A Miniature Kingdom.

The Government of Tonga, the only recognised island kingdom now left in the Pacific, is a limited monarchy, under British protection, King George Tubou II. being the ruler, with the British Consul (Mr. Hamilton Hunter) the power behind the throne. While in this series it is proposed to describe island conditions as they; ire to-day, without delving into ancient history, an exception must be made in regard to Tonga, for without telling the conditions that existed up to two or three years ago the work of the British officials that has resulted in the present prosperity of Tonga would not be so fully appreciated. The intricate maze of Tongan political affairs a few years ago forms the subject page 12 of a most entertaining book, "The Diversions of a Prime Minister," written by Mr. Basil Thomson, who was sent down to Tonga by the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific to endeavour to straighten out tilings. It is now more than 60 yeara since the first king obtained complete control, and a couple of years ago the second monarch was given five minutos by the British Commissioner to decide whether he would agree to certain proposals or be summarily deposed, and he had sufficient com-mou sense to choose the former alternative, but the inevitable is only postponed. That is to say, that everyone is aware that George II. will be the last Tongan king, and that at his death, or perhaps before, Great Britain will assume control. There are some, however, who think that to delay annexation may be dangerous, and that the wisest policy is to hoist the flag at once.

The history of the troubles in Tonga is familiar to all who have followed island affairs. Many a quaint story has been told of the manner in which the brown kingdom has in its miniature fashion imitated the ways of European monarchies. The late Mr. Shirley Baker gave Tonga its constitution, and the one great error he made was that of aping the constitutional methods of great nations, totally unsuited for a mere handful of people, and in the long run bound to lead to difficulties. At one time a Wesleyan missionary, Mr. Baker became the first premier, and continued to hold office for many years. At first he was undoubtedly a sincere and sagacious friend of the people, but became a victim to ambition act developed into a tyrant. He was a sort of Bismarck, whose control grew to be absolute as the faculties of the old king weakened through age. After he had caused endless; religious and financial trouble, his career was ingloriously terminated by banishment, but the effect of his misrule lasted long.

The Polynesian genius does not extend to the safe and scientific keeping of accounts. This, title rock on which so many Europeans even come to grief, proved too much for the Tongan premier and treasurer, and reports of mysterious leakages led to an investigation by the British Commissioner, and the deportation of the two responsible Tongan officials, as well as the dismissal of other officials, and the appointment of Britishers in their stead. Some unkind things wove written about the High Commissioner's "arbitrary and despotic" action at the time, but the excellent results that have followed have absolutely silenced all adverse criticism, and now nothing but good words are said. There is a moral, having application to the situation, that can be put more tersely in verse than in prose:

If you gently touch a nettle,
It will sting you for your pains,
Grasp it like a man to mettle,
And it soft as milk remains.

When the High Commissioner and [unclear: M] Hamilton Hunter between them [unclear: undert] their unnleasant task, Tonga was [unclear: bank] To-day it ha.s a surplus of nearly £20,00 And it has to be remembered, too, [unclear: that] since that date more public works have [unclear: been] carried out and paid for than for years fore. So that Tonga to-day is in a [unclear: very] healthy financial condition, and this is questionably due to the new order of this instituted by the High Commissioner, [unclear: s] Kverard in Thurn, ablv assisted by [unclear: med] Hamilton Hunter, the Consul, who has been the guide, philosopher, and friend of [unclear: the] Tongan Government. Left to them [unclear: sel] the Tongans would soon have into muddle again, and their pretty little [unclear: en] stitution have tumbled into ruin like a [unclear: ped] of cards.