Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1852-06-19


raj Society =
We meet under the most trying circum-
stances. The last twelve months have been
the most critical ever known in the agricul-
tural and commercial history of our Islands.
and are marked by ruin to many, and mis-
fortune to all. The sudden check of our trade
with California-the consequent fall in the
prices of our products-the lack Of the neces-
sary capital to meet reverses-and the un-
paralleled drought, which has shrveled and
blasted our coffee-scorched and withered
our verdant ane-felds-turned our pastures
into ash-beds-dried up our kalo patches and
bghted our vegetables, has been an accu-
mutation of misfortunes which has overcome
some of our strongest hearts, and which
none have been wholly able to withstand.
We meet | say under the most trying cir
! cumstances-not PROSTATE, but crippled
still moving, but under staggering load of
depression Allow me then, before proceed
ing to detailed report of our transactions
since the last annual meeting, to take brief
survey of some Of our troubles, that you may
make suggestions and take measures for
their future remedy.
In the first place, the great obstacle in
the way of agricultural success in these ISL
ands is the want of capital. We have land
enough and to spare-good land and cli-
mate that knows no equal but what avails
all this so long as we have no money with
which to improve our lands ? We cannot
carry on farming in the Sandwich Islands as
| in England and the United States, with no.
thing but our hands to aid US, for here we
must have capital in the outset, and that too
in no small measure, or behold our labors
end in disappointment and ruin. All who
have had any experience iR plantations, |
think, will bear me witness, that to carry on
coffee plantation, successfully, requires
in the commencement from ten to twenty
thousand dollars, and sugar plantation
from twenty to one hundred thousand dol
lars. There may be exceptions to this gen.
eral statement but know of only one in all
the group, and | believe it is the universal
opinion, that he who has begun with nothing,
has undertaken the task of Sisyphus, to roll
huge stone up hill, which in nine cases out
of ten will eventually get the start of him.
and carry the poor struggler to the bottom
am panied to make this statement-deeply
pained-but with the past and present before
me, how can say less. From the earliest
days Of planting in these islands, when the
piougu WdS uId"u Wy q team VI uctfSS, No"b
to The present moment, the way of the plant
er has been ciogged with this great difficulty
his path has been clouded with darkness,
and many strong arm and brave heart after
toiing on for yeaFs, under a constantly in
creasing mountain of debt, has gone down
in despair. Money money money is
the constant cry of our planters, and their
appeal is to the winds. for we have no cap
itasts TO lend or invest. But where Is the
remedy for this paramount want confess
myself unable to answer, and turn to our
committee on capital in the hope that Its col
lective wisdom may have devised some means
for the solution of this important problem. 1t
is subject that calls for most earnest
attention, for though / would not color the
picture darker than it really is, yet | am con-
strained to say, it is my solemn conviction
that, unless we can obtain assistance from
some quarter, we shall soon see ruin resting
upon nearly every plantation in the land
My faith is not shaken in the final success Of
our plantations, for now, as ever, do firmly
| believe that there is no business in these
islands that will better or more surely reward
capital and industry than agriculture, pro-
vided that capital and industry be expended
with judgment and economy.
! But money is not alive require to prosper,
for combined with this want is the almost
universal lack of system and economy in the
expenditure of our labor and the little capi-
tai we possess Since our last meeting my
| judicial duties have called me to nearly every
part oe the kingdom, and, with very few ex-
ceptions, have observed on all the plan
tations have visited, disregard of system,
and want of economy in the application OF
labor, that has filled me with equal surprise
and distress; and believe there is no plant
er on the islands that has not deeply felt the
truth of what | say in his own individual
case, and remarked the same lack Of good
management in others. know it is far easier
to preach than to practice order and econ
omy, but still think we can improve on this
score, and that, with the aid of Chinese la
borers, we can perform our work more sys-
tematical y, thereby saving great loss, to-
| gether with any amount of vexation and wear
and tear of body and mind.
Another thing we need, as had occasion
to remark at our last meeting, is better ma
chinery. 1t is in vain for us to hope for
success so long as we continue to express
our cane juice by wooden mills worked by
cattle and to boil it in try-pots, heated by
| furnaces which more nearly resemble cav
erns in the rocks than the work of a skilful
mason. / am aware that great advances
have been made in this respect within the
last year, especially on the islands OF Maui
and Kauai, and these Improvements are
worthy. of all credit, yet this work OF reform
is but iiltle more than begun. The past year
has brought US one improvement worthy OF
particular notice, namely, Mr.. Weston's
g Centrifugal Separator, /" which has worked
wonders in improving the quality of our SUI
gars. without producing loss IN quantity
But this machine, valuable as it IS, in giving
US a better article in shorter time than the