TONGAN AFFAIRS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1491, 24 February 1887, Page 3

TONGAN AFFAIRS.

Auckland, February 23, Mr Dmoan Campbell has addressed » letter to the Rev George R, Stephenson, Preiident of the Wesleyan Confererc?, Sydr ey, from Haital, under c'ate February 7th, m which he gives details of the serif ■ ot alleged outrages on Wesleyan natives by what he terms "Baker's rowdies;" He continues as fellows : — I cannot proceed with any moro of these horrible tales, as it makes my b'ood boll to re)*t« them. God alone kriows when they irUlftllend.

A gentleman who had been a resident for come time at Babaai, and who was a puMDfter by Ihe Arawata, states the whole of the ToDgan group is m an awful 'itate at preient. There is no work doing. 8a far aa I could hear the Rev Mr Mouiton hat had nothing at all to do with this affair, which !■ mainly political. The firat Idea wai to Uke ßiker to Fiji and not kill him. lam informed that two men who ware ihot when they were going to exeontion confessed they were m the plot to kill lhker, bat said that the others who were ■offering death with them were innocent.

▲ letter has been received by the Rev W. Bavin from Mr Moulton, but it doeß not throw «nc\ fresh light on the affair. A letter hss been reoelred by members of Mr Baker's family resident m Auckland. He states tb«t his too and daughter Me out of danger, although their injuries are severe and likely to bfe permanent. Mr Baker writes m a hopeful itrain. He does not state when ho is likely to be m ▲rjoklaud.

Wellington, February 23. The Captain of the North German Iteimer Lubeck states that when he Arrived at Tonga on February 2nd he found the inhabitants In a terrible state of excitement, and the arrival of a thousand of the King's followers from two adjacent islands showed that something serious had happened. Six jrlloners who attempted to tako the lif o of the Premier suffered death at the hands of ah armed party consisting of a hundred Native*, and it Is stated lh«t thhty •hots were fired at each man. An armed party of natives was stationed round the King's palace. The Rev Mr Monlton writes denying that the affair originated with- the Weeleyani. He soys it prove* to be a conspiracy m whioh some of the highest chiefs are engaged. Mr Baker's rale had became Intolerable.