TONGAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13498, 27 May 1907, Page 6

TONGAN NEWS.

VISIT OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER. . [from our own correspondent.] "■■; ' ■ ' Nukualofa, May 18.' On Monday, April 29, H.M.s.: Cambrian arrived here, bringing His Excellency Sir Everard im Thurn, from Fiji. The ship dropped anchor .in the usual man-o'-war ground, and as she swung to her anchor the Tongan flag was run up to. the main, and. a salute of 21 guns fired. As soon as this was over the Union Jack was hoisted ;■ on ' the Government flagstaff on shore, and the salute was returned. ■ Mr. : Hamilton Hunter, the British Agent and' Consul, went off to the ship about eleven a.m., and shortly afterwards His Excellency landed, being accorded a salute of 17 guns' as he left the ship. He proceeded to the British Consulate, which became his headquarters, during his stay. ,; ' The same afternoon the captain of the warship, accompanied by the. first, lieutenant aiad a. guard' of marines, came ashore, and being joined by the party of the Governor,; from the Consulate ithey; ; waited-iipon King. George Tubou 11. at the Palace, to pay' their respects. '-'< The Tongan .Guards and band were also ;in :■ attendance, and the latter played the British 1 National Anthem as the party entered the Palace grounds-. . :. ' • " His Majesty, accompanied by Fatafehi, Minister for Lands, went off to the warship to lunch on Fridayp May 3, and received! a royal. salute on going and - returning, both from the ship and on shore. ' His Excellency had an interview with the King on matters of State, .and several conferences with the Cabinet Ministers during the week, and on Saturday morning, May 4, he met the Cabinet Ministers at the Consulate, and instructed them as to what he wished done in regard to the Government of the country in future. Rumours of all sorts have been flying about the beach as to what these instructions were, but nothing official is yet known, as the Gazette with the report of the proceedings at the conference has not yet been printed. It is nearly two years since the last visit of His Excellency to Ton ja.. and there was naturally a lot of business to, be done. i , ■ ..

Aconcert was given by the. members 'of the Cambrian's crew in 'aid of the fund for fencing the allotment upon .which the Victoria Memorial Hall stands. ." : The committee approached the ship's company with a . request for their kind assistance," and '"' the Jack Tars put on a capital programme, before a crowded house. T" The funds will benefit to the extent of .some £10. Leave was granted to a good- number of the orew during the vessel's stay in port, and. Jack on ! horseback caused great fun among the juvenile . portion of the native community. An enjoyable danice was given to the officers of the vessel by Dr.' and Mrs. Maguire at their residence, " Fogoloa,*' on the evening of Saturday, ; May 4, a very pleasant evening being spent. ■ ' About three -p.m. on Monday, the 6th insfc., the High Commissioner went aboard, his flag was hoisted at .the fore, and the big vessel got under weigh, homeward bound for Suva." H.M.s. Cambrian is the largest vessel that has yet visited this port. For two nights the powerful searchlight was at work, much to the delight of the juvenile portion of the natives. Quite a number of tourists passed through here by the Navua on May 6, all the firstclass accommodation of the • steamer being taken up. • A fair quantity of fruit goes forward by the Atua, but. there is very little copra coming forward, owing to the continued wet weather. *