er, to assist intercourse between
the Islands of this group, and encourage industry.

You will perceive by the detailed Report of my Minister of
Finance that the liabilities of my Treasury have been promptly
discharged and the public credit fully sustained,
notwithstanding the large expenditure made for important
public improvements. The law for the more just and equal
collection of Taxes, passed at your last Session, has operated
favorably on the national finances, although I am of opinion
that some alterations in its provisions would still further
improve it.

In addition to the ordinary expenses of the Government, you
will see the necessity of appropriations sufficient to
complete the public works already commenced, even though it
should be necessary to resort to the loan authorized by the
law of the last Session.

My Minister of Finance has also called your attention to the
important subject of a Usury law, which I commend to your
favorable consideration.

He has likewise alluded to a proposed mode of payment for the
steamer before mentioned, which may, I trust, preclude all
embarrassment to my Treasury.

You cannot, at present, regard the law imposing duties on
imports passed at your last Session, as a basis for
appropriations, because it is uncertain whether it will go
into effect.

The state and progress of Education among my people during the
past year, you will learn from the Report of the President of
the Board of Education. The change in that Department, by an
Act of the last Legislature, has proved, thus far, to be
beneficial. It is particularly gratifying to know that
instruction in the English language is prosecuted with so much
success among my native subjects. I recommend you to make as
liberal a provision for the support of this class of schools
as the state of my Treasury will admit.

I feel so keenly the necessity of some new stimulus to
agriculture, in all its branches, that I very seriously call
your attention to that point, and shall be happy if in your
wisdom you can devise any measures to promote so important an
object. The Native Hawaiian Agricultural Society, lately
instituted, needs your fostering care in the form in which you
have manifested it towards the sister Association. The