THE TONGAN AFFAIR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1557, 24 February 1887, Page 3

THE TONGAN AFFAIR.

London, Feb. 21. Sir Henry Holland states that the Government are awaiting authentic news from Tonga before they consider whether Sir C. B. Mitchell shall intervene, Sidney, Feb, 22. H.M.S. Diamond sailed to-day for Tongs. EXTRAORDINARY ALLEGATIONS. Wbmmngxon, Feb. 22. The following is to band from Tonga j We are now able to send further particulars of the Tonga affairs,and in addition an account of some of the outrages that have taken place up to date (the departure v of the Suva). The trials were a disgrace to a country professing to have a constitutional form of Government and a tivilised code of laws, and moreover with an Englishman at the head of the Govern* ment. The trials were conducted by Mr Baker in person, and Mr Watkin, the ex- / Wesleyan Parson, who deserted his Church. The jury was a packed one and the Court was filled with none but Baker’s creatures. No Wesleyans or Catholics were allowed within the Courthouse, and no Europeans, except the German and English Pro-Consuls, The latter does not understand the language and i£) not allowed an interpreter, *Baker was judge, jury, prosecutor and everythin combined. He

addressed the jury as they were leaving the Court, and was heard to say distinctly, referring to one of the prisoners who he feared would get off, “Remember that the prisoner has confessed to having participated.” This poor man had not confessed. One of the jury, a man called Titi, refused to hold up his hand as a sign of finding accused guilty. When asked aboT!' this he said, “1 understand that a juryman should obey the dictates of his conaciene.” He was quickly silenced and told that he had no right to differ from his elders and bettors. The prisoners were ) finally all found guilty of having pated, and on this ground were sentenced to be shot. Some of the doomed men were Wesleyans, and some Catholics, yet neither Mr Mom ton or the priests were allowed to visit them Mr Baker had promised to let the priests know when the sentence would be carried out, so that they would have time to visit them. They were, however, I urried on board a schooner, and taken away in the middle of the night. Among the six sentenced to immediate execution was David Finan, an ordained Wesleyan minister, one of the brightest gems of the Wesleyan mission. This news roused the European residents, and they all protested, as one man, against any more bloodshed. Some went so far as to threaten Baker himself, and the general opinion was, and still is, that Baker’s life hangs on a thread. Baker, on his part, threatened a massacre of all the whites if his life was attempted by a white man. It was solely owing to the threat of the Europeans, and the firm attitude of the Acting-Consul, Mr W. E. Giles, that further butchering was postponed. Everything seemed to be quiet in town, and there whs a talk of sending the Haapai and Vavau warriors home again. On Monday morning, the 7th inst,, all our hopes were dispelled, The new Vice-Consul, Mr J. Leefe, arrived on the day previous, and we had hoped for an improvement. Ou the contrary, Monday, the 7ith inst., was a day hated by all. Biker’s rowdies started out at daylight crying t'iat a message had come from Queen Victoria that the King might do as he liked with his own people. Every man’s hand was turned against the Wesleyans. The College grounds were invaded, and the houses of the ministers and students were all plundered and looted. Men, women and children were thrashed and beaten with sticks, clubs and the butt . ends of rifles, in order to induce them to turn over to Baker’s church. Many were left for dead. One band of war-painted demons invaded the Mission House grounds in the absence of Mr Moulton. This band was not less than 300 in number, and were armed with rifles and bayonets. Fortunately for Mrs Moulton and the children an Englishman appeared and turned the yelling horde out of the mission grounds, explaining that the i mission grounds were British, and that it was “ tabu” for them to enter with arms. ' Iwo magistrates were admitted, but i without their firearms, and they began i to demand in the King’s name the whole of the Wesleyans ou the premises. The new British Consul was consulted, and he gave -a his decision the now familiar phrase, “The King can do just whatever he pleases with his own people; I can’t interfere.” In obedience to our Vice-Consul we delivered up one by one the poor people who had sought a haven of rest in the house of their beloved missionary. It was hard. As each , minister went forth amongst that crowd : of yelling fiends, he was seized and subjected to every possible indignity that could be conceived, but when the poor women went forth it was truly heartrending. One example will suffice, A poor old woman, over sixty years of age, toddled down to the gale and went forth. She was immediately seized and dragged along by the hair and ears, amid the yells and hoots of the demoniacal multitude. She was stood up, and a big ruflian struck her in the face several times with his clenched fist. She was nearly stunned, and then staggered forward, bleeding, while another demon danced in front of her with a big axe uplifted within a few inches of her face threatening to cut her down. Nor were these outrages confined te Wesleyans alone. In the evening the premises of the Roman Catholic mission were invaded by a band of armed and painted fiends, led by Maapu, the King’s brother. He demanded the body of one Ameni in most violent language, shouting at the priests, and demanding to know if they meant to give him up. It is now their intention to appeal to France. A French man of war is expected to reach Tonga in a few days, and no doubt her commander will be glad of a chance to get his name op. The French Government want a coaling station between Tahiti and New Qaledonia, and there is no doubt but that they now have a good cause for interference, Tonga news per Arawata says that Baker is acting as prosecutor and judge. Other five natives have been executed, and 30 more are on trial, Euorpean resi» dents protested again the wholesale slaughter, and one went so far as to threaten to shoot Baker himself, and the general opinion is that Baker’s life hangs on a thread, Baker on his part threatened retaliatory measures against all whites if his life were attempted. Miss Baker is siill living, and is expected to recover. Large crowds have arrived, and the natives are busy ft converting ” Wesleyans by means of guns and clubs. A French warship is expected to arrive immediately to avenge the outrages on Catholic natives and missionaries. Wellington, February 23-. The Premier does not anticipate any difficulty about French interference in Tonga, He is of opinion that German jealously would be aroused by the appearaoce of the French so close to Samoa. The Diamond sails under orders from Admiral Tryon.