OUR HONOLULU LETTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9496, 27 April 1894, Page 5

OUR HONOLULU LETTER.

[FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Honolulu, April 12. Politics are all the rage in the Hawaiian Islands at the present time, and likely to be for some time. Mass meetings are being held by different parties, as the time aproaches to hold a constitutional convention, t is set for the 2nd May, with the intention of electing delegates to frame a new constitution for the formation of. a Republican form of Government. There came to light the other day some notes on a new constitution, which fell into the hands of one of the local editors. They are as follow :— . Title : The Government of the Commonwealth of the Hawaiian Islands (short title, "Hawaiian Government." Drop the word " Provisional The Executive: The Executive power shall be vested in the president of the Hawaii u Islands : No scat in the Executive Council, but with a right of veto. Veto to be overruled by — of the Senate and assembly in joint session. Vice-president: No seat in the Executive Council, but to preside over the Senate. Executive Council: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance, Minister of Interior, Minister of Health and Education, Minister of Justice (Attorney-General). Five Ministers will assure a majority vote and relieve other departments. The Executive Council might be increased to seven by dividing the portfolios between Health, Education, and Immigration. The Legislature: Thirty-four senators to be appointed for two years by the president, vice-president, and Executive Council. Vice-president to have a casting vote (presumably by the Senate, mot the election of senators just referred to). Forty Assemblymen to be appointed by the Executive Council, and Senators. They to elect their own Speaker when the names of the Executive Councillors, Senators, and Assemblymen have been arranged, then let the President convene them, issuing a proclamation for that purpose. Let the joint bodies promulgate a constitution and fix the date for a general election. Rear -Admiral Walker, of the United States Navy, has been ordered to Honolulu, and is expected here in a few days. His flagship will bo the Philadelphia, which has been at this port several months. The United States has vested rights in Pearl Harbour on this island, and this will give it a hold upon the islands which may virtually amount to a protectorate.. Rear-Admiral Irwin has spent several days recently at Pearl Harbour, which i 3 a few miles from Honolulu, making soundings. If the object of the United States is to make a coaling station there, then, as the Hawaiian Star says, " it is pleasant to speculate upon the result to Hawaii of the procedure thus marked out. A coaling station means that a fortified aud garrisoned reservation, under the American flag, would be established on this soil. That, in view of the variety and preponderance of American interests here, would be a long stride towards the annexation of the group, and in the meantime would be an advance on the part of the United States to the relation of a protectorate, virtual, not actual. In the existence of the flag and garrison there would be a pledge of local security by which values would be enhanced and capital attracted. Two native policemen attempted to arrest a smuggler of opium, when the latter turned on them with a large knife. One officer was killed, the other has recovered. The murderer, a Chilian, cook on one of the trading vessels between here and San Francisco, is charged with murder iu the first degree. The Minister of Finance has presented to„ the Councils the Appropriation Bill for salaries only, for the two years beginning April 1. 1391. The amount called for is : 1,510,838d015. Many salaries have been reduced. The Temple of Fashion, on Fort-street, has failed, for 43,000d015. H.M.s. Champion is still in port. The vessel was away all last week, targetpractising. Minister Thurston, the diplomatic representative of the Provisional Government at Washington, is to marry Miss Harriett E. Potter, of Michigan. The Minister ,is a widower. The U.S.S. Adams, Captain Brice, expects to sail on the 14th for Behring Sea. She has made quite a long stay at this port. The Canadian steamer Arawa arrived from Sydney, April Ist, on time. The U.S.S. Monowai, from Sydney and Auckland due on the sth, did not roach here until the 6th. She took 60 passengers from Honolulu, and is a favourite boat to travel on. The number of deaths in Honolulu during the month of March was 45. Annual death rate per 1000 per month, 23.48 ; Hawaiian, 29 45 ; Asiatics, 18.00 ; all others, 18.00. The Japanese held a mass meeting recently. They want to secure the ballot, but their prospects are mighty slim.