TONGAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13762, 29 May 1908, Page 7

TONGAN NEWS.

[FROM OUR OWN correspondent.] .'.'■''. Nukualofa, May 16. Ox April 28 last a flutter of excitement was caused by the arrival of H.M.S. Cambrian from Norfolk Island and Sydney. As the warship came up to the anchorage she saluted the Tongan flag, and, when she had moored, it became necessary for us to return the courtesy. A slight delay occurred, owing to the fact that the stock of powder hero had run very low, but, luckily, the Ysabel had arrived from New Zealand four days before; and brought a further supply. This was, however,. in the concrete shed on the wharf, and a case had to brought up hurriedly, and the cartridges made up for the guns of the saluting battery "while you wait." After a little delay, the Union Jack was ran up to the top of the Government flagstaff, the Tongan national ensign being temporarily lowered, and the salute was. got off. The gunners consisted of members of the police force, several of whom used to belong to the disbanded Tongan Guards, and, with one mistake, they fired the salute very creditably. The gunner of No. 4 got flurried, once, and fired at the same time as No. 3, making a terrible report, but beyond wasting a charge of powder no great harm was done.

The Inveric; the last of the Australian mail line to call here, arrived on the let inst., and left again on the sth, taking some 3000 packages of fruit, for the Auckland market. Trouble with the Wharf Labourers' Unions, both in Sydney and Auckland, on account of these vessels carrying a Chinese crew, has, we are told, led to their withdrawal from calling at this port on their way to and from 'Frisco. This is a pity, for their coming regularly would have led to an increase in our output of fruit, besides enabling our local merchants to , import goods direct, from America. The Atua arrived on the 2nd inst. from Auckland with the usual general cargo, and resumed her voyage to the north on the following day. She had her passenger accommodation taxed to the utmost owing to -the rush of tourists at the commencement of the season. The oil launch carried a party to see the " Hainoga," or Stone Arch, on the Sunday, but a verv heavy tropical shower on the way back rather spoilt the outing for the passengers who were caught in it. The Financial Statement of this kingdom for Ihe year ended December 31 last has been published, and from it we gather that affairs as regards money are still in a satisfactory <ondition. The year wa:i commenced with a balance in hand of £17,586 5s 9d, and to this is added the revenue for 1907, which amounted to £34,912. 7s. The principal item of revenue were taxes; £11,848 14s 3d, and Customs, £14,482 18s. The expenditure for the 12 months totalled £33,540 15s 6d, of which £16,551 2s 7d was absorbed by the' salaries of the Civil Servants. The balance carried forward to 1908 amounts to £18,957 17s 3d. Several large works arc being put in hand this year, the principal of these being' the ferro-concrete wharf at. V avail, for which £9000 is allocated, and there is a sum of £1000 put down for a stone building here to accommodate the Customs, Treasury, and Post Office. From the statement of the trade and navigation of the kingdom for 1907, it is evident that copra is still the backbone of the country, and the principal export, the quantity sent away being 7360 tons llcwt Oqr lib, and the value of the same £119,717 2s Bd. The next item of importance among the exports is fruit — 91,615 packages, total value .£10,002. Fungus amounted to over 31 tons, at a value of £1394. The total value of exports for the year amounted to £134,193 18s lid. Turning to the imports, New Zealand heads the list with £42,969 2s lOd, then comes Australia £36,570 Is id, followed by Germany, £11,046 16s 6d. The total value of goods imported for the year was £97,820 Is sd.