Years

A Tongan's 102

Testimony to Value of Christian Education

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Nukualofa, Feb. 3.

IN the death of Bauliasi Taumoebeau, a venerable old Tongan, which occur red to-day at Nukualofa, aged 102 years, there passed away one who took an active and important part in the affairs of church and state during the interesting transition period in the history of Tonga.

T a u m o ebeau, when about 28, was among the first students en rolled at the well known Tubou College to be trained for mis sionary work, when it was es tablished by Dr.

J. E. Moulton in 1866. He was also third among the first four “kau matematika” an adaption of the word mathe matician used to distinguish those who have passed the college quali fying examina tion and thus had their names en scrolled in letters of gold on the college honour board, which was

empanelled on the wall at the front end of the college building. They also received a college cap and gown, similar to that worn by university graduates.

At the conclusion of his training, Taumoebeau embarked on missionary work. He was stationed at the village Nukunuku, Toga tabu, his first station, when King George Tubou I called the first Parliament of the Kingdom and granted the Constitution in 1875, estab lishing proper government, limiting the absolute powers of the king and chiefs, and defining the obligations and privi leges of citizenship. From his retentive memory, he often recounted the impres siveness of this great occasion.

Taumoebeau was occupied with mission ary work until the Government decided to have a college of their own and he was asked to establish the Tonga College, in 1881. There he remained for about a quarter of a century, first as principal of the college, then as senior tutor.

After he left Tonga College in 1905, he took up further missionary duty until he finally retired about 1920, living quietly with one of his sons, Afu Taumoebeau, who is Police Magistrate at Nukualofa.

Living to a great age, Taumoebeau wit nessed the development of modern Tonga.

He saw the various stages in the social, economical and religious progress of the Tongans, and he was often heard to re mark that Tonga had advanced a long way since those far-off days when he was a young student at Tubou College. The real significance of his life is that it is testimony that, under the influence of Christian education, Polynesians may live a useful, contented and happy life, ac cording to European standards.

Jione Havea, a young Tongan preacher, will carry out deputation work in the Australian States this year for the Methodist Mission.

Bauliasi Taumoebeau, on his 100th birthday.