NEWS FROM TONGA. Tonga, Oct. 17th. The Holy War.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 127, 7 November 1885, Page 4

NEWS FROM TONGA. Tonga, Oct. 17th. The Holy War.

We have had a visit from His Excellency the Hon. J. B. Thurston, C.M.G., High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, and Mr Muilton's adherents are no little chagrined to find that instead of bombard ing the place and impo-ing a heavy fine upon the old King, he seemed more friendly with the Government than with their party. It is reported that they were not a little surprised to find that he should have rated severely one of their catecbista, for the exaggerated statements of which many of them had been guilty, and to crown all, they commenced to feel there was something wrong when His Excellency on leaving the Government wharf to return fo Fiji, was salute i by a battery of 17 guns. The "Free Church is still progressing and increasing in numbers. The adherents of tbe Wesleyan Mission in Tongatabu now number about 1,000, and in the whole of the Friendly Islands, about 1600, preparations are being made for the building of churches in Haapai and Vavau, and before long a great many places of worship will bu erected.

General and CommericaL The Government wharf ie being extended into deep wa*er, and the first row of piles has been driven in. The tramway on the wharf has been finished, is now being carried down along the beach to the next village. One of Fairbank's large weighbridges has been erected on the wharf. With all theBe great facilities it is expected that the unloading and loading of vessels will be carried on with greater despatch than is done at present by puntn and boats. The Midge, a schooner from Fiji, has just put in on her way to Samoa with a cargo of provisions, but unfortunately she was not able to supply all our wants, and at present there is a great dearth of kerosene, j flour, and general provisions, and the stores are all empty. Should the Janet Nicoll again fail us in bringing ft supply, we shall be very badly off indeed, and the same may also be said of Haapai and Vavau. It is a great mistake that the Janet Nicoll does not call here on her return trip for orders, for as the service is at present arranged it is of very little advantage to the inhabitants of Tonga. ,