The Hawaiian gazette., 1881-10-12

TIE {. S. MINISTER RESIDENT has kindly
presented US with volume of Reports
on Commercial Relations of the United
States, and in it we find the following
interesting report by himself on " The
Hawaiian Reciprocity Treaty:
For so short document ii is very com
prehensive, the language Is terse, with a
vein of quaintness and a twinkle of humor
natural to the writer running through it.
General Comfy has now been resident
here long enough to be acquainted with
the commercial affairs of this country and
to appreciate the working and advantages
of the Reciprocity Treaty; and be is quite
right In his inference that the increase in
the productions OF these islands and in
the trade with the United States have re
suited from that treaty.
As we have said before, land as int1mated
in the report sources Of profit to the
United States, which do not appear in the
Custom House tables and reports. such as
profit on consignments, freights. passages.
marine, fire and life insurance, etc. etc
Our people travel great deal, and they
go abroad with large expenditure
Hundreds of thousands of dollars are
yearly expended IN visiting the United
States and there are many other ways in
which our gains by reciprocity finally
reach the larger country. All OF the
material used IN all the building of dwell
ings, stores, shops, mills, fences. bridges.
etc, etc, Is imported, and nearly all comes
from our nearest neighbor. The only do
mestic material used in building is the
sand IN the mortar, and sometimes even
the sand Is imported
The Minister Is jealous for the interests
Of his own country, as he has a night to
be, but there is nothing IN his report that
we can complain Of He speaks of the
. Glasgow machinery which rubbed a sore
plaster or salye for that sore spot- . We
VIII remark that had any body from an
American city with the experience. skill
and capital possessed by Mr. Watson of
Glasgow, come here before or at the same
time that be came and used the same
means and offered the same or nearly the
same terms that he offered. it is probable
that the direction Of those orders for ma
chinery, OF q part at least, would have
been changed Several of those who
wished to become planters had land only.
and were without experience IN the busi-
ness or sufnc1enf capital for so large an IN
derta6ng. Mr.. Watson, a practical en-
gineg, large manufacturer Of sugar ma
chinery as 8 speciality, and commanding
abundant capital, came here, went upo1
the ground with the Fould-be planters.
showed them what they required named
his price for the works delivered IN Homo
lulu duty paid, and offered them long
credit for large part of the cost at a low
rate of interest Without such aid the
plantations would not and could not have
been started They accepted Of course;
and to the cost Of that machinery they
had to add an equal amount In payment
OF mechanics and other labor. lumber.
bricks, utensils, freights, etc, before the
works we're ready for operation.
The influence Of the reciprocity treatv uron the
tncrease Of our carrying trIde between she HaEa-
Il4n Islands and the Pacific coast, and upon the
sal larger increase Of our ship-buidine Tor E7a-
saiian owners has been oae q is most erstify-
ing results.