VISIT OF HIS EXCELLENCY TO TONGA.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 38, 22 June 1878, Page 2

VISIT OF HIS EXCELLENCY TO TONGA.

(From t! e Fiji Times.) The Sapphire reached Tong.itabu on the morning of the Bth April. The King bad left a few hours previously for • Hapaii, but a vessel was at once sent off i>v the Premier to announce the arrival of his visitors and to beg lor ma return.

He came back on Wednesday, and on Thursday the High Commissioner (who though he had been on shore privately, on the proceeding days could not of course outer into business in the King's absence) was formally received by King George, first in European style, and subsequently Vaka Tonga. During the remainder of his stay his Excellency had daily interviews of several hours duration with the King and his ministers.

In addition to the arrangements sketched in our issuo of the 27th ult., his Excellency was consulted by the Tongan Government on many points connected with the internal administration of the group, and it is understood that, although its signature was for formal reasonß deferred, the terms of a treaty were agreed to by which the privileges of the most favored nation . are extended to British subjects, a right conferred in the High Commissioner's Court to comp3l the attendenco of native witness,,» .mbsidy socured for a mail steam servico between Fiji and Tonga, and an engagement entered into for the mutual extradition of criminals.

An address was presented to his Excellency by the British residents, and various complaints on their part against the Government investigated. These were for the most part of a trival nature, and it speaks well for both parties that no serious misunderstandings should exist in an island in which for nearly ton years no Consul or other British official has been resident.

On the 15th the Sapphiie left Tongatabu for Vavau, and on the following day passed close to the volcanic island which first made its appearance above water in the year 1854. When passed by the John Wesley in 18G0 it had reached a height of about 12 feet above the water's edge. Its elevation was. estimated a few years latter by a Dutch vessel at 30 feet, and it has now attained that of 111 feet, as correctly measured by (he Sapphire. Its top is covered with aulpher, and large jets of i,team and smoke issue slowly from innumerable ere v iocs.

Vavau was reached oarlv on tho morning of the 17th. His Exoollency was very hospitably recoived by the Governor, Wellington Gu, the King's grandson, a young man of four and twenty, who has received an European education and adopted European mannors. His Exoollency only remained ono day but contrived to take a walk on nhoro with the Governor to receive and hear the complaint* of iii" British residents, to visit the plantation of Mr. Parsons, the principal hiitish settler, and to inspect some of the curious caves on tho coast of one of the islands of the group. One of these, first described in Mariner's work, and cpl'.'rn'.'d in Byron's " Islands," which

can only be approm-hid l>y :i loss dive was successfully entered by Captain Knollys and several of the officers of the Sapphire.

Leaving Vavau at sunset on the 18th and calling at Louia Louia to land Maaf u, who, together with Hatu Epeli, and the Rev. D. Afu, had aeooiiipamed his Excellenoy to Tonga, the Sapphire reached Levuka on Wednesday the 24th having been absent exactly three weeks. The present condition of the Friendly Islands is a very ourious one, and there can be no doubt that they have made far greater steps towards civilisation than is usually supposed to be case. Ever since the year 1862 Tonga has possessed a species of constitution and an Assembly called a Parliament by which laws were, or were suppossed to be passed. Between two and three years ago a much more elaborate constitution on the Hawaiian model was promulgated the old feudal tenures of land and hereditary privileges of chiefs abolished, and a numerous body of laws framed and passed.

These laws although containing not a few good and judioious provisions are in many respects singularly harsh and impolitio, and are throughout tainted by several capital errors of principle. Pecuniary penalties appear rather as a source of revenue than as an instrument to deter from the commission of offences, and accordingly multitudes of Acta perfectly innocent and indifferent in themselves are made illegal with a view to the collection of tines from those who break regulations by which they are prohibited.

It is considered possible and expedient to reputate, by minute sumptuary laws, matters of dress, habits, &c, whioh should be left to individual choice, modified only by the influence of custom and public opinion. The wealth and property of a country are apparently thought to consist in the amount, not of its products but its imposts, and every means is taken to encourage the introdoction of foreign goods, and to discharge, if not proscribe, by vexatious legislation, the prosecution of any native industry. There is also a desire to go too fast, and to imitate European habits, laws, and modes of administration before they are understood. It is not seen that the adoption of a statute is insufficient to ensure its successful working if it be one which those brought under its operation are unprepared to receive. Legislation, therefore, no doubt intended to benefit the body of the people, has in many cases produced an exactly opposite result, and works in a manner which is felt to be, and really is, intolerably irksome and oppressive.

Taxation is high, and its collection to *.!»» full amount assessed very roujjhly exacted. J * J

The chief, and indeed only European adviser of the King, the Rev. Mr. Baker, has for the past six months been absent in New South Wales, and was absent at the time of his Excellency's visit. It certainly speaks highly for the capacity of the Tongans, for the hold they have taken of the customs they have adopted, that during this time the business of the different public offices has been conducted without interruption, and on the whole satisfactorily, by themselves, without external aid. Only one white man, a sort of clerk to the King's son, David Uga, is now employed by the Tongan Government

Much has been done to Europeanize Tonga in external appearance. Nukualofa, tho Capital, somewhat resembles a small colonial or American wateringplace. The King's palace, the Government offices, the Bank, toe Courts of Justice, and tho houses of some the great ohiefs, are handsome and substantial buildings, standing at a considerable distance from each other, on the margin of a broad esplanade, which separates them from the sea. The college and the Wealeyan Church and High sohool are situated further inland.

The population wear chiefly European clothes, and ape, more or less successfully, European manners. Horses and carriages are in common use.

! Tubon College is presided over by a native clergyman, aided solely by native assistants. In it, some eighty youths are educated. When his Excellency visited the College he heard the students examined in Eucild and Algebra, in English and Geography, in all whioh subjects they acquitted "themselves well. In other parte of the island of Tongatabu, and in the remainder of the group, the same desire to imitate European civilisation would appear to exist, though of course it has not been carried to the same extent as at Nukualofa. The adoption of new habits has however been pressed with inconsiderate haste, and enforced with inconsiderate rigour. It is stated that nearly ninety per cent of the population were last year fined or imprisoned for breaches of the sumptuary laws, as to clothing, smoking, playing at games, &0., to which reference has been made. In theso uircurostanoes it is not surprising that tho aspeot of the people should be sullon and dejcotod, or that a general listlossneas and apathy should overywhero appear to prevail among the lower orders of tho population. r r The King and leading chiefs, however appear to bo now aware that they have been over hasty, and in tho Parliament about to bo held, somo of tho more obnoxious and oppressive laws will it is lio[ cd nc repealed.