Queen Salote Tubou Of Tonga

Is Invested With Order Of D.B.E.

We are indebted to the Government of Tonga for the following official account of the visit of Sir Murchison Fletcher (High Commissioner for the Western Pacific) and the Investiture Ceremony.

ON Wednesday, September 7, His Ex cellency the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, Sir Murchison Fletcher, K.C.M.G., visited Tonga.

H.M.S. “Laburnum,” with His Excel lency on board, arrived off Nukualofa shortly after 8.30 a.m. At 9.15 a.m. His Britannic Majesty's Agent and Consul, Mr J. S. Neill, made an official call, and at 10 o’clock the High Commis sioner, accompanied by Capt. M. God ley A.D.C., and Commander R. Rams botham, R.N., landed at the Nukualofa wharf, where he was met and wel comed by H.B.M.'s Agent and Consul and the members of the Tongan Gov ernment.

Those present on the wharf who were intro duced to His Excellency were the Hon. U.

Tugi (Premier), the Hon. C. M. Murray-Ayns ley (Chief Justice), the Hon. W. G. Bagnall (Minister for Finance), the Hon. J. A. Kaho (Minister for Police), the Hon. S. Ata (Minis ter for Lands), and Mr. Ragnar Hyne ((Secre tary to the Premier).

The High Commissioner drove to the Resi dency, where he was the guest, during his stay in Nukualofa, of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Neill.

At 10.45 a.m. His Excellency, attended by his A.D.C. and accompanied by H.B.M.’s Agent and Consul, made an official call upon the Queen of Tonga at the Palace. From 11.30 a.m. to 1 o’clock His Excellency, attended by his A D.C and accompanied by H.B.M.’s Agent and Consul, the Hon. the Premier, and the Sec retary to the Premier, made a tour of inspec tion of the various Government departments.

The Government College and the hospital were visited during the afternoon.

In the evening a dinner party in honour or the High Commissioner was given at the Resi dency by H.B.M.’s Agent and Consul and Mrs Neill. Those present at the dinner included Her Majesty Queen Salote Tubou, His Excel lency the High Commissioner (Sir Murchison

Fletcher, K.C.M.G.), the Prince Consort and Premier (the Hon. U. Tagi). His Honour the Chief Justice and Mrs. Murray-Aynsley. Com mander R. Ramsbotham, R.N., Lieutenant- Commander D. H. Johnston, and the aide-de camp to His Excellency (Captain M. Godley).

During the evening musical selections were played by the band of the Government College under the conductorship of Jione Tuifua. At the conclusion of their performance His Excel lency personally congratulated Tuifua on the excellent playing of his bandsmen.

On Thursday, September 8, the High Commissioner held an Investiture at the Palace. Queen Salote Tubou re ceived at the hands of His Excellency the dignity of an Honorary Dame Com mander of the most Excellent Order of the British Empire, an honour that had been conferred upon the Queen of Tonga by His Majesty King George V on New Year’s Day of this year.

At 10 a.m. the High Commissioner, attended by Captain M. Godley, A.D.C., and accompanied by H.B.M, Agent and Consul, arrived at the Palace grounds where a guard of honour, consisting of a detachment of sailors under the com mand of Lieutenant Milne Home, and the Royal Tongan Guards, under the command of Lieutenant Tevita Fata fehi, was drawn up. Officers from H.M.S. “Laburnum” who were present included Commander R. Ramsbotham, R.N.; Lieutenant-Commander D. H.

Johnston, Surgeon-Lieutenant A. J.

Burden, Mr. B. Clynick, and Mr. R. S.

Tolliday.

His Excellency proceeded to the Throne Room of the Palace, where the Queen of Tonga and the Prince Con sort, together with the members of Her Majesty’s Privy Council and the Nobles

Photograph taken before the Palace grounds at the conclusion of the Investiture Queen Salote is in the centre of the picture surrounded by Tongan nobles, and Sir Murchison Fletcher is on her right.

of Tonga had already assembled. The Rev. R. C. G. Page, Chaplain to Her Majesty, was also in attendance.

Both Queen Salote and the Prince Consort wore native dress, as did also the Tongan Nobles. A magnificent Tongan mat, on which was woven the Royal coat of arms, covered the floor.

A dignified ceremony followed. The Queen and all those who were gathered in the Throne Room rose when Captain M. Godley announced the High Com missioner. His Excellency and party approached and the British Consul read the Royal Warrant from the King.

The High Commissioner, addressing the Queen of Tonga, said: “Your Ma jesty, at the command and in the name of the King I invest you with the Title and Dignity of Honorary Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Or der of the British Empire and as a mark of esteem and affection for Your Majesty and the people of your king dom.”

His Excellency then decorated Her Majesty with the regalia of the Order, which consists of a silver star with a gold centre on which is inscribed, ‘‘For God and Empire,” and a purple bow with a clasp. The centre of the clasp is also inscribed with the words ‘‘For God and Empire.”

Queen Salote Tubou, D.B.E., then proceeded to the steps outside the Palace. Surrounded by her Ministers and Nobles, Her Majesty was greeted by her own people who were assembled in the Palace grounds. The Tongan National Anthem was played and rous ing cheers were given for the Queen, who smilingly acknowledged the ac clamation of her subjects.

In the afternoon a most enjoyable garden party in honour of the High Commissioner was given at the Palace by the Queen. The Govern ment College band provided music and tea was served on the verandahs and lawns of the Palace by girls from the Wesleyan Mission Girls’ Col lege. Exhibitions of native “lakalakas” were given by groups of Tongans.

In the evening, a dinner party was given at the Residency by Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Neill.

In addition to Sir Murchison Fletcher and Capt.

M. Godley, the following guests were present: The Hon. W. G. and Mrs. Bagnall, the Rev.

H, A. Favell (Vicar of Tonga), and Com mander R. Ramsbotham, R.N. After dinner, Sir Murchison Fletcher, together with Mr. J.

S. Neill and the men of the party, visited the Nukualofa Club. His Excellency was wel comed at the Clubhouse by the President (Mr.

W. G. Bagnall) and the Honorary Secretary (Mr. C. W. Aidney).

On Friday morning His Excellency was taken by the British Consul and the Ministers to various places of interest on the island. At 1 p.m. a picnic given by the Government and Chiefs of Tonga in honour of His Excellency was held at Lotolevoleva. and attended by fully two thousand persons. Native singing and danc ing occupied the afternoon and Sir Murchison Fletcher was presented with some beautiful Tongan mats and “tapa.”

In the evening His Excellency gave a dinner party on board H.M.S. ‘''Laburnum.” The guests were Her Majesty the Queen, the Prince Consort, H.B.M.’s Agent and Consul and Mrs.

Neill, His Honour the Chief Justice and Mrs.

Murray Aynsley. and Commanfletr R. Rams botham, R.N.

On Saturday at 10 a.m. the High Commis sioner visited the Palace and took leave of Her Majesty. The members of the Government were on the wharf to say good-bye to His Ex cellency who, at 10.30 a.m., embarked on H.M.S. ‘‘Laburnum” for Vavau and Suva.

At a recent meeting of the Apia Chamber of Commerce, Mr. N. Cald well was appointed secretary in place of Mr. W. N. Burnett, who recently resigned.