The Hawaiian gazette., 1882-07-05
Population Of the Hawaiian Islands.

In looking over the report Of the Minister o
Finance, and comparing il with those Of previous
years, one cannot help noticing a steady increase
not only in the general revenue of the Govern
ment, but also most extraordinary increase il
the poll fa.r. This is tax Of one dollar payable
by every male between the ages Of seventeen and
S Nty years. the only exceptions being paupers oi
disabled persons and it is supposed TO furnish O
correct index Of the male population between
| those ages. The number of polls tn it paid taxos
in ls52 was 1890 when the population was 5s s97
In 1852 when the population according to the last
census 57,9S5, the polls had increased to- (ac-
cording to tho report, i59ss for two yearsl or in
round numbers 200 for one year. Either the mum.
Der OF persons who paid taxes in 1872 was far below
what should have been orelse the number Of males
has since largely increased while the total popula
tion as reported by the census, is about the same
This increase in the number Of polls is doubtless
due to both these causes and the question natur-
ally arises, What is the present population of this
Kingdom, and what does it consist Off
In order 10 furnish clear exhibit Of the changes
that have taken place, let us look back and ex.
anime the census returns for say twenty years
those of 1860, '66, ~ and 1s7s:
Is6o-Thc total population was u gsf; The foreign
population was s,'lb the native and Chinese were
enumerated together 81 ss the Chinese numbering less
1866 Total population was e.,gJ9, Natives q. 565
Foreigners 2eos; Chinese 1906.
population
Foreigners 3iss; Chinese ,g5S
ieis-Iota population was 5',ao5 Natives e aos;
Foreigners .J5i; Chinese 59l6
Since the census was last taken in December
ls1s, there has been more rapid increase In the
Chinese and foreign population than previously.
The annual Custom House statistics show approx
mately what the increase has been. From these
find that. after deducting departures s,315 Chinese
have arrived during 1879, 80, 'sl, and adding the
number reported by the last census, 5,9l6 we have
total Of l4,2S1, from which should bo deducted
for deaths during the three years at least 900 leav
ing 313l as the Chinese population in this King
dom on The first day of January, 1882.
During the same period Of three years. 5,s92 for
oigners have arrived in excess of departures up TO
Dec. 81, ISL Adding these 10 the last census re-
turns, i.O5l we have total of 10,454 as the num-
Der Of foreigners, other than Chinese in this King
dom at that date. No allowance is made in this
estimate for deaths among them, as the births ex.
coed the deaths. IL IS safe to assume that the in
crease by births has been between three and four
hundred during three years.
Toe Custom House reports do not specify the
number Of females arriving from abroad except
la9 out Of total of s,315 arrivals The number of
Chinese in the Kingdom does not exceed roo out of
the total l3, ,73l Chinese.
The decrease in the native population is believed
TO be about the same that reported for the last
census period of SIX years which $50 per cent.
and much less than during former census periods.
At the above rate, the present population includ-
inc half -castes, is about 1900.
immigrants by steam, and the special efforts now
being made by Government and the Planters As
sociation to introduce them, and with the estab-
lishmont OF new steamship lines to encourage pas
senger travel to and from San Francisco il Is quite
probable that the arrivals from abroad will greatly
exceed those of 1881. Taking 200 as a safe estf.
mato OF the number of passenger arrivals during
the first SIX months of 1882 and placing the above
data in tabular form, obtain the following est-
mate Of the present population Of the Hawaiian
Kingdom;
Natives. including about 100 half feastes...GOoO
ecnur- Of all nafionIlities except Isl
Increase Of foreigners by births since the last cen
Chinese including about 50Ofemales. I375i
Passengers arrived between Jan. I and July1. 1852
OF all uationaliiies 200
a@s
These figures leave no room To doubt that the |
to-day exceeds 1900 and that the next
census to be taken in December 1884 will place il
between 1000 and $1,000 The decrease IN popu- /
lation ceased about the lime that the Reel |
procity Treaty went into operation. September, /
1916. Since that date, there has been rapid in Il
crease; and this marked change is due more to the
Treaty than 10 all other causes combined. How
earnestly then, should the true friends Of Hawaii |
seek the continuance of this giving convention.
Referring again to the poll tar, the large Il
increase IN it referred to above is fully accounted
Tor by the influx Of foreigners and Chinese during
he past three years. OF taxable Chinese alone
here are to-day not less than twelve or thirteen
thousands now IN the Kingdom, and il full
assessment Is made of them the poll list and tax
his year viii exceed 5000. In this connection,
1 would be an interesting question 10 investigate
what proportion of the annual revenua Of tbe
government is paid by Chinese, what proportion
" foreigners, and what by natives?
immigration is a source Of wealth to any coun-
", and adds greatly TO its annual revenue. Bot
u our case Il becomes a serious question-Where
he Chinese chiefly Of the lover laboring class,
las rapidly increased to one-ffth OF the whole
population, and to ole-third Of the adult males
whether we may not be blessed with a super
hem now rushing 70 America, which viii be for
hidden TO enter them after August By the nov law
lassed by Congress- shall turn to Hawaii, aud
eeking temporary resiire-place here, shall