TONGA.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 69, 25 January 1879, Page 2

TONGA.

Thu Parliament, which opened on the lOth of July, continued its session until the 17th of September, when it was formally closed, as it had been opened, by bis Majesty the King. Many of the legislators and chiefs say it lias been the best and most important Parliament they havo ever had. lst.Becauso than has been litttlo or no control from without. It is truo that letters aud communication were occasionally recoived from certain quarters, but report says that as a rule they were read, refolded, enveloped, and carefully placed under tho President's blotting-pad. And Indly, bocause they have awakend to tho fact they ought to legislate for the welfare of tho people anil that which suits Tonga, rather than simply to introduce tho customs of countries, and their forms of civilisation, without But considering as well their necessity and adaptability to their own race, asllieii- prarheahility. Bomt of tlieir sumptuary laws havo

been either altogether abolished or considerable modified. Amongst those the following are a few of the things the session has accomplished. The law prohibiting the manufacturing and wearing of native cloth, and the clothing law are abolished. Men and women can now wear any kind of clothing they choose, on all and every occasion within "doors or without. All that is required is that they shall bo decent; excepting perhaps in" the ease- of the church at Nukualofa, where the men must dress in coat, trousers, ."hoes, &c, and the women like their white sinters, with drones, bonnets, ic, &c. Any one who from disinclination or inability does not or cannot comply with this regulation must be content to worship outside, or in the porches. The prohibition Against women smoking has been considerably modified, and the ladies may now enjoy their weed to their hearts content, excepting under certain special conditions. This, it is thought, will cause a falling off in the revenue from the scon' of fines. Women prisoners with children are not to work in the regular gangs, but are to be sent to their homes to earn their fines. Considerable modification has been made in tho laws against adultery and fornication. A new marriage and divorce law, a law against debts (which had become a terrible evil), and which limits the amount recoverable before any court to five dollars, aud a liquor law have been passed; the public-house licensing law having been considerably modified.

Provision is to be made to separate persons afflicted with contagious diseases from the rest of the people. The old currency law is to be strictly adhered to. This is meant to prevent as far as possible the unlimited introduction of Chilian and other inferior coin, which is alread<felt to very seriously cripple business a d commercial transactions.

A Finance Commission has been appointed to enquire into and organise the Finance and Treasury Department. Its duties are likely to be no sinecure, and the government are trying to secure as their Chief .Secretary the services of a highly respectable gentleman, of long standing in connection with one of the firms in Tonga. A tariff and od valorem, duty law has been passed, but it is said will not be proclaimed till the appliances are ready for carrying out its provisions. Several excellent Tongan customs relative to lands, tribes, and status of tho people, are to be restored. It is found that the relations of landlord and tenant, are not uuderaAod and do not work, and it is reported that the government has restored to their righful owners tho township and village sites, so that each, man is to enjoy his own homestead without let or hindrance from any one. And the land tenure, which is found to bo very unsatisfactory, in fact seriously injurious, is to be modified. Even poor ruakaisto have more liberty than of late, and bis owner to be held responsible for his ramblings at huge. The Constitution, the object or meaning of which, all, from the highest downwards, declare they do not understand, was, with the consent of the King, discussed during the session, and it is said a strong recommendation was mado that it be abolished, and one more suitable, and that would be understood, substituted.

On the 30 September, an agreement for a treaty between England and Tonga was concluded and signed by H.M. the King and A. P. Maudesly, Esq., II.M. Deputy Commissioner for Tonga. It contains but four clauses, which providesimply that political and commercial amity, and reciprocal friendly relations between the two countries shall be maintained, and a mutual extradition of criminals clauses. An urgent request from the King that it may form the basis of a permanent treaty has been forwarded homo to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

It is to bo rcgrottod that tho clause for steam communication between Fiji and Tonga was at the request of the King struck out. It is a feared that tile staio of their finances would not justify such a step yet. But the visit of his Excellency the Governor to Tonga is regarded in the most satisfactory light, in fact hailed by all tho people, from the King downwards, " as the beginning of a new epoch of good." Tho King said one day in an assembly " His Excellency's visit has already begun to havo fruit, and I believe our children will be thauttlul to tho (Jueon of England for sending so true a chief to visit us and instruct us;"but then (he said) " what else but good and help have we ever received from England.'

There cau lie no doubt the Tonganß, as a people, are thoroughly English in all their feelings as compared with their relationship with other nations.—Fiji Times Nov 10.