The Hawaiian gazette., 1868-09-16

affairs of late years. II ought not tc be for
gotten that the Society has already made
some progress in the latter branch, and
amongst other valuable introductions, has
established the cultivation of Carolina Rice,
which has proved so admirably adapted to
the soil and climate Of the country, as well
as>to the habits of the natives, and which
was originally raised in, and distributed from,
the former garden. by the Society's energetic
Curator, Mr. Holstein, and which has since
become an important and lucrative staple
export. II is intended to devote an adequate
portion of the new garden TO experiments
on the culture of new plants and seeds, with
view to the distribution Of such as may be
found of practical value; but as regards the
introduction of live stock, its cost is quite
beyond the reach of any funds at the disposal
of the Society. If the community resident
on the several Islands shall see fit to sustain
the Society-now, as l feel convinced, effect
ually resuscitated-with adequate funds, we
anticipate, ere long, being in a position TO
encourage individual enterprise in that de-
partment by premiums for the introduction
of meritorious stock, which is as much as
the Society can reasonably aspire to do at
present.
This Society, which originated in 1850, is
by its original Constitution and subsequent
Charter, composed of two classes Of men,
bers, viz: Life Members, whose qualifca-
tion is the payment of $50 in one sum to its
funds; and the other, Annual Members, who
nav IS each, yearly. and who. on ceasing to
pay, cease to have any voice in it, 1t is
not endowed in any way, and does not own
any property yielding revenue, and is, there
fore, entirely dependent for its subsistence on
the good will of the public, and such assist
ance as the Board of immigration and Agri-
culture may be pleased to render. If, there
fore, the operations of the Society, of late
years, have been less efficient or satisfac-
tory than might be desired, the public,
who have withheld that assistance so indis-
pensable to its efficiency and progress, must
be content to bear the responsibility of its
shortcomings. 1t is to be hoped that when
the progress made by the Society since the
last annual meeting, shall become known
and appreciated, our fellow citizens will not
fail to contribute the very trifling amount
necessary to qualify a life member, and ac-
qulre voice in its management. Ianticipate
the day, and at no very remote period, when
the lack Of a right to visit the Society's
garden will be a matter of reproach, as its
possession will be an Indispensable luxury,
to at least every citizen of the metropolis
The election of officers of the Society for
the ensuing year. is one of the duties of the
present meeting. It is to be regretted that
SO few take an interest in its progress, and
that its officers must be selected from so lin
tied a number, for it is worse than useless
to place any in office whose taste or interest
in its objects is not sufficient to induce them
to devote a small portion of their time to it.
Allow me TO request that the meeting shall
elect another member to fill the Presidential
chair for the coming year. That Office was
not originally intended to be monopoly,
and do not think it is for the interest of the
Society to allow it to become SO. know
that there are others amongst its members
in every way qualified to discharge its duties,
and who, l hope, will not object to do so.
place me, shall not fail to take the same in
terest in, and devote the same attention 10,
its affairs US heretofore.