The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-06-22
Another Chapter In the Farce.

The miserable farce of rc-elcciinS the President
of the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society has
again taken place. y meeting of a few members
was held at the Court House on Monday last.
The number preeent-eightccn out of one hun
dred and eighty members-was rs large rs might
bc expected, when it is stated that the only pub
lie notice given appeared in the Government
organ, which is supposed t. be read chiefly by
Government employees. The meeting seems TO
have been called 10 discuss the Commercial Ad-
~reriiser, over which considerable wrath was
spent; afterwards the minor topic of election
of officers was taken up. For the sake of max
ing a point in n newspaper controversy. the
President, J. Montgomery, Esq. rendered his
resignation, which was Immediately and heartily
accepted. and the name of :. y. Castle, ESQ,
proposed for the office. \ friend of the retiring
President, y. F. Judd, Esq, seeing the proba-
bilitv that the farce might take n more serious
turn than had been anticipated, and that the
President might go ANONYMOUSLY 70 the wall,
jumped up and proposed bin for reelection. and,
no one Directing, the day was won, in violation
of parliamentary rules. The reason given for the
denomination was :. that if it was not done it
would appear as though the Society had been
backed down by u newspaper" This WIS done
despite the fact that there were other available
candidates, more cOInretent-Nessrs. Castle, lIIlle-
brand. Varigny, Hoffman,, ii. \. p. Carer, and
perhaps others. \ more perfect burlcSque than
this meeting of the Agricultural Society was
never acted here in Honolulu, and it only needed
Il transfer of the scene 10 the stage of the theatre
to have drawn a full house of spectators, and
paid well as a speculation.
And this is the way that a public institution,
founded TO be n promoter of national industry
and thrift, and honored with the Royal patron
age, is being conducted-a public shame and
scandal to the community. \ Society which
assumes to be governed by a constitution and by
laws, should keep them and conduct Itself ac-
cording to them. Mr.. Montgomery may con-
tinue to hold the Office of President, by making
threats not to assist the Society, if not elected,
but he will do 50 in violation of the bylaws and
of the wcll-known wishes of the members of the
Society, az well as of the community at large,
who will not come forward and assist in the
objects of this worthy institution until lis man
agement is placed in different hands than it has
been of late years.
\ meeting of the managers was held n few
DAYS ago to decide on n site for Il garden, and it
was proposed to accept the lease Of the two or
three acres on School street, back of Mrs. Arm
strone's and Gen. Miller's. We have carefully
examined this lot with one Of the natives living
on it. and find that there is about one acre of it
good soil. and the balance of the enclosure is u
bed of black idrG sand, with a thin stratum of soil
on it varying from ten TO twenty inches i'll thick
ness, on which neither trees nor plants will
thrive. The idea of making n garden and nur-
sery out of such 4 barren spot, even if it could
be purchased. should never be entertained. But
a. it cannot be purchased. but only leased, it is
worse than folly To think of taking it.
On further inquiry we find that the President,
having sold the Armstrong lot, has purchased
another lot between the residences of MeSsrs.
which it is proposed to lease for a garden. lfso.
this explains why it is now considered best to fix
on this site in preference TO others which are far
better adapted for the public necessities. 1t only
goes to prove what we have stated. that the
Agricultural Society is intended TO be only for
the benefit Of a few wire-pullers, and not of the
public. Let It's officers then bear the burden.
but don't have the impudenoe to come on to the
public for subscriI tions. When this land Of the
Queen Dowa@er was first proposed. Mr. Mont
gomery i reported to have poohei At the idea of
Locating n garden on a bel of black sand. not
worth ten dollars an acre 50 bu, now sey-iHtcrest
alter ne ca7c most decidedly. =.