The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-08-24
OBSERVER.

We continue our digest of the laws passed by the
last Legislature, as they arc published. A portion
of the following explanatory remarks are copied
from the Gazette.
The Act to regulate the awards OF Water in La
haina, is o local Act, and provides for a notice Of
10 instead OF II days, previous TO "a hearing before
the Commissioners.
The Act of 1862, relating to the public Treasury,
authorizes the Courts TO order the deposit In the
Treasury of any moneys under adjudication for
ascertainment of rights, and also moneys belong
ing to estates in the hands OF administrators,
guardians, DC. Section Sd Of the Act, compelled tho
Minister OF Finance to pay 8 per cent. interest on
all such deposits, as well as make the money pay
able on demand. The amendment strikes out Sec
ton Sd and leaves the question OF the rate OF inter
est open TO arrangement.
The Act 10 regulate the sale OF Deadly Poisons Is
further amended so as TO include wooden vessels
which shall have contained deadly poisons.
The Act to amend the Master and Servants law.
provides that the servant shall be q competent wit
ness In cases where he shall prefer a complaint ~
the magistrate against the master for cruelty, mis-
usage, or violation OF any OF the terms OF the con-
tract. Ii Is in complaints about the terms OF the
contract. where a doubt might arise under Section
1923 about the admissability Of the testimony OF the
Servant.
The requirement that the names of Jurors, who
have been drawn TO serve at any Of the terms of
the Court shall be published, is stricken out by the
NEW enactment.
The Act to amend Chapter 20 OF the Civil Code,
Jabolisbing the power formerly given TO petty
judges to imprison with hard labor for contempt,
removes q disreputable provision from our statute
books.
By the Act TO amend Section 924 OF the Civil
Code, by providing that one person may be APP
pointed as district Judge for more than one dis
trict, an old statute Is revived.
The amendment of the law In relation 10 the as
sessment and collection Of taxes. provides for a
fairer assessment than was obtainable under the
old law.
The amendment to the Divorce Law OF 1870 con-
fcrs upon the Courts the power to revise and amend
the orders issued for the personal liberty and rea-
sonable support of the wife pending the libel, as
also orders pertaining TO the expense Of the trial.
The Court OF the 4th Judicial Circuit on Kauai
has been holden only once each year-oD the frDt
Tuesday in August. The new Act provides for a
second term TO be holden at Nawiliwili on the first
Tuesday in each February. That appeals In GRIM
inal cases should be liable TO remain unheard and
unadJndicated for the greater part OF a year has
been deemed Objectionable, and hence the Court
by an additional term each year will give 10 parties
interested a speedier hearing.
The Act providing for the pay Of Tax Collectors,
places this matter upon the same footing as the pay
OF Tax Assessors. which within the limit of five per
cent. Is subjected to the regulation OF the Minister
OF Finance. 1t will not be necessary hereafter 10
insert in each Appropriation Bill, as hag been the
case heretofore in the item for the compensation OF
these officers, the words mot to exceed five per
cent"
The Act relating to marriage contracts re-enacts
the provision contained in Section 1884 OF the Civil
Coue' II "a III uO case DC awful q any person
to marry in this Kingdom witbouta license for that
purpose duly obtained from the agent duly APP
pointed to grant licenses to marry" The law of
1870 repealed this provision, as well as the one re-
curing that ito validate the marriage of native fe-
male subjects Of these Islands with male foreigners
coming here to reside. the foreigners shall becoEe
first duly naturalized by taking the oath Of allegi-
ance." As the law now stands the oath Of allegi-
ance is not required, but the license to marry is re-
CURED in all marriage contracts.
The Act to regulate the issuing Of Royal Patents
will relieve the hardship of those owners who hold
parts of lands, awarded by title by the Land Gem
mission, which have not been mmut for by the
original owner. Owners of these hoRselots or parts
OF an Ahupuaa, have been unable to obtain Royal
Patents under the old law, although willing TO pay
the communication, as Patents could only be issued
to the holder or owner of the whole Ahupnsas and
Ills. In many instances these owners are dead, and
many of the lands are unsurveyed, and therefore
the boundaries are undetermined. BY the present
enactment the owner of any portion OF land. upon
fling with the Minister OF Interior a certificate de-
timing the boundaries and paying the communication,
may receive q Royal Patent.