TONGA'S SUSPENSE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 91, 14 October 1914, Page 3

TONGA'S SUSPENSE

WAITING FOR NEWS OF THE WAR (IT miGr./PH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, 13th October. Since the outbreak of war ten weeks ago Tonga has been cut off from all outside communication. Reassuring news was brought to Auckland this morning, however, by the Navua, and an interesting story was obtained from Mr. R. N. Moody, who left Auckland in July last to conduct certain legal proceedings for the King of Tonga. Fears were entertained that the island population might be in A bad way for food supplies, since 'Tongan people rely to a very large extent on the importation of meat, flour, and biscuits from Auckland. Mr. Moody states that there was really no serious shortage. Butter and flour Were beginning to run out, and bread could not be obtained in large quantities. Potatoes were also running short, but yams were fairly plentiful, and there appeared to be no shortage of fresh meat and fruit. Mr. Moody intended to return when the Navua made her regular call at the group, on 11th- August. When the vessel failed to put in an appearance the residents naturally^ became considerably concerned. All kinds of theories were advanced, the most commonly accepted being that the vessel had run on to a reef in the island. The residents accordingly made up their minds that they would have to await the arrival of the Tofua from Sydney. When that vessel also failed to appear speculation became rife. Indeed, this time the explanation generally accepted was that another general Australasian strike had occurred. The suspense was beginning to become tense when H. M.S. Philomel one mdrning early in September came into Nukualofa, and those in the group learned for the first time that a .great European war had been in progress for weeks past. The British Consul was supplied with what news was available, and he in turn informed the .King of Tonga, who issued the information in the "Gov* ernment Gazette." In the Tongan Group, declares Mr. Moody, the feeling amongst the natives is strongly sympathetic towards Britain. Tonga itself, of course, has adopted a neutral attitude, and the German traders, as well as the British^ receive fair treatment. > "TREATY OF FRIENDSHIP." The Tongan Governmeat relies, how« ever, upon the " treaty ol friendship " which at present operates between Great Britain and Tonga, under which Tonga is promised protection from all hostile attacks. The situation in Tonga just now, said Mr. Moody, was eomewhafc serious. The main output of the- group was copra. The price of copra is veTy low indeed, so low that the natives were disinclined to make it. If that state of affairs continues, and it probably will .during the war, the natives will have no money. They can, of course, live on yams, fish, and fruit, but they will not be able to pay their taxes, nor will they be able to buy goods from traders. Consequently neither from taxation nor from Customs 'duties would there be any appreciable revenue. That being so th© Tongan Government would be compelled to draw upon its reserve fund, and this rendered it necessary that the Government should consider a scheme of retrenchment. In fact, it was current rum&ur when Mr. Moody 'left Tonga that the Privy Council was already considering drastic retrenchment proposals. GRAVE NEWS DOUBTED. At Nukualofa, the only arrival other than the schooner Ysabel was that of the four-masted schooner Alexander, 40 days out from Seattle. The vessel had not spoken a ship nor put into port, and could supply no information at all. The captain kindly sold a few hundred pounds of flour and about 50lb of butter from the ship's store. Many of the islanders had been without bread and butter for days, but there was fortunately plenty of other food. On 4th September the Philomel hove in eight. The warship's boat put the postman ashoTe, and a group of ladies gathered round him eager for news. " What has happened?" they asked. "Don't you know?" -he replied. "Why, war with Germany." But they would, not believe him. So he said : " Ladies, I shall demand a written apology from you for doubting my word." The news travelled. Some believed that an international war had broken out; others refused to believe anything of the kind. In one quarter of the town a store owned by a German i» opposite a store belonging to an Englishman, and from doorway* of thesfi

stores a New Zealander and a German laughingly pointed unloaded guns at each other. These two men had not then convinced themselves that the evil news was true. During the afternoon a man got hold of a copy of an Auckland newspaper, and people were then convinced that war had indeed broken out.