The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1886-11-02
TAHITI.
Interesting News Perhaps Lessons.


The City of Papeete, which left Ia
hiti on September 18th, arrived here
on Monday, bringing news from the
French colonies. The vessel on its
last outbound trip carried the Governor,
M. Lacascade, and the new Minister of
the Interior, M. Mathivet, arriving in
Tahiti on the ed ult
Since the islands came under French
rule in December, 1880, their govern
ment has been conducted by means of
a Colonial Council and Financial
Committee This year, however, a
legislative body, known as the General
Council, was inaugurated by M. Lacas-
cade. The members of this council
are elective, and Frenchmen and
natives are alike eligible for election.
The only qualification is the ability to
read and write in the language of the
mother country. The general election
took place on June 18th, and the open.
ing of the new assembly on Monday,
August 10Th. M. Moracchini, the
Lieutenant Governor, who delivered
the inaugural address in the absence of
the Governor, spoke very hopefully Of
the prospects of the colony, and re-
marked that his only cause for regret
was the absence of native members
from the new assembly, fact which he
attributed to their being at present un-
able to conform to the qualification
mentioned as imperative. AS, however,
the native children are being taught the
French language in the schools and the
adults are rapidly picking it up, this
obstacle will speedily be removed and
the Assembly will then be mixed one.
The budget for the ensuing year was
presented, and set down the revenue at
r,2449oo francs, and the expenses at
I,2o6,984 francs. The present state
of the finances is very hattering one,
and shows an excess of receipts over
expenses amounting to 54,4I2 francs,
as surplus in the treasury, bringing
the total reserve fund up to I595Io
francs. The drain on the treasury will
soon be very large, however, in view Of
government works and Improvements
to be carried cut in the islands.
After the opening of the General
Council Mr.. Cardella was elected Presi-
dent, and Messrs. H. Langomazino and
Texier, Secretaries.
M. Lacascade was well received on
his arrival, the occasion being marked
by military parade and pyrotechnic
display, the Lieutenant Governor pre-
senting the Governor with an address.
The proclamation of the Governor was
published in the official organ in French
and Tahitian on September 9th, and in
it M. Lacascade expressed his pleasure
at the patriotic feelings of the natives
and announced his intention of doing
all in his power to advance them and
to cherish their love for the mother
country.
Captain Berude of the Papeete, ex-
pressed the opinion that NJ Lacascade
would very soon become popular. The
Tahitians, said he, assimilate readily
with the French, and Lacascade's re-
ception was flattering one. Papeete
is beautiful city and is soon to be
provided with an immense drydock
capable of carrying the largest man-o-f
war ahoat Admiral Marc de ST.
Hilaire left on board the ironclad Du-
quesne just previous to Captain Be
rude, and was preceded to the Mar
quesas islands by the Bouraine. The
transport ship, Scarf, has gone to New
Caledonia, and the Magon, which took
the Admiral out, is on her way back to
France.
The buildings now being erected IN
Tahiti are all of brick This is the
law of the land, the great fire which
took place eighteen months ago hav-
ing taught the authorities the risk of
erecting wooden shanties. Schools are
being rapidly erected, Catholic, Pre-
testant and private being already in
existence. The King maintains his
d gnity at $1,000 month and the
Queen on $Ioo, both pensions being
provided by the French Government.
The ex sovereigns are treated with, and
exact, every courtesy which the actual
wearing of crown could demand, and
the King has small French man-of-
war in continual attendance. f.
CHr0Htfle.