The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-05-02

An interesting portion of the Report. relating
to Sources of Revenue we must defer to our
next issue.
Rum aud Government Omcer. ON Hawaii.
Mr. EDITOR In your editorial remarks, April IL,
l find the following language, viz
The late successful effort on the part of the Gov
eminent TO suppress distillation on North Hawaii is
a commentary, IN the first place. on the inefhciency
which preceded it. Ii shows that men can be found
who will be faithful, if the Government will only look
FOR them in the right direction" sc.
\ portion of your readers who reside in North Ko-
hala. feel no little curiosity to have you explain the
first sentences Of the language quoted above. True,
North Hawaii is not geographically very definite
in its Specification But suppose you take the three
districts which are usually embraced in that term.
Let US see what is TO be said Of them
In Hamakua during the latter half of the year,
Government replaced the District Justice, who was
VIGOROUSLY one of the leaders in the oSeiehaO trade
and consumption, with u new mao so much iAe the
other, that not a ripple was caused in the current of
affairs in the district. Things went on precisely as
before, l. e.. the Justice continued ON as had been his
wont, in the van of the drunken crew which for years
had outraged all iecency and set all law at defiance
IN the district The great wonder was TO discover
why Oae leader Of the 0SeishSO fraternity was ex-
changed for another. (ui bono ? was the universal
inquiry which nohe was sufficiently wise to answer.
Having continued ON for a time in his usual habits Of
drunkenness, he was induced by local influences
which were brought to bear upon him, to put aside
his cups, and since that has done officially all that
under the circumstances could have been expected in
the effort TO suppress the traffic in and use of intoxi-
eating drinks in the district.
If you inquire to what extent his efforts have proved
successful. I can only reply that whilst much has
been accomplished towards a tolcrable purgation Of
parts Of the district, no reasonable man would expect
that a huge public evil which so long and 50 gener-
ally has controlled the district and had things in its
own way, almost solely in consequence of the aid rem
dered by the public authorities, would speedily be
eradieated.
In South Kohala, filed with distilleries, and flooded
with intoxicating drinks, under the express patronage
of the authorities, the District Justice has recently
been replaced with one of the most notorious habitual
~violators of the law to be found. People ask in what
respect a man living openly with a harem of three
wives (the married one of which is kept as a servant
to the two unmarriel) is solicited by the Government
as the especial guardian Of public morals Or why
this man should have been selected instead Of a law
abiding and equally capable man, who was named to
the authorities as n candidate for the office, is one of
the very many similar inquiries which those who con-
troll the Government alone can solve. Meanwhile
people are thinking However, just upon the recep-
ton of the commission by the Justice elect, death
stepped in and called away the Government protege,
aud we wait again till some eqraiiy fit candidate can
be found to FIJI the post of conservator of public
mo.als-
a few weeks since one clothed with authority came
into the district to ascertain some of the facts relative
TO the manufacture and use of okoiehao. He entered
&C.. I-.., -. .L:.t ..lI
regular business and obtained evidence of the fact.
The score of other houses and caves where the stuff
was made he did not enter. Naturally there was Il
temporary lull in The business, when it was whispered
that somebody was OH their track. Hitherto, how
ever. nothing has been done towards the prosecution
of the parties detected in their illegal business. We
wait to see what is to be done. Meantime if report
is true, one has still not far to go or long to wait for
an abundant supply Of the vile liquor, which is held
to have pres;riptiye rights of the most substantial
nature TO "A name and a place in the district.
In North Kohala the Justice was VIGOROUSLY incom-
petent for the tolerable discharge Of the duties of his
Office, any way. Lead away, however, by the chief
Of the constabulary force. he certainly Was not the
more competent therefor. lie amused himself, how
ever, by riding about the district in company with
the drunken constables, drinking and singing, all to
make and dnnk as much a. they chose, rs there was
no one to present The authorities were well posted
in his method of doing things officially, and it was
again AMI again positively asserted that he should
not be re-appointed, disgracing the Government, as
he was, by his conduct. Yet ia the midst of has hard
est drinking, ,1iLh u d~isiiiiery close by has house, the
liquor from rhich he lras SAID BY hS friends 10 hold
Le mOHopoIy9f, he ras re-appOiHted as District jus
tice! But his disappointment availed little The
fre-water wa too much for him. 1t summarily killed
him
Meantime me drunken Chief Constable gave place
10 "A faithful nan, and then the deceased Justice was
replaced by alaw-abiding succesSor-the first decent
man the district has seen IN office for years The
whole thing 5 more than a seven days wonder. How
came "A deceit man 20 get an appointment to Office )
That's the question. But let il 20. The Government
shall have ful credit for the appointment, whether il
was or was mt the result Of a mistake. And now
You say perhaps that there il n fair chance to close up
the liquor business But not quite 50 fast The Cir
cult Judge Of North Hawaii has never yet been
known, 80 falas report goes, to give judgment against
makers, vendors or drinkers OF intoxicating drinks
Nothing suits him better than the opportunity To re-
verse u Judgment Of the lower court against the liquor
men. 1t is SD that fat pigs and portly bundles Of
paiai, with sndry fish as an occasional relish, are
amazingly point arguments, at times
Personally, however, | cannot depOse to the truth
fitness Of thi particular article of long-continued
gossip. Onething nevertheless is clear, and that is,
that distiIlatiol is not to be put down, neither more is
drunkenness, $ long as this man occupies his present
post
The faithfuhess of the district justice, as well rs that
of the constalalary force, may he never so great-it
is sure to lie @feated by the action of the superior
officer Now to what particularly your remarks
above quoted nfer, is not evident. Possibly you may
say that coming events cast their shadows before, and
hence justify ue style of remark in which you have
INDUCED PeIhaps so. But hope deferred. it is said,
makes the heat sick. / think it does. My own ap-
prehension il, that as soon as officers become noted
for faithfulnes in the maintenance of the laws that
they will lie Iarked Iaen, and on some p~rctense or
other he uncermoniously ousted from their places.