The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-10-30

ABOUT THE NEW MAIL CONTRACT.

We have presented all the salient
points about the new contract for car
rying the Australian and New Zea-
land mail, and indicated the advan-
tages which Honolulu might derive
from 1t. We use the word "might''
advisedly, because although the
steamships may come and go under
the contract, ami iutercOmmunica-
ton may be kept up to the point of
highest perfection, it is quite posi-
bic that this community may only
reap small share of the advantage
which naturally should fall to its lot
Ia the circumstances. BY this we
mean that nearly everything depends
upon the people themselves. They
may make or mar their own fortunes,
and render this city popular or an
unpopular resort, just as they please.
They may see the stream Of travel
pass by their doors without so much
as a halting eddy, or they may have
pleasure and health seekers in thou
: sands coming to stay among them for
given time, spend their money
freely, and then go away delighted.
Which shall it be7 The people of
Honolulu and of these Islands gem
orally must answer that question. If
advantage, however trifling, be taken
of visitors passing through between
Australia and America or vice versa,
a wrong will have been done the en-
tire community, although the act it
self may be an individual one. Our
hack drivers are especially tempted
to practice little quiet eXtortion,
thinking that immediate profit is
better than prOblematical gain; but
this, is ashOrt-sighted policy, and in
deed, at best, the charges for express
hire are too high. We say this with
reference to the legal scale of charges
and not to the Independent scale
which, although much higher, is i,s
pretty general use. QUIZ
however, esl.,.s I.Sz1seIsoual appllca-
ton, our purpose being to deal gen.
orally with broad question. But in
degree, men of every trade and call
ing are liable to take advantage of
the necessities of strangers.
Our point, therefore, is this: If the
new mail service between San Fran
cisco and the Colonies is TO benefit
Honolulu in any great degree it will
be entirely dependent upon its own
Inhabitants. If they try to "gOuge"
strangers in any way they will create
a bad impression, and i'll reports
always travel much faster than good
ones. There is existing i'm the Col
onies very bad impression of these
Islands since the days of the old Webb
line of steamers, which transferred
passengers here into dangerous and
fIl-found boats, in utter cOntravention
Of the contract. Travellers by those
steamers made complaint of the
charges to which they were subjected
in Honolulu for the most ordinary
services, and the prejudice then
created still exists. twill take some
considerable time To eradicate it, and
this will not be done by continuing
Tile DEdCbACGS AhelN
it does exist is the fact to be bOrue in
mind; that it can only be removed
by slow experience must also be con-
ceded. Hence the necessity for max
ing a fresh start and treating our
visitors generously.
There will be from six to twelve
hours between the arrival Of the
main steamer and the departure of
the connecting boat, which would
give ample time to visit all the sights
In and around Honolulu. The Pail and /
Waikiki may be taken in, also the |
buildings and Palace, /
starting and winding up with the /
Hotel. During this round of sight
seeing our visitors will have spent
sum of money. They
will not feel sore about it if they
think they have had their moneys
worth; If they think they have been
or Imposed upon, however,
ilEsIlOw their resentment, aud
gomen whO leave US in that
mind may be set down as
Oily to the country, and }