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

hasten the building OF church there.
News came of renewed prosecutions
in the outlying Niuas, north of Va
Vau, and OF misconduct on the part OF
the governor of Vavau, Manase by
name, q third rate chief and Jealous
prosecutor Of the Wesleyans.
This led Mr.. Thomson and three
colleagues to visit that beautiful,
romantic island, with its wealth Of
orange groves and wild precipices,
and it's vivacious, sociable people.
Here the chief product Is oranges, and
next to them cOpra.
Accompanied by Takuaho and Fata-
fehi Mr.. Thomson called on the o6stl-
nate old governor, and after the Kara
had been duly drunk, they gave him
q severe lecture.
Finau, the hereditary chief OF Va
vau, although he held no government
office, received the homage Of
all the people. Unfortunately he was
a scapegrace, who "swore fuently in
both English and German and had
cultivated taste for strong waters"
Removal OF the vavau Treasure.
In spite of the lurking suspi-
cion and discomfort in Vavau, be-
tween e20OO and $4,000 in silver had
been paid in as taxes. The
Vavau chiefs were all home rulers as
far as money was concerned, and
strongly objected to the removal OF
this coin to the treasury at Tonga
tabu. Mr.. Thomson therefore in
duced the king to hold privy council
at which a formal order was passed
that the funds in the sub-treasury
should be RENTED to NukualOfa ac-
cordiDg to law. Armed with this
order of the king in council, he pro-
ceeded to have the money counted,
aud had it carried on board of the
q. steamer amid the reproaches and
murmurs of the bystanders.
Preparations for Parliament.
In order to encourage the payment
were sued and their property sold out
at auction. "The mats, pots and
gndtu (tapa) were knocked down
without much attempt being made to
obtain the highest available price,,
and then as many of the horses, fowls
and pigs as could be caught were sold
at an average price-fOr the horses
and poultry at eighteen pence each,
and for the pigs at fifteen or twenty
action of the Government had the de-
sired effect on taxpayers and the
financial sky began to clear up.
The Cabinet now gave political din
ners nightly, at which whiskey and
champagne took the place of kava.
Meanwhile the budget was agreed up
on, and the new code based upon the
existing law of Tonga and the Indian
penal code, was drafted by Thomson
and Tukuaho, and printed in Auck-
land. Then came the elections for
parliament which were held by ballot,
instead of UiUa Uoce as under Mr..
Bakers regime. AS delinquent tax
payers were debarred from voting, the
vote cast was small, and four Wesley
ans were elected.
The Opening of Parliament.
AT length all was ready for parlia-
ment. The code was drafted, the new
uniforms had come from Sydney, and
the wharf was piled high with sacks
OF provisions and cases of liquor for
the parliamentary restaurant, which
is an important institution in Tonga.
The opening ceremonies were similar
to but less picturesque than those of
Hawaii. "Ou the dais was the Kings
gilt chair, and beside it the royal
crown, the heaviest in the world, re-
clined upon its cushion, supported by
a three legged table. This crown was
bought by Premier Baker from some
merchants in Sydney, and but for the
verdigris in the fittings, might well
pass for gold" There was q band and
n guard of honor at the entrance, and
the presence of the British High Com
missioner and of the officers of II. B.
NJ. 5. Cordelia added distinction to
the scene within.
When the first notes of the Tongan
National Anthem were heard, all
rose, and the old King, plainly clad
and erect for all his ninety years,
strobe in, looking "every iuch a
King" The speech from the throne
was read by his great-grandson, who
has since succeeded him.
The Tongan parliament is unica-
neral, the Mobiles sitting on the one
side and the Commons on the other,
numbering sixty-eight in all, includ-
ing the Cabinet, who have seats ez-
o6icio among the Mobiles. On the
whole, a high degree of decorum was
maintained, the cOmmoners being
still very much in awe of their hered-
itary chiefs.
Parliamentary Hash.
Near the parliament house stood a
long, white building (the counterpart
Of Arion hall), within which two long
tables Zone for the Lords and the other
for the Commonly were set at noon
each day, with the fat of the land.
THE lords were allowed a glass of
sherry and glass of beer each; the
Cabinet Ministers half a tumbler of
rum in addition; the Commons had to
content themselves with beer only"
\ beyy OF twenty Tongan damsels
officiated as mattresses.
During the session the friends of
Hayea, a chief of Haapai, applied for
leave of absence for him, aud it was
whispered that his illness was un-
namable; that leprOsy, the scourge of
the Pacific, had seized him." The
request was granted, and Mr.. Thorn
son improved the occasion by urging
1.-The necessity of isolating Infected
persons in order to check the alarm
ing increase of the disease"
Farewell scenes.
AZ Ianufh the raviSad Coda uaS