MR BAKER'S SAFETY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 187, 9 August 1890, Page 7

MR BAKER'S SAFETY.

PROCLAMATION BY BRITISH CONSUL.

After the Premier had been form ally notified that he was to be deported from Tonga, the following proclamation was made by the British viceconsul, Mr Leefe :—" Tell British subjects that if any violence is shown by a British subject to Mr S. W. Baker upon his proceeding to embark on board the Wainui this day, the High Commissioner will withdraw his order of prohibition. —R. T. " Dated June 17th, 1890." LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONER. Tonga, July 7tb, 1890.

Your Excellency, — His Majesty has twice given me permission to go to my office to take out my private effects and also my correspondence, having amongst) - them letters from my wife, children, and business letters. ThefeYare alab .Several printed books of mine, photos and other knicknacks. I have also some storeb in my bark officeatidalso.Qn^hebeach. ,„ , My son lias also some private correspondence and some £80 or £90 in his safe, besides books and money belonging to the Athletic Association. Within an hour of the new Premier being appointed I asked his permission as well so as to prevent any difficulty. He informed His Majesty thab he would have first to aek your permission. lam now informed that you roiuse to give that permission.

I forward now the keys of the officee and the stores and the Pslavai. I ask now again that my eon may have permission to proceed to the offices and stores and obtain the same and also several papers belonging to the Rev. J. B. Watkin. - I have also been refused permission to the Government Dispensary—a separate building altogether, in which there are no documents or papers. ' I have been requested by His Majesty, who is suffering from an attack of la grippe, and also several for medicine, but I am refused permission to the dispensary. I may say that the majority of the medicines there are my own private property, although there are a number belonging to the Government. I do not wish to remove the bulk of the medicine, bub I wish to go to the dispensary to make medicine for Hie Majesty or other persons, and also to take away my own personal medical works, my carpenter's tools, and my medical instruments. I forward also by my son the key of the same.—Yours, etc., Shirley W. Bakek. . 0.H.M.5., Western Pacific. High Commission. July 7th, 1890. Sir,—-The High Cotnmi esiorier directs m to acknowledge the receipt of a note from you to the effect that you are "aorry my (your) eon did nob leave the keys as requested, and that you "now forward them by bearer." The bearer of the note has some keys in his hand. But as His Excellency has made no request whatever to you, and ie not less ignorant of the purport of your note than o*f the object of sending him a bundle of undescribed keys, he sends them back again. I have the honour to be, Sir* Your most obedient servant,' Wilfred Collet, Secretary.

P. S.—Since writing the foregoing-, His Excellency has received a second and longer communication, which contains much that is irrelevant to the High Commissioner and particular statements that are inaccurate. ■ The High Commissioner gathers, however, from the communication last referred to that you wish the keys senb by the meseenger to bo handed to the Tongan Government, and has therefore suggested that the messenger go to the Premier Tukuaho, to whom also your letter will be sent. I am to add that the High Commissioner is eatisfied that the King is in hie normal health, and equally satisfied that Hie Majesty will be better wifihout your medical advice. His Excellenoy is of opinion that there are strong reasons why you should not seek to force yourself on the King, and still more ao why you should not prescribe medicine for him. W., Collet. Tonga, July Bth, 1890. Sir, —Will you please inform His Excellency that I have not forced myself on the King, nor do I intend to do bo, nor have I' 'seen him since I was driven from the palace; The reason of that portion of my letter of yesterday in reference to medicine for the King, was in consequence of my daughter coming over and saying that the King whs coughing' through the night, and wanted some of the cougb mixture—mixture which I myself make for him. ° I did not intend Co infer that he had personally requested me,

for, as I have said before, I have nob spoken to the King since I left the palace. I am, sir, Your obedient servant, S.W.B. To Wilfrid Colleb, Esq., Secretary H.C. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS. .

After the close of the correspondence Mr Baker and his family made preparations to leave the island fjr Auckland. They did not avail themselves of the "shelter" offered them on board H.M.s. Rapid, as Mr Baker laughed at the idea of harm from tho natives. In a couple Of days Mr Baker received a letter from Tukuaho, the newly-elected Premier, stating that he (Mr Baker) was no longer premier. Obstacles were placed in the way of his obtaining the duplicates of his papers in his office, and his keys were refused him by the Commissioner's instructions. Mr Shirley Baker, junior (Secretary), was not allowed to post up his accounts, aud was refused his private money from the Government safe, having to leave Tonga without it. Jusb beforo leaving Tongatabu by the s.a. Wainui Mr Baker received the following: —

(DUPLICATE.)