DEATH OF TEE GROW A FRINGE OF TOSGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5657, 5 January 1880, Page 3

DEATH OF TEE GROW A FRINGE OF TOSGA.

Many of reniers will remember seeing an an*ionnctnt«nt a short time ago in our culumns of the arrival of the Kev. S. W. 1> -kf r and a chkf tf We ares..-ry to have to aououuee the decease of the sai i chef, whom, it appears, was no less than the Crown Prince of Tonga. For some time previous to his arrival here, we under-taud, ha was in a delicate state of health, and the object of his visit to our city ivi\s to i>btain medical advice. On Lia a.rrival here, Dr. ! s hi!son Wis called in, and attended him to the last. The disease from which the Prince died of was enlargement of the liver and I general dropsy. Several medical consultations were held, and everything was done that human skill could do, but all to no effect. W_e have no doubt but tbe decease of the Prince will cast a gloom over the Friendly Islands, and will be a shock to tbe old King, who is said to be over SO yejr3 of n<»e. The deceased Prince waa about 5-iy ears of aqe, and was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. For aiany year 3 lie was Governor of Vavau, and has always taken an active part in the affairs of the Government of Tonga. Since the granting of the present Constitution to the Friendly Islands, he bas held the office of Premier. He is reported by those who knew him well to have been a shreivd mau of business, an exceJleut speaker, and well conversant not only with the politics of his own land, but also of European nations. Some tiro years ago the Empeior William of Germany cun- [ ferred upon him the Order of the Crown of Prussia of the second cla?s. He leaves two sons and a daughter. The succession wo are informed, according to the present Constitution, goes to his sun, Prince Wellington Tuboumal )hi, t!io present Governor of! Vavy.u. v-ho is described as being a well- j erhu-j,; if. Prince—can speak English t"ler- j ably well, is a good musiciin, aud a j young man of engaging manners, aud of ! good ability. We believe it is the intention of the Re"-". S. W. Baker to have the royal corpse taken at once to Tonga, a lead coffin hermetically sealed having already bceu procured. We feel assured that the Prince's death willjbe aragret to a'l, for King George's name is now a household word.