The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-21
III A w "A II.
Petitions Reforms-The Labor Question-Look-
ing for Coolies More About the Reciprocity
Treaty-What il Thought Of It-Mor-
tallty Among the FLANDERS
Business = Miscellaneous.
HONOLULU, Msy 81, 1870.

HONOLULU, Msy 81 1870.
The only noticeable feature OF the past month is
the Legislative Assembly. AS yet but little has
been done which has any special interest here, and
matter OF course none abroad. Petitions OF all
sorts have poured In, Of which may be mentioned
several praying that his Majesys salary he reduced;
that TIE pay of the governments officials be reduced
forty per cent; that the sale Of opium be prohbited
That hospitals be established upon the different
islands-all Of which might have been kept In the
pockets Of the petitioners for all the good they Will
DO. Some OF the members were pledged to reduce
the pay OF the King because Of his da6bng in little
ventures quite unbecOming the sovereign Of such o
Kingdom, and roared never so fercely until the ap-
preparation bill came up, and then were as dumb as
mutes with one exception the white member rom
Hiio. who actually rose in his place and advocated
no reduction. 1t Is safe to wager that this radical
has been appraised and the figure nit upon.
The labor question win undoubtedly call forth
some sharp sparring. Notice has already been given
OF bill to repeal the master and Servants" law,
and quite an excitement prevails among the plant
ers. There is but little doubt that the money
and influence OF the masters will have soothing
effect upon some OF the now anttslavery members,
and marked conversions will De the order OF the
hour. 1t will be remembered that this government
sent an agent to China for two or three loads Of
coolies, expecting to ind them ready 10 hand In
Hong Kong. The agent, rabid admlrer OF the
c0olle system, opened up his project to the author
ties in Hong Kong with all the assurance imaginable,
and astounded to find that the British govern.
ment had put an end the traffic in its colonies.
Mr.. Agent could hardly believe his ears, and urged
that he merely wanted contract labor ers but the
authorities were not to be guIIed by this smooth
sounding name: they were, in fact, memorable very
much to the credit Of John Bull. The last heard
to try his nand among the Chinese authorities but
as this government has no treaty with China he can
only be successful by resort to means which can
not believe he win stOop to. II is said that II he
fails at the Chinese ports he WILL last resort 60
to Macao, among me save-deang Portuguese, and
secure cargo as best he may. To, one who knows
the practical working OF the cOOlie labor system,
even in these Islands, where claims to decency
are still made, the action OF England, France and
America regarding system which differs from
slavery only IN degree not in essence" Is certainly
subject matter for rejoicing.
cussiOn here. AnneXationists claim and with much
force, that the treaty would widen the gulf between
OF the treaty would tide the planters the dii-
cutles which now surround them upon
every hand ana this together with the
tariff in the States would no longer exist
at the expiration OF the treaty. would leave our
planters the masters Of the situation. Another fact
which should not be lost sighI Of is that the treaty
would tend to perpetuate "a labor system which Is
disgrace to Chrslendom. Ii the government and
least disposition to do away with forced labor, the
United States might with some show Of propriety
help them To their feet again.
The most distressing accounts come IN from the
country districts or excessive mortality among the
natives From one school district the agent states
that the deaths for the first quarter were forty
seven; births eight. From another district report
comes IN, unofficial that the deaths were nearly one
hundred against six births. No wonder the poor
wretches petition for hospitals.
Business il very duh. Auction sales, giving from
two to eight months credit have been held during the
to Australia promises to help merchants the
dull summer months. The North Pacific Transpor-
tation Company have placed the steamer Ajax on
the route between these islands and San Francisco
instead Of the Idaho, In order to accommodate the
passengers arriving IRON sydney and Auckland by
81 na Tae sra q ss q teghf
not work WELL If for no other reason than the una
vOidabie consumption of time Again, the freight
is handled In very careless manner and loud CON-
plants are made OF breakage. Threats are made OF
q transfer OF freights TO the sailing packets The
line which will ultimately succeed Is the one which
put on large boats to make the voyage from San
Francisco to Sydney without detention at way ports
other than may DE necessary to receive and dis
charge mails and passengers and coal. The carriage
Of our island produce will be done by sailing vessels
senger traffic, and which can afford to freight at
small cost. The lines Of goods that can AFFORD TO
pay high rate OF freight may come by steamer.
Our islanders are also somewhat jubilant at the
prospect of q telegraph cable which Will connect
them with all the outside world. There are some,
however, who cannot forget the go-by the China
laid from San Francisco to Midway Island and thence
to China, Japan ana Australia, leaving US TO make
connection II we choose 80 to do, with Midway
Island Who knows?
The overseer OF sugar plantation has been sued
for damages for whipping woman. The chivalrous
foreigners who composed the jury awarded one
hundred dollars and costs.
Tne steamer AJAX, OF the North Pacific Transpor-
tation Company, discharged and took in one thou
sand tons OF cargo and coal in forty hours, In anti
cipation OF the early arrival of the City OF Mel
bourne from Sydney.
The ship Syren, Of c. Brewer & Co.'S line Of Bos.
ton packets, sailed on the goth INST. for New Bed
fOrd with a cargo valued at $133 1853, consisting
principally OF sperm and whale oils, cocOanut Oil,
wool, sugar. goat skins and hides. The shipment Of
dark sugars Is venture to try Eastern markets.
The Hawaiian bark Ka Moi, Of hackfeld a. Co. -
North German line, took large shipment of coffee,
molasses, meladO and sugar, to Try European mar
ketS.
The Ministry, in reply to questions from the repre-
senmtves recently stated that they intended to open
negotiations with the British colonies for recipro-
city treaty 1t Is thought that this said to inlu-
ence the United States Senate in hurrying up the
treaty now under consideration.
Drought still prevails the leeward sides Of the
islands,