I.—General Description.

The kingdom of Tonga, situated 1120 miles to the north-east of Auckland, consists of nearly 150 different islands and islets, scattered over a wide area, The group, which is partly of volcanic and partly of coral origin, is subdivided into three minor groups, called (after the largest island in each) the Tongatabu, Haapai, and Vavau groups respectively. These islands, many of which are mere uninhabited patches, are comprised between 18° and 20° South latitude, and 174° and 179° West longitude. They were named the Friendly Islands by Captain Cook, on account of the supposed amicable attitude of the natives towards him; but Tonga is the name given to them by the natives, and under which they are united in a constitutional monarchy. The seat of government and chief centre of settlement on these islands is at Nukualofa, a large and safe reef harbour on the island of Tongatabu, the largest of the group. The town of Nukualofa has many buildings of European construction, including the Royal Palace and Chapel, the Government offices, court-houses, and churches, besides merchants' stores and private residences, some of whiaccute;ch are rather pretentious. A wharf nearly 1000 feet in length has been constructed of coral, and with a little further extension, now in contemplation, ships and steamers will be able to lie alongside. The wharf is twelve yards in width, and at the sea end is about ten feet deep, while there are two sets of steps for the convenience of boats landing goods and passengers—one being built of stone, while the other is made of neatly-sawn coral blocks. From one end of the wharf to the other two lines of tram-rails have been laid, on which bogie carriages run for the conveyance of goods or luggage. The different business premises are built on the harbour frontage, and have private wharves at which boats can be loaded or discharged. Tonga is governed by a King and Parliament, the page 10 reigning monarch being King George Tubou, the lineal descendant of the original kings of Tonga. The king's power was formerly supreme—the chiefs being absolutely subject to him, while the people in turn were held in the most complete thraldom by the nobles. To the benevolence, forethought, and energy of the Rev. Shirley Waldemar Baker, formerly Wesloyan missionary at Tonga-tabu, the Tongan people are indebted for their emancipation from serfdom, and for the establishment of a settled and enlightened Government. In 1862, while still acting as missionary, Mr. Baker introduced the Magna Charta of Tonga, by which the system of semi-slavery was abolished; and in 1875 he drew up the Constitution, which (nominally at least) limited the power of the king and gave the people a voice in the Government—manhood suffrage, exercised through the ballot, with an educational test, being conferred upon people who less than a century previously were ignorant and degraded cannibals. Tonga has concluded treaties of amity with Great Britain and Germany, on the footing of a sovereign power, and both these nations maintain Vice-Consuls at Nukualofa. At present the British representative is Mr. H. F. Symonds, while Herr von Treskow, local manager of the German Planting and Trading Company (formerly Goddeiroi & Co.), is German Vice-Consul. There is but one Legislative Chamber, composed of equal numbers (30) of hereditary nobles and popular representatives, in addition to the King and Cabinet. The Royal allowance is about £1,200 a year, and each of the nobles receives an honorarium of £20 a year, while the elected members receive nothing. Rev. Mr. Baker holds the offices of Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Lands, Minister of Education, and Auditor-General, and his powers are simply autocratic, he being responsible only to the King, who is over 80 years of age, and for the last four years has resided at Vavau, distant from the seat of Government. Ministers are nominated by the King and are removable only at his pleasure, being completely irresponsible to Parliament. There is a complete system of municipal government, the Mayors of Municipalities being nominated by the Premier and each being assisted by a Town Officer, who is responsible for the maintenance of order, and who reports all breaches of law to the police, by whom all prosecutions are instituted. The judicial system is most thorough and effective. Thus suitors in the Police Court may appeal first of all to the District Judge personally; from his decision they may appeal to the District Judge sitting with a jury; then the case may be carried to the Supreme Court; and the final Court of Appeal is the Privy Council, which is composed of the King, the Premier, Treasurer. Minister of Police, and Paymaster, together with the Chief Justice, and the Governors of Tongatabu, Haapai and Vavau. Crime is almost unknown, except breaches of the seventh commandment and allied offences, page 11 which are pretty common, and constitute a steady source of revenue to the Government, besides providing the convict labour so essential to the prosecution of public works. Murder and high treason are the only capital offences, and there has been no execution for many years. Theft is strictly punished, and life and property are as safe in Tonga as in any European community. A poll-tax of eight dollars per annum is levied on each adult male, with one dollar extra on every bachelor between the ages of 16 and 50 years. Education and military service are both free and compulsory—that is, the pupil pays nothing for tuition and the soldier receives nothing for service. The exception is found in the case of the "standing army," or more strictly speaking, the King's body-guard of twenty men, who receive pay. Exemption from military service can be obtained by payment of twenty dollars per annum, or on marrying and having not fewer than two children.