NEWS FROM TONGA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2111, 9 August 1894, Page 10

NEWS FROM TONGA.

Auckland, August 2. Mr Hont-lip has arrived from Tonga on a mission from the Tongan Government concerning some Tongan matters. News from ToDga states that on Saturday, June 30, a summons was served on C. D. Whitcombe, Foreign Secretary to the Tongpu Government, at the instance of A. 111. Campbell, late collector of c-.iftoms and postmaster, who laid a criminal information fcr false and malicious libel. Thus v.ording of the information is "thf-t you did on the 2nd day of February, in tbe yc<ir of cur Lord 1894, at Nukualofa, in the kingdom of Tonga, unlawfully, wickedly, and maliciously write and publish a false, sc<mda!ou.->, malicious, and defamatory libel in tl.e form of a report to the Hon. the Pjemicr of Tonga, and dated Nukualofa, December 15, 1893, containing divers false, scandalous, maliciouy, and (Ufarnatcry matt'rh and things of and concerning Alexander Malcolm Campbell, planttr, of Ata, in the said kingdom." Whitccmbe was summoned to appear for the preliminary investigation on Tueßday, July 3, when the depositions were taken. Accmed d<eline<l to erect.-: \*mine any of the witnesses coclcotiii^'huustlf with eliciting from the Premier that Ihu audit was ordered by the King, and that he (Wbitcornbe) was appointed auditor by the Premier and Ministry, Mid that tho publication of the report was. sar.ctior.ed by the Premier. He declined t<> oiler himself for examination or to make any statement, or to call any witnesses, reserviof; his defence till the trial. He was duly committed for trial and admitted to bail. The trial is to t»ke placo on Augu&t 20 at Nukualofa, before the Chief Justice of Fiji (Hon. Henry Birkley) and assessors. The case excites much interest.

Thu Lakeside Coal Company, Kaitangata, are working on a seam about Bit wide showing i a One face of solid coal,