stalled the doctrine of Henry George many years before "Progress and Poverty" was written, by nationalising the lands of Tonga and enabling each taxpayer to claim land sufficient to assist him in paying his taxes and providing for his family. He also gave the Tongans their flag, and secured for them in 1875 a constitution which is still the law of the land, also a judiciary system embracing police courts and a police force. He compiled a code of laws, and had roads made through all the islands. Instead of the meeting of chiefs to manage the affairs of the kingdom, he gave them a Legislative Assembly, consisting of an equal number of hereditary chiefs and representatives of the people elected by ballot, each taxpayer able to read and write having a vote. He also made education free and compulsory. The public buildings which were put up under his supervision were highly creditable, and the King's private church is reckoned one of the finest pieces of architecture in the South Seas. He also succeeded in getting Tonga acknowledged as an independent kingdom by England, Germany, and America. During the latter part of Mr. Baker's administration as Premier of Tonga, trouble arose between the Government and the Wesleyan Church, owing chiefly to the fact that the absorption of money for the purposes of governing the islands caused a great falling off in the annual collections among the islands for Foreign Missions. After ineffectual attempts to induce the Australasian Wesleyan Conference to confer local government upon the Tongan Church, Mr. Baker established an independent Methodist body under the title of the "Free Church of Tonga," which drew away the majority of natives from the orthodox Wesleyan Church. In these islands religion enters into every relation of life, and the rivalries, political and religious, grew so intense that a discontented faction made an attempt to assassinate Mr. Baker whilst he was out driving. His son and daughter, who occupied seats in the buggy with him, were severely wounded, but Mr. Baker escaped. The offenders were brought to trial, some of them executed, and a considerable number banished for treason against the Government. About this time the administration of Tonga, Samoa, and other Pacific islands became a subject of secret international agreements, and through influences exercised in England Sir John Thurston visited Tonga in a man-of-war in 1890 and forcibly deported Mr. Baker to Fiji, issuing an order against his return to Tonga for a period of two years. A purely native Government, assisted by two European officials in non-political matters, has since ruled the islands. Mr. Baker removed to Auckland, N.Z., where he now resides.
Balfe, John Donellan, son of James Balfe and Sara Sutherland his wife, daughter of the last Lord Duffus, was born at Sallybrook, Drumcondra, Ireland, in the year 1816. He was educated at Clongoeswood College, near Dublin, conducted by Jesuits, where he received a good classical education. After leaving college he joined the Life Guards, and was stationed at Windsor for two years. He was one of those detailed to escort the Queen on her marriage from Windsor Castle to Buckingham Palace. Mr. Balfe took an active part in the political affairs of Ireland, and became a prominent member of the Repeal Association under O'Connell. He was one of the declaimers at Conciliation Hall, and warmly advocated the redress of Irish grievances. He was also identified with the Irish confederation, but withdrew from the party on finding their schemes were wild and visionary, and could not be attained without a general rising of the peasantry. He was author of a number of letters on the Landlord and Tenant question published in the Dublin Evening Post and signed "An Irish Farmer," and also contributed to a Liverpool journal under the name of "Peter Carroll, Stonemason." In 1850 he married Mary, daughter of Terence O'Reilly of Ballybeg, and shortly afterwards emigrated to Tasmania. Mr. Balfe brought letters of introduction from the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to Governor Denison, and shortly after his arrival was appointed Assistant Comptroller General of Convicts. After three years he resigned his office, and went to reside on his location at Lisadern, near Port Cygnet, Huon River. He brought himself into notice as the writer of letters signed "Bill Shingle," which called attention to the wants of the Huon district, and also as the author of a series of letters signed "Dion," in opposition
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