STATUTE LAWS OF KAMEHAMEHA III

PART 1 SECOND ACT

AN ACT TO ORGANIZE THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF THE

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

PRESENTED TO SUCCESSORS AND HEIRS

OF

THE SOVEREIGN KINGDOM OF HAWAII

BY

Second Act

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECOND ACT KAMEHAMEHA III.

AN ACT TO ORGANIZE THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS OF THE

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

PART 1
ENTITLED

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

SECTION I. Be it enacted by the Nobles and Representatives of the Hawaiian Islands, in Legislative Council Assembled:

That in order to conduct with greater certainty and system the several executive functions reposed by the Constitution in the king and premier, there shall be and is hereby created, a department to be styled the "Department of the Interior Administration;" over which, the premier, as minister of the Interior, shall preside, residing and having his place of business at the seat of the Hawaiian government.

SECTION II. It shall be the duty of the premier, as minister of the interior, to see faithfully executed in the respective islands of this kingdom, all the duties assigned by law to the following bureaux, viz:

SECTION III. The premier, as minister of the interior, shall cause to be preserved distinct, in appropriate books, the respective transactions of each of said bureaux, as detailed in the respective chapters of this part to which they refer; over each of which, if its transactions in his estimation justify and require it, he shall have power to appoint a clerk, and he shall have power to consolidate all or as many of said bureaux, in the hands of one clerk, as he may at any time deem expedient; but in that case, the said clerk shall preserve distinctly the respective records of each, and shall not, on the account, be entitled to receive a greater compensation, than maybe by law provided for one such clerk.

SECTION IV. The premier, as minister of the interior, shall prescribe written rules, and give general instructions in writing to the clerks appointed under him, for ordinary guidance in the discharge of the duties of his department; but it shall nevertheless be incumbent on said clerks, to submit all official act and transactions to, and take the specific orders of said minister, before performing them.

SECTION V. The premier, as minister of the interior, shall have charge of the great seal of the Hawaiian Islands, and shall affix the same to all royal documents, receiving the king's signature, and attested by him. He shall also have charge of the royal standard and of the national flag. He shall have charge of the standard of weights and measures prescribed by law, and be accountable for the safe keeping thereof respectively, and of the public stamps, to be deposited and used by the director of the government press, as in this act provided. He shall be the repository of all the original manuscript acts of the legislative department of this kingdom, after they have received the executive sanction; and in like manner, of all the royal rules, ordinances and decrees, sanctioned in privy council. He shall cause them to be promulgated as hereinafter provided; and be responsible for their correct dissemination throughout the kingdom. He shall superintend the naturalization of foreigners, and preserve the record thereof. He shall countersign all commissions in his department, emanating from the king; and he shall communicate to the officers created thereby, the royal pleasure in regard to their duties, comprised in the succeeding chapters of this part.

SECTION VI. The premier shall have power to administer oaths, to be read in evidence in any court of justice in the kingdom; and copies of original vouchers deposited in his office, under the privy seal of his department, shall have the same weight and authority in any such court, as the originals.

SECTION VII. The premier shall, when required by the king, perform the tour of the respective islands, to confer with the governors in His Majesty's name, upon their internal policy, in order to lay before His Majesty, more particular information concerning the condition of the kingdom. On which occasions, His Majesty, in concert with the premier, may appoint an under minister of the interior, ad interim.