Good Work In Tonga

Retirement of Rev. and Mrs. Wood

From a Special Correspondent

Nukualofa, Jan. 20.

nPHIRTEEN years ago there landed in Tonga, Rev. A. H. Wood and Mrs.

Wood. Mr. Wood arrived to take over the Principalship of Tubou College, which is under the direction of the Free Wes leyan Church (President, the popular Rev. R. C. G. Page).

Next March we are to say farewell to the two very splendid people. During the 13 years Mr. and Mrs. Wood have earned the sincere respect of all classes by their devotion to the interests of the Tongan people. It is difficult to find in the whole of Tonga a more energetic and unselfish person than Mr. Wood.

He has literally transformed Tubou College, situated at Nafualu about 4| miles from the capital. The situation, formerly only a healthy one, is now both healthy and picturesque. Mr. Wood’s pre decessor had a hope that this College would some day possess a good oval. This hope has now been realised, and the College now possesses an oval comparable with the best in the Pacific Islands where splendid deeds of football, cricket and general athletics have been performed.

It was here that Tongans were thrilled by the record pole-vault jump of their Crown Prince Taufa’ahau.

More splendid have been the scholastic achievements of the students. Under Mr.

Wood’s guidance numerous students have

reached Newington College, Sydney, where they have all shown real ability.

Most of these boys are now holding posi tions in the Tongan Government service.

A number of boys have passed into the Medical School, Suva, and some are now occupying positions with the local Medi cal Department.

The Theological School that Mr. Wood inaugurated has produced some excellent students. Those that have gone from this branch of study to carry out deputation work in Australia have made a splendid impression. The resident scholars now number over 300—a 100 per cent increase since Mr. Wood arrived.

Mrs. Wood’s work has been just as devoted, in that she cared for the health of these boys year in and year out. Epi demics have come and gone and, if it had not been for the untiring devotion of Mrs. (Dr. Olive) Wood many families would have lost perhaps their only boy.

The students have been most fortunate in that the partner Mr. Wood brought with him to Tonga was a fully qualified medical practitioner of more than ordin ary ability.

Mr. Wood held his last prize presen tation on the evening of December 23.

Queen Salote Tubou, D.8.E., was present with the Prince Consort Tugi and the Crown Prince Taufa’ahau. Rev. R. C. G.

Page and Rev. A. H. Wood welcomed the Hon. Atu (Minister of Lands), Mr. H.

Selwood (Acting Director of Education), Captain Prosser (of M.V. Matua ) and several of his officers, together with ap proximately 40 passengers. A number of

chiefs and many local Europeans were also present.

Speeches by the Queen, the Crown Prince and Mr. Page were listened to with interest by the students. The stud ents, led by Mr. Wood, rendered many anthems and songs. It was the finest singing I “have ever heard from Tongans.

Mr. Wood has trained and taken many choirs to Australia but he himself was very impressed by this last wonderful effort.

Rev. and Mrs. Wood will return to Australia with the knowledge that their work has yielded results beyond their hopes. I am also convinced that all Euro peans will join in saying, “Well done— and may your future be as happy and as full of splendid achievement as the years you have spent in Tonga!”