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

three or four hundred acres of the finest cane,
going to ruin beyond the hope of salvation,
all for the want Of proper and sufficient
machinery for its manufacture. But this
appeal for more and better machinery will
be met by the great prime question raised in
the outset: "Where is our capital with
which to make these improvements :"
On the subject Of labor, am happy to say
there is less to fear than formerly. The en-
terprise set on foot by our society for pro-
curing laborers from China, has at last met
with success, and much credit is due to Capt
John Cass for the faithful manner in which
he has carried out the experiment Of intro
ducing coolies. The Chinese brought here
III the "Thetis f" have proved themselves
quiet, able and willing men, and have little
doubt, judging from our short experience,
that we. shall find Coolie labor to be far
more certain, systematic, and economical,
than that of the natives. They are prompt
at the call of the bell, steady in their work,
quick to learn, and when well fed will ac-
complsh more, and in better manner, than
any other class of operatives we have The
cost Of importing coolies is fifty dollars per
man, and it has been estimated by those who
employ them, that their wages and support
amount TO trife under seven dollars per
month. They are great eaters, but their
food, chiefly composed of rice and little
meat, is of the cheapest kind, and to make
them profitable they should never be stinted
in their allowance. To all those planters
who can afford it, l would say procure as
many coolies as you can, and work them
by themselves, AS far as possible separate
from the natives, and you will find that, if
we'll managed, their example will have a
stimulating effect on the Hawaiian, who is
naturally jealous Of the Cooie and ambitious
to outdo him. There is still deficiency of
labor in some islands, but believe the door
cure laborers at V6eaper rate than any
other sugar or coffee growing country, except
those in the extreme East, or more properly
speaking in this longitude, the Far West.
serious drawback to the progress Of
agriculture during the past year has been
the want of a ready market for our produce,
especially for sugar and potatoes. California
now raises her own vegetables, and the low
price of sugar in San Francisco, produced
by overstockng that market from Manila
and China, united with the heavy duty on
sugars, has nearly stopped our shipments un-
til within the last few weeks. The Board
of Managers of this Society has put forth
an effort to obtain the abolition of that duty,
and the Hawaiian Government has seconded
that effort by the enacting of law remov-
ing all duties on Flour, Fish, Lumber, ETC.,
imported from the United States, provided
our Coffee, Sugar and Molasses, is admitted
into that country duty free. | confess am
not very sangune of success in this measure,
yet have hopes.
grazing interests.
This interest has suffered in common with
all others, owing in great degree to the
drought and low prices, but to some extent
from bad management. The day has gone
by when our graziers can look TO the markets
of Honolulu and Lahaina to consume their
cattle in the shape Of fresh beef; for the in
crease of our herds is so great, that the com
petition will soon become ruinous. Within
the last year good cattle have been sold by
hundreds on the island Of Kauai for prices
rang ing from one and half to two and
half dollars per head, and vet they are in
creasing with alarming rapidity. Many of
our pastures are overstocked-the supply of
fresh beef exceeds the demand, and the
time has come when our cattle growers should
turn their attention to packing beef for a
foreign market. Salt beef commands high
prices, but we have none to SELL except a
few barrels occasionally received from Ha-
wali, and why II is said because our salt
is not good, and will moi preserve beef If
so, then why not make our salt better, and
encourage and assist Mr.. Vincent to put in
practice the knowledge he is said to have
obtained on his recent visit to the United
States respecting the improved manufacture
Of this important article !!
believe we can make as good salt here
as any where in the world, with the requisite
care and skill, and have sufficient faith in
Mr., Vincent TO think that what can be done
in this way he will accomplish repeat it
we should become not only gro,Uers but pack
ers of beef And this is not all, we should be
extensive makers Of butter and cheese. We
have, 1t is estimated, about forty thousand
head of cattle on the islands and yet do not
make enough butter and cheese to supply
the of some 1900 foreigners. This is
subject of equal establishment and regret; /;
and trust that the exertions and premiums
of the Society respecting cattle, will, for the
future, have special reference to the i'm
provement of our mich cows The breed of
our cows so far as their milking properties
are concerned is miserable, and l have
never seen a real good milch cow in the ISL
ands, though am told they are TO be found.
The Hereford Cows are said to be good milk
ers, and am glad to have it in my power to
inform the Society that this breed, imported
by Mr.. Hopkins | believe, is doing well,
and promises great Improvement in cross
ing with our native stock. The Ayrshire
Cows are generally esteemed as the deepest
mixers, in climates suited to their consttu-
tion, but they are small, and whether they
would do well here remains to be seen One
great obslacle in the way Of dairies in these
islands is the wild state of cattle arising