The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-05-05
THE PACIFIC
Commercial 0Otrtiset
SATERDAY. 4 D

SATURDAY Y. MA >.
lHE FIRST Report OF the Roya Commissioner
appointed under the Act TO Develop the Resour-
css of the Kingdom, was laid before His Majesty
ID PriTy Council last week. Those members Of
the Commission who are also members Of the
Council, advocated in that body the immediate
publication of the report, not only for the pur-
pose Of general information but also to afford
the opportunity for the expression Of opinions
and the making Of suggestions by parties resi-
dent at the points treated Of in the report, which
suggestions may prove Of value to the govern
ment in deciding upon contemplated public i'm
p~r0vements in the localities under review. We
take pleasure, therefore, in laying this valuable
report before the readers of the ADVERTISER in a
supplement, accompanying to-day's paper. We
may observe in passing that the present is but
the first of a series, as the islands of Maui and
Kauai have yet to be visited and reported upon.
Commencing at Kohala, the Commission made
a circuit of the large and important island of
Hawaii, occupying a month in the task, and
thoroughly examining the country as to its capa-
bilities for agriculture and the condition of the
forests, roads and landings. The districts of
Hilo and Hamakua, on the windward side, APP
pear to have particularly impressed the Commits
sion as rich in natural resources, though sparsely
populated, and they emphatically express the
opinion that improvements there should be be-
gun by the government as soon as possible, in
order Ito quote their own significant language)
" to give confidence in the intention of the gov
eminent to carry them on and give an impetus to
enterprise, especially with regard to mills to
grind on shares cane raised by small cultivators."
Here, over the sign manual of two of the Cabi-
net Ministers, is the enuneiatiOn of a government
policy that, if adhered to and vigorously carried
out, will go very far to ensure the future mate
rial prosperity of the country.
AT every step in their journey the Commits
sioners, while remarking the natural richness of
the soil and its adaptability to the growth of
cane or coffee or merchantable fruits, were met
with the fact that there are no people to occupy
and produce. While, they say, { natives show
a commendable zeal to cultivate on their own
account, which should be encouraged wherever
possible" yet the land has not a tenth of the
population it could easily support, and I" imme-
date steps should be taken for the introduction
of laborers, that enterprises may be undertaken,
and especially to bring into the Kingdom a class
of people who would bring their families and
perhaps assimilate with the Hawaiian race
Probably in India sneh could be found, and thu
Commission would earnestly recommend thai
government lands be reserved to give such, i
ai'er o0~rieting their contracts of service, they
Woulu settie Oh !" ~-L.iuate them" Afte
what has been so often said in this Jourual 4. Al,
past, on the subject of the desirability of immi
grafton from the East Indies to these islands
and of the wisdom of a policy of encourage
ment to small farmers, these plainly expresse,
practical thoughts of the Commissioner ,-tw
of whom are Cabinet Ministers-are so encour
aging that we may liken them to "appies G
gold in pictures of silver
The subject of the disappearance of the ancien
forests of the island, and the consequent diminu
ton OF the water supply, was forcibly brough
to the attention of the Commission, especial
in South Kohala and Hamakua. They expires
the earnest hope that the latter district will be
by prompt government measures, saved from tn
fate OF Waimea, whose once fertile plains hav
become a dusty desert, by being left as a pastul
!, age for cattle which have destroyed che forest
The rapid increase of herds of beef cattle O
these islands will soon present a grave probleI
: for solution, for without some measures 70
disposing of the surplus, the animals will even
; tually become the sole occupants of the land
and that land will be a desert.
!; Upon a subject to which we have formerl
alluded in these columns-the injustice of taxin
the man who cultiyates his land more than tn
5 one who does not,-the Commissioners yer
pertinently remark 'FThe law under which tn
Commission acts, provides that cultivated land
should be taxed for improvements, but in a dis
$ trict like this it would be manifestly unjust tina
i the small amount Of cultivated land should pa
taxes while the great bulk of the lands NOR
' valuable should escape because their proprietor
fail to develop them and your COMMISSIONS
: would suggest that lands capable of cultiyatio
should bear their taxation according to thei
value, as otherwise an unfair discrimination
= made against industry and enterprise"
In connection with the Report we have see
, some very well executed drawings of buoys an
A boat-landings sketched for the Commission b
i Messrs. c.. J. Lyons and F. S. Lyman, shown
= the form and nature of the coasts, depth {
S water, &c. The former gentleman also furnishe
outline sketches of the districts of Hamakua an,
Hilo, showing the situation and extent of land
yet belonging to the government. These, tc
gether with sketches of the landings in Hama
kua, Hilo, Puma and Kau, to which reference
: made in the report, will, it is hoped, be sent
San Francisco to be autographed. They woul
i be well worth the expense, and add no little t
the interest of this very valuable report.
WHILE the Gar and the Padishah are enter
ing upon a bloody war of races and creeds, tn
Emperor of China has just set an example {
: religious liberation, so astonishing and so cor