AFFAIRS AT TONGA.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 143, 27 February 1886, Page 5

AFFAIRS AT TONGA.

The Rev. J, Crosbie, of Tonga, sends us a long batch of correspondence which has passed, between himself and the Minister of Police. The first part relates to the closing of a Wesleyan church at Nukunuku "by a chief named. Tuivakano, and to the expulsion of some Wesleyans from that town, The Minister replies that as Tuivakano claimed the land on which the church stands, the matter must be settled in the proper Courts. The next series relates to the seizing of a bell by the Government town ruler at Fahefa, and throwing it into the middle of the street, and refusing permission to hold a prayer meeting in the church, To this the Minister replies that he had ordered a policeman to go and inquire into the statement. The third series of letters relate to six cases of incendiarism at Tonga, in which all the sufferers were Wesleyans, and most of them had only just rejoined the Church ; that bhere could be no doubt that they were being persecuted for their religion. To this the Minister of Police replies that he went and inquired into the statement that the fires wore connected with religion The Minister says he has found the man who set fire to one of the houses, but it was nonsense tn say that religion had anything to do with it. Mr Crosbie makes a note to this reply that it is a very remarkable coincidence that the fires occurred on the very day they returned to the Weeleyan Church. This correspondence, which is very long, has not enough local inteiest to warrant its publication here.