TONGA NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 165, 14 July 1891, Page 2

TONGA NEWS.

Nukualofa, July 1. SHIPPING, i

The Norwegian barque Britannia, 656 tons register, is here loading copra under charter by Vines, Utting and Perston. The Britannia takes about 300 tons of copia from this port, after which she proceeds to Haabai and Vavau to complete her cargo. Capt. Kinstonsein, master ; Mr Danielson, mate ; crew 9—ll men all told. The Olive arrived here from Niuafoon on Friday last with 80 tons of copra for barque Britannia. Capt. Ross reports fine weather, during the trip to Keppels and Niuafoou, Olive leaves for Auckland to-day. On tho 18fch inst. the favourite steam ipackeb Lubeck arrived on its monthly tour from Sydney, bringing as passengers Monseigneur Lamaze, Bishop of tho Diocese,who has been absent for some ; eighteen months. The Lubeck lefb for Samoa on its return voyage on the 19th inst. at 4 p.m. PARLIAMENTARY. • Parliament is still sitting but as food is running short ib is expected the sitting will, nob continue much longer. The Govern-,' ment vobed £200 for food for the members, during bhe sibting but that amount has been gone through. The members live like lords.; One day last week tho courses ab a single dinner numbered seventeen, and included soup, roasb beef and mubton, fish, etc.,. etc., puddings of various ' kinds, ala ■ papalagi, also beer, brandy, and wines. ' Very little" business has been gone through up to date. Tho schoolmaster dispute is now finally settled, Mr Hamilton having been officially appointed as head of the College. Mr Whitcoinbe, the schoolmaster appointed by Mr Baker,- is still here with-his family. Mr' Moss has been appointed secretary to the Prime Minister, and will commence his duties, when Mr Thompson'leaves, which will probably be on the return ■-, of : the Wainui. Mr Leefe's tennis evenings aro, still very popular—deservedly, I think, •< as -Mr Leefe leaves nothing ndone to ■ secure the comlort and enjoyment of his friends. A most enjoyable evening was spent at the house of Mr A. Wright last week, when, a neat little programme was gone through. Mr y and Mrs Wright are earning a well -• deserved name for • courtesy and social traits. Nukualofa would be_ a vory pleasant place, indeed, if all the white residents acted similarly and set aside their little jealousies, commercial and domestic. Rev. Mr Watkin's evening services for white residents are becoming an institution here. The sorvices are held in Mr Watkin's drawing-room, and the contrast to the cold, dreary chapel of the other side is very striking. Tho native house of Mr Leefe, Her Majesty's Britannic Consul, was put up for auction last week. Tho houso was sold in small portions and only realised some three or four pounds, the original price of the house being £200. Natives were the early purchasers. Mr Leefe's new house is rapidly approaching completion. It iB a one-storied .cottage; six rooms ; verandah back and front. A moßt impressive scene was witnessed here on tho Ist July. A nativu policeman who died yesterday being buried with military honours. THE CROWN PRINCE. One mabber of great importance has been settled by Parliament, viz., the succession to the Crown. With little or no debate on the subject, Taufa Ahau, great grandson of King George and his only lineal descendant, has been acknowledged Crown Prince, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. Mr Thompson introduced a measure into the Chamber advocating the expediency of sending the Prince to Sydney to complete his education. A sum of 1,000 dollars was voted as a first instalment for payment of tho necessary expenses. When the measure as passed was taken to King George for his approval, ha at once refused to sanction ib. He said that he was now an old man, and he might die ab any time and at shorb notico, and ib would not be advisablo that Taufa, tho Prince who had to succeed him as King, should be absent from Tonga. On tho 18th ins.. Prince Taufa completed his seventeenth year, and there was great feasting and rejoicing on the occasion, large numbers of prominentTongans having come to Nukualofa from Haapai and Vavau to take part in the rejoicings. The Prince, who passed several months in Auckland during the latter part of 1889 and first half of 1890, is a most promising young man, and much beloved by hi 3 future subjects. CODIFICATION Ol 1 LAWS. A revised code of laws on the Fiji model was introduced and the first section of the penal law passed the falealea. Under tho present Tongan law, theft, etc., and offences against morality are equally punishable by fine and imprisonment, but proceedings must bo initiated by the authorities. The police on receiving information make inquiries, and | the proper authorities institute proceedings should it be deemed advisable. Tho new codification lefb the initiation of proceedings to the aggrieved parties. . The revised code was carried in the falealea, bub the King vetoed the measure.