"THE PACIFIC, EAST AND WEST."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9107, 16 July 1888, Page 11

"THE PACIFIC, EAST AND WEST."

J This was the title of an interesting, lecture delivered at the Young Men's Christian Association lecture hall on July 6 by tho Rev. George Brown, and the knowledge that few men can speak with as much authority on such a subject as this distinguished missionary was sufficient to account for the very large attendance. Mr. J. McMaster presided, and the proceedings were opened with prayer by the Yen. Archdeacon Dudley. The Rev. J. S. Hill had his limelight apparatus in readiness to illustrate the lecture by a series of photos, taken by the Rev. Mr. Brown. The Lecturer, who was received with applause when introduced by the chairman, commenced by saying he had spent upwards of 20 years amongst the Pacific islands, and . was pretty well acquainted with their languages. He explained why he spoke of the East and West Pacific. They were usually divided into two races—the Malayan and the Papuan, but almost every person who wrote on the subject had a new name. Ho preferred to divide them into two classes— <" East and West Polynesia, not that any line could be drawn, but by Eastern Polynesia he meant the light copper-coloured races, such as the Maoris, the Tongans, and tho Samoans; and by the Western Polynesians he meant the darker coloured natives of New Guinea, New "Britain, &c. He believed that the Maoris and others of this race were not, as some supposed, Malays, but that) all the inhabitants of the South Sea Islands were of one race, the previous inhabitants of Malasia, and he was supported in this view by the Rev. Mr. Codrington, of the Melanesian Mission. He could not deal in this lecture with the whole of the Islands, but he would take a few groups as representatives of the races—Tonga and Samoa as the East, and New Britain as the representatives of the Papuan race, and refer to their distinguishing traits of appearance, language, and customs. Tonga was a fair representative''- of the Eastern Polynesian race, a grand race head and shoulders over any other natives of - the Pacific. They had a population of 20,000, and their king had great power. The Tongans had reached to an advanced civilisation. As instances, he related having heard a Tongan play some of Haydn's selections on the organ, a band playing the national airs, and one member of the band being called out to play a piece of music from sight; and as another instance, he gave that of a young man who had taken own a speech in shorthand, which he read from his notes afterwards. */ He was present at a trial at one of their courts. A member of the English aristocracy had landed on one of the islands which was not the port of entry, and in this the Tongans were very particular, and rightly so, for one vessel by this means bad brought the measles to Fiji, and caused the Joss of thousands of lives. He saw there a Tongan acting as judge, and there was a3 much order and decorum in that court as in any court in New Zealand. The judge said that he believed the gentleman had acted in ignorance, but he was fined in the minimum penalty. The gentleman, looking, no doubt, on the judge as a nigger, refused to pay the fine, and he (Mr. Brown) was amazed at the calm dignity of the judge 0 when he advised that gentleman to see tho British Consul. He did so, and paid tho fine thankfully. Another feature was the nationalisation of the land, which was adopted there long before Henry Gegrge published his work, and he referred to the wonderful progress made by this group. As to their religious condition he did not intend to say much, as that would be treading on dangerous ground, but in spite of difficulties and troubles he did not want the audience to run away with the idea that all Tongans had lost religion. There were thousands now in the Free Church who were as good Christians and as good Methodists as any here. (Cheers.) They saw all the evidences of progress there. There, were splendid roads, etc., and whatever they might think of the Premier of Tonga they must admit that he had done a great deal for the commercial prosperity of , this people. They had a wharf at which' the Union steamers could load and discharge, they had a college and growing literature, all showing evidences of the capacity of the Islanders, and the hard work done amongst) them. Mr. Brown then referred to the great advantages of Tonga to New Zealanders, especially for health purposes, as it was only a few days steam from Auckland, and possessed the finest climate on the face of God's earth for persons suffering from chest diseases at this time of year. Mr. Brown then referred to Samoa, where he had spent fourteen years, and no nicer, more loveable, or more polite people were there in the world. In regard to the political state of Samoa he would not take up much time, and only refer to the difference between Samoa and Tonga. He considered King George of Tonga one of the most remarkable men in the world since Emperor Wilhelm's death. He was now 90 years old, and his age could be traced, for he was a youth when the Port-au-Prince was captured in 1806. The fact of this man being a conqueror, having power and using that power well, prevented the trouble which had arisen in Samoa, where there never was a man who could say he was king. The Tongans had a constitution similar to that of Britain. The Samoans tried this, but they had no Napoleon amongst them, and with their inter- | necine wars they hardly made any progress. As to the German annexation ihe British people had no reason to growl because others took the land winch they refused. The Samoans never could govern themselves. Time after time the government of the islands was offered to Britain, and in his opinion they ought to have taken it. (Cheers.) Not that lie wanted them to grasp the land, but because, bad as they were, they were the most capable of looking after the welfare of the native races. Then Germany stepped in, and he said "All right; better German rule than wars ; " but what he objected to was that; they did not rule, and with all respect for i;he great German nation, tneir conduct towards Malietoa was unworthy of them, and when the story of Samoa came to be written, the magnanimous conduct of this dark-skinned King in giving himself up to save his people would be remembered. A great deal had been done by the Germans for Samoan commerce, and he should not object if tney annexed Samoa and governed it. However, there was a great future before a • Fifteen photographs were then exhihiM id on the screen by the lime light . Mr. Brown then proceeded to deall,. , } d and the wonderful progress which naa been made since the first) missionary went there in 1835. Rapidly passing through numerous groups, he reached JSe JS±S iiEaliLn"t

gious rite, and many lived and died in these, islands who never ate human flesh. Amongst their characteristics, he referred to their money—a shell currency, their club houses, - secret societies, etc., and their unreasoning dread of their mothers-in-law, and he also alluded to the great variety of dialects and the difficulty which this presented to missionaries.

At the close of the address, which lasted two hours, a cordial vote of thanks was, on the motion of Mr. Josiah Martin, accorded to tne Rev. Mr. Brown. The proceedings concluded with the benediction.