The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-05-04
OPENING OF THE SESSION OF 1878.

OPENING UE IdE SESS1ON OG 4OtO'
PURSUANT to proclamation duly made, the
Session of the Legislative Assembly for 1878
was formally opened by His Majesty the King in
person at noon on Tuesday. An hour before that
appointed for the ceremonies, the public began
to collect at Aliiolani House, and by Il O'Clock
the spacious Legislative hall was crowded with
ladies and gentlemen, both l. of foreign and native
birth, but we note the fact of a larger collection
of the former class than on any previous similar
occasion. In front sat the Mobiles and Represen-
tatiyes, "a full list Of whom We gave last week.
On the right of the dais were ladies of the Court,
and wives of Cabinet Ministers and of govern
ment officers, and on the left the Representatives
and Consuls of foreign governments and their
wives, and officers of II. B. NJ. S. Daring. The
Throne was covered with the ahu-ula, or feather
cloak, the Hawaiian symbol of Royalty. and on
either side three KahiH bearers, with those ancient
emblems of craftsmanship. In front of the build
ing was drawn up the military in line, consisting
of Companies A and B of the Hawaiian Guards,
the Household Troops and the Princes Own, all
under the command of Major Chas. L. Gulick.
At a few minutes before u, His Majesty left the
Palace with the Queen in the State carriage,
under a salute from the battery on Punchbowl.
Members of the Staff IN attendance were Coils.
W. f. Allen, Chas. II. Judd, Mark P. Robinson,
Major G. w. Macfarlane and Capt. j. Il. Boyd.
As the Royal carriage entered the gates Of the
government house yard the band gave the
national anthem and the troops presented arms.
At precisely u o'clock the King and Queen en-
tered the Hall, (the audience rising) and took
their places on the dais, the Judges of the
Supreme Court on the right and the Cabinet
Ministers in front. After prayer by the Rev. NJ.
Kuaea, His Majesty read-frst in Hawaiian and
afterwards in English,-the following
ROYAL SPEECH.
MOBILES AND REPRESENTATIVES,: On the tenth
day of April of last year it pleased Almighty God
to take from Me by death My belovered brother
PRINCE WILLIAM PITT LELEIoHoKU, whose prom
Use of future usefulness to the nation was thus
early terminated. He had endeared himself to the
people by his intelligent interest in their welfare,
and had evinced traits of character which made
him q wise councillor, BETTING his position as Heir
Apparent.
L have appointed and caused to be proclaimed
My beloved sister LYDIA KAMAKAEHA L~ILIUoKALANI
as Heiress Apparent.
Our Treaty of Commercial Reciprocity with the
United States took effect September 9th 1876. Its
operation indicates that it will be a source of
Ill DeuGul IL ludiB do ia pkOouSlLOAo Al
crease with the market thus afforded for them,
our importations, not only from the United States.
but from other countries, will increase IN like
ratio.
The effect of this Treaty upon certain articles of
the British Treaty having been called in question,
l dispatched the Hon. H. A. P. CARTER as My Envoy
Extraordinary to Great Britain, to confer with
the British Government.
Notice has been given, under the provision OF Ar
ticle II, of My desire to terminate Article ". of the
British Treaty, to take effect July 3rd of the present
year. Mr.. Carter, who was also empowered to nego-
tate a Treaty with Germany, has not yet returned
from his mission.
The Finances of the Kingdom continue to be in a
satisfactory condition. The Report of My Minister
of Finance will show a detailed account of Receipts
and Expenditures.
The administration of Justice remains able and
impartial.
The health of My people is q subject constantly in
My mind. The recommendation of the Board of
Health to continue to enforce the measures heretofore
adopted cannot safely be neglected. L request you to
give this subject your earnest consideration.
The Report of the Board of immigration will show
you that efforts have been made to obtain immigrants
from India, the Western Islands and Polynesia.
An Electric Telegraph has been established by pri-
vate enterprise on Maui, which may, l hope, be ex-
tended by cable between the Islands.
The opening of Narrow-guage Railroads on
Hawaii and Maui may be a subject well worthy
of your attention.
1t is desirable that frequent changes of the Laws
or the making of unnecessary new Laws should be
avoided but upon this subject, as in all your
deliberations, may you be guided by sound wisdom.
MOBILES AND REPRESENTATIVES,
1 now declare the Legislative Assembly of the
Kingdom opened.
At the close of the speech, their Majesties
and suite retired in the same order as on en-
tering.
After the audience had dispersed, the House
was called to order by Mr.. Godfrey Brown, Clerk
of the session of 1876, and Immediately ad-
journed until Wednesday at 10 O'Clock a. m.
following members were absent: His Elk. Gov.
Dominis, the Honorables P. Isenberg, Ii. Kuihe-
lani, and j. P. Parker, of the the Mobiles and
Representatives Pilipo and Kamauoha of Kona
and KanealIi of Waikiki. Maui.