It's An Old Tongan

Custom

Suva Aug. 3.

THE customs of Merrie England, such as kissing under the mistletoe and similar agreeable devices, have no thing on the customs of Merrier Tonga.

The firm of W. R. Caroenter (Fiji) Ltd., honorary agents in Suva for the Tongan Government, entertained the visiting Tongan Rugby team and some of the Tongan’s Fijian friends at a pic nic at Nukulau Island.

At the end of an eminently successful day, the massive Tongans, courteously explaining that this was an old Tongan custom, heaved their host, Mr. W. G.

Johnson, and their manager, Mr. G.

Good acre, into the sea.

Neither Mr. Johnson nor Mr. Goodacre has said a word to suggest that the day was not a success to the end.

Incidentally, the Tongan Rugby tour has been a complete success. The Fijians won both the tests, played at Suva, but in the provinces the home teams did not come off so well. The Vatukoula team went down 21-6.

Mr. D. C. C. Trench, MC has been ap pointed First Assistant Secretary of the Western Pacific High Commission with effect from March 9, 1947. Mr. J. A. C.

Hill has been appointed Cadet Officer and Second Assistant Sec retary of the WPHC. Mr. Trench, until his recent transfer to the Commission in Suva, was stationed in the Solomons.