The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-03-11
The Cenru. efIEsI.


EDrroR GAzErTE:-As the taking of a census of
a nation involves quite considerable outlay of
money it is but Just that VIC should have something
valuable in the way of statistics for the expendi-
ture. The census of Great Britain and Ireland of
1871, cost the Government nearly 81 cents per
capita OF population. The census of the Hawaiian
Islands for 1884, showing but population of So
So, could not be taken for so low a rate, but we
expect 1t will not cost than cents per CAPITA
or $4,S546S. That of Great Britain and Ireland
exhibited an amount of information valuable for
reference for all future ages This will show merely
the names, age. ser, birthplace, occupation reli-
giOn and education. That was taken by a corps
Of competent men, selected for their attachments
and reliability This was dore principally by those
'in accord with the Government" or without the
slightest regard for their reliability or fitness or
conversancy with numbers. That WAS census
containing statistics worthy of being preserved in
the archteves of the nation and which will be quo
ted in all the coming ages. This has already shown
its erroneousness and worse than valuelessness.
A census is one of those structures from which
il a part be withdrawn the whole superstructure
falls There are many flaws in this census of 1884,
but We have not room nor time to expose them all,
but will note some of its peculiarities.
The census by election districts has huge flaw
in it. in that the entire election district of Kama
pail is left out. koloa and Lihue are but one
election district, yet find it split in two in the
census by election districts.
The most elaring fault we find in the census as
given to the public is that it portends to show that
50 per cent OF souls on the Islands years of
are capable of reading and writing 1t Is a shame
such statement should 20 abroad when we know
the contrary to be the truth. But 4 small per-
ceutage of the Chinese cannot read and write. Of
the Portuguese there is a larger percentage but il
would not amount TO 80 per cent. Then from
whence comes this great hiatus? Judging by tho
kOna Districts on Hawaii where the proportion of
natives is largest we find that Sc per cent.
OF all inhabitants six years of age are capa-
bic Of writing and reading 80 it cannot be amongst
the native population that this grand literacy is
found. In glancing over the figures We find that
the district Of Maui with total population of D.
013 there reported 9i5 only who are proficient
| in reading and writing. So Makawao takes the
bakery" for illiterates and the Honorable Kamakee
was the census taker of that district He reports
8l2 Chinese in the district and we will guarantee
500 of them can both read and write and keep ac-
counts better than he can, thus leaving but Il5
others in that district who are accomplished in
/ those branches.
With its population of SOS it ought to have
more representatives than one as Lahaina with its
269 has two, but judging from its lliteracy it has
l representatives enough and sent representative
man. Let pass hat and raise funds for schools
| for Makawao. We will guarantee that Haiku,
Hamakuapoko, Paia and Grove Ranch can pro.
l duce more than 145 men who can read and write
without going over the balance of that large dis
trict. Surely all your readers are convinced that
here is grand error If one Is so quickly pointed
| out how many could be found by scanning the
i figures from each district Then of what value
can such statement Of errors be for future refer.
II euCtE lnlS ulSlIlCI we kuuN 10 DC one I0at uhs
been particularly neglected by the President Of
| the Board of Education as we have seen children
and teacher creeping into the basement of ar
| abandoned sugar mill amongst cock-roaches ant
molasses in their great desire to acquire the
| above mentioned Accomplishments, the Board hav
ing failed TO provide house for school although
i frequently solicited TO do SC.
Again in Makawao, we note the popularity tina
| of all males over Is years of age there are me
chanics, agriculturalists, contract laborers an(
those of other occupations 1872 and there are ~
not accounted for or who are idlers supported b,
| the workers. Makawao, you have indeed n BAT
record, and either You your Honorable censu
taker needs n thorough reform. If the census wa
true and we are glad to say it is not even an ap
proIimation to the truth we could draw sucl
ngures the following from its statistics; of in
habitants under Is years years of age 90 per cent
are females, but Of 10 years 81 per cent. onl
are females. This would be sad outlook for thu
nation. Still no reliance can be placed on tn
figures given by this census and we can take hear
and live on with the hope that the coming legisla
ture will authorize n new census which will b
reliable. CYGNUs