Incident In Tonga In 1900

By F. T. Goedicke

IN 1900, affairs in Tonga were not at all to the liking of Europeans and .Tongans.

The Premier was under the evil influ ence of an Austrian Jew, who had only his own ends and aims in view. There fore, when the report came to hand that His Excellency the Governor of New Zea land was expected, a public meeting was held in the Royal Hotel. Nukualofa, at which an address welcoming His Excel lency was submitted and approved, and a deputation appointed to present the same on the arrival of HMS “Mildura."

The following was the text of the address in full, as approved at the meet ing. Apart from two Jewish traders, it was signed by all the firms and traders —in fact, by all to whom it was pre sented.

“The Right Honourable the Earl of Ranfurly, KCMG,

“Governor of New Zealand.

“Your Excellency,—We, the under signed, although foreigners to Tonga, have made the country our home and desire to express the pleasure we feel at your visit, and to heartily welcome you.

“The Englishmen who are signatories to this address are, and of course always will be, enthusiastically loyal. As a body, whatsoever our nationality, we cordially welcome Your Excellency, both yourself as a visitor, and as a representative of Her Majesty the Queen of England.

“We have watched with interest the endeavours which are being made to bring about an improved state of Gov ernment in this group of islands.

“Our feelings on this subject are natur ally acute, and we find great pleasure in having this opportunity of assuring Your Excellency, as Governor of one of the Colonies with which we are intimately associated in business —to say nothing of the relationship of many of us, and of its propinquity—that we are as a body in complete sympathy with any measures which your Government may find advis able to take, to bring a closer connection between New Zealand and Tonga.

“We have the honour to be, Your Excellency, “Your most obqdient and humble servants ”

WHEN this text of the address *of wel come, as approved at the public meeting, was submitted by the British Vice-Consul to His Excellency on his arrival, for his approval before public presentation, the Governor declined to receive it, or any address into which politics might be introduced; but he stated that he would be pleased to accept any address of welcome from which poli tics were entirely excluded.

The deputation waited on His Excel lency when the address, amended as requested, was presented, being read by Mr. Hanslip, and was, in courteous and pleasant terms, accepted by the Earl of Ranfurly, who expressed his pleasure at meeting the Europeans of Tonga.

From the two rejected paragraphs of the address, the condition and temper of the Europeans could be fairly gauged and judged. Until that time, the majority of Europeans would have preferred that Tonga should have been left to govern itself and fly its own flag. But, as mat ters stood, of the two evils, they would have chosen the lesser —annexation to New Zealand, even with many great drawbacks.

This was the condition of affairs in 1900 in Tonga. Since then, we have had Matsalini, Tuivaflanva, Tugi and Ata, as Premiers of Tonga, with the advice of the British Consul and Agent, and there is not one European or Tongan who would like to see Tonga annexed by any outside Government. All are happy and content to live in Tonga under Queen Salote and under the flag of Tonga.

In a mission church, the Papuan Con stabulary Band recently gave its first performance outside Port Moresby. Over 1,000 natives and a number of white officials were crowded into the building.

Next day the band gave an exhibition pf marching to music. Bandmaster David Crawley is repeating in Papua his achievement in the Mandated Territory, before the war, and is transforming simple villagers into smart, efficient bandsmen in a few months.