PICTURESQUE SCENES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18066, 18 April 1933, Page 5

PICTURESQUE SCENES

VICEREGAL ISLAND TOUR TONGA’S GREAT RECEPTION HISTORIC SITE VISITED (Received April 18, 11 a.m.) (Special to Press Association by Radio) H.M.S. DIOMEDE April 17. An excursion to the Stonehenge oi Tonga, known as the Haamonga, was made by Their Excellencies and thenparty to-day as tho guests of the Government of Tonga. It is believed that the Haamonga. which is a trilithon, was built by a Tongan king about 1200 A.D., the method followed being similar to that used in tiie construction of tho Egyptian pyramids It consists of three- huge blocks of stone, two being upright and one crossways, the latter fitting into a groove on the top of the vertical stones. A short distance away are tho tombs of tho ancient kings, where massive blocks of stone are used. Tho visitors were accompanied by Queen Salote, the aeting-Prinie Minister, and many prominent citizens and jublic officials. A formal reception had been arranged on a most elaborate scale. The guests spent a perfect day amid picturesque and beautiful surroundings, attended by hundreds of Tongans arrayed in holiday glory. It was a scene jaeuliav and appealing, its beauty enranced by the lovely setting of the 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 songs most melodiously. Little children took part in entertaining numbers with a degree of gravity which was conspicuously absent from their light-hearted seniors. The singers chanted praises of Tonga and its monarchs, past and present, not omitting courteous tributes to the distinguished visitors. Presents of taffa cloths and other articles were made, and the visitors were decorated with fibre and arrayed in floral adornments used on festal occasions, eventually returning from the scene in a very gay appearance indeed. His Excellency, 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 had been received as guests, and given such an enthusiastic and picturesque welcome. The Diomede sails for Vavau at 4 o’clock this afternoon.