A TRIP TO THE SOUTH SEAS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 154, 29 June 1907, Page 9

A TRIP TO THE SOUTH SEAS.

All Eights Reserved.

(By the Rev. F. Stubbs.) COMMERCIAL POSSIBILITIES OF TONGA NUKUALOFA, June 2. (lU.) The total export trade of Tonga last year amounted to £142,810, of which sum £ 124,919 was for copra, and nearly all the remainder for bananas and oranges, so that the above items compose practically the whole exports of the kingdom. Tbe copra, with tlie exception of about £2000, which goes to Auckland, is almost equally divided between Sydney and Europe. The imports totalled £79,363, of which Australia contributed £25,915, and New Zealand £41,248, the remainder being contributed mainly by Germany. From those figures it will be seen that a substantial balance remains in favour of Tonga. Roughly speaking. New Zealand supplied the provisions aiid Sydney the soft goods. Now as to the possibilities of development, especially as regards that developcnt, especially as regards that portion that affects New Zealand. First, let it be said, the population is not increasing—there has been little increase, indeed, for the last 70 years. This, I am afraid, is mainly owing to a species of concubinage that prevails amongst a large portion of the natives, and a consequent evasion of the responsibilities of marriage. The missionaries protest against this, and the Anglican bishop proposes a tax on bachelors, to which 1 understand the spinsters raise no objection, but so far no improvement seems to have taken place. And the European population does not exceed 250, so there is not much hope of increase of trade from increase of population. 1 believe, however, that both production and consumption, exports and imports, might be increased by other means. The soil: of Tonga is rich and by no means fully planted. Even in the plantations there appears little order or care in the planting, and the trees are for the most part neglected. The oranges simply groif wild. There are thousands of treds, and beneath them tens of thousands of oranges lie rotting upon the ground. At first one is astonished to see fruit thus wasted. One thinks of the multitudes of cnildren to whom an orange is a luxury. But all this fruit is 4 ama ged. Every orange that falls has got the maggot. It is only when it is taken from the tree comparatively green that the fruit is free from blight, and then it is delicious. In packing for Auckland, however, it is almost impos-

sible to avoid sending some infected fruit, and then the whole case is condemned. If trees were properly selected and cared for I have no doubt sound fruit might- be secured, and packing thus .become more -remunerative: lam of opinion, therefore, that if tfie' whole of the available soil was utilised, and greater care taken in planting, and ill keeping the trees clean and healthy, there would be a larger production of copra, and an increase in both the quantity and quality of bananas and oranges. And the imports might be increased, by a little more thrift amongst the natives, and the increased introduction amongst them of the commodities of civilised life.

At present the Tongan, like the Maori, is a happy-go-lucky fellow, working only when obliged, living from hand to mouth, and letting things go. If he can get a permit, he will "spend nearly all bis money in whisky. 1 think that these things might be improved, and whilst the Tongan is never likely to become a bard-working man —and I do not see why he should—at the same time a little more work would not hurt him, and would give him the means of commanding commodities of which he is at present deprived. , A SHIPWRECKED CREW. ■East Sunday evening, May 26, Nukualofa was startled by the arrival of a shipwrecked crew. The first boat arrived at 5 p.m., and contained the captain, the captain's wife, and six of the crew; the second, in charge of the mate,with ten men, arrived at 12. It appears that their vessel, the Norwegian barque Albania (formerly City of Glasgow), 1100 tons, owned by Johansen, of Glasgow, and commanded by Captain Christiansen, had foundered in tho neighbourhood of the Kermadec Islands, and that the crew had for nine days been drifting about the ocean in the lifeboats. The Albania was an ironbuilt vessel about forty years old, and laden with nickel ore from New Caledonia for Stettin. The vessel sailed south-east to catch the trade-wind, but the seas being very heavy, shifted the cargo. The water poured through tho decks, and through a leak which had been sprung, until the vessel was on its beam ends, and the crew were compelled to abandon her. Fortunately they had plenty of food, but the boats took in so much water that everything was wet and uncomfortable. The men were, naturally, very much exhausted, the boats being so crowded that they had had little sleep, and some of them are suffering severely from ulcers and boils. On their arrival, everything possible was at once done for their comfort, and they are now staying at this hotel. They are a very quiet, decent set of men, mostly Norwegians, but with two Americans and two Australians, and will be sent on by next boat to Sydney. RELIGION IN TONGA. Nearly all Tongans attend some place of worship. The principal denomination is the Free Church, of which the Rev. J. B. Watkin is the head. This is the State Church, to which the King belongs. It was originally Wesleyan, but broke off from that Connexion in ISSS. It has 15,000 members, 137 churches, and 33 native pastors. The collections amount to £7000. Tbe great church at Nukualofa holds 1200 people,-and is always well filled, and the service is very enjoyable, even to one who is ignorant of the language, on account of the fine singing. Indeed, 1 have no hesitation in saying that the service in the Free Church at Nukualofa is the finest native service I have ever attended anywhere, and the best adapted to the native temperament. The most remarkable feature is the abundance of singing. There are always several large choirs present, not segregated, as with us, hut seated amongst the congregation, and these singing, some-

times alternately and sometimes unitedly, . the effect is very pleasing. As a rule, a native minister is in the pulpit of a Tongan church, and at least one of the congregation, is called upon to pray; and the natives themselves thus take an active part' in the service, and throw themselves heartily into it.

The Tongans are nearly all singers, the men especially having fine voices, mostly* bass. They learn to sing by means of a tonic-solfa notation of their own, the. notes being represented by numbers, which are written on a blackboard. To see a large native congregation at worship is an impressive sight. Their emotions are readily reflected in their countenances. Here and there may be seen a face full of rapt devotion, which an Angelo would have loved to pourtray. Now and again some exclamation .of assent and approval breaks out. They are in deadly earnest in their devotions, however imperfect, in some respects, may be the standard ot living which they reach on the week-day.

The Wesleyan service Is similar to that dcs ibed above, except that neither church nor congregation is as large, nor is the musical portion of the service so impressive. The church is very finely situated just above the Palace on the only hill in Nukualofa. The present minister is the Rev. C. P. Walkdenßrown, a genial and accomplished man, who is assisted by 33 native ministers. The denomination possesses 75 churches, with 3000 members, and a revenue of about £2500.

The Roman Catholic is the next iin importance, and has a Bishop (Olier), 14 priests, 21 churches and S convents. The membership is about 2500 for the group. Two of the churches that I visited arcs large, handsome, stone (coral) structures, and the Church properties have a flourishing appearance. All "the churches in the Islands, both Protestant and R.C., have been built by free native labour, and are 'very creditable to native piety and generosity. The Anglican and Seventh Day Adventists are also represented, but their congregations number less than 20. The former congregation is presided over by Bishop Willis, formerly of Honolulu, a most amiable and devotel clergyman. He has a service for English-speaking people every Sunday, but I am sorry to say receives little support, and as there is no choir the service is somewhat coid and bare. It may be remembered that some years ago there was a controversy in the New Zealand Press as to whether the Anglican Church was justified in going to so well-churched a cotuitry as Tonga, and 1 think.it must be admitted by any candid person that the results have been disappointing. The attendance is alwa3 r s small, and the collections from both European and native services only £62 per annum. It appears to mc that the Bishop's zeal and talents are simply wasted here, and I am quite sure that there are many parts of New Zealand and Australia more spiritually destitute, and where he might have a congregation ten times the size. Last Sunday the congregation was only 2, though it, is only fair to add this was exceptional.)