TONGAN NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1562, 31 March 1887, Page 4

TONGAN NEWS.

The Fiji paper* to hand by the Arawata give the following detail* of the Tongan newe: —Not a little speculation was aroused on Monday, March 7th, when it wbb known that a schooner, filled with people, was in eight, flying the Tongan flag. She proved to be the Malokula of sixty tons, with a native captain and four of a orew, having in charge forty Wesleyan* (ten cf whom are women), who have been deported from Tonga by order off the Sing. The vessel belong* to the Tongan Governor of Haabi. The account the people gave of themselves was (imply that thbj were ordered on board without knowing where they tref’e <to be taken, and have been brought to Fiji against their will. They left Nhkuloafa on Feb. 83rd, and have made a long pmage in consequence of their meeting with light winds and calms. Before their arrival both food and water were exhausted, arid the first thing done was to send them off water and biscuits. The people remained on board till Tuesday afternoon, though naturally very anxious to land, being tired of their long 1 confinement on ' board the vessel, bfit they did not carls to come on shore without some sort of permission from the Govern ■ ment; and so remained until. they were rembved in the police boat. They are apparently quiet and well conducted people. Indeed, it is : not claimed that they are conspirators, but the captain; in charge of them reports that they are deported because they have been disobedient to the King 1 in listening to Mr Moultbn on religious matters. He laid his orders were to bring them to Fiji, and h': was awaiting permission to land them. If thil was not given, or if he was told to take them away he would do so in the morning. He says Miss Baker and Shirley Baker, jun., are in a fair way of ; recovery. The schooner brought a small mail, chiefly consisting of despatches for the Government, and it ie evident no opportunity was given for general correspondence. The Fiji Times of the ,19th init. says "By, the SuVa from Tonga twenty-nine of the deported Weeleyans have arrived, and have been-lodged with those who oame by the Malokula. The schooner Palogolot had left with a second batch before the Suva arrived, and may be expect* d here daily. The following Je a letter of protest addressed to Mr, Baker by British subjects residents at Nukulaofu —“ Sir, We, the undersigned European residents in Tonga, beg to protest against very mnoh that has taken place in this unhappy country since the 13th or last month (January). We do not wish to expatiate on the causes which for three year* and more have led up to th« present trouble. We question at the present moment neither the justice nor the expediency of the late executions., The Courts of Justice having been closed to Europeans, we are unable to form an opinion thereon, but we must respectfully protest against, and feel much abhorrence at, the frightful way in which au unoffending population has been treated, both as to their persons and proper y, which, in a country professedly Christian and civilised, should be under the protection of the laws. We have the less hesitation in thus protesting, astheir sole crime has been, so far as we know, the natural desire to remain adherents to the religion to which their fathers and perhaps grandfathers, were born. —We have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant* —[Here follow twenty-two signatures]— Nukulaofa, February 23.(1, 1887.”