The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-09-12


toms in vogue in the islands of
earlier days. Following is the con-
clusion Of the article:
The Voyage From Fiji.
AS before stated, Mr.. Basil Thomson
was sent by Sir John Thurston, High
Commissioner of Western Polynesia,
to be adviser of the Tongan chiefs with
q seat in their Privy Council, in Au-
gust, 1890.
The exiIed Wesleyans who had been
sent for from the island of KOrO, and
loaded with presents by the sympa-
thizing Fijians, sailed August 10th on
the steamer Pukaki for their native
Tonga. 1t was an exciting scene. AS
the little steamer, dressed with nu-
merous flags, swung off amid deafen-
ing cheers given by the crowd on
shore, che fired a salute. GAS the
echoes of the last discharge died away,
the voices of the exiles were heard
singing, Home, Sweet Home,' in
their own language, and they contin-
ued singing until they had passed
through the white line of breakers,
and the figures on the shore had
melted away in cloud of white
draEeries."
On arriving in Tonga, however,
demonstration of enthusiasm, and Mr..
Thomson found the state of affairs far
from satisfactory. Not a penny of
taxes had been paid, and the people
had been told by Bakers friends that
his removal and the sending of Mr..
Thomson were intended to prepare the
way for annexation to England, the
standing bugbear of every Tongan.
The new Cabinet were accused of
being willing to sell their country TO
England.
The TODgan Cabinet.
AS TO the personnel of the Cabinet,
no change had been made in the De-
partment of Finance, except the APP
pointment of Mr.. Campbell as assist
ant to do the work of the Minister,
Junia Mafileo. The Premier, George
Tukuaho, one of the ablest young
chiefs of Tonga, was a lineal descend
ant of the anscient Tui Kanakubolu,
or civil heads of Tonga, an office SINH
lar to that of the so-called Tycoon, or
Shotgun of Japan. His father, Tungi
Kubu, the energetic Minister of Po-
lice, a chief of the first rank, with his
uncle Sateki, Auditor General, were
also members of the Council.
The highest parsonage in the King
dom, next to the King, by birth was
Fatafehi, the lineal descendant of the
ancient Tui Tonga or spiritual and
semi. divine head of Tonga. Even now
it is tabu for any commOner to eat in
his presence. He had married the
Kings granddaughter, and his son has
since become King of Tonga.
"AlthOugh hedged by divinity, Fat
afehi bears his honors with great ease
and good humor." His tact and elo-
quence were of the greatest service to
the Administration.
The Clerk of the Privy Council, one
Mataka, was invaluable as a first-class
shorthand reporter, and expert detect
i've, and trustworthy confidant.
The claims against the Government
amounted to something over $4,000,
besides arrears of pay amounting to
e8OOO, and, to meet these claims, there
was $4,000 in the treasury.
How the Key of the Treasury was Lost.
The pay of the civil servants had
been fixed on the suppositiOn that
they should have time for the cultiva-
tion Of their food gardens. The clerks |
had to attend their offices on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays, but We're !
free on all other days of the week. |
The Minister of Finance was an expert |
at fishing with hand net on the reef. |
Now it was his belief that his duty as |
Minister of Finance began and ended |
with the custody Of the key of the |
safe, which was slung by cord around |
his neck. One day, after wonderful |
feat OF agility in bagging a shOal of |
little fish, he felt at his neck for the |
precious key, and for hours he |
searched for it in vain: and again, at |
low tide, made farther unavailing |
search with his servants. A week |
passed, during which the Minister of |
Finance daily secured the reef at low |
tide, and the Premier's office was ran !
sacked for duplicate. Matters began |
to look serious. a months salaries !
were due, and the creditors of the !
Government were becoming importu- I,
nate. At last, in the corner OF a drawer, |
a rusty key was found which, when |
oiled and cleaned, proved to be the |
duplicate.
The treasury was reopened and the |
news spread among the hungry cred |