The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1868-12-30

THERE has been considerable excite
ment during the past week, regarding the
smallpox. On Saturday, a placard, printed
on yellow paper. was posted in public
places in town, calling q meeting for the
purpose of considering what measures were
necessary for the preservation of the
public health. Our reporter repaired TO
the place Of meeting, aud found collected
together a number of persons, the small
ness of which may, perhaps, be attributed
to the distance of the place of meeting
from the centre of the city, and the short
ness Of the notice. The meeting was
called to order by Mr.. Robert Charlton,
and Mr.. Kahalewai was chosen Chairman;
Mr.. James Halai, Secretary; and mas
much as the assemblage seemed to be
composed of natives and foreigners, Mr..
c. j. Lyons was selected as Interpreter
This Office seemed TO be unnecessary, as
the foreigners present all understood the
native language, SO far as we observed.
Mr.. Charlton stated the object of the
meeting, which he said was 10 take efficient
measures against tine spread of the small
pox, and that he thought the Board of
Health responsible for its being here now.
In the course of his remarks, he observed
that Government officers were present,
and that such persons were not wanted.
Mr.. Keawehunahala followed with an
exposition of his views on the Constitu-
tional rights of the people, and suggested
that the King be petitioned TO remove the
present Board of Health.
This suggestion was greeted by vocif-
erous applause-hear, hear, by several,
and much stamping of feet.
Mr.. J. o. Carter rose to counsel moder-
alton in action. He said that two-thirds
of the foreign community sympathized
with the meeting, and suggested that
Committee be appointed to draw up pc
tition; and in accordance with this sug-
gestion,a Committee of five was appointed
by the embarrassing of Messrs. R. G.
Davis, j. o. Carter. c. j. Lyons, J. w.
Keawehunnhala, and A. NJ. Kahalewai,
the Chairman of the meeting. During
the discussion, Committee of thirteen
was suggested, subsequently eleven, but
ultimately ave, were considered sufficient
for the purpose. The Committee were,
on motion, instructed to petition the King
to remove the Board of Health
The meeting to which we refer above,
gives encouraging signs that the peoples
attention is reused on the subject of small
pox, and if it shall have no other effect
than to impel people to have themselves
and children vaccinated, and obey the ply
stefan by returning at the appointed time
to have the vaccine vesicle inspected, with
out the Chief Of Police being compelled
to send for them, it will do very much
good. We say again, that people should
not sit down and say: Government should
come and vaccinate us, Government should
do this and that they are bound to take
all possible precautions themselves, Gov
eminent experimenting and assisting as
far as lies in its power. The Board of
Health, hearing the smallpox was raging
in San Francisco, some time since, made
extraordinary efforts to have vaccination
generally performed, and in Honolulu alone
during the last six weeks over six thou
sand persons have been .vaccinated.
We cannot expect escape the risks
of smallpox, and, although one of the
most loathsome and dangerous of conta-
gious diseases, if the proper precautions
are taken it is the easiest restrained. On
this account it is no longer feared in civil
lied communities, however fearful it
nay be to those individuals who may be