The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1873-12-17

price The fare on coasters between the islands
varies from five to twelve dollars for cabin pas
sage. according to the distance travelled. Native
labor commands from ten to fifteen dollars per
month. skilled labor being much higher, say from
fifty to one hundred dollars per month.
Another correspondent, residing in New Jer-
sey, inquiries respecting the carpenter and joiner
business. We can only say that this branch of
trade is not very brisk here now, but wages
range from three to four dollars per day. A
good architect, possessed of few thousand dol
lars capital, might do as well here as in any place
Of its size in the States, but it would take time
for him to establish himself.
gentleman residing in Pennsylvania, who
has had some experience in orange and coffee cul-
ture in the West Indies, inquiries regarding the
price of land here, and whether it would be pos
sible to start coffee plantation, and whether
lands can be purchased and laborers obtained.
In reply we would state that there are hundreds
of thousands of acres on Hawaii, lying waste,
well adapted to raising these products, but more
especially coffee. These tracts probably resem-
BILE the mountain lands of the West Indies in
being stony and not adapted to the use of the
blow. But trees thrive well there; and though
The blight has interfered seriously with coffee and
orange culture, it is believed that it be over
come. Native labor may be obtained by paying
the current market rates, varying from ten to IF
teen dollars, as above stated.
Where suitable land can be secured, by pur-
chase or lease, we consider coffee culture one of
The most promising branches of agriculture in the
kingdom, as the article is entered duty free IN
the United States, and it commands from fifteen
to twenty cents per pound in this city. Land
suited to this business ought not to cost more
than from two to ten dollars an acre, without i'm
provements. But as it requires at least five years
to bring coffee or grange plantation into bear
ing condition, it will be seen that some capital is
required by those who embark in it.
We would welcome agriculturists from any
part of the world who come here 10 engage in
coffee culture, and we have no doubt that those
who own lands will make very favorable terms
with them. This is class of settlers much
needed here now, for almost the only growers of
coffee are natives, who of course have little sys-
TEN in their cultivation. Under the guidance of
skilllu foreigners, the yield Of this valuable pro-
duct might be largely increased, to the benefit
not only of those engaged in it but also of the
whole country.
Still another correspondent inquiries what the
currency here consists of. American coins
have been until lately our principal currency, but
gold is now mostly withdrawn from circulation.
Our silver coins consist of American halves,
quarters. dimes and half dimes, English shillings
and sixpences; and for dollars, Peruvian soils and
Chilean pesos, and French five francs circu-
late Then for paper money We have what are
called silver certificates secured by silver coin de-
posted in the national treasury, and redeemable
at the pleasure of the holder They are of the
denominations of ten, twenty, fifty, one hundred,
five hundred and one thousand dollars each