NOTES FROM TONGA. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 432, 28 December 1889, Page 4

NOTES FROM TONGA. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

A GREAT FIRE. I On Monday morning at about a quarter lo four the town of Nukualofa was, awakened by the ringing of bells, and the cry of lire. It was soon seen wheie the nre was, fiom the dense clouds of smoke that were bursting forth fiom the dirsction of the what f. On arrival at the *>cene of the iire wo found ib was the large Government building which was used as a bonded store, powder magazine, armoury storehouse, the outside lean-to being used as offices by the agents of the Steam Companies. The tire commenced in the office and store of Mr Giles, which was formerly, used as the office of the Union Steamship Company. How it originated Mr Giles is not able to &ay, but as the Government have oidered an investigation to be made, pome clue may perhaps eventually be obtained. Fortunately, the wind was from the south, or the whole block of buildings would have gone. The loss to the Government must be something great. They have lo^t the whole of their new saluting battery, carriages, and everything, besides a large I amount of ammunition. 'It was the I fact of the magazine being there that prevented the Government officials allowing the natives to try and rescue more pioperty from the tiro. The guards, fortunately, succeeded in saving their rifles, accoutrements, etc., which were stored there. Very few who were present this morning will forget the grand explosions which took place. The first was that of a quantity of dynamite ; then came seveial kegs of gunpowder, then several thousand rounds of carbiidges. and then the magazine blew up. J Although the damage on these is gicat, yet it is not I^o great as might have been expected. By the able and willing assistance of Captain Hutton and the officers and crew of the Richmond, the in c was conlined to the one huge building, the other buildings on the whaii being saved. The watchman on board the $, ?. Richmond was the first to observe anything wrong; about half-past 3a.m. he saw a light through thy windows' of Giles's store. Calling Captain Hutton, they hastened up the whaif and found the file , had a strong hold inside the store. The alarm was at once given, and soon thousands of helpless natives weie &tinditig around watching tho binning buildings. The last explosion of gunpowder was a very heavy one, and did, considerable damage to the suiiounding houses and buildings. The heavy glees chandeliers in the King's palace weie thrown down and completely destroyed, I while lamp«, windows, and crockery within | half a mile suffered severely. The largo zinc roof of Donald and Edcnborough"s coal shed adjoining was partly blown oil", and the doors of the opposite Government Buildings wore blown clean ofF their hinge&. It seems a miracle that no one was hurt, as thousands of natives were standing around the burning buildings. The burning buildings were divided from other Government storos by a wide coveredin archway. The fire had already travelled across the roof of this, and had'bioken out in various places on the other side, when Captain Hutton, getting strong ropes from the Richmond, made fast to the burning roof, and putting on all hands, with a long r and a strong pull dmvn came the entire i 1i 1 roof, thus severing the connection between, the different buildings and confining the file to its original avea.

I FREE CHURCH. P The missionary meetings of the Freo ' Church have inst been' held, and although in consequence of the low price of copra thoy have not been so much as last year, yeb they have been very successful and will enable the authorities' of the Free Church to carry out their policy with vigour. ' The ' King is 'away at ITaapai building the new Free Churchy and hence in a few months it is expected that the Free Church will have replaced by finer ( and larger churches all those churches which they have had to give over to the Weslevans; ' "

TRADE. In, consequence of the slight ,rise in copra, trade is a little brisker. The Government) are vigorously pushing f'heir banana plantation?, and it i$ .expected the 'output for next yerfr Will" 1 be very large. There are two, barques loading copra here', one for the \ German finn and one for Messrs McArthur !^inrl Co. , ' ', , Tonga, December 16, 1889.

Th&re • have ■ been' 230 cases of 'typhoid , lever afc,, Melbourne- during -the past three months,, and 31 -deaths. This is unusual, ( ■considering „,th.e .weather., In diphthong' there have been 97 cases reported within <til*e past three weekg, and a proportionate nutnber of -deaths ,to the .typhoid returns., Bobhjdjseases are.nQjjincrpasiing, ,but on'thp qontmry appear tg^e Bpm^habiDildei;.| i; < .