About this same year, Rev Sioeli Pulu arrived to Tonga from Fiji asking King George Tupou I for more missionaries and teachers.

During this time he worked together with Rev Sioeli Pulu and established successful tasks in Bau Island.

Sioeli Nau was for a time a tutor at the Fijian Methodist District Institution at Navuloa where, according to his obituary, "he was highly esteemed by all the Missionaries".

Those who refused to join the Free Church of Tonga were persecuted by Shirley Waldemar Baker with the help of the king George Tupou I.

However, Sioeli remained loyal to Rev Dr James Egan Moulton and the minority Wesleyan Mission, (who were faithful to the Australasian Conference).

The dilemma faced by Tongans was graphically described and spoken by Sioeli on behalf of the Wesleyans: "It is our habit to obey our chiefs in all things.

In August 1886 he was found guilty of libelling the king, sentenced to five years imprisonment and fined $100 with $50 costs.

Rev Dr James Egan Moulton appealed for the safe removal of the remaining Wesleyans and their children from Tonga.

Sioeli was still in prison when Sir Charles Mitchell arrived on 27 March 1887, to investigate the troubles in Tonga.

Mitchell conducted a thorough investigation although in his findings he steered a middle course between taking the side of either Baker and the King or Moulton and the Wesleyans.

But he urged the King to grant "a general amnesty for acts done during the past disturbances", the release of all the political prisoners and the full restoration of "liberty to worship in accordance with conscience".

After the deportation of Shirley Waldemar Baker by John Bates Thurston from Tonga, on 17 July 1890, more than 130 Tongan exiles were allowed to return home.

He disappeared on 18 December 1895 supposedly having "walked in his sleep to the rocks at the back of the island" and "been drawn under the surf".

In his obituary, it is recorded that: "His piety was deep and fervent, and his sermons powerful, and full of the unction of the Holy One; so he made many converts.