Tonga Leads The Way

First Jubilee Celebrations in Empire Are Brilliantly Celebrated

IN no part of the British Empire was the Jubilee of King George V. celebrated more sincerely and more warmly in the little kingdom of Tonga.

The celebrations were inaugurated by a Thanksgiving Service, which was attended by Queen Salote, her Consort (Prince Tugi), members of the native government, and by the European community, led by the British Agent and Consul, Mr. J. S. Neill.

Later there were sports gatherings and feasting, the character of whicn is indicated by the accompanying photographs, which have been kindly supplied by Mr. C. E. Dalton, of Nukualofa, and

Mr. William Finau, of Vavau.

The most remarkable of all the ceremonies is that known as Tubakabaka nava, which is pictured and described on another page of this issue.

At the conclusion of the celebrations Mr. Neill wrote specially to the Premier of Tonga to congratulate him on the nature of the arrangements made and the way in which they had been carried out.

He pointed out that, owing to Tonga's geographical situation and the method of calculating local time, the service held in Tonga was the first Thanksgiving Service held in the British Empire on May 6.

Top Left: Queen Salote Tubou and Consort (Prince Tugi) arriving at the Thanksgiving Service at St.

Paul’s, Nukualofa. Top Right: Tongans engage in a tug-of-war. Centre Left: Tongan women in a ceremonial dance. Centre Right: The British Agent (Mr. J. S. Neill) and Mrs. Neill arriving at the Church. Lower Left: Tongan Ministers saluting the flag as the boom of the big guns announce the hour of noon on May 6. Lower Right: Queen Salote leaving the Church, with Rev. R. Page and Rev. H. A. Favell.