The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-09-21

PROSPERITY OF The ARCHIFELAGO-IuE LIPS
AND CHINESE QUEsTIoNs-NATTvE PoFULArIo
INCREASING.
Hon. Walter Murray Gibson Of Honolulu az
riTed here by the Australian steamer, and
stopping az the Palace Hotel. A CHrozicEe =
preventative was detailed to call on the distin
guished Hawaiian statesman, and after charac
terissic 80 alohas'' were exchanged en- Interview
followed. In reply 50 various questions Mr.
Gibson replied in substance as follows: The con
dition Of the Islands, notwithstanding the greai
drouth, is prosperous and the future looks verJ
bright. Since the passage Of tie Reciprocity
treaty sugar-lands have increased in price won.
derfully, and all kinds Of available real estate
bring high figures. When land Is in demand Il
is a sure sign Of general prosperity. The sugar
interest throughout the group Is promising, and
all the leading men on the Islands are engaged
in the production of the leading staple Of Hawaii.
4 considerable area is under rice, this article of
ommerc being entirely in the hands of the
Chinese. Our wool product is increasing yearly.
but as wool is not included in the articles that
can be admitted free Of duty into the United
States, we are compelled to find a market for it
in the Australias and Canada. The duty per
pound in the United States is II cents, which
we cannot afford to pay, and hence we ship it
where II can enter free. A
VERY VALUABLE SHIPMENT
brought by the latest steamer is now in bond
here to be sent overland 10 Canada. and thou
sands Of dollars worth are sent to Australia.
The Hawaiian Islands can support I.OO0. 900
sheep and could export 5000, 900 to 5000, 900
pounds OF wool annually. The higher lands are
admirably adapted to sheep-raising, and l have
myself on the island of Lanai 50, 1000 sheep in
splendid condition. We no longer import sheep
from California, as they all seem to be afflicted
with the scab. a shipment of something like a
thousand head, made a year ago this month to
the islands, has unfortunately turned out badly.
The scab uptFOvR6 hal III OF them a1d |bo -o.s IN
undoubtedly perish. The whole lot was reputed
to be excellent California stock. Your sheen
ralsers will have to look to this matter, as il is
one of great Importance to them. Hawaiian
sheepowners would prefer to deal with California
if they could do so advantageously. We raise
fine herds of cattle on the island, more than
enough for home demand, ships and expectation
to Tahiti. Our need of horses is small, but a
lew gentlemen have imported superior animals
from the United States. Native horses as they
are called, can be bought all the way from ten to
nifty dollars, and every native has one or more.
"A native never walks when he can ride. AS to
THE HAWAIIAN LEGISLATURE,
1t is composed of a body of intelligent and honor
able men, the House of Mobiles containing a
majority of foreigners and the House of Re
personalities a majority of natives. The Re-
get $3.50 as salary during the ses-
sion, whether It's duration is short or long. The
present Legislature, which was to adjourn on the
9th instant, opened on the 30th of April. and
a great deal of practical business.
appropriation of $4,000 for the lepers on
Molokai, one of $63 900 for the building of
a new palace, one of $4,000 to secure a p6ysi-
clan for the lepers, one of $50, 900 for immigra-
ton, on condition that not a dollar will be ex-
pended in importing Chinese, and one of SI35,-
OUU Tor the construction of roads and bridges and
repairs, were the most important bills passed. l
had the honor of representing Lahaina in the
LeUlEIature- and in the dahafa i found Rhok A.
native members were opposed at first to any ap-
for the lepers, many of the members
that they ought to be allowed to return
to their friends. ] argued with my fellow-mem-
as to the folly and impracticability of allow
ng the lepers to mingle freely with BODY of the
They listened to reason and passed
he appropriation heartily. 1 have lived a great
of my life among the Hawaiians and
lever was so proud of them as now. During
he whole session of the Legislature their repre-
e%ntatives manifested an earnest purpose and
he highest fidelity to principle. Such natives as
imon Kaai, David Malo, Rev. Mr.. PiIipo and
theirs are splendid specimens of their race and
Ighly intellectual. Rev. Kuaea, our chaplain.
a remarkably eloquent man, and is commonly
allied the Beecher of Hawaii, owing to his strik-
ng facial resemblance to the great Plymouth
aston. We're 1t not for the color of the skin,
is thought, he could pass for Beecher even {;
Brooklyn. 4
THE LEPER QUESTION. =
According to the latest report of the Board of '
.ealth there are on Molokai 692 unfortunates 7
with leprosy, from cases where it is lust q
lsernlble to that condition where a view of the +
ctim is absolutely appalling. Common reports a
Ave it that there are enough scattered thronob- o
1t the islands to make the sum total 1000. but II
doubt this. We have earnestly looked into h
lie face OF this great calamity, and considering a
there are so many lepers in a population Of h
little over $4,000, have looked at it as a mat G
r OF life or death. The Government has done ii
I'd is doing all it can to succor the unfortunate B
ID stay the spread of this frightrul desease.
9TH Government and people are aroused to the o.
niger. learn that there are lepesg among the g.
lInese OF this city, and if so the authorities ~
mot too soon take steps to crush out so great n
peril to the State. Those who have seen the NJ
influence of leprosy only know its OF
meless horror. h
THE NATIVE POPULATION ye
Is, to our general joy, reached that point where "
ere is hope that the excessive mortality pro- la
esled will not be realized. In MANY districts Iir
ere has been an increase of births over deaths. NJ
in no locality has the death rate been so tic
heartening as in the past. The favorite theme ap
HIS Majesty kalakaua is embodied in the ex- Al
,ssion. Hooulu lahui y" increase and null OF
ly,) and the people seem to have the same co
ito as their worthy ruler. The mothers of 20
waIlan children pay more attention to their I'd
rpring than formerly, and the houses of the Ga
ives have been increasing in number from
SIS novels to neat one and two-story wooden
ldings. On my own island there are over
? wooden buildings, all comfortable dwelling
Uses, where a few years ago grass huts stood.
have so influenced their social system that 49,
ents now sleep apart from their elder children. /
ancient times all slept together on mats on the
r, with one large tapa, or blanket, made of
bark of trees, over them. Throughout the al
'le group there is a strong tendency among
natives to preserve what we call the ameni-
of civilized life. Their sovereign and his E..
eious Queen certainly set them a noble ex-
lie. Tie kanakas feel a strong
LOVE FOR THE UNITED STATES, CHI
the great honors paid to the King when aap
Majesty visited this country were a~pprecia-
We Hawaiians feel that we are your first
ms, and if we had cable communication VN
San Francisco we would send you an =
oha" Glove to you) every day. The leading vi
is of the Islands, both natives and foreign