OUR TONGAN LETTER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 539, 21 June 1909, Page 11

OUR TONGAN LETTER.

(Prom Our Special Oorrespondont.) Nukualofa, June 12. . Parliament was opened on May 19 last hy his Majesty George Tubou 11., in the prosenco of Mr. Hamilton Hunter, C.M.G. (British. Agent and Consul), Mr. W. von Tros-kow.(GermanTico-Consul), and a large gathering of Europeans and. Natives. . His Majesty ,■ dealt with, many matters of legislation, notably a project for the better education of his Tongan subjects. At the conclusion of the speech by his Majesty, the sitting adjourned till the following day. '■.. Tho Addross-in-Reply was left to a Committee of Nobles and Representatives.. , Next day the business of the House Was proceeded with,: and many matters of public interest .were.considered. -. ■■"• 'Though no officialpublication of tho proceedings, has yet been made, wc'-'learn ; that .tho'educational, scheme, as mentioned by tlio King, has been'civon duo considora,tioh, and that; jn all .probability, tho Governmentwill 'take full controlof the educational systems throughout tho group, the 1 teaching•.of English being; the main feature of the scheme. The Hon. the Premier asked leave for; the expenditure' of some £2000 upon the/purchase .of a suitable, vessel for dispatch purposes, and so great-was the enthusiasm on this point/that,tho Assembly unanimously decided that £'1000 was little enough, for the purpose,, and this sum was voted accordingly. - 'Negotiations havo '. already been entered into for the procuring of a.vosscl, which will be of the schooner type, but.with auxiliary power. The Hons. T.V. Roberts and D. B. Kaho have been deputed to bay. a 'visit of inspectionjtd Niwafoou (which was' rccentlyWisited by a hurricane) and report -thereon/.;" -■'.;Ma'ny petitions of minor importance from different parts of the group were presented to the Assembly, and decided upon. The sessions closed on-tho 28th. ;... : .--.-<'; .'•'.

l" retkement™ BRrrisH consul. ''_. General regret'was expressed hero when, it became known that Mr. Hamilton Hunter, 0.M.G.-, would retire at an early date from tbe ; .'ofnce/of British Agent and Consul, a position ho has satisfactorily-filled' for several ■ vears pas^.' During .Mr.' Hunter's term of office as adviser to the Tongan l Government, ; much : progress has -been made in public 'works—notably the fine .iferro-conbrete .wharves;which have been,erected at Nukualofa and Vavau. Hospitals have been built, and;road work*; taken in'hand, and at tho present time 'tanks are being' set throughout: tha ;group for'purposes of- waterconservation, besides which there is-a balance .in 'hand toff'£l2,ooo. In-.'the .Addrcss-in-Reply to the Speech from the. Throne at the recent Legislative' Assembly 'sessions, we note the:following:—'.'Undoubtedly, the : pro--■gress during ;your 'Majesty's reign' is: owing to the' able and efficient administration of the Govoinmeht. Sinco tho prorogation of last -Parliament the revenue has been' care-, fully- :and'; efficiently expended, under tho guidance of the British agent, in necessary and useful ways;"';," .(."•'lt is reported that, upon'the retirement of Mr. Hunter,, Mr. W."Telfer Campbell will j take, up: the, duties of the office. Mr. Campbell is at "present'- Deputy-Commis-,' ;.sionei\in,the' .Gilbert Islands Protectorate.,, ,

.-■:?:.-.-;, TREASURY .REPjORT.;-./ ■<;,'; ~The '.Treasury 'report of. rovenue ind ox-' penditure for WO6/-1907, 1908, and ■ the quarter ending; March !31,1909, was laid oh the - table 'during the Parliamentary', ses-;, sions. :-.-Frbm the report wo gather-that- for -the period-.under review the total -revenue amounted,';to'-: £123,000. '(The expenditure, roadstat^filll^OO,'-the.! principal items being ferro-concrete; wharf at Nukualofa, £8660: a similar structure at-Vavaui' £8937,; road' -.works:; in~ Tongatahi, - £5232;. road"'.'. works, Vavau;,.£424o; and new' post : office - and Treasury, ,£I4OO. Tho,salaries list'amounted to .£61,250: ■:'- Tie balance in hand 'on March 31,.,'190?,'vis'.set .down; a 5"£12,124 6s. lOd. The return of,'revenue' for' March .quarter,' '1909, shows Van increase of ,£I3OO, as com-' "pared .with the'corresponding period of the previous.' year. : fo&ni i? Mr twfc t.r l WT