NEWS FROM FIJI AND TONGA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 787, 1 April 1887, Page 11

NEWS FROM FIJI AND TONGA.

DEPORTATION OF NATIVES. A LETTER OF PROTEST TO MR BAKER. (united press association.) Auckland, March 28. A number of natives deported from Tonga by order of the King have arrived at Fiji, and have been lodged there. Their offence was in listening to Mr Moulton. Miss Baker and Shirley Baker, jun., are progressing satisfactorily. The following is a letter of protest addressed to Mr Baber by British subjects, residents: “Nuknloafa. Sir, —We the undersigned Europeans resident in Tonga beg to protest against very much that has taken place in this unhappy country since the 13th of last month (January). We do not wish to expatiate on the causes which for three years and more have led up to the present trouble. We question at the present moment neither the justice northe expediency of the late executions. The Courts of Justiee have been closed to Europeans, and we are noable to form an opinion thereon ; but we most respectfully protest against, and feel much abhorence at, the fearful way in which an unoffending population has been treated, both as to their persons and property, both of which, in a country professedly Christian and civilised, should be under the protection of the laws. We have the less hesitation in thus protesting as their sole crime has been, as far as we know, a natural desire to remain adherents to the religion in which their fathers, and perhaps grandfathers, were born. We have the honor to be, Bir, your obedient servants, T. Parsons, E. w. Parker, H. Percival, W. D. Bernard, H. M. Fisher, Fred Langdale, W. E. Giles, W. F. Forster, H. Van Hagan, Robert Hanßleys, J. Briggs, George Young, Francis Payne, William Allen, L. Sorensen, S. Bloomfield, Philip Payne, L. B. Levin, G. C. Skudder, H. H. Easter, William Lombard, James Till, Robert Green, George Bishett. Nukuloafa, 23rd February, ISS7.” The s.s. Avawata, from Fiji, arrived at 10.30 last night. Advices dated the 23rd Maroh state that two schooners arrived at Sava from Tonga full of Native Wesleyans, deported by order of the king. The s.s. Sava also brought 29. The H. M.S. Diamond arrived from Hobart on the 20th, and leaves for Tonga to-morrow with the High Commissioner, the Chief Judicial Commissioner, and the Secretary to the Commission. According to advices by the s.s. Sava, the persecution of Wesleyans is still heavy in Tonga. The 8.8, Arawata was quarantined for three days on arrival iu Suva in consequence of scarlet fever in Auckland at the time of herdeparture. Many summary dismissals from, the Civil Service have been made with the. object of retrenching, and more are to follow.. Rain has been incessant the whole month,, and trade is at zero.