TONGAN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 300, 17 December 1894, Page 3

TONGAN NEWS.

VOLCANIC DISTURBANCE

FORMATION OF A NEW ISLAND.

(FROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT)

Nukualofa, December 12, 1894. ?/ Mth Decembor the brigaatine Meg Mernles came in from Fotuna, and Capt. Sbrasburg, the master, handed in the following; reporb to Mr W. Campbell, the Collector of Customs and Chief Harbourmaster here. The information conveyed in this report will probably accounb for the loud reports which have been heard, the shoals of dead fish, the earthquakes and other cosmic disturbances, as the resurgence of Falcon Island would probably be accompanied by strong volcanic action :— "The Meg Merrileea left Nukualofa on the 9bh November. We passed Falcon Island the same date, and as the island had been reported to be washing away, I kept a masthead lookout, and had a good look out at the island.

"The island appeared like a black sand bank about 25 feet) high on the south end; aboub one mile long north and Boubb, and about- half a mild broad east and wesb, with shallow and discoloured water extending about two miles S.S.W. and S.W. from the island, also shallow water aboub two cables from the north-east end. We also passed over discoloured water aboub five miles south of the island. Vessels passing; to leeward of Falcon Island should give ib a berth of about three miles. " (Signed) J. Strasbukg, " Master." You will perceive that while the Island is not nearly so high as on Ub first appearance, thab the elevating process has been going on ovor a more extended area. This seems to point to the elevation of a permanent island. Coral insects will ab once seb to work on the shallows, and in the coarse of a few hundred years or so—perhaps thousands, with alternate elevations and depressions—" Falcon " will become a habitable Island. It will be interesting to geologists to watch the progress of this new country. The schooner Waiwera returned from Niuafoou on the 2nd insb., and a new crew was at once shipped, the old crew returning to New Zoaland by the Upolu. The schooner has been purchased from Mr Chamberlin by Fotofili, the leading chief of Niuafoou, on behalf of the people of that Island, for the sum of £650. Ib is alleged by Mr Cfaamberlin thab a balance of £240 remains due on the vessel, bub the natives contest this, and auserb thab the balance due amounts only to a few dollars. Anyhow, Mr Chamberlin has obtained an injunction from H.B.M. Consul here restraining the native owners from flying the Tongan flag, or any flag except the British flag," on the Waiw6ra, until the amounb alleged to be due on her has been paid. The Premier and Chief Justice returned to Nukualofa in the White Squall, on 10th insb. On dit that the Tongan Government is about to purchase the White Squall from its present owner, Mr Jarvis. The price he asks for ib is £2,000 bub if purchased it will be on modified terms. On 11th mat. there was a sharp earthquake shook ab aboub 11 a.m. Same evening the Nukualofa Amateur Dramatic Club gave a very successful concert, with tableaux, in the Fale Kai. The hall was crowded, and the entertainment was a success in every way. When the Upolu came in this morning, ib was the general opinion of people watching her from the shore that she was on the reef ab' the entrance of the Northern PasBage, but ib turned oub thab her steering gear had given away. No less than four barques are expected daily, viz., 1 for Osbrmeyer, Dewory and Co (A. W. Mackay); 2 for Forsytb, Schultz and Co.; and ,1 for the German 1 The unloading of the unfortunate Prospect commenced this morning, aa the shed 1 was only completed yesterday.