HIE PERSECUTIONS OF WESLEYANS.

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

HIE PERSECUTIONS OF WESLEYANS.

"An Englishman," writing from Tongatabu undor dato May 18th, says:—

" Tho principal news in connection with tho establishment of tho ' Freo ' Church is tho removal of over ono hundred Weßloyan men, womon, and children from nn Haabai island and placing them on an uninhabited island callod Kao, thoro to pick up a living as best thoy can on Beabirds and sholllish. Supplies of food havo been sent by tho .Vosloyuns of Tongatabu, but no nowß is to hand whether the Government officials havo intercepted it or not. A nativo ordained minister was dragged out of church while conducting a service, and his congregation forcibly expolled by a .'oveimiioii. olliciul. Another minister has thrice had a ropo put round his neck to hung him. Soveral others have boon dragged about and otborwiso maltreated for refusing to join tho Government Church. A Government official at a town tight mile, inland last week ordered tbo Wesleynns to go to Nukualofa, so that thoy could be taken next day to Huga, a barren rock some thirty miles from Tonga. Tho poor wretches killed all their pigs and had a farewell feast and came down, but tho Premier disallowed the action of his official.

•'On the l_th instant, about 120 men ami children were expelled from their homes by their chief. They are now in Nukualofa, and declare they will remain until the King comes, and let him do his worst to them. The Premier has offered to send them back, but the chief who drove them away says that they shall not return ; that he did not want to quarrel with his people and lose them, but has been forced to do so by the GoveVtiment, which now wishes to publicly reprove him for doing what they privately told him to do. " Driving individual natives from their homes and depriving ofhets of their lands is an overy-day occurrence, and from overy district news is being brought of the lawlessness of Government olfioiale,

Annexation tbo Only Remedy. "Annexation to Great Britain has since 1880 been frequently mooted, and the idea has gradually since then found favour with the natives. At the present time the islanders generally say that it is the only chance to save the islands from the bloodshed which the present deplorable condition of affairs will otherwise result in. At the present time the signature of two thousand people to an appeal for British rule could easily be obtained could the people be protected.

" That tho present anarchial condition of Tonga must soon end in annexation, is the opinion of most people, and the German proclivities of the Premier are so well known that the English settlers are alarmed. It is stated, on good authority, that the Premier has arranged for the presence of a Gorman man-of-war in case, he is unable to hold in check thesavageforcehehasinvoked. It will be for the colonios to watch that German peace making does not result in Tonga being put on the same footing that Samoa is. If any of your readers take suinciont interest after reading this letter to hear more about Tonga, or to have proofs given of any statements I have made, they will be willingly furnished if a communication ia sent through you."

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