The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1896-07-31
Continued from LIST Paqe)
THE BRITISH COMMISSION.

The proclamation issued by Lord
. Paulet declared that the Govern.
ment should be carried on, as far as
natives we're concerned, by the
native king and chiefs aud their
officers; and in all that concerned
foreigners by commission, consist
ing of a deputy appointed by the
King, Lord George Paulet, d. f,
Mackay, Esq. and Lieutenant Frere
Of the "Carysfort." All laws enact
ed by the Legislature and all bona
fde engagements of the late Govern
ment were to remain in force. The
king and premier appointed Dr..
Judd as their deputy in the COM
mission, and left for Maui on the
9th.
Nothing more was heard OF the
claims brought against the late
Government. The commission now
proceeded as il it had been settled
that the islands should permanently
remain British colony. Every Ha-
waiian flag that could be found was
destroyed. All foreigners holding
land in any way were notified to
send in their claims to the com
mission before June 1st, 1S43, and new
registers were given to vessels owned
at the islands, putting them under
the British flag. The Government
vessels we're taken as "tenders for
II. b. MS 'Carysfort,'" the name Of
the "Hooikaika" being changed to
albert" and that of the "Paalua"
to adelaide" An additional duty
Of one percent. was added to the
three percent. required by law, to
pay the expenses of the commission.
The principal business of the COM
mission was OF the nature of a
Police Court. No jury trials were
held during its existence.
Without investigation or trial by
any Court, Lord Paulet had already
seized the land claimed by Mr..
Charlton, and had it cleared of it's
occupants, twenty-three houses
being demolished, and one hundred
and fifty-six persons expelled from
their homes.
On the 18th of March the "Albert"
was dispatched TO San Bias, Mexico,
to carry Mr.. Alexander Simpson
with letters for the British Foreign
Office. AS the firm OF Laid & Co.
had previously chartered this vessel
they reserved the right to send a
commercial agent by her.
1t was of vital importance to the
king that he should be represented
in London at this critical juncture,
Accordingly, Mr. j. F. B. Marshall
(who acted as Ladd g. Co.'s mes
senger) was secretly commissioned
as His Majesty's envoy, and took
passage in the same vessel with Mr..
Simpson without exciting any sus-
picion on his part.
A canoe had been sent beforehand
with picked crew from distant
part OF Oahu, to notify the king and
premier, who came down in a
schooner, landed at Waikiki by
night, read and signed the prepared
documents, and Immediately return
ed to Waikiki. The Victoria" sail
ed March 18th for Valparaiso with
letters for Admiral Thomas.
During the month OF April the
legislative body held session at
Lahaina. At this session complete
register was made for the first time
of all the lands in the kingdom,
with the names of their respective
holders. This work occupied about
ten weeks. 1t proved that no large
tract Of land was unoccupied. Dur
ing this session, April Goth, the first
anniversary of the Lahaina Temper
ance Society was celebrated, and a
large quantity of liquor, which had
lain for year untouched in the
kings cellar, was emptied into
the sea.
The commissioners, having been