The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-09-16
LEGISLATIVE JOTTINGs.

The past week has been characterized by an
unusual disposition on the part of members to
attend to business, and rs n consequence, n good
many bills-some wise and the majority unwisc
have been expedited through their several
readings. I On Saturday q resolution was adopted
requesting the King to appoint>a commission of
Eve members, to consider and report at the
session of 1873 on the subject Of Hooulu
Lahui increase of the people.
Quite q number Of bills were considered on
Monday and moved forward n stage, and the
Act to regulate the currency (as printed in our
last) was finally passed.
On Tuesday not SO much progress was made.
An Act to amend the liquor license law (whole-
sale and jobbing) was passed to a third reading,
nftcr some spicy remarks by the member for
L.ahaina (NIr. Preston) who regarded the bill
as n job in the interest of certain parties.
The Hon. Mr.. Kalaukoa opened the ball on
Wednesday with a resolution condemnatory of
the action Of the Board of Health in recently
sending off a number of lepers to Molokai, sin
/ contempt and defiance of the authority Of the
House, and requesting His Majesty to deprive
the members of the Board OF their commissions.
The Hon. gentleman supported his resolution
with an ear-splitting speech, in which he roundly
abused the doctors. The Hon. MIR. Birch moved
to amend, that the present members of the
Board be discharged, and that DIR. Kahui, "a
noted kahnna) and two others be appointed.
Members were beginning to get interested in the
subject, when the Attorney General obtained the
floor and succeeded in convincing them OF the
folly and danger of the proposed action, and q
motion to proceed to the order of the day put an
end tothe improbable talk.
The inter-island steamboat bill was passed on
its final reading, after striking out the provision
that the contract shall be subject to the approval
of the King in Privy Council, the Hon. Mr..
AhOlo, who made the motion, declaring that that
provision looked like a want of confidence in the
Minister of the Interior.
Thursday was the day set for the third reading
Of the Appropriation Bill, but it WIS not
reached. The Ministry would undoubtedly very
much like to SEQ the supplies finally agreed to,
and then they could afford to alter their tone,
and speedily bring the wearisome session to a
close but members it appears arc quite up to
the situation, and before they allow the Appro-
p%riation Bill to finally leave their hands, will
inquire rs to the fate of a number OF other
measures that have been passed, but have not
yet received the Royal assent. The Hon. Mr..
Cleghorn's bill imposing certain specific duties
was reported rs amended in committee, (com-
bining some OF the features Of the Ministerial
billy and consideration deferred until Mr.. G..
appears in his seat, he being detained from the
House by a slight indsposition.
ION Thursday, the ridiculous bin providing
sbronze medals for the parents of as many as four
children, (reported a month ago by the Minister
of Foreign Relatlons) was up on its third read
ing, and after a~ffording occasion for a good deal
of laughter was indefinitely postponed. 4
resolution by the Hon. Mr.. Kalaukoa (Honolulu)
instructing the Minister of Foreign Relations
to proclaim Iiawaii's neutrality in the impending
European war, was dropped on a call for the
order Of the day.
Yesterday the committee on enrolled bills
reported that His Majesty had given his assent to
some eleven aets, mostly amendments Of an
unimportant nature to the Civil and Penal Code,
among others, an act to authorize the licensing
OF banks. The Hon. Mr.. Birch offered a resolu-
ton inquiring whether the government had
disposed of its water rights in the district OF
Makawao to private parties. After some remarks
by the Attorney General, the subject was
referred to special committee for examination
and report. Two bills TO increase the number
Of representatives, were indefinitely postponed
one providing that sales Of government lands
shall be by auction was passed to be engTossed
and the bill to indemnify the Minister of Finance
for the expenditure of some $1,000. passed a
final reading.