The Hawaiian gazette., 1895-09-13

Some time ago there appeared in
the columns of this paper an inter-
esting article on politics in
Tonga" by Professor W. D. Alex
ander, which was read before a
meeting of the Hawaiian Mission
Children's Society. Many illusions
are made in it to Hawaii and GUS
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
a seat in their Privy Council, in Au-
gust, 1890.
The exiled Wesleyans who had been
sent for from the island of Koro, and
loaded with presents by the sympa-
thizing Fijiaps, 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, she fired a salute. GAS the
echoes OF the last discharge lied away,
the voices of the exiles We're 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 a cloud OF white
draperies."
On arriving in Tonga, however,
they were not received with any great
demonstration of enthusiasm, and MIR.
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 Tongan Cabinet.
AS to the personnel Of the Cabinet,
cudDS6 DcCh tuC DC-
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 lineal descend
ant of the anscient TUT KaDakubolu,
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, chief of the first rank, with his
uncle Sateki, Auditor General, were
also members of the Council.
Tie highest parsonage in the King
dom, next to the King, by birth was
Fatafehi, the lineal descendant of the
ancient TUT 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 first-class
shorthand reporter, and expert detect
i've, and a trustworthy confidant.
The claims against the Government
amounted to something over $4,000,
besides arrears of pay amounting to
$4,000, 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 superstition that
they should have time for the cultiva-
ton of their food. gardens. The clerks
had TO attend their Offices on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays, but were
free on all other days of the week.
The Minister OF Finance was an expert
at fishing with a 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 sluDg by a cord around
his neck. One day, after a 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 unavailiDg
search with bis servants. A week
passed, during which the Minister of
Finance daily secured the reef at low
tide, and the Premier's office was ram
sacked for duplicate. Matters began
to look serious. A months salaries
were due, and the creditors of the
Government were becoming importu-
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 Teopened and the
news spread among the hungry cred
itors, who found q continuous stream
to and from the building for two days
before their claims could be satisfied.
Mr.. Thomson elsewhere states that
ain the kings palace there is throne
room furnished like an Australian
parlor, with Kidderminster carpets,
ormula ornaments under glass shades,
and crewel work mats on the tables,
while in q bare room on the ground
floor the king sleeps on his mat spread
on the boards, and eats bis yams from
a single plate A cabinet minister
may be seen sitting on the floor OF his
well furnished office eating bis mid
day meal from large dish with his
fingers"
The Voyage to Lifuka.
To return to the Cabinet. After
fully discussing the situation, 1t was
decided that Tukuaho, Fatafehi and