The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-03-24

(Sigped) II. HAcKFELD a Co.,
Agents, p NJ. S. S. Co.
His Ex. J. S. Walker. Minister Of Finance; His
Ex. ". L. MoehOnua. Minister of Interior.
FISAxcE DEPARrEESr, HOSoLuLu.
November ~, 1878.
Agents. Pacific NJ. S. S. Co.. HOnolnlu,
GENTLEMES,-YVur letter Of the 2sth ult. addressed
TO his Elk. the Minister of Interior and myself has
had our careful consideration, and ! beg 10 assure
you that His Msjesty's Government are fully i'm
pressed of the Importance of the Pacific and Austria
liam line of steamships making Honolulu 4 port Of
call.
And in view Of the Pacific Mail Steamship Comp
any agreeing 10 let their ships touch at Honolulu.
going and returning, for the purpose Of receiving and
delivering the mails. landing and receiving freight
and passengers, His Majesty's Government will
agree to allow the said Pacific Mail Steamship Co.
the following privileges, benefits and exemptions,
namely
LIST. The free use of the wharf on the EsplanAde
known as the steamwharf during the stay Of tbs
Company's steamers in port free Of charge.
End. Exemption from all port charges, viz ton
mage dues. lighthouse dues, wharfage and buoys.
3rd. The use of the water from the Government
pipes, provided such water be not wastedAor used in
washing decks.
4th. That the Government will admit free of duty
Goals. machinery and supplies required for the use OF
the said steamline, and all vessels arriy ing laden
with Goals, machinery and supplies. imported by said
steamline Tor its own use, shall be exempt from port
charges, the same as the steamers, unless such vessel
be only partially so laden, in which case they will be
exempt from such ehargesi 10 the ratio which such cargo
bears to the entire capacity Of the vessel, such YES
sells however will be charged wharfage after they
supplies, If they remain at the wharf twenty -four
hours after such discharge, and all property Of the
steamship line shall be exempt from taxation.
9Th. That the Government will grant the free use
of one of the stone warehouses on the steamer wharf
for the storage of produce bona-6de to be shipped by
the said steamships, and the use Of the tram ways
for the loading and unloading Of said ships, also a
lot Of land for the use Of said ships for the storage Of
eoalS maehinery and supplies.
] beg also to state what his Elk. tho Minister Of
Foreign Affairs and myself said verbally to your Mr..
Phuger and Mr.. Hall that the Cabinet would recon-
mend to the next legislature the granting of q cash
subsidy for the said steamship line Of at least one
thousand dollars per month.
might also state TO you that by request Of his Elk.
the Minister Of Interior, the stone warehouse on the
turned over to this department hence the reason, 1
have alone the honor of addressing you,
l am, Gentlemen, your obedient servant,
tsigned) ,. s: wAsEEH.
The letter Of His Excellency the Minister Of
Finance contains all the points which were 10
form the contract, in a deiinitive manner, ex-
cept that relating TO the subsidy which was
promised OH the condition that the Legisla-
ture should make the necessary appropriation
for the purpose. Had His Majesty's Govern
ment had at that time an appropriation at its
disposal, the contract would have been finally
concluded in October or November, 1875.
Under the circumstances, however, that could
not be done then. The promise of the Minis
tiers to ask from the Legislature a subsidy
was made by them and accepted by the Com
pany in good faish. The appropriation was
granted in due time, and without any new
conditions demanded by the Legislature, ex-
cept that the money should not be paid for any
past services, but only for future services to
be rendered by the P. NJ. s. S. Co. The pass
ing of the item of $780, 900 for mail subsidy in
the Appropriation Bill, was accompanied by
the following resolution of the House:
That in Disturbing the sum of $4,000
placed in the Appropriation Bill for subsidy
- to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, no
Z" part shall be used for any service already
4" performed by the steamships Of the said
d" Company, but said money shall be used only
1" in payment Of service to be rendered after a
Z" contract shall have been signed between this
{" Government aud the said steamship Com
"pany."
This resolution has been interpreted by His
Majesty's present Minister of Finance to mean
"that the Legislature had no intention to
subsidize the service as heretofore performed,
but a contract which should stipulate for fur
Their advantages, such as making Honolulu a
terminal port, etc"
The resolution certainly does not express
any such thing, and, it appears to us, cannot
bear such Interpretation. 1t refers only to
the time of commencement Of, not to conditions
in the contract. These conditions had been
already agreed upon. In fact we have the
assurance of the late Minister Of Foreign At
fairs that the majority Of the members of the
Legislature did not desire TO subsidize a line
which made Honolulu a terminal port, but on
the contrary just such a one as we now have
with the advantages which its large numbers
of transient passengers confer upon the trade
of Honolulu, especially so far as it is repre-
scented by the small native traders in fruit,
curiosities, etc.
Upon the propagation Of the Legislature IN
October last we were promised by the late