The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-05-29
Letter from Hilo.

To The Editor of the Pacific Commercial Advertiser :
Shiny object at this time is to seek iuforma-
ton is certainly commendable-and to i'm
part my ideas on various subjects-which may pass
for what they are worth. 1t may be questioned if it
is proper to seek information through the press until
other modes have proved unsuccessful; but seeking
information and making suggestions directly does
not give "ideas" a sufficient airing, especially
when the Government is a party.
We are living here peaceably, and 1 may say
fgnorantly, so far as the affairs Of the kingdom are
concerned. The only officials who pay respectful
Difference to US, are the tax assessors and collectorss
who appear in due season armed with books and in
structions, to levy and collect our contribution to-
wards the carrying on the Government. So far all
right, if done in conformity and uniformity with the
law and ordinary judgment. And here l beg most
respectfully to say that we have reason to complain,
and l feel warranted in saying that in no district
within the kingdom is the assessment so high on
property as in the district of Hilo. And for what
reason7 Certainly not that our property has been
more remunerative; on the contrary, as many Of
your Honolulu people will sadly admit. Then it
must be from the incompetency of the &ppointees.
And what do we get in return for this1 Do we get
good roads, or any roads at ala Do we get bridges,
where they are much needed? Do we get our harbor
improved? 1 say we do not; and these are all
matters worthy of the consideration of the Govern
ment. 1t is to be hoped that the next Legislature
will take the improvement of our hsrbor under con-
sideration, and give aid sufficient to make it what it
should be. For 1 must inform you.-however I'M
pleasant it may be for the good people Of the metrop-
oils to know it-that the planters here have no idea
Of continuing the present plan of shipping their
sugar and molasses to California via Honolulu.
TLo- oIa,loa Al 49, 49,. -. Il. -IF
at San Francisco at the same cost they can put it on
board a vessel at the port of Honolulu, and thus save
the freight between Honolulu and San Francisco.
So it would be well TO take this matter into consid-
GRAFTON when you begin to build a steamer, as 1 hear
you propose to do shortly. And in this connection
permit me to say, that if the Government has decided
to build a steamer, this is the place to do it. We
can import the lumber cheaper than you can at
Honolulu Eve add profits with fewer fgures); we are
near a valuable forest where the best timber is to be
had at a low price. We are. it is true, at some
distance from a large machine-shop. but that's in
our favor; and we are away from the corrupt and
ring influences of the capital. We have several
parties here who are ready and willing to entertain
propositions for the building of a steamer, and hope
Hilo may not be overlooked; and besides. as tax
payers We have some claims, for we had no hand in
u UtE
l would like to inquire what became of the national
loan so much talked about and passed at the last
Session, and which was to benefit the country by
assistance to agriculture and immigration. building
of warehouses, promotion Of inter-island steam COM
munication, &C., &c. 1t would appear to me that
if the borrowing of money one year ago was thought
to be q wise measure, it would be even more so now.
Our prospects for payment are certainly much better,
.-I ,r-otr,arta Ill - 1900 1880. ---
time, I am one who does not believe we need to bor-
row. We are not in need Of any more castles,-I
mean such as the Government building, Hotel, Gov
eminent store-houses, Post Office, &c. You cannot
pay your bonds until they become due; and no doubt
when they do become due they can be renewed. l
never saw any one who wanted their money badly
when they knew they could get it; but they needed
it very much when they knew they could not get it.
I an therefore of the opinion that the resources Of the
country are ample to meet its current outlays, and
to afford q reasonable sun for improvement of roads,
harbors. immigration, sc. And as to steamer-build-
ing, 1 am not so clear about it. We might let that
job out, and save OURSELVES.
Hilo, May 18th, 1876.