TONGA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 77, 9 April 1885, Page 2

TONGA.

Death of the Crown Trlnco,

A correspondent, writing under date of March 24th, says : News has reached hoic from Tonga of tho death of tho King's grandson, W. G. Tubou Malohi. Tho death was vory sudden—caused, it is said, by a diseased heart. His age was about 23. He possessed v considorablo amount of talent, although he novor loft his native isloß. He was a vory fair English scholar, speaking our language fluently. Ho was educated in tho Wcsloyan Mission Collogo, under tho present Chairman of tho district. His father died in Auckland übout fivo years Binco. Ho thou boenme hoir to the King, or asMrßnkor always proforrod to call him, tho " Crown Prince. Thero is no doubt that hjs direct doscont from tho present King, ns woll as tho vory groat abilities bo bad, pointed him out as tho ono poison most likely to maintain Ibo unity of Tonga. His death is indcod a trouble for Tonga, but Tongan troubles appear to bo just cummoncing. Amongst other things wo havo a now church set up, and tho whole land is troubled by tyio oppression and coercion which is brought to bear upon tho pcoplo to compoll tho unwilling ones to join it.

Gorman Sympathies of tho Government,

TbeKov. J. B. Watkin, the late Wcsloyan missionary in Vavau, has joined his friond Mr Baker, and is now actively assisting him in establishing tho .so-called " Freo" Church. Wo trust that the fact of " going tho wholo hog" with Mr Baker in Church matters will not load him to copy that gentloman's synfpnthios for everything German, I am led to make this remark on account of ono of Mr Watkins's Inst official ucts, when in connection with the Wesloyan Church. It is usual for the resident English missionary to be the English Post-master. Mr Watkins held that position in Vavau. When ho seceded from the Church ho gavo up his rosidenco hero. It then bocanio his duty to appoint a Postmaster for tho English mails, and then submit tho appointment to the Consul for his approval. A British subject who is a servant of tho Tonga Government was rcquostod by Mr Watkins to collect the English mails and take them to the German factory, and there open them in the prosonco of the agent for that firm. Such aro tho written instructions loft by Mr Watkins with tho individual reforred to. The outward mail is also made up at the German factory by tho same agent. Then the Tongan Government official who keeps tho Post-oiiieo seal is allowed the privilege of sealing it and taking it ou board. A German post-master for the English mail could not be decently appointed, and if the appointment had been made it certainly would not havo been confirmed, so a Tongan officer, who happens to be a British subject, is made the custodian of the Post-office seal, mail carrier, seal breakor, and seal-maker to a German post-master. The arrangement is certainly a vory ingenious one, and quito " Bismarkian."

Wo have occasionally a German mail. made up by the Gorman Consul in Samoa , and forwarded in ono of their vessels. Their mails never go to the English post-master ; nobody expects it. Thoy are quito right in keeping their own affairs in their own hands, and wo I think wo are equally right in demanding tho same straight policy for ourselves. In time past we havo b>een heavily handicapped in our race with the Germans ; they are now (in Samoa and other places) showI ing their hand; it is therefore time for us to ' make a stand, and demand fair play. If wo have that, tho result is certain. Messrs McArthur's Operations. Messrs Wm. McArtbur and Co.'s chartered barque Erne, 774 tons, has a full cargo of cobra, and will shortly leave this port direct tor Europe. This will make the fourth barque chartered by that firm which has left here for a European port. They have been tho pioneors of direct British trade with Tonga. Spirited enterprise similar to theirs will do more good towards establishing British and Colonial prestige than any amount of trickery or greed for te ritory. j Another correspondent writes: — "You will be sorry to hoar that the late Crown ' Prince ef Tonga, Wellington Ou Tubontnalohi, is dead. He.died at his residence, Nukualfa, on Wednesday, the 11th in.l., of heart di.oaso, and was buried with all due honour at tho island of Uiha on the 20th insl., in the burial ground of bi. family. He was a good English scholar, splendid musician, and a perfect gentleman. The Wesleyan Freq Church of Tonga is making great strides); not a week passes without numbers coming over, despite the course Mr Monlten has adopted, and which must turn every Tongan against the Wosleyaa Church." j