THE COUP D’ETAT IN TONGA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 32, 9 August 1890, Page 1

THE COUP D’ETAT IN TONGA.

Little more than two weeks has elapsed since New Zealand was surprised with the intelligence that the Kev. Shirley Baker had arrived in Auckland in a condition of compulsory banishment from the island of Tongatabu, of which he had been for several years the Prime Minister and guiding spirit. For some time matters had not been proceeding smoothly in the dominions of King George, there being a discontented section of the people who, like the Irish Nationalists, preferred to go into opposition behind a hedge with a shot gun rather than to employ the usual orthodox methods of the legislature. The consequence of this was an attempt to assassinate the Premier, in which his son received serious injuries, and the confidence of the outside world in the stability of the Tongan Government was some what unsettled. On the 24th of June Sir John Thurston, the High Commissioner, arrived at Tongatabu in the Rapid. Two days afterwards he had an interview with the Rev. Shirley Baker,

in which he expressed his dissatisfaction with the way in which the government of the Islands was being conducted. About a week later, on the sth of July, Mr Baker received a letter from the High Commissioner, in it was intimated to him that if he did not leave the island before the 18th of July he would render himself liable to arrest and imprisonment for two years or less, and to removal from his office as Premier. The reason given was that the influence and advice of Mr Baker in the government was

calculated to excite sedition and turmoil in the islandstosucb a degree that the peace of the place and his own life were endangered. At the same time the High Commissioner offered to receive Mr Baker and his family on board the Kapid, in the event of there being a prospect of seriousinjury being done to them previous to their evacuation of the position they held in the royal entourage. This offer was not accepted, and until the departure of the Premier and his belongings nothing of a disposition to attack wa s exhibited. On the 17th of July an Order of Prohibition was served on Mr Baker, the royal guard was drawn out opposite the public otlices, and he and his family were conducted on board the Wainui. In her they proceeded to Auckland,, where Mr Baker has long had a residence, and in which the members of his family are well known.