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follows it is borne in upon me that faiako has the restrictive meaning of professor, and that Mr H's enemies have put it abroad that he is a mere schoolmaster and no professor. I am able to reassure the House on this point with a clear conscience, on the authority of no less a personage than the Minister of Education of New Zealand.

By the time the Address had been despatched to the king by the hands of the chief clerk the wooden drum had begun to beat. Aged Nobles, whose eyes had been getting dim, and whose heads had fallen forwards, started and straightway threw off twenty years of their burden of life. The whole House fixed its gaze upon the clock. It was the dinner-hour, and the Speaker, with an indulgent smile, adjourned the House. A streain of black-coated legislators hobbled to a long white building a few yards away, and besieged the doors as if it were the pit entrance to a theatre. A bolt was drawn, and both Houses surged inwards. There were two long tables, each accommodating forty guests, -the one reserved for the Lords, and the other for the Commons. The ministering damsels were ordered to appear in a white uniform, without lace or other ornaments. They had treated the order with the scorn it deserved. The ox-eyed Sau, breathing propriety with every sigh, was dressed in white satin trimmed with furniture lace, and had a crimson sash tied coquettishly round her waist; the demure Vika-demure only in the presence of her elders-had broken out in bugles of jet and a cincture of native cloth. The trader who supplied her striped vala would be sold out of that pattern on the morrow, for the fashion in Tonga is set by the pretty

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girls. When not languidly handing plates these damsels whispered and giggled in the windows, and hid their blushes on each other's glistening shoulders.

The morning sitting has induced a remarkable appetite. The dinner on the first day numbered some seventeen courses of solid viands, yet scarce a plate goes away with enough upon it to indicate its contents. It is right to say, however, that this scale of entertainment is not maintained throughout the session. As the days went on, course after course fell away as the supplies in the storehouse diminished. The Lords are allowed a glass of sherry and a glass of beer each, the Cabinet Ministers half a tumbler of rum in addition; the Commons have to content themselves with beer only. At last the Chaplain hammers on the table with his knife-handle and says grace, and the places of the legislators are taken by as many of the Civil servants as can muster trousers and shoes. There follows a fatal half hour, during which the fell effects of such a dinner become apparent. When the bell rings members sink into their places, glare determinedly at the ceiling for a few moments, and lapse into unconsciousness. The Sergeant-at-Arms, having drunk neither ele nor lamu, rises and creeps stealthily towards the Lords. Such of the members as still retain consciousness crane their necks in breathless excitement. He is stalking Havea, Lord of Haapai. Catlike he creeps on, gold-mounted scabbard in hand, poises the weapon over the bowed head, and-Havea starts up with an exclamation that I could translate exactly, though I never heard it before. The House indulges in a well-bred titter. Meanwhile the clerks are looking round the House, and making frequent entries in

THE LORDS' AWAKENER.

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a book. It is the book of the Sleeping. I have since heard Hoho, the Roman Catholic member, declare that the insertion of his name was a malicious libel. His lotu, he said, obliged him to pray at noon, and to pray he had to close his eyes. The clerk retorted that if he could not begin his prayers with a hymn, as is the usage of any respectable sect, his name must be recorded in the book. After-experience taught us that the morning was more

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The Sergeant-at-Arms creeps stealthily towards the Lords."

suitable for Committees, and the afternoon for third readings, for during a third reading even the Sergeant-at-Arms would close his eyes. The monotonous reading of the Premier has long ago lulled the most active of the Opposition to sleep. When the voice becomes silent the Speaker thunders out the question, eyelids tremble open, and hands go up. "Those who are against the motion will hold up their hands," but the eyelids have all closed again, and the

bill defining the procedure of the courts becomes law. It is high time to adjourn.

The second day brought a storm from an unexpected quarter. This bolt from the blue came from the Commons, who are possessed with a burning zeal for debate, and have not had time to appreciate the limits of their duties. The chief business of the session being to enact a complete code, and to sweep away all former enactments, time is valuable, and the Premier expresses the hope that the House will not waste it in opposing such parts of the code as are transcribed from the Constitution, and are necessary only for completeness. "The king is supreme over all the chiefs and people, but his Ministers are alone responsible for good government." Rises Hoho, representative of a Roman Catholic constituency, lately a leading schoolmaster and a light of intellect and culture, who resigned his school in order to qualify as a representative of the people. Tall, attenuated, and Mephistophelian, he looks more like a Spaniard than a Tongan. With palms turned outwards and uplifted shoulders, he has even caught the Latin gestures. "Why," he asks, "should the king be supreme, and why should his Ministers be responsible?" He for one can never vote for such a measure. The House snorts impatiently. The Premier points out that the words are transcribed from the Constitution, and that Hoho should reserve his steel. Hoho retorts that he resigned his post as schoolmaster to make himself eligible for election; that he has taken a solemn oath to do his duty to the best of his ability; and that if he did not oppose this measure he would not be doing his duty. At this all the members with

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