HAPPY DAY AT TONGA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21470, 19 April 1933, Page 12

HAPPY DAY AT TONGA

THE VICE-REGAL PARTY PICTURESQUE RECEPTION GOODWILL TO EMPIRE (By Radio.— Special to Press Association) H.M.S. DIOMEDE, April 17 An excursion to the Stonchenge of Tonga, known as Haamonga, was made to-dav by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloo* and Lady Bledisloe and members of their party as guests of the Government of Tonga. It is bclievci. that Haamonga, which is a trilithon, was built by a Tongan king about 1200 A.D., tho method followed being similar to that used in the construction of the Egyptian pyramids. It consists of three huge blocks of stone, two being upright and one crossways, the latter fitting into grooves on the top of the vertical stones. A short distance awav are the tombs of ancient kings, where massive blocks of stone ale used. The visitors were accompanied by Queen Salote, the acting-Prime Minister, Ata, many prominent citizens and public officials. A formal reception had been arranged on a most elaborate scale. The guests spent a perfect day amid picturesque and beautiful surroundings attended bv hundreds of Tongans arrayed in their holiday glory. It was scene of peculiar and appealing beauty, enhanced by the lovely setting of sylvan glades. While the guests were at luncheon in a specially built pavilion, which was a work of art, relays of Tongans presented national dances with amazing grace and precision, singing their songs most melodiously. Little children took part in the entertaining, numbers with a degree of gravity which was conspicuously absent from their lighthearted seniors. The singers chanted the praises of Tonga and its monarchs, past and present, and did not omit courteous tributes to the distinguished visitors. Presents of tappa cloths and other articles were made, and the visitors were decorated with fibre and arrayed in floral adornments such as are used on festal occasions, eventually returning from the scene in very gay attire indeed. His Excellency, Lord Bledisloe, in an appreciative speech, thanked the Queen and her Government for the kind reception and generous hospitality. Especially gratifying to him, he observed, was the excellent feeling of the people toward England and the British Empire. He would have the greatest pleasure in informing His Majesty of the cordiality with which his representatives were received as guests and given such an enthusiastic and picturesque welcome. The Diomede sails for Vavau at four o'clock this afternoon.