The Hawaiian gazette., 1871-07-26

bunal can be made TO supersede the summary
processes which prevailed previous to its es-
Enlistment, great step in civilization will have
been made, Of which we shall speedily reap the
fruits, A wholesome lesson in justice was read
on Thursday last, when one Of the rebel Lovoni
chiefs was put into the box-to prove that he had
ordered the murder of subject Of King Cakobau
as an act Of war and was solemuy assured by the
bench that it was both able and willing to protect
him from any consequences TO himself which his
testimony might otherwise entail, 1t is to be re-
! GREETED that the murierers of Mr.. Underwood
| have not yet been made to answer for their mis-
/ deeds as it may provoke sarcasm on the laws
delays, but the impossibility Of obtaining wit
ueSses must surely be held a sufficient excuse,
and it is almost impossible that the murierers
can ultimately escape. The appearance of the
court though shorn Of many Of the imposing ae-
cessories Of an English hall OF justice was suti-
cieutly imposing, aud the bench looked digni6ed
and judicial loud encomiums especially, being
passed on the appearance of Ratu Savanaka who
looked every inch a chiefand Judge. The court
was pretty well attended by spectators who watch
ed the proceedings with great interest, and good
lumber of natives attended; the minutest care
being taken that nothing should be allowed to
pass unuterpreteS- Sufficient evidence was at
foried Of their attention TO the proceedings by
the great sensation observed in the native town
after sentence of death hal been passed upon the
three murierers yesterday. 0feourse all things
have their ludierous side, the opposing counsel
corrobOrated each other. con,adieted each other,
aud objected to each others points. with refresh
ing zeal Each insinuatei tina: the other was no
lawyer aud then lavished the highest praise on
his legal brothers skillful management of his case
with gusto worthy of Westminster Hall two
gentlemen unaware Of the soundlngS and bearings
of the group marched into the dock and took
their seats with sublime Inconsistencies and then
had to 20 out amidst the audible merriment of
the whole court legal gentleman complained
Of being uuwell and was ardiby asked to take
drink by distinguished court official as means
Of expediting business. The name of a murder
ed man was pronounced in three different ways
before the clerk OF the eoart ultimately settled
down upon the wrong one but these were mere
spots on the sun and did rot impair its efficacy
or brliaucy. Altogether the judges and other
officials of the court may be congratulated on
their first session But whilst congratnlating
The members of the court upon the general ex-
cellence Of their mode of conducting business
we cannot congratulate tue Government upon
the institution OF a court, because such step is
an assumption Of power which they do not
possess, and which Europeans would not ac
knowledge. until after the meeting of delegates
aud the establishing Of constitution, conters it
upon them.
No more favorable sign of the success
of the last effort of Cakobau to establish
his authority on a propeff basis, could be
given than the public appreciation of the
court, and the feeling Of security given to
citizens by the knowledge that justice
can be be obtained at its hands.
Among the criminal eases tried at the
first term of the court, were three native
FDians for murder, who were sentenced |
to death one, for murder, sentenced to
ten years Imprisonment ut hard labor;
and fourteen chiefs of the Lovoni tribe
for treason, the sentence passed on them
being Imprisonment at hard labor for life
On the 3Oth of June, the Loyoni tribe,
men, women and children, to the number
of about one thousand arrived at Levuka,
to give their formal submission to Ca
kobau. They were said to have presented
a very picturesque appearance as they
were grouped beneath the high rock at
Levuka. There was large number of
government forces present on the occa-
sion, who were fully armed and equipped,
for the purpose of overawing their late
ldversaries in case Of any appearance of
usubordination. Ali Of the Lovoni people
who were possessed of any offensive arms
were deprived of them. 1t is
said that in several cases acts of violence
we're perpetrated against the Lovoni peo-
pie, one chief being cruelty beaten with
/ dubbed musket, aud finally taken sense
ess to the canoe which was to convey
lim home