TONGAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14303, 24 February 1910, Page 6

TONGAN NEWS.

FROM OUR . OWN CORRESPONDENT.

Nukualofa, February 19. On the night of Friday. January 28, a young seaman, John Brown, ono of the crew of tlio American barqucntine Man Winklemann, lying alongside tho wharf at. Nukualofa, met his death by drowning. He was employed as nightwatchman while the vessel was in port, and was on duty in this capacity on tho night previous. Ho was supposed to sleep during the daytime, but the heat of the weather and the noise made in discharging cargo prevented him doing, so, and he was about tho decks most of the day. When night fell ho went duty, and was last seen about nine o'clock by some of, the crew oil tho after dock of the ship. When Captain Piltz, who had "been ashore' for the evening, returned to the ship about 10 p.m., there was no sign of Brown, and after calling him in vain for some time the captain concluded that ho must, have; gone ashoro without leave. At daylight next - morning tho, ship was searched without any result, and then one of the crew, happening to look over the side of the vessel to seaward, saw the bodj resting on the bottom of the harbour, in about 26ft of water. Grappling irons were procured, and the body was recovered;"', ' ;■< "

Mr. August Hciririeh Hettig, a veteran, of tho Franco-Prussian war, in which lie served as an army farrier in tho German army, died; at his residence in Nukualofa on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 25, at the age of 63 years. • Tho new Government hospital at Lifuka, Ilaapai, was formally opened on Tuesdaj, February B,' by Fatafchi, father of King George Tubou 11. "Mr. W. Teller Campbell (accompanied by Mrs. Campbell), the Premier, and other members of the Cabinet went tip from hero by tho Tofua for tho ceremony, and there was a largo gathering of Europeans and natives. Tho building is on similar lines to those in Nukualofa and Yavau. and contains male and female wards, dispensary, and an operating-room, furnished in a thoroughly up-to-dato manner. Dr. Bolton is Government medical officer in charge, having lately arrived from Vila, New Hebrides. •

News from Ilaapai per Elfriedo states that a good part of the cargo from the burnt barque lmacos will bo recovered by tho buyers. . The lower part of tho copra in tho hold was verj tightly packed, and was also wetted by the sea water , which came in through tho leak in the vessel's bows, consequently tho firo took very little effect upon it. Now thero is a gang of natives with sharpened poles stirring this copra apart, and as it floats to the surface they gather it in landing nets, and it is taken ashore and dried on tho beach. • A rather prolonged though not very severe shock of earthquake was felt here on the morning of January 29, about eight o'clock. There was a tremulous motion, the course of which seemed to be from north to south, and this lasted for over a minute. Unlike other shocks wo have experienced of lato year, there was no jarring bump, merely a sustained tremor, : which gradually died away. ,• • - • '