TONGAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10790, 27 June 1898, Page 6

TONGAN NEWS.

[FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Tonga, June 18. Little change has come over the aspect of affairs here. During this month of the year trade is generally remarkable for its dinness, and this year forms no exception to the rule. In fact, the dulness is deepened by the long-continued strain upon our patience and resources. While there is nothing like prosperity, there is on the other hand fortunately no want. The food crops have been particularly abundant, and the Tongans have little to complain of beyond the inability to buy foreign luxuries, which they can very well do without. In this happy country every man grows his own supply of food, and, consequently, such far off events as the SpanishAmerican war have no effect whatever upon the price of yams. It is, however, that very inability to purchase foreign luxuries, which causes the trader to look at everything from the flat, stale, and unprofitable standpoint, and to weary of the uses of this life like the melancholy Dane himself. In the meantime, the weather is good, and the owner of the soil keeps healthy and strong, and will be ready for work when tho longedI for nuts begin to fall. Your Auckland merchants may look for better times about December next.

The king's marriage is the principal topic of discussion among the natives at pitsent. Preparations are being made for it, but it is not definitely settled yet who is to he the future queen. The young king, having sacrificed his own inclinations upon the altar of his country's weal, the matter has become one for his counsellors, and they find it difficult to come 1 to a definite decision on which one of the two available ladies it shall be. The Reverend Dr. Baker left us by the last steamer. He had been attending the conference of the Tongan Church a few days previously, but could not get the assembled ministers to fall in with his views, and wisely left them to follow their own devices. Dr. Baker lias, it is reported, somo intention now of proceeding against the Tongan Government for breach of contract. The Ysabel returned here from the Phoenix Group on the sth. Captain Ross reports all well there. He had fino but bad sailing weather. He left again for Niue on the 10th. There is no other shipping news of interest. Very little copra is coming into town, and the f.o.b. price still remains in the neighbourhood of £10 10b. 11l legal matters, the public examination of Alfred Cowley, a bankrupt, is closed, and the bankrupt has applied for discharge, the hearing of the application being fixed for July 7.

The Lee-Metford Small Arms and Ammunition Company (Limited) are manufacturing undoubtedly the three finest rifles in the world. These are respectively the Lee-Metford, the Lee-Turnbolt, and the Lee Straight-Pull rifle. The Lee-Metford rifle is the small arm now used by the British Government, who paid £50,000 for the sole right of use in our army and navy. Results at Bisley and other competitions have demonstrated the undoubted superiority of the weapon; while in recent campaigns, such as the frontier troubles in India, the Lee-Metford has earned an unrivalled reputation. The Lee Turnbolt has all the advantages of the Lee-Metford, and is about 21b less in weight, with only onehalf the number of parts. It is very easily kept in order, and its firing system can be taken apart by hand. The Lee StraightPull rifle has been recently adopted in the United States navy after very severe tests in a competition in which all the leading manufacturers throughout the world were represented. It is undoubtedly the deadliest small arm in the world, and is of even more simple construction than the Lee Turnbolt. It weighs 21b less than the LeeMetford, and has only 28 parts as compared with 57 in the latter. Fifty shots per minute can be fired from the Straight-Pull with the use of a clip, and a steel-jacketed bullet under the impulsion of smokeless powder attains a velocity of 2460 ft per second, and at a range of 15ft the bullet will penetrate through 56in of pine. The Lee Straight-Pull rifle can be manufactured and sold at a profit for £3 per rifle, the British Government paying not less than £4 for the Lee-Metford.

The Royal Caledonian Asylum had the advantage of the presence of the Duke of York at their annual festival dinner on May 9, in the Whitehall Rooms of the Hotel Metropole. The children of the asylum, headed by their pipers, marched into the hall, and were drawn up round the tables. The Duke of York, in appealing for the necessary funds, added an anecdote, which he said illustrated the pleasing fact that some Highlanders recognised the metropolis as an asylum for their countrymen. A Highlander, on paying his maiden visit to London, met a fellow-countryman in the street who had been resident only a short time, and inquired of him, "Moil, can you tell me where I shall find the Caledonian Asylum?" The other immediately replied," Why, mon, y're in it." (Loud laughter.) He was sure there were many Scotchmen, who having found an asylum in • London, where they had made large fortunes by their energy and industry, would be ready to come forward and help the other asylum, where Scotch children were maintained and educated.

The best Medicine known is Sander and Son's Hucamtti Kxtract.—' its eminent powerful effects in coughs, colds, influenza; the relief is instantaneous. In serious cases an.l accidents of all kinds, be they wounds, burns, scalding, bruises, sprain, it is the safest remedy-lie swelling, no inflammation. hike surprising effects produced in croiiji, diphtheria, bronchitis, inflammation of the lungs, swellings, etc., diarrhoea, dysentery, diseases of the kidneys and urinary organs. In use at hespii tals and medical clinics all over the globe ! patronised by His Majesty the King of Italy: crowned with medal and diploma at International Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this approved article, and reject all others, Specify Sauiler and Son's product, 01 else worthless oils will bi sup' I plied, as experienced by ourselves. ... • . .