AFFAIRS IN TONGA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1490, 23 February 1887, Page 2

AFFAIRS IN TONGA

ASTOUNDING STATEMENTS. Wellington, February 22. The following is to hand from Tonga: — We are now abJe to lend farther particulars of the Tonga affairs, and m addition an account of some of the outrages that have t»ken place up to date (the departure of the Suva). The trial's were a disgrace to a country professing to have a constitutional forrrt of Government and 'a civilised code of laws, and moreover with an Englishman at the head of the Government. The trials were conducted by Mr Baker m person, and Mr Watkins, the exWesleyan Parson, who deierted his Church The jury wai a ploked 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-Oonsnls. The latter does not understand the language and h not allowed an Interpreter. Baker was judge, jury, prosecutor and everything oombined. He addressed the jury as they were leaving the Court, and was heard to say distinctly, referring to one of the prisoner! who he feared would get off, " Remember that the prisoner haa confessed to having participated." Thin poor man had not confessed. One of the jury, a man oalled Tlti, refused to hold up his hand aa a sign of finding the. nconstd guilty. When asked about this hescld, " I understand that a> < juryman Bhould obey the dictates of h!a conscience. " He was quickly silenoed and . told that he had no right to differ from bit eldera and betters. The prisoneri were finally all found guilty of having participated, and on this ground were sentenced to be shot. Some of the doomed men. were Wesleyans, and some Catholios, yet neither Mr Moulton 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 thtt they would have time to visit them. They were however hurried on board a sohooner and taken away m the middle of the night. Among the six sentenced to Immediate execution waß David Finan, an ordained Wesley an minister, one of the brightest gems of the Wealeyan 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 hfmielf, and the general opinion was, and still is, that Baker's life hangs on a thread. Baker, on his part. threatened a massaore of all the whites if hJB life wns attempted by a white man. It was solely owing to the threats of the Eu opeane, and the firm attitude of the Acting-Consul, Mr W. E. Giles, that further butchering was postponed. Everything seemed to bo qniet m town, and there was a talk of sending the Haapal and Vavau warriors home agalo. On Monday morning, the -7th Inst., all our hopes were dispelled. The new Vice* Coneu 1 , Mr J. Leefe, arrived on the day previous, and we had hoped for an Improvement. On the contrary, Monday, the 7th inst , wsb a day hated by aIL Bakor's rowdies started out at daylight crying that a message had come from Q iesn Victoria that the King might do as he liked with his own people. Every man's hand was turned Bgalnst the Wesleyans. The College grounds were invaded, and the houses of the ministers and BtucUntß were all plundered and looted. Men, women and children were thrashed and beaten with sticks, clubs and butt en da of rifles, m order to. induce them to turn over to Baker's Church. Many were left for dead. One band of

war-paintad demons fnvaded the Mission

Hocb) grcuuda m the absence of Mr Monlton. This band was not leas than 300 m ncmber, and was armed with rifles and bayonets. Fortunately for Mra Moulton and the children an Englishman appeared and turned the yelling horde out of the mission grounds, explaining that the mission grounds were British, and that it was "tabu" for them to enter with armf>. Two Magistrates were admitted, but without their firearms, and they' began to demand m the King's name the whole of the Wetloynns on the premfees. The new British Consul was consulted, and he gave as. his decision the now familiar phrase, "Ihe King, can do just I whatever he pleases with hid own people ; I ccn't interfere." In obedience to our Vice-Consul we delivered np one by one ' the poor people who had sought a haven of rest m the house of their beloved missionary. It was hard. As eaoh minister, went forth amongst that crowd of yelling fieri ds, he was seized and subjected to every possible Indignity that oonld be conceived, but when the poor women went forth it was truly heartrending. One example will suffioe. A poor old woman, over sixty years of age, toddled down to' the gate and went forth. She was Immediately seized and dragged along by the I hair and ears, amid the yells and hoots of the demoniacal multitude. She waa stood up, and a big ruffian struck her m the face several times with his clenohed fist. She was nearly stunned, and then staggered forward, bleeding, while another demon danced m front of her with a big axe uplifted within a few indies of her face, threatening to cut her down* Nor were these outrages confined to Wesleyana alone. In the evening the premises of the Roman Catholic mission were invaded by a band of armed and painted fiendß, led by Maapo, the King's brother. He demanded the body of one Amenl m moot violent language, shouting at the piles to, and demanding to know if they meant to give him up. It is nowy their intention to appeal to Franoe. A Frenoh man of war is expected to reach Tonga m a few days, and no doubt her commander will be glad of a chance to get. his name up. The Frenoh Government want a coaling station between Tahiti and New Caledonia, and there is no doubt tint that they now hive a good oauie for inter* ference.