The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-03-10

generally the largest part Of it on the
steamer being ready TO leave the last port in
England, as shipowners have 10 lien on
passengers as they have on freight.
/ am rather inclined 10 think from what l
have seen thus far that so long as the Gov
erDment can get a good firm 10 DO the bust
ness, and take all the risks and response
bility at Il moderate price, ii would be wise
20 do so, because the Government could
hardly expect TO be served as economically
as an individual firm, whose special
business and interest it is 10 save every
cent and there may be political reasons
which would render il prudent for a Govern
ment to refrain from employing itsel' in
the details Of an emigration business, or OF
entering into competition with merchants
who make this description of business a
speciality"
Colonel Macfarlane proceeds with an
account of the steps he had taken, of his
interviews with Mr.. a. Hoffnung, and of
the complaints and claims that gentlemen
laid before him as the ground of his refusal
to entertain farther business for this Gov
ernment, as to which he offers his opinions
and suggestions to the Minister. He pro-
ceeds TO say
II am bound to say. with respect to the
past, that there has been much exaggera-
ton and misunderstanding regarding the
supposed cost of immigrants, and profits of
the business. Mr.. Hoffnung has very
frankly shown me all particulars from his
books, and details of the expeditions per
Monarch and Hansa, and | find there has
been nothing like the margin of profit
realized out of them that has been reported.
The Monarch was successful, chiefly because
the steamer was chartered ut an eXcep-
tionally low rate, and the authorities at St.
MichaeiS permitted many more to go in her
than Mr.. Hoffnung calculated upon (; but
the estimate that was made at Honolulu of
the total cost of the expedition fell short by
more than $4,000 (three thousand pOunds)
Of the actual facts of the case and | find
there are, besides, many expenses connected
with these ventures which cannot be de-
tailed. The charter of the HanSa cost
$1,000, paid in cash here, and to this of
course must be added the provisioning and
fitting of so large a steamer and the recruit
ing and agency expenses at St. Michaels
and Honolulu. Messrs. Hoffnuug and CO..
sustained a loss of $4,000 in conse-
queuce of the adverse action of the
the Iianss.| ; "On the whole
| have satisfied myself that, taking into
account the difficulties of the business, the
large amount of labor and attention it ell
tails, and all the risks involved, that the
price which Messrs. HoffnHng & Co. have
hitherto charged is not an unreasonable one,
and to my mind, does not leave n margin
of profit commensurate with the extra
ordinary risks undertaken by this firm"
Col. Macfarlane then proceeds to say that
u IGNlGh vi al BhC CllCutLlolhilSC-Y liC
concluded that cit would be the obvious
interest of the Government and Planters
to allow Hoffnung & CO. to carry on the
business, and proceeds:
CATER various discussions with Messrs.
Hoffnung & Co, | am happy to report that
| have come to an arrangement with them
which will result in a saving to the Govern
ment and Planters of about 100000 on the
price previously paid, upon the number of
tn miles which have at present orders TO
send forward. | baVe already stated that,
looking at the intricate and delicate nature
of the business, and risks involved, | find
on actual examination of facts and figures
that the price hitherto charged by Messrs.
Hoffnung & Co. was not an excessive one,
and on their making concession in price ofe2
per adult passenger, which | insisted upon, /
was obliged to make one or two not unrea-
sonable concessions ia return. The first of
these is that the passage money should be-
come payable in full on this side on com
pletion of each shipment, and production of
Hawaiian ConSulS' certificate of the num-
Der embarked; the second refers to the
ageS of children"
Col. Macfarlane goes on TO show that the
original reasons for making one fourth OF
the passage money payable at Honolulu dc
not remain in force except to a very small
extent. AS to the concession on the ages
of children he says;-
GAS my instructions from yOurhOnOrable
Board were to continue this business with
steamers, in consequence of the urgent and
pressing needs of the Planters for labor, ]
of course made it sine qua non in my ar
engagements with MessTs. Hoffnung & Co..
that steamers only should be employed III
transporting the emigrants, they were OBJ
liged to revert their original agreement tC
charge children from II years aud upwards
as adults, and taking only infants under
year free of charge, and as it will not pro
baby amount to much in any case | have
as already minated, conceded it,"
The Report contains further lengthy re"
marks on the bearings of this concession
for which we have not space. The only
other condition of the agreement entered
into which is new is thus decided
There is a further consideration in The
agreement | have made with Messrs. Hoff
hung & Co., which gives them liberty tC
charge from el to e2 per passenger more il
the case of any considerable falling off (say
from % per cent. to so per cent. respecting
of the vessels capacity, or number of emf
grants provided for from unforeseen cause!
as in the case of the trouble made by the
San Francisco Chronicle when the false re
ports it published caused wholesale dc
fiction of intending emigrants, who were
alarmed and deferred from sailing in thu
Earl Dalhousie which vessel left st
Michaels only half full"
Col. Macfarlane concludes his remarks a:
follows:
81 trust further that your Honorable
Board and Planters, will cOncede that i
was obviously for the interests of all con
cerned, that arrangements should be re
newed through this firm who have hitherto
conducted the business in a creditable man
ner, and, who 1 believe, enjoy the conf
dence of the people and authorities of st
MichaelS) provided | obtained a full anC
reasonable reduction in price, and cOulC
not see my way clear to do substantially
better in other directions"
CupPEME C0nRT. II TERM