Ccrcmouu on Oiicning Hie Chamhcrs. 1 1 1 



Fare-Aporaa, or " House of Big Words," which has numerous 

 congeners among more civilized communities. Here, for the 

 future, are to be held the sessions of the Legislative Assembly, 

 and here the laws of the country are to be debated. Ever 

 since the protecting hand of the French Protector has 

 extended itself likewise over the unfortunate inhabitants of 

 the Society Islands, the Tahitian parliament is opened with 

 all that pomp and tinsel splendour which your true Frenchman 

 cannot dispense with, even among the primitive islands of the 

 Pacific. The Queen, accompanied by the Governor, proceeds, 

 escorted by a long retinue, to the Chamber, and opens the 

 assembly in person, which solemnity is announced to the 

 gaping crowd outside by a salvo of twenty-one guns. The 

 French Governor, however, plays the most conspicuous part, 

 as in him is vested the right of deciding whether the convoca- 

 tion of the chosen of the people be requisite or not. Hence 

 it happens that many a year passes when it does not suit 

 the wishes of the Governor that parliament should meet. On 

 such occasions (such was the case while we were there) the 

 Governor promulgates a simple edict to that effect.* 



* This State paper is couched in very brief and inteUigible terms in both French 

 and Tahitian, and runs as follows : — 



" Her Majesty, the Queen of the Society Islands, and H. E. the Governor of the 

 French possessions in Eastern Oceania : — 



"1st. Considering that there are no 'projets de loi" (Bills) to be submitted for 

 legislative enactment during 1859, and that assembly has further no budget to vote ; 



" 2nd. Considering moreover the considerable expenses to which the members of 

 the said assembly are put fbr their sojourn at Papeete during its session ; 



"3rd. Considering Article 7 of the Ordinance of 23th April, 1847; 



" Decide, — 



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