The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1865-01-21
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
JANEARY q.

u
We continue, on our fourth page, the pub
LEGATION of the laws passed at the late session
Of the legislature, printed on large clear type,
50 that all who choose can read them. There
will be found the following, ten III all
An Act requiring Consular Certificates to be attached to in
voices Of goods imported from foreign countries.
An Act to facilitate the proof Of Sarriage.
An Act to admit Coal free Of duty.
An Ac. to Encourage Learning in this Kingdom, by securing
the copies Of Charts, Maps and Books TO the authors and pro-
An act to provide for the Importation Of Laborers, and for
An Act for the regulation Of Dance Houses.
the Islands" passed on the p day Of July, 1850.
Act t. amend chapter si,h Of the Penal Code
Queer Emma.
The first is the most important one. as it in
stitutcs an entire change in the form OF foreign
invoices. which hereafter will require a Consular
Certificate of their correctness. On Invoices
less than $500, the cost of the certificate will
be one dollar, on all over that sum, the fee will
be two dollars. This new regulation will take
effect at our Custom-houses on the Dist of April
next, with all Invoices from the Pacific coast of
North America; on the 2lst of July on all In
voices from Europe or the Atlantic side of North
America, and on the 2lst of Jan, ary, 1865,
on Invoices from all other countries. In cases
where goods are entered without such certifi-
Gates, they are to be appraised at one-iourth
more than the invoice, and duty collected on the
whole sum. The law may prove q good one,
and prevent impositions on the revenue. The
chief objection is the short time allowed for
merchants to notify their correspondents, as it
is quite impossible TO send TO European or even
Eastern American ports 50 as to have these
certificates on all invoices entering after six
months. Twelve months would have been the
proper term for such, and four to six months for
Pacific coast invoices.
This law, as we understand it, does not super
cede the regulation requiring Consular Certif-
Gates Of the value of gold on invoices from the
Atlantic United States. The main objection to
that is the large fee of five dollars demanded
for such certificate, especially when ii applies
70 small invoices but as it is Il customs regula-
ton merely, we suppose the rates can be changed
at any time that the authorities see fit. The
fees charged under this law are reasonable, and
the charges on the gold certificates should cor
respond with them.
The new law facilitating the proof on Mar
riage, requires every person authorized TO perform
the marriage ceremony, TO keep a record Of the
same, which shall always be accessible when
required in courts. Neglect of the law renders
such person liable TO u fine of fifty dollars.
Another law vests in authors or publishers the
copyright of all books published by them, I'M
der prescribed regulations. This law is a wise
just one, for a mans right to the product of
brain Is as sacred as that of his hands. The
p~ropriety of such a law has been increasing
every year, and its necessity may be inferred
from the fact that the English Mission has re-
published a small hyInn-book in Hawaii
most of the hymns in which have been ex-
1--WE will not use any haEsher word)
without permission, from the Hawaiian Hymns,
are as much the private property Of the
publisher as any other he may have.
The Act to provide for the importation of
and for the Encouragement of lmmi-
grafton is a good one, and is amply sufficient to
provide all the labor necessary, be it from India,
China, Europe or anywhere else. If we have
not hereafter an abundance of laborers, the fault
must lie with the Ministry. which is fully EN-
powered to provide them.
Several other laws will be found, of less gene
raj Importance than those referred TO. The sum
of St, 600 per annum is secured TO Queen En-
ma, IN consideration of her relinquishing all
claim or dover in the estate of the late King or
in the Crown lands, which are to be hereafter
as inalienable.
The laws of the Kingdom should be read
by every subject and by every person resid-
ing in it. that there may be no excuse for igno-
rance of them. \ knowledge of them will often
prevent errors and mistakes.