The Hawaiian gazette., 1872-01-03

u a
ing room. This was taken BY the Government
and neatly fitted up for the purposes Of the con-
veutiOn or assembly Of delegates. I do not know
the exact size Of the room, bat Il seemed ts be
about thirty feet long and about half thar width.
1t was provided with center table. benches FOR
members on each side, raised seat and table iar
the speaker, with space on each side for dis,ia-
guished visitors, chair ard table for the clerk.
and strangers gallery. Small wings we're added
ed for speakers room, Refreshments room, etc.
The delegates went to work with viii. sitting
every day nearly the whole day and finishing their
business in creditable manner which some Of
our colonial legislators would do well TO initiate.
Mr.. Buffers was chosen Speaker, and Mr. Free
man appointed Clerk, both gentlemen being wen
known in Australia. A Constitution was very
soon framed, and well it might when it was near
ly in every respect eraof copy Of he Hr,r1iiaa
Constitution. As the work progressed oppOsi-
ton to the Government became less and az last
almost ceased TO exist. The native chiefs and
foreign delegates at first sat and voted together.
but as the chiefs voted with the Government en-
mdSSs on all questions, and might on some future
occasion vote in a SIMILAR manner with the leader
Of an opposition, it was thought better that they
should sit in a separate chamber and consider the
the whole Of the matters to be determined upon.
recommending such alterations or amendments as
they might deem necessary. The chiefs them
selves preferred this, and the arrangement was
found to work very we'll
On the occasion Of my first visit to the House
they were debating on resolution in reference
to an intended expedition for the punishment Of
the Ba murderers. Foreigners had volunteered
from various parts Of the group 10 make up n
force for this purpose. many Of them being at
tended by armed abOrers They had likewise
secured promise Of native assistance on a rather
large SCALE and they were determined to proceed
with their expedition 10 any case. but they want
ed the vuui valu king Thakombau) TO send
with them a sufficient number Of bis own warriors
to make success quite certain. The old king OBJ
jected to the taking OF any steps for the punish
ment Of the mOuntaneers until such punishment
could be made thoroughly eTeetual until in fact.
his measures could be so well matured and the
forces at his command so numerous and so web
equipped as to ensure as complete 4 subjugation
Of the mountain tribes Of Viii Lew as had al
ready been made by the people Of the LeVoui
district, the mountaineers Of Ovalau. He point
ed ont that having been hurried into war BY the
foreigners against his own Judgment. 20 avengo
the murder Of the Rev Mr. Baker, had only re-
suited in a defeat, which had made the mountain
eers more dangerous than ever, and he avowed
his determination not to be again led into a simi-
lar error. At the same time however, he declar-
ed his readiness to protect the foreign settlers
of Ba against further aggression # they would
for the present act only on the defensive. This
determination had been announced By the minis
ters, anu j maJority OF tue HUuss had aPpaluuiiy
coneuFred in the wisdom Of this course and con
demned the proposed expedition. But the Ba
settlers through their delegates had asked for a
reconsideration Of the question and the sending
at once Of large native force. saw and heard
enough however to convince me that both the
character Of the delegates and their observance
Of the forms and eourtesies Of legislative bodies,
that the assembly would compare very fayorably
with any Of the senatorial assemblies 10 Aastra-
.
II 10 favor Of the Government. Another reso-
luton was subsequently passed however. begging
the earnest and prompt attention Of the govern
ment to this subject and it was at once promised.
Ny second and last visit to this House vas
when the Consultation ives signed aud the dele
gates released from their labors. The scsne Was
one never to be forgotten. On either side Of the
approach to the House was an armed gua-d OF
natives wearing no uniform but their ordinary 50
las bat with their swords tipped looking rather
formidable. The House itself was crowded and
the strangers gallery filed with ashionably dress
ed ladies'. 10 the body Of the house. besides the
delegates, there we're also the PRINCIPAL native
chiefs, all fine noble+looking fellows clothed ia
the native manner with white shirts and s1g,es
Of native cloth in ample folds. The Queen aud
several native ladies' we're also seated in the body
Of the house Her Majesty is a very stout but
rather comely woman. She and her ladies' were
all well dressed siter the native style. with kind
Of pinafors reaching from the neck to the vast.
completely covering the bust but leaving the arms
free. ard petiieoat from the waist reaching 10
the kDse, the various garments being OF diHsrsat
material and color, generally rich AMI gag. Be
fore the King came it vas of course necessary
that everybody shOald rstarn thanks to sTsry-
body which was all done 10 due order. The Min
isiry vas thanked FOR the zeal and industry which
had resulted il the adoption Of % really excellent
and liberal Constitution. The speaker sns
thanked fsr the able and courteous manner IN
which be had ruled the House, snd the delegates
themselves we're thanked By the ministers aad
speaker. Several Of the natives then made short
bot eloquent speeches which we're interpreted b.
the Rev MT. Se.ilston. IN reference 70 the new
day which vas daEnipg upon FIJI and the happy
results likely % ensae from the united Efforts Of
the tso races. Direetly after this the Eiag ss-
tered the Ho1ss. he Is f8s boxing Old ran,
tall and upright, with grlzzlsd hair asd bard,
Bat With 10 appearancs Of fssbsnsss He zas
barshsadsd and wore . shirt Of snowy Ehiieness.
With 80 ample sull Of E1s native cloth. BAT %
other garment. a5d 10 bis hznd be carried snail
Ealkisgeaas. His manner sas decidedly regal
lie ascsoded 70 . chair which had been placsd
ior him b. the aide Of that ooeapisd b. the spea-