The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-09-09

to fulfill moderate expectations, and
we are disposed to entertain the hope
that next season will witness very
marked development in this direc-
ton.
It will be observed from the
speeches of Premier Stout of New
Zealand. aud Sir George Grey, re-
printed in the A ADVERTISER the 5th
instant, that the tourist travel to /
New Zealand, connecting with the
California mail and steamer route, is |
estimated at hundreds of thousands of
pounds sterling. In a big country
like New Zealand such an increase of
the circulating medium by tourist
expenditures would not be SO inn
mediately and directly felt as it would
be in small country like this; but
in either case it is so considerable q
feature in the economy of trade and
industry as to merit the attention of
public men. If any one really wants
to comprehend the value of tourist
! travel to a country, in its various
aspects, let him read what Sir Grey
said on the subject in the debate in
question.
Now. it follows that a large per-
centage of the Australasian tourist
travel, going and returning should,
under judicious management, stop at
Honolulu and visit those places of
natural grandeur and beauty in
which these Islands abound. We
have occasional visitors from among
those who are "making the grand
tour" but instead of few we should
have them nearly all. For example,
Mr.. j. Anthony FrOude, the historian,
passed through from the Colonies re-
Gently, merely stepping ashore for
few minutes, at an unreasonable hour,
to get sight of the town. He saw a
few narrow, ill-kept streets, and
could not carry away good impress
sion; yet Sir George Grey estimates
the value of that authors sketches in
New Zealand at over $4,000 as mere
advertisement of the country. We
cite this as an example of what is
constantly happening, but which
should be prevented if possible.
Should the Oceanic Steamship
Company secure the Australian mail
contract thorough system of tourist
travel would certainly be inaugurated,
! which would bring scores Ofintelligent
strangers here where we now have
only few at intervals. And if, un-
fortunately, that contingency does
not happen, then we hope that plan
of hOId-over tickets will beelaborated,
with special advantages for tourists
visiting this Kingdom. This will I'M
questiOnably be done if the Union
Steamship Company of New Zealand
be associated with the Oceanic Com
pany In the contract, which is ex-
tremely likely. A great deal remains
to be done, however, to make tourists
stay in this country agreeable. The
Royal Hawaiian Hotel is first-class
establishment; and the Interisland
boats, except for occasional over
crowding, are all that could be de-
sired. But having said this, we have
said everything almost. The charges
to the Volcano are also moderate; but
in other respects the cost of locomO-
ton and sightseeing is more than
should reasonably be asked for the
service rendered. We say this not in
a spirit of fault-finding, but to point
to a blemish which should be re-
moved. Moderate charges, civility
and promptitude would pay better
in the long run than methods which
have heretofore prevailed pretty
generally. If tourists are expected tC
visit Honolulu and view the sights
; and scenery of the Islands they must
not receive the Impression at the
start that they are regarded as sc
many pigeons to be pTucked bare a.
speedily as possible.