TONGAN TOPICS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 925, 19 September 1910, Page 3

TONGAN TOPICS.

:———i —-— ■ . SOME STRANGE HAPPENINGS. ' i (From Our Own Correspondent.) Nukualofa, September 3. Happenings-during the past few, weeks have had more.than passing interest for the populace, both European and Toiignn, consequent upon an action for-libel taken by r A. D. Cameron, as president of the Toga ma'a Toga Trading' Company, against. R. G. ,M. Denny, promoter of a rival company; and, as the result of the Court proceedings,'an audit being ordered of the company's books; and of the closing down of the' Toga ma'a Toga Company for the time being, pending further inquiries, by the Government.. On top of this'camo tho passing of an Ordinancein the Privy Council ■■ prohibiting Europeans from, being employed by or connected with a native trading company unless with the consent of tho Cabinet. '.. ■'The complications arose over the pub-, licatiori of a circular by R. G. 11. Denny, who .was endeavouring to promote, a "ha--tivo'.trading 'company. The-president of the Toga ma'a Toga .Company (A.: D. Cameron) took- umbrage -at- certain por-. lions of the circular as ■ reflecting upon the business methods of .the company. A writ -was issued by him upon Denny forlibel,'JEsoo damages; being claimed. . . .The Case, came before the High.Coinmisisibner's Court ;at' Nukualofa, his Hon--.our; Mr. 1 :W;- Telfer: Campbell, ; Deputy-' High Commissioner, being on" the. Bench. Messrs.'Cassih'and .Goodwin were-called ;as assessors." '■:'-,'.;■' : " ,: ' ; Mr.'George Scott appeared for;the company; whilst Mr; Denny'was assisted by Mr., M.; ''Lynch. -~'. ! . ~'; ,- ',- .". ". • "The 'proceedings occupied five; days, and very conflicting. evidence came, before the Court. ■ Thougn'. claiming 'to ,be a' .registered company the: company, were unable to prove so by'documentary evidence.'and the,CpUrt".found difficulty- in extracting' confirmatory' evidence 'from ' any; of the,, witnesses..;■ The; chairman ,'..' of,'trustees (claimed-:;by.;the' r presidont; as equivalent; to directors),nor'the' secretary I 'knew no-j thing \of -''book-keeping. ';■ They were } not. conversant .with the .ordinary commercial methods of,; business.;; When asked/as to' the stability,of the/company 'somo of.the- : witnesses,, stated / that 'the president the.per'son 'who khew r all thdseV.thing's— : ■they Knew, nothing about, it. An Cxamina-. ,tion'of ythe.'mihutevbook.of. the, company's; meetings'disclosed. an.'.-unusu'aVj'state 'Of; affairs.kin'; one.instance the minutes were writte'n.'UpVih". English 1 and' signed/by-'the chairmaj. of-.'.trustees-.. Tho chairman of ■ trustees 'gave sworn/evidence -that .he' i'could;';"neither .'•■ read':- nor.' 'write: English. 1 The'book; had been placed.before ihim and .he signed it—it was;'alb' right, l ' the presi-, dentcknew all 'about *it. ./A balance-sheet was submitted;'as setting forth the financial 'position,'and; the"accountant of the company ..gave,evidence, in -'support j pi "it.. ;The" secretary, stated'.that he, received no ;salary;;>hcn™h'e:' : w ; anted-;m6ney. he asked, :th'e';president for?some/;;So!'the'.case went; -//After.: evidence, had.-been >dduced/ for ■|botli : partiesi'/his; Honour': gave/ judgment in'.favour; of', defendant,- there -Being-;no. 'evidence -before" the Court of . libellous, ;intent.';«His,:Honour, ;in ; ;the course : of >Kis;; remurk's, 'ji severely v censured / two; ■of * ."''■','■■'•,'■''/ /,/.';>;' ''lii; consequence^-of the nature''of/'the' ;evidence-;'the': Court; ordered' the hook's of the ; company" to be,-forwarded to' the .Ton!gan".G'overnment,'fdi purposes' of' an audit'., ion ybehalf'Of 'o\) .- ; /;iTheiaiidit; waslplaced,in. the;hahds /of ;Messrs..;.T. ; V.; Eoberts,(Auditor-General), 'and'; Geb;j /B.'; Humphreys, .' A:1.1.A.,.;/; of 'Sydney; and/on..the.,2Cth inst. their re-, .portrwasf published; in 'the. Government. ■'Ga'zette/.hy "direction; of .'the-' Premier. .'.;',>.;'' . .-.'Oh' the ! ;s'ame'.day.;.the /Premier, met "the' 'shareholders ;of"the;'company;,;and'placed. :the;r'epprt.ihefore, them,,arid at.the.cbri-' 'elusion.vVofli. the meeting -the./police;',received .-.instruction ', to,' taKe charge: of' the company's premises, and seal .them tup. The: auditors, V.'arined. with, the .necessary-auth6ritjs,/-proceeded,to; Haapai,and.:Vayau; ;by'.'special;;launch,.;and,'it.' : is now.: under-' stood that,/for' the /time being, the whole; of ..the-, compariyf s'-. offices/and., sheds. are under/Government supervisionY '■■''.{ '"■' ■•;