The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-07-15
JOTTINGs.


During the early part of the week, the pro-
ceedings in the Assembly partook of the usual
character-that is to say. nothing of importance
was accomplished. The act to regulate the sale
Of opium, introduced by the Attorney General,
was summarily killed on Monday, by what we
have heard characterized as an outrageous abuse
of the g previous question" The Trainer of the
bill was not allowed an opportunity to speak q
word in its defense. On the same day, three
other bills, emanating from the same source,
were either postponed indefinitely or laid on the
table.
On Wednesday the House took up the Appro-
priation Bill, which has been made the standing
order for Wednesdays and Fridays, and made
moderate progress with the items in the
Judiciary Department.
On Tuesday, the Hon. Mr.. Preston from the
Judiciary Committee reported on a resolution of
inquiry by the Assembly as to how and by whom
the deprecated coin known as "sols'' and
pesos were brought into the country. The
committee say that they have examined the
Custom House records and found that the
sum of 60,019.5 So in silver coins of vari-
Gus countries had been imported during the
past six months by different parties, but it was
not known what proportion were OF the depre-
ciated sort that the Chamber of Commerce had
debated this matter on several occasions, and
their attention as we'll as that of the government
and merchants generally had been called to the
large influx of this debased coin into the country,
particularly as regards the government, on the
10th of April last. And Messrs. c. Brewer
& Co.. E. P. Adams, and others, had notified
the bank of Bishop & Co., of their intention to
refuse these coins that on the 25th of April, a
certain party arrived here with s., 100, which
he took to the bank, where he was told it could
not be received at par unless the government
would so receive it. and on application to the
Minister ofFinauce, he consented to and did receive
it, giving certificates in exchange that subse-
quently, on the Goth of April, the sum of $40, 900
in 'sols'' was by direction Of His Excellency
the Minister of Finance received into the Treas
ury, instead of being placed to the special deposit
account, and old certificates were reissued for
the amount that had these two amounts of
81, 100 and SO, 900 not been received into the
Treasury, the coin would not have got into circu-
lation that the committee find and therefore
report, that some captains of ships have pur-
chased considerable amounts of this coin in San
Francisco and brought them here and paid the
disbursements of their vessels with them and
they believe that large quantities of Mexican
half-dollars and other debased coin have been
purchased on the Mexican coast and introduced
here for the purpose of making a profit on them.
The committee conclude by recommending that
the Minister of Finance be instructed not to
allow any coin whatever to be admitted free of
duty, unless on special application to him for
kbak rurpnco chauinn fha nafr,ra IF tho anip
proposed to be admitted, and that none of the
coin to which the resolution under consideration
refers shall be admitted without payment Of
duty and that the Minister of Finance shall
make public notification that for the future any
of such coins which may be imported will not
be received by the government on any account
whatever. The report was ordered for considera-
ton whenever the Finance Committee should
report on the same subject.
Yesterday the Chairman of the Finance Com
mittee (Hon. j. Mott Smith) made a lengthy
and exhaustive report on the Resolution brought
in by the Hon. Mr.. Preston, on the subject of
deprecated coins. We had hoped to have laid
the document before our readers this morning in
full, as a motion was made to have it printed,
but the Minister of Foreign Relations amended
W hONAh6 bAAb A. ~J VA nv NNN~Ng W. - A"0sSN
of insufficient Importance to be printed Our
readers may form their own conclusions on that
point. This report, together with the one re-
Gently made by the anne Committee on the
Report of the Minister of Finance to the Legis-
lative Assembly, eyinces great industry on the
part of the Chairman, and familiarity with the
subject upon which he treats. 1t cannot be
denied that the public, in view of the yacillation
and feebleness of the Ministry as shown during
the present session, look with some solicitude to
the contingency of obtaining the aid of his gov
ornamental experience and Judgment in the man
agement of the public business,
After the reading of the Report had been
concluded, the Minister of Finance addressed
the House in explanation and correction of some
of the statements made by the Committee but
as we are unable to print the report to-day, so
we will defer the Ministers comments thereon.
Two facts were made apparent by the reading
of the rerort-that the debased coin now in the
country amounts to not far from $40 900 and
that the introduction of so much here was due TO
a want of proper precaution OF the part of the
Minister of Finance. The consideration of the
subject wac ordered for Monday next
Early in the afternoon Of yesterday: the Hon.
Mr.. Waterhouse introduced the following pre-
ample and resolution
Uhereas, 1t is essential for the promotion of the
welfare of this Kingdom and the maintenance of
its independence that His Msiesty's advisers should