Hifofua” her trouble may be summarised in the words “semi-Diesel engines.” It would seem that what engineers don’t know about these engines would fill a fair sized volume. Soon after she was put in commission the motors started giv ing trouble, and it was then said that it was not a marine engine at all, but a stationary converted type. A little later, they were condemned altogether, but, after reconditioning, were passed as conforming with all marine re quirements. Subsequently, they were again condemned and taken out of the hull, but it is now said that an other expert has stated there is no thing the matter with them. It is not surprising to hear that the Govern ment is simply “fed up” with conflict ing expert opinions.

At latest, we learn that the engines are to be once more cleaned up and stuck back in the ship’s vitals. If, when installed, they still refuse to function satisfactorily, I’d hate to pre dict the kind of death in store for the next expert that carelessly advances his solution. Incidentally, whilst one expert is pulling the engines out and another putting them back, the “Hi fofua” is uselss for anything but an ornament on our waterfront.

The “Tokaga,” on the other hand, appears to be a “rotten” investment only insofar as her timbers are con cerned. Allegedly purchased as a new ship two years ago, shipwrights, who are now recoppering her, state that the amount of decayed wood in her hull tends to indicate that “she must have been a very old boat when she was built.” If this is true, the Govern ment was undoubtedly “sold a pun.”

The vicissitudes in connection with these two boats may appear humorous to most, but it is a matter of con siderable inconvenience to the inter island traveller, and he cannot but view the policy of the Government in laying up all its “fleet” at the one time as inimical to the taxpayers’ re quirements and the country’s needs.

Dishonesty Among Police.

The native police system in Tonga has for some time past given cause for serious complaint. From the nat ive point of view particularly the “bush native”—the sight of the uni form is said to be a portent of com ing disaster, and apparently his fears are not unfounded. The dismissal of four rogues in uniform has recently thrown a light—to an extent dimmed by the authorities in an endeavour to “keep it dark” on police methods, when dealing with Her Majesty’s sub jects.

It seems that these champions of law and order were instructed to col lect moneys from certain natives to satisfy a number of claimants who had successfully proceeded through the Civil Courts in the Kingdom. The police collected the money all right, but as the debtors were “bush” and astonishingly ignorant of such things as receipts, they were offered no cer tificates of discharge. The opportun ity was too good to be missed. The police pocketed the money. In due course, further distress warrants were issued against the poor chaps and strange to relate, so cowed were most of them bv “Majesty of law,” that they actually paid up again. Luckily however, one man did resist, and his lamentations forced the Government into an inquiry, which eventually re duced the police force by four.

Unfortunately, the whole sorry busi ness has now shown the native popu lation that a uniform can cover flag rant dishonesty and, what is more to the point, that the administration of the police is, to say the least of it, casual and dilatory in the extreme.

For the prestige of the force, the Executive Council must surely now make an earnest endeavour to clean things up in such a manner that the nolice tunic may in time regain its lost lustre.

Death Of British Vice-Consul.

It is with regret that we have to chronicle the death of Mr. J. M. Mas

terton, British Vice-Consul and an old resident of Tonga. Some two months ago, although Mr. Masterton had been ailing for a time, every hope was en tertained that he was on the road to recovery. The malady, however, was only temporarily arrested, and he pass ed away on the morning of May 4. A journalist of outstanding merit in the South Seas in his younger days, Mr.

Masterton had contributed many articles of absorbing interest to readers of oversea journals. I do not think I am divulging a secret when I say that his output for many years of prose and poetry, which was accepted and published in leading Australian peri odicals, was written under the pseu donym of “Talafekau.” Of a genial and pleasing personality, Mr. Master ton will live long in the memory of his wide circle of friends. He leaves a widow and one son to mourn their loss.

Bishop Of Polynesia

Visits Tonga

The Right Rev. Bishop Kempthorne of Polynesia, and Mrs. Kempthorne, sailed for Suva by the last “Tofua.”

During their short stay in Nukualofa, they were the guests of Chief Justice C. Murray-Aynsley.

On May 6 Mrs. J. S. Neill enter tained at the British Residency, where ladies of the Anglican Church were invited to meet Mrs. Kemp thorne. A most delightful afternoon was spent owinsr. undoubtedly, to the beautiful appointments, and the pleas ure derived from those indoor frater nal competitions which were set on foot and kept going by an excellent hostess.

Consecration Of St. Paul’S

Church.

Thursday, May 14 (Ascension Day) saw the consecration of St. Paul’s Church at Nukualofa. Probably the finest church in the Kingdom, the op portunity was well taken during the visit of the Bishop of Polynesia to publicly declare its opening. The grounds were thronged with both na tives and Europeans.

The ceremony itself occupied two hours, following which an excellent repast (native fashion) was served at the Vicarage, under the patronage of the Vicar, Mr. H. A. Favell.