THE TROUBLES IN TONGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9062, 24 May 1888, Page 5

THE TROUBLES IN TONGA.

We have already given an outline of the discussion at the Wesley an Conference in Melbourne in regard to Tonga, with the determination come to. We now supplement the report by some passages. At the commencement of the discussion, The Rev. John Watsford said that the telegram in question came into his hands when he was president of the General Conference in May, 1881, and when he was stepping on board the vessel at Adelaide to return to Melbourne. When he arrived in Melbourne, the late Rev. Mr. Chapman, the general secretary of missions, took charge of the telegram with the intention of getting the Missionary Committee to send an answer. The telegram was put by Mr. Chapman in a drawer, and was nob recovered until a few days ago, when by some accident it was brought to light, and that was the reason that it had never been before a Conference.

The telegram was as follows :Auckland, 2Sth May, ISSI. To the President-elect Wesleyan Conference, Adelaide, —King and chiefs enraged at Watkin's recall. Decided to establish National Church, and get Watkin as first minister. King delayed at my request. President's letter unsatisfactory. No new plan acceptable. This is the King's ultimatum : Tonga to be an independent district, like Auckland ; Watkin to be reinstated ; Tonga to be attached to New Zealand. Grant this, peace. Reject, at once secession. Don't be deceived. The secession will be universal and popular. Reply paid.—Shirley W. Baker, Premier." The Rev. G. Lanse moved the resolutions of the New South Wales Annual Conference, to the effect : —" That it cannot consent to withdraw from Tonga, and so abandon the people who have been loyal to our Church, notwithstanding the cruel persecutions which so many of them have suffered, nor can it consent to any attempts to compel them to unite with the Free Church of Tonga, That it expresses its deep sympathy with the Rev. J. E. Moulton, the chairman of the district."

Mr. J. Callaghan moved as an amendment a series of resolutions to the effect: —That the Friendly Islands district of the New South Wales and Queensland Conference be formed into an annual conference, to be comprised in and governed by the General Conference of the Australasian Wesleyan Methodist Church, upon certain conditions, amongst which were the following : That all the ministers, officers, members, and adherents of both the Wesleyan and Free Church of Tonga be received as ministers, officers, members, and adherents of the United Church upon equal terms. That a general amnesty be declared with reference to all those who may have been punished for any breaches of the laws re-, lating to religion or religious worship, and that those who may have been banished (if any), or may have left Tonga on account of religious differences, be permitted to return, and as far as practicable shall be restored to the positions which they occupied previous to or at the time of the recent religious divisions. That should it be ne ; cessary or desirable, in order to the accomplishment of this proposed union of the Friendly Islands Churches, that the Rev. J. E. Moulton should retire from Tonga, the New South Wales and Queensland Conference is hereby authorised and directed to effect such retirement by giving Mr.' Moulton an appointment within its jurisdiction. In support of the motion Mr.' Callaghan said they had heard a good deal of sympathy expressed with the 2000 people who had remained true to the Church; but what of the IS,OOO who left them ? If they might be restored to the Church, if was work of the utmost self-abnegation that they could possibly evince. There was one very important consideration—viz.,' that if they (the Conference) consented to the amalgamation of their Church with the Free Church of Tonga, ib was probable nay, certain Mr. Baker would occupy some influential position in the Church. Some of them would ask why he should be allowed back again ; but he contended that if, by this means, they could accomplish the object they aimed —viz., the settlement i, of the , trouble, they (the Conference) should agree to it. (Applause and dissent.)- He deplored the persecutions which had taken ' place, but attributed them to the fact that the Government had neglected to put in force the laws. _ • Ultimately Mr. Fitchett's motion, _ in favour of a special commission, was carried.