"Lone Tiger.”

A Gilbertian Situation in Tonga.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Nukualofa, Aug. 10.

A TRULY Gilbertian situation has de veloped here.

A long series of petty thefts and burglaries culminated in the head store of Mrs. E. M. Jones, in the centre of Nukualofa being entered one night in July, and cash and goods stolen.

The thieves left a note behind, writ ten in Tongan, defying law and author ity, and signed “The Lone Tiger.”

The insulted and indignant police left motor car tail-lights and hop-beer sellers alone for a while, and concen trated on the “Tiger.” They finally tracked down the stolen goods—cached in the local gaol!

It appears that several convicts, wearied of the humdrum life in durance vile, banded together under “The Lone Tiger”—a brainy, popular native—and regularly broke out of gaol at nights, entered whatever premises attracted them, took what they fancied, and re turned to their prison before the milk man was due.

The cold, official announcement that “the police department is holding an official inquiry” did nothing to subdue the laughter of the disrespectful people on the beach.