Spectacle

Colourful

In Tonga

From “PlM’s” Nukualofa Correspondent The people of Tonga marked 100 years of constitutional rule on June 4, with a sunburst of flowers and the joyous voices of 12,000 children.

NEARLY all members of the community, with guests from neighbouring Pacific Islands, at tended a wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of King George Tupou I— the Tonga Group’s first king under an 1862 emancipation code declar ing all Tongans free men.

The tombs were decorated with great arches of bamboo and native flowers. In the background were the bell-clear voices of thousands of children joining in hymns.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of Queen Salote, by Prince Tungi, by Sir Kenneth Maddocks, Prince Tu’ipelehake, the British Com missioner and Consul, Mr. E. J.

Coode, by Ratu Penaia Ganilau, and the Tui Nayau, chieftains of Fiji, by High Chief Tufele of American Samoa, Lieutenant Engleberg of the United States Navy and by many local notables and institutions, schools and colleges.

At mid-day, a 21-gun salute echoed over this independent kingdom, which has a treaty of friendship and protection with Britain, and all the school children joined in a military police parade.

The parade marched under arches of palms and flowers, through the

[?]pation celebration scenes in Tonga, from top: Students of Tonga College perform a [?]I gesture-song for the Queen; the new Tonga High School makes an unusual picture [?]tors inspect it at night; the wreath-laying ceremonies at the Royal Tombs; and one cualofa' s street decorations. This one reads: "Long live the Queen—Emancipation of Tonga".—Photos: Rob Wright.

palace grounds and past Queen Salote.

For nearly an hour the procession paid its tribute to the Queen with salutes and cheers.

In the afternoon there was a band contest followed by a demonstration of police dogs of the Tongan Police Force. Under expert instruction from Sergeant ’Akau’ola and other police officers, the well trained dogs were put through their paces, to the delight of one of the largest crowds gathered in Tonga for many years.

Later in the evening Queen Salote opened the new modern two-storey Tonga High School building, which overlooks the Royal Tombs.

While the celebrations were under way in Tonga, on June 4, the Tongan communities in Auckland, Suva and Sydney and other parts of the Pacific also celebrated the centenary of the Tongan emancipation.

There were singing and feasting in all those centres.

The observances in Tonga had begun on the Sunday with church services throughout the Kingdom, including a combined service in Nukualofa with the Bishop in Poly nesia, Bishop Vockler, leading the prayer.

The celebrations continued on June 5, with feasts for 600 guests followed by Tongan singing and dancing. In the evening there was a spectacular ball.

Torchlight Display

The climax came at the end of the third day after more feasting when there was a torchlight display, or Tupakapakanava, extending for over four miles along the water’s edge, turning the Nukualofa fore shore into a fairyland of dancing lights.

These torches date from ancient times, when the chiefs used them to light up any special occasion at night.

They are made from the covering over the flower of the coconut, which when dried is made into torches about six to eight ft in length.

The celebrations in Tongatapu ended with a roller skating exhibition at Havelutoto.

The next morning, June 7, Queen Salote and Prince Tungi left in the Government ship MV Aoniu for the emancipation celebrations in the northern groups of Haapai and Vavau.

At Haapai after swimming and yacht races the first day of the Queen’s visit ended with a dance.

The torchlight display held there rivalled that of Nukualofa. On the third day Prince Tungi attended an

athletic meeting which was followed by feasting. The celebrations con cluded in Haapai with a second Tupakapakanava with simultaneous dancing and singing at Royal and Government residences.

At Neiafu, Vavau, Queen Salote arrived to a quiet and dignified Sunday welcome, with many hundreds lining the route to the Governor’s residence. Lakalakas, singing and dancing began at 12.30 a.m. Monday and continued until daybreak. At nine in the morning, Prince Tungi accepted a presentation of food on the site of the original Free Wesleyan Church. The site was cleared and served as the Mala’e for all the official functions. Feast ing began at one o’clock followed by singing and dancing. In all, 31 choirs performed for the Queen in Vavau.

All of Tonga was able to join in the festivities in the northern islands, thanks to on-the-spot descriptions by teams from Tonga radio station ZCO, The Call of the Friendly Islands. In Nukualofa during the three days of the major celebrations the station was on the air continously with direct broad casts. It was the station’s first big live broadcast since it was estab lished only about 12 months ago.

It came through with flying colours.