The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-03-06
Comparative View Of our Commerce
From 1843.

The annual report of the Collector General (Col.
W. F. Allen) giving the Custom House statistics
for the year 1874 as published in the ADVERTISER
of the 18th ult., full and complete statement
of our commercial relations with the rest of the
world; but believing that review of the COM
merce of the Kingdom from its earliest reliable
records would be interesting at this time, we here
with produce carefully corrected tabular state
ment of the same. together with few notes of
historical facts These will prove of interest not
only to our local readers. but also to those who in
former years found in Hawaii nei the foundation of
fortunes which they are now enjoying in other
lands and perhaps in these hasty notes they may
be reminded of events that In the hum aud stir of
the busy world in which they live, may have
almost faded from memory. -.-
IMPORT DUTIES.
The Oldest papers extant relating to imports
show that in ls4l and 1912, manifests of"she car
goes of vessels from foreign ports were made by
the consignees giving simply list of the articles
or packages, without values, and addressed to
Stephen Reynolds, Esq, Harbor Master, with re-
quest that he would grant permit to land the
same. -.@
The Rrst law relating to duties on goods i'm
ported, (see Chapter 49 of the laws published in
1912, commonly known as the ' Blue Book') was
atives, held at Lahaina. Maui, in 1912, and ap-
proved by Kamehameha Ill and Kekauluobi on
the 11th of May, the same year. The section relat
ing to duties reads follows B" It is furthermore
enacted that from and after the first day of January
in the year 1s43 there shall be an ad Uaorem duty
of three per cent. laid on all goods, wares, mer-
chandise, and every article of trade imported
to these Hawaiian Islands from foreign nations.
None Of the above articles shall be landed these
shores until the duty be paid or bonds for payment
given, and the Harbor Master has given bis con-
sent, and be will not give his consent unless the
owner OF the property conforms to the above re-
quirement"
The earliest inward entry on q printed form, o
merchandise paying duty, is dated January 6, 1843
ex bark Vancouver, Duncan, Master, from Columbia
River, made by George Pelly and sworn to before
VIM Patty as Collector; and the duty collected was
per cent on the amount Of the invoice. This was an
unstamped form.
The Islands were seized by lord George Paulet, Of
the British Navy, Feb. 25, I843, and Commission,
consisting of DR.. G. P. Judd, (as deputy for Kane
hameha IL Lord George Paulet, Duncan Forbes
Macksy, and Lieut.. Frere, R. n, we're appointed to
conduct the government. Immediately on assuming
the control of affairs, on the 18th of February,
the Commission increased the duties on imports to
per cent ad UaloreDr, as will be seen by the follow
ing copy of notice enclosed to Mr.. VIM. Patty COllec
tor and Harbor Master, March 3D. 184s, in an order
directing him to enforce the same DIR. Judd, it
should be mentioned here, resigned from the Com
mission on the 11th day of May, thus Withdrawing
the King from all participation with, or responsibility
for their acts.
"Of6ce of the British Commissioner for the }
Government of the Sandwich Islands, ;
February 18th, 1843. }
'sPublic notice is hereby given that additional
duty of one per cent ad paiorem will be payable
all goods landed from vessels arriving at these
islands after this date, with the exception of goods
sworn to be landed for re-exportation.
''ALEx. SIMPSON, Joint
"H. SEA, 4 Secretaries "