The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-07-30

A VERY extraordinary pamphlet of %
pages in each language has been presented
to the Legislature, purporting to be Re
port of the Board of Genealogy Of Ha-
waiian Chiefs
1t is addressed to His E1cellency Chas.
I. Gulick, Minister of Interior, and is
signed Poomaikalani, President of the
Board, etc.
The President states that being commits
stoned by His Majesty the King, Manuka,
hunaaiole as Historian, and ]. A. Nahaku
as Secretary, were called in to constitute
the Board
Rules were drawn up in ten sections for
the guidance of the Board, and approved
by the King in Cabinet Council The pre-
amble dates the institution of the Board
from an Act approved on the 9th day of
August, 1880
Of the Rules, Sec l. provides that the
Board be constituted of three members, of
whom there shall be a President and Sec
rotary
Sec II Not to meet more than six days
week
Sec Ill and ", duties of President.
Sec Y and VI, duties of Secretary. VII
duties of Board
Sec. VIII. The Secretary shall be duly
authorized to draw money from the Ha-
waiian Treasury for the uses of the Board,
by drafts signed by all the members of the
Board
Work DoNE.-The number of Meles An
cient and Modern collected, 12S as follows
One, Gerry ancient. EIGHT, ancient. ONE
HUNDRED AND NINETEEN, modern.
The Board has been allowed to examine
copies of nine genealogical books, and rec
ommends that the sum of $1,000 be devoted
to the purchase of those nine books.
But the time of the Board has been
mostly taken up in attesting the genealogy
of those that have applied to have their
genealogy established The names of
seven applicants are given, all marked IN
flashed.
1t is impossible to follow the meander-
lngs of the next thirteen pages Deep sea
soundlngs, ace-characteristics, ethnolog-
ical theories, unintelligible cosmogonies,
Hawaiian legends, are all mixed up in Ian.
guage not unlike that in ''EHglish as she is
Spoke
In all this farrago of nonsense the fol
lowers of Darwin may take comfort that
''the writer" in a note states that he sees
no reason to controvert the Darwinian
theory, but that 'these theories, although
considered speculative by the writer are
but the tentacular touch of sciencelr
One point more, on page 20 we are told
that 1.-The New Zealanders, or what are
termed by themselves (sie.) Maories, are of
a very recent origin. Their genealogy
dates from the 935th descendant of Lailai
the first progenitOr of the Hawaiian race
The word Hawaii is also recent, being only
known in the 902d generation from Lailai
Enough of this stuff, the fact is that no
genealogy, not even the Kings, is traced
or attempted, no light is thrown upon any
thing
But if there is little to show for the past,
look what we are to have in the future
Page %, though the Board is limited by
law to the subject of genealogy alone, still
connected to the subject is the Physiology,
Psychology, Philology, Paleontology, FOOL
ogy, Botany, Ornithology and Chronology
lsfe.l and other scientific subjects" upon
these subjects the Board has partially com
menced classification and analysis" An
other two years and another $4,000 the
board may have thoroughly commenced.
As might be expected the financial re
port of the Board is not uninteresting, the
President takes $3.50 per month salary,
casual drafts of over $500. Nahaku gets
$3.50, Kahunaaiole 500. Our ubiquitous
Gibsonian E1ele S3944O, and p. C. i. Sl9l
for 1910 lines, while Messers. Smith and
Hopkins get $50 for 1874 lines. E. Oak
ley, Carpenter work, S39S.6S and so OF.
total $4,000.
The Board looks cheerfully to the future
and is of opinion that much must depend
upon the wisdom, liberal mindedness and
interest OF the Legislature in the continu-
alton of these important scientific subjects,
and modestly concludes with the statement
that it is not prepared to say they have fin
ished their work.
1t is earnestly to be hoped that the
Board may have no more work to do, two
years and $4,000 to produce this rub
Dish.
One cannot say who is the compiler of
this precious document. but It's plain it is
neither of the three who compose the
Board A smattering of fine words,
'tentacular touch of science, distinguishes
this writer
II any one really desires to get Informs