TONGA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 125, 4 June 1885, Page 4

TONGA.

(from a correspondent.)

Tongatabu, May 14. Tho Wosloyan Session.

Since the deputation havo left, more have come over to tho Free Church. The deputation having so completely failed in their object, has led many of the nativos to perceive that nothing now is to be gained by opposing tho king and the chiefs. All hopes of their seoing their chief in trouble^ and themselves elevated to positions in tho land, are now blighted, and as they understand now that they will be losers and not gainers in the affair, things assume a different colour, and at the present progress of things, before tho year closes there will be very few left who aro not members of the Free Church of Tonga. Blue Ribbon Army. It may interest some of your readers to know that the bit of blue is oven to be scon in the islands, which is almost to be wonderod at when the opposito sido is led by somo of the Mission staff. Tho following was landed in ono day ox John Wesley, alias "John Whisky," to replenish tho stock in the wine cellar of ono of tho missionaries, viz. :—1 case brandy, 1 case old torn, 1 case port wine, 1 case sherry, 1 hogshead of alo, containing 54 gallons. This is not a bad replenishing, you will perhaps say, of the tablo of a poor missionary. Our Hospital. Tho Government, we hear, has granted to Dr. Buckland a lease of a choico piece of land, for tho purpose of orocting hospital cottages, tho doctor having made up his mind to remain in tho island., at any rate for somo little time to come. Our Brass Bands. It will bo hardly credited that wo havo now 3 brass bands and 1 fife and drum band in Tonga—two brass bands and ono fife and drum band in connection with the i (.'overnment College, and a briss band in connection with tho Catholic mission.

(from another correspondent )

Vavau, May 7. l^uito recontly .Englishmen wore universally respected amongst tho nativo races, but now things are somowhat altered, thanks to neglect on tho part of our own Government, combiiiod with tho anti-British policy of tho fromior; Fromrospectwegottoinsults and sneers; noxt, the Wesleyan Church proporty was seized, in spito of tho protest of tho missionaries, and when thoy appealed to the law they woro treated with contempt j and told their complaints would not bo noticed.

How mother stop has boen taken ; an Englishman has boon soized by tho throat, illtroatcd, and knocked down by a Tongan official, and whon he reminded them that he was undor tho protoction of his Government, ho was called a fool for his pains, and told it was true what their Premier stated when ho Baid the English were a grasping pooplo. We havo had the Southern Cross here with the deputation from the conference. They tried to make peace, but that was impossible; thon they tried to get a promise of protection from the Government for those who still remain faithful to tbo Wcs'eyan Church ; it is said that tho reply was that it could not be given. The report has como on bore from Haabai that over a hundred Wosleyans have boon banished from their homes to a solitary volcanic island for no other crime than that of refusing to follow Messrs Baker and Watkins in their now Church. Those things are so thoroughly sickening and disgusting to overy honest man tbat I should be afraid to publish them, fearing i. would be thought thore could not be any truth in my statements, were it not that 1 felt sure that tho account of this persecution will be confirmed on all hands by the roports of othors. Perhaps Mr Baker will say that those things aro being done without his knowledge or consent, an I plead that he is not accountable for thejoxcessesof the nativos. If such is his plea, no ono hero will accopt his excuse, He controls everything. All are afraid of him -, ho rules by terror. If a native spoake of him, it ia with "bated" breath, first looking round to see if anyone is near. Nntivos of importance dare not visit the housos of markod foreigners; thoy aro watched. It wa i only tho other day that a loading chief in this island—a young man of twonty-throo—was told that he must not tako food with or onter tho house of an Englishman, the oldest rosidont and eldest trauor hore.

We nro anxiou.ly asking what tho end of all this will bo. This English Tromier has already destroyed Tongan independence; ho is now trying to stamp out everything British. There, I bolievo, ho will ba mistaken. I have too much confidence in the pluck and determination of my countrymen to think ho will ever succoed in accomplishing it-