The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-01-10

year 1879, IL set down at 50, $50 ,S6S, an increase
over the previous year Of 1907 ,9SS. and an in
crease over 1876, lin the latter part Of which the
Reciprocity Treaty went into efect) of Sl,56l,-
OBS. This increase of over a million and a half
Of dollars in value Of exports during three years,
is a direct result Of the operation of the Treaty
= since the above was in type we have learned that
considerable quantities Of wool OF last years clip are in
store. some 5000 lbs. were shipped 70 san Francisco this
week. Per EufIos.
THERE ARE some writers who, when once they
become impressed with or overshadOwed by a par
ticular view OF bias in respect to any given sub
ject, are prone to color every circumstance in &C
cOrdance herewith, to the extent even Of unfair
ness Of statement. Such appears to be the men
tai condition ola writer in the Gazette of this
week, who comments on the mortality reports re-
Gently published by the Board of Health. We
regret to have to criticize our contemporary so ear
ly under its new regime, which in many things
appears to promise so favorably but we cannot
permit to pass unnoticed the exaggerated state
ments Of the writer in question as to the public
health, wherein it is published to the world that
81 our city has absolutely lost its healthy charac-
ter" The object throughout appears to be to
disparage as much as possible. To have said that
the death rate as reported for November and De-
cember did not afford a fair basis on which to
calculate the rate for the entire year, would have
been the truth, but it would not have answered
the writer's purpose. Neither would it have been
to the purpose in view had it been stated, (what
everybody here knows to be true) that in this
city Is the only hospital in the Kingdom, TO which
are brought very many of the sick and dying from
the other Islands that foreigners come from
abroad, to die here of incurable diseases and
that out OF the 81 deaths in November last, %
are reported as unattended by any physician. 1t
was but fair that these facts should have been
mentioned in connection with the figures of the
death rate. The omission to do so very plainly
Indicates the desire to make things appear as dis
NAL as possible. AS to statistics of death rates in
other parts of the world, as quoted with such an
air of conclusiveness from the London Times of
Oct. 24,-we find in that journal of Nov. 7, the
following words in connection with the quarterly
report of the Registrar General of the United
Kingdom Judged by the weekly returns from
the 20 large English towns, the rate of mortality
was very considerably below the average through
out the three months, and the mean rate for the
quarter was the lowest on record since the COM
mencement OF civil registration in 1887" In
a late New Zealand paper, we read that in Christ
church, a city of IA, 700 inhabitants, the deaths
for the month OF September last, were ffty-fve
only two less than the number reported for
Honolulu for November.
A calm and unbiased consideration of all the
facts and circumstances connected with the recent
prevalence of fever in this city, will, we think,
lead to the conclusion that it was not the result
alone OF uncleanliness, OF too much irrigation, of
impurities in the drinking water, of superabun-
dant foliage, or of a cessation of the trad winds,
but that it may with reason be attributed to all
these causes combined. But after all, no one can
say that we should have escaped the visitation
had none Of these probable causes existed for it
will be remembered that the same fever was
known here fully thirty years ago, when the con-
dition and surroundings Of this city were very
different from those of to-day. 1t really appears
to be restricted to no particular locality nor de-
pendant on any certain conditions. No better
authority in this point could be desired than the
Hon. 5. n. Castle, whose letter appears elsewhere
in to-day's paper.
Probably the effectiveness of the Board OF
Health might be much increased were it COM
posed wholly OF citizens of Honolulu, instead of
Cabinet Ministers and physicians as at present
although the latter might be retained as advisors.
But the question recurs, would civilians of stand
ing and influence be found ready to undertake the
duties-to devote their time and attention and as
sumo the responsibilities of the work,-without
compensation? We doubt it. And hereby we are
reminded of our suggestion made last week, to the
effect that the local government of this city, in
Guiding all matters pertaining to sanitary regula-
tons, might with advantage be entrusted to a
committee of the Privy Council-a suggestion
which a correspondent, in whose good Judgment we
have confidence, pronounces to be worthy of con-
sIderation. An act can be framed and submitted
at the coming session of the Legislature, providing
for the appointment of such committee, defining
their duties and providing the ways and means
0 fcarrying on a municipal government for this
city. The establishment of a city government on
some such nlan Onpht unnuestIOnaDlV to result
most advantageously to all concerned, to the
citizens, who might reasonably expect the execu-
ton of local regulations and the Inauguration of
improvements, and TO the Crown Ministers, who
would naturally feel relieved of burdensome res
possibilities.