THE TONGAN CRISIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 51, 28 February 1906, Page 4

THE TONGAN CRISIS.

KING'S ABDICATION DESFIED. Mr. Thos- .Cotter,., counsel-... .for King George-of Tonga,' teceiwd" a commitn ca« JlQh from, the "King by the- s.s. Manapouri to-day, in which he Absolutely denies having abdicated. Mail news by -tha steamer' is* to tho effect that Mr,/ Cook, formerly of Auckland; who Was appointed engineer "to the 'Tdngant ; Govcr_ihent, prepared plans for new roads on the island, straightening thoaa now in existence. The plans involved- the ; intersection of- a portion of the King's farmland to' this very'strong obpection was taken by King George, who, after "laying the matter "before tho British Consul, sent a strong protest to im Thurn, High Commissioner for tho Western Pacific, who is now in Fiji. Tho exact nature of this communication was not known in Tonga, but evidently it was the foundation on which was based the cable from Fiji last week stating that th/?. King would abdicate if the construction of .the road were proceeded with- There was very little excitement in the island-over tho. matter, and, aa far as could be judged, the natives were quiet, and had no apparent intention of taking violent action in the matter. •