News Bulletin (No. 7).

Mana (Auckland), Volume 2, Issue 3, 4 May 1978, Page 5

News Bulletin (No. 7).

At 3.00 p.m. on Monday .17 April, His Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV performed the spudding in of the second oil test site being investigated by Webb Tonga Ltd, Kumimonu No. 11, at Fua’amotu.

In the brief ceremony, a representative of the company thanked the people whose co-operation is facilitating the work: the Tonga government, the villagers of Fua’amotu, and the Free Wesleyan Church (by whom the site is made available on a sublease). His Majesty the King explained that the results of last year's seismological survey suggest the presence under Tongatapu ofa very old reef (laid down some 20 million years ago) running from Malapo to Fua’amotu and out into the sea. While the first test site, near Malapo, did not produce any traces of oil, it did show signs of the presence of seabed sand and shells, which tends to support the theory of the presence of an extremely old reef. For this reason, the search is being continued at Fua’amotu.

His Majesty says that should this second site prove more fruitful, drilling may also be carried out in Nuku’alofa itself, and offshore in Ha’apai (where there are indications of an ancient reef near Nomuka) and Vava’u.

Since the spudding in, there has been a total official silence from the site. Preparation of the third test site, behind the big Free Wesleyan Church in Nuku’alofa, has already begun. April 14 was polling day throughout the whole Kingdom for the election of the seven People’s Representatives to the new Legislative Assembly for 1978-81. Final results were not announced until 19 April, though the last counting did not affect the provisional list of successful candidates as it appeared on Monday. Successful candidates polled as follows:

Representing Tongatapu, ’Eua, Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou: Taniela Manu 11,789 votes; Papiloa Foliaki 11,319; Lupeti Finau 8,657.

Representing Ha’apai: Tofa’imala’e'aloa Tungua (generally known as Tofa Ramsey) 1,804; ’Uliti Uata 1.520.

Representing Vava’u: Masao Paasi 4,305; Palavilala Tapueluelu 3,869.

For two of the candidates this

will be the first entry into parliament; the other five were in the last house. The two are Papiloa Foliaki and Lupeti Finau. Papiloa is also only the second woman ever to gain a seat in the Tonga parliament. The first was Princess Siu’ilikitapu, daughter of the Prime Minister, who held one of the People’s seats in the last house but did not seek re-election this time. Selection by the nobles of their seven representatives is still not complete. The People’s Representatives

election this year attracted 24 candidates, 11 for the 3 Tongatapu etc. seats, 9 for the 2 Ha’apai seats and 4 for the 2 Vava’u seats. The election campaign was very low key. which is not surprising given the nature of Tongan-style constitutional democracy, but the voting turn-out on polling day was quite good. Tonga’s new skipjack tuna fishing vessel, the Takuo, was commissioned at Faua Harbour on 14 April. The vessel, a 16.3 m fibreglass boat valued at US$3OO,OOO was officially handed over by the First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Wellington, by HM the King on behalf of the government. Arrangements for the presentation of the boat were finalised between Japan and Tonga in November 1977. The boat is regarded as a fisheries training vessel and with the Fisheries Research Centre currently under construction near Nuku’alofa, is a gift from the Japanese Government under its Overseas Technical Assistance Programme. After hopes and prayers for the vessel’s working life were expressed by the Royal Chaplain, HM the King and the Japanese representative in the commissioning ceremony, distinguished guests boarded the boat for a cruise around Nuku’alofa Harbour. Intermittent heavy showers throughout last weekend did not dampen the enthusiasm that marked the celebration of the first birthday of the King’s first grandchild. The little lady with the big name (Salote Lupepau’u Salamasina Purea Vahina Ari’i ’o e (Hau Tuita) is the daughter of the King’s only daughter, Princess Salote Pilolevu Mafile’o, and Captain Siosaia Ma’ulupekotofa Tuita.

In current Tongan custom, the first birthday (fai ’aho), especially ofa first child, is given some prominence, and Lupepau’u’s, with its blend of old and new ceremonial, religion and fun, was no exception, except that, having a royal touch, it was all the more so. Celebrations began on the Friday night (14 April) with a ball forsome 400 invited guests at the International Dateline Hotel. Despite the rain, dancing on the open-air dance floor was uninterrupted. On Saturday some 600 guests, including leading figures from the Tongan community and diplomatic representatives, assembled on the Palace grounds to join in the feasting and festivities. Traditional feast food was provided, with the addition of three splendid birthday cakes, one in the shape of the Tongan double-hulled canoe, the kalia. Throughout the week many Western-style gifts were received for the child, and at the feast more traditional presentations were also made — a large pig (puaka toho) and kava bush, mats and tapa (koloa). Hon. Ve’ehala, Governor of Ha’apai and Secretary of the Tonga Traditions Committee, made the speech for the occasion. All this was followed by several hours of traditional singing and dancing, greatly enjoyed by participants and onlookers alike. On Sunday afternoon, the actual birthday anniversary, a special church service of thanksgiving and blessing for the child and her family was held in the Royal Chapel which stands beside the Palace. The long-awaited Rothmans Cathay Pacific 7-a-side championships were held in Hong Kong on 15-16 April. Tonga’s team, although it did not do as well as the most optimistic fans had hoped in the 16-team competition, did manage to get through to the semi-finals, where it was beaten 26-0 by the Fijian team. Until the team returns to Tonga, few details of the competition are available. It has been announced that an American Rugby club will visit Tonga in mid-May. The team is the 1977 Pan Pacific rugbychampionship team from Honolulu. Since the United States and rugby are not normally associated in the same breath, it is no surprise to learn that the team includes four Tongans, formerly international players in the Tongan team. The touring team will meet the Lapaha team on 17 May and the Police XV on 20 May. Their Pacific tour will also include NZ, Western Samoa and Fiji.