Under Hawaiian skies, a narrative of the romance, adventure and history of the Hawaiian Islands, a complete historical account, by Albert Pierce Taylor.

"GREAT MAHELE"

349

The first constitution was drawn up ill 1840 in a similar manner and approved by the general Council of Chiefs. It was then
signed by the king and the premier, Kekauluohi, tlhe mother of
William Lunalilo, who was elected king in 1872 to succeed Kamehameha V. The constitution was proclaimed October 8, 1840.
It perpetuated the office of kuhina nui and the four governors
instituted by Kamehameha I and defined their powers and duties.
It constituted a legislative body, consisting of fifteen hereditary
nobles and seven representatives, who met annually, sitting together in one chamber. The representatives were elected by the
people in a rather informal manner. The legislative body was
to appoint four judges, who, together with the king and Ipremier,
should form the supreme court of final appeal. The old laws
were revised and new ones added and the collection was published in 1842. They established a uniform system of taxation,
abolished all oppressive and arbitrary taxes, all forced labor, and
miost of the oppressive talus that formerly rested on fishing.
The first school laws were enacted in 1841.
On May 15, 1842, all governlment plroperty was set apart and
a treasury board consisting of four persons was crea:ted, of which
Dr. G. P. Judd, who soon became a forceful figure in Hawaiian
governmnent affairs, was chairman. Bv institutiing a regular systeml of keeping the accounts, of paying government officers, and
of collecting the taxes, he soon estallished the credit of the government, and paid off the mnost pressilg debts.
On the 20th of May, 1845, the legislature was formally opened
for the first time, by the kiing in person, witl fitting ceremonies.
At this session John Ricord, the attorney general, was ordered
l! a joint resolution to draft a series of acts organizing( the five
executive departments of tlhe governlent.
By this time the king and chiefs were fully convinced that their
ancient system of land tetnure was the great hindrance to further
progress in civilization. anl, accorling to Prof. Alexander, saw
that it was continually involvillg tlhell in dlislutes with foreigners. By Dr. Juldd's advice, the legislature passed an act on Deceniier 10, 1845, constituting a "'Boardl f Commissioners to