The New York herald., 1870-08-22
TIE SANDWICH ISLANDS.
Agricultural Prospects OF Destruction
OF the Forests Disastrous Legislation
The Forced Labor System-Austra-
Liam Steamship Subsidy-Decline
Of American Interests

Of American Interests.
HONOLULU, July 20, 1870.
The long continued drought has been broken In
upon by refreshing rams, and agricultursts,
graziers, and, l may say, all classes breathe the
freer for It, Plantations aud ranches ON the leeward
side OF our Islands have suffered severely and the
prospect before the was gloomy indeed. "It "a
an Ill wind" &c So in this case the long continued
drought has awakened the government and many OF
our influential citizens TO the necessity OF taking
steps to bar the farther destruction or our forests
aud devise ways and means for repienishing with
trees our barren hills and mountain sides. hr. IL.
Holstein, for many years custodian of the Royal
Hawaiian Agricultural Societies. Garden and now
residing upon OF the principal sugar estates has
addressed memorial to the members of tho Legs-
ture. IN which he uses the following earnes.
language
Perhaps my peculiar occupation during the last
fifteen years has made me more observant than
others; but, however you may Judge or my under
standing, my capacity or ncapacity OF reasoning
and observation and my present course of action,
am fully ana intensely convinced OF the correctness
OF my views. The cry OF the lonely sailor on the
sinking wreck Is perhaps unheeded on the wloe
waste of water, but not unheard and unrecorded.
MY solitary warning may also not be needed, aud
fall perhaps on dersive ears but In the coming
years, when my predictions are coming to pass.
taere Will be at least one warning cry recorded on
the pages of the past ana must earnestly, with
sincerity aud conviction which fully to express
people, that in less than tlfty years hence these
islands will be ruined and be but barren wastes.
less you prevent the total destruction OF forests
and Dy some means retrieve the abuses and errors
| OF the past.
The danger is not overstated. Plantations con-
| sumo large quantities. OF wood, ana l know OF but
two plantations that have made any EFFORT 10 re-
plant forest land. The prime cause Of destruction,
| however, Is to, be found In the herds or goats,
horses, cattle and sheep which roam at large
| fhrnu tf,o of I,a t.,pa
range. The belt Of vegetation receding from the
seacoast year by year quite perceptbly. and. as a
matter OF course the herds are driven BACK farther
and farther In order TO nd sustenance and destroy
all undergrowth; and in time the large trees yield
10 the destroyers until as Mr.. Hoistein remarks,
thousands OF acres OF forest land instead OF OF
green leaves present at this day only nakedness,
blanched ana llmbess trunks.
The legislative session Is about drawing TO a close
after most frutess session. The effort made to
blot from statutes the 0dious Master and Ser
wants law has been defeated by the chicanery his
Majestys Minister of Foreign Relations. c. G. Harris,
assisted by the Vice President OF the Assembly and
few Others lesser lights OF that body. A detailed
account OF the petty, mean and disreputab!e nlea
sures by which the effort To establish free labor
system has been overcome would be tresome to
your readers, forbear the inniction. The utter
want Of decency shown by the conspirators IN the
appointment OF rewards for services rendered In
lettering the aboring class disgusts even the friends
or the forced labor system. The session has not been
brought to close before the public aware OF the
offices and emouments bestowed upon the creatures
OF Minister Harris. Such barefaced reward cannot
but have demoralzlng effect upon the party which
bestows It, The planters have been singuarly reti-
cent since the socalled planters meetings held last
fall They have not forgotten the signal defeat they
then suffered IN the attempt 10 prove that forced
labor system was right, because II was essential 10
broken however by the appearance OF a letter from
ayoung and more ardent planter, who endeavors to
prove that the natives OF these Islands enjoy too
much liberty, and that the peculiar discipline ana
labor OF sugar plantation are best calculated 10
raise them to higher standard OF intelligence and
usefulness. few more such letters would do more
to create prejudice against the planting interest
than the combined attack or every disciple OIL free
| labor here or abroad. The letter displays all the
| arrogance which marked the etIusions OF the Old
| time STAKEHOLDER of your now reconstructed South.
The Assembly voted subsidy of twenty-five thou
sand dollars year for steam service between these
islands. Australia and California, conditioned that
this should be made terminal port by the line or
lines performing the service and that the subsidy
SHOULD receive the sanction Of two-thirds OF the
| Privy Council This, OF course, shuts out Webb's
line, as projected and was intended as sop FOR the
Hall and Halliday line.
| This bill met with but little favor In the commu
| nifty, and when the Appropriation bill came up on
| its last reading the tenor OF the terms was
changed that through line which will discharge
or receive freight here If offered. viii be entitled TO
the subsidy. The change was made through the
| Efforts OF the Hon. O. j. Lyons, aided by his Excel
lency the Attorney General and others. The present
| lines OF steamers are becoming more and more
| popular. The sailing packet which arrived the day
| before the last steamer brought the larger number
OF first cabin passengers Tor this port Freight for
| sydney and Melbourne Is handled so often and so
roughly that loss must accrue to shippers. Should
Mr. Webb succeed IN obtaining the subsidies 1t VIII
be OF the first importance that lie select agents here
who Will enlist the sympathies and goodwill OF our
island community. The agents of the present line
| are not popular excepting with the government.
The Fourth OF July passed of very quietly more
| so than ever remember In past years, so much so
| Americans
| islands seem TO be degeneratng. more apathetic
set 1t would be hard to find. The American Minis
ter Resident had a spread, To which he invited the
| government ofcials aud other dignltaries. the
| most OF his countrymen seem to hold aloof from
| hun.
| 1t is particularly unfortunate that the United
| States is not represented by person who could
sustain and strengthen the fast waning influence Of
| her citizens IN this group. The present Minister
| may have been very capable man forty years ago;
put ne fails utterly TO command even tne respect or
AdamsOn Jr also entertained the Hawaiian officials
| to sumptuous lunch, and the American and other
| foreign residents called upon him quite generally
| The respect shown for the Consul IL In
marked contrast to that shown for the Min
lister. Could these officials change places
! American interests and influence would be
better cared for and much strengthened. Consul
! Adamson made quite neat speech which was well
received by the audience, and whicn has also been
published. This speech, together with the reading
] or the Declaration of Independence ar gathering
OF children, were the only features which would tend
! to remind one Of ;he day celebrated.
| The Custom House statistics for the quarter end
ing June ~ SHOW I'LL lOliONS.--
Sugars, lbs 1,l32 047
Rice. 1907
Coffee. -. go. .................. 290l3
Wool. ............... III 1853
| Goat skins, number Observation-Disclosures. IL, 80
| Hides. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 5gS
| The exports of sugars for tue six months, how.
| ever. only show Increase or 67,777 pounds over
the same same term in 1869. while paddy, rice, co
fee. salt, goat skins. hides and wool show gradual
| gain. Business were 1t not for the monthly revival
consequent upon the arrival Of the steamers, would
| be at "a complete stand still.
1 mo Gnutn 80 Igi In ptp nv n
! agent Of the Board OF Emigration have proved 10 be
utterly useless laborers and the government has
| sent the balance back TO their homes. ehalf of
| the lot have dled in nine months Tney were mser-
| ably deceived, and the parties who procured them
| should be severely punished.
| The lots OF sugar, low grade, shipped TO Mel
| bourne ana sydney for trial sold Well, and IT is