The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-01-12

emily increased during the year.
Although they are highly valued on
the plantations, the trouble is they
do not stay there, but swarm in the
towns and environs when their con-
tracts are up, where they are gradu-
ally absorbing trade and industry.
and displacing white people and the
native race. Notwithstanding the
law forbidding the landing of more
than twenty-five Chinese from one
vessel, excepting those who are
certified to have been here before,
there has been a large excess of
arrivals over departures of this
nationality during the year.
The currency question was the
weightiest matter on the public
mind at the opening of the year.
On the lst of December previous
American gold was established as
the only legal tender for sums over
ten dollars. and the Government
was required to redeem all outstand-
ing silver certificates, except those
of ten dollars, in that coin. For a
short time the process of redemp-
tion went on, the resources of the
Government soon proving made
quate, and with the early suspension
of gold payments at the Treasury the
| twenty dollar certificates went to
swell the superiluous volume of
silver circulation. A long but fruit
less series of negotiations between
the Government and the Chamber
of Commerce only left the question
in most unsatisfactory state. Those
in a position to do so, exact gold
from their debtors; while others,
whether having to make their pay
ments mainly in gold, or otherwise,
must be content with the deprecated
silver. This compels premium on
gold, forming heavy tax upon the
community, from which those in q
position to do brokerage business
alone derive benefit. There is no
doubt that the failure of the Gov
ernment to observe the mandates of
the currency law has proved a
serious detriment to business and
laid an onerous burden upon the
public.
These Islands have been highly
favored with vsitations from for
eigners of more or less eminence.
Many of them delighted the large
cosmopolitan audiences with which
Honolulu astonishes most new visi-
tors, by lectures upon the wonders
of the world and of nature that
they were familiar with by travel
and investigation. Prof. Wayland,
of Oberlin, spent prolonged holi-
day here, and lectured on eds
raeli, Gladstone, and the English
Parliament )" on his return home
paying high tribute in the press to
the natural attractions and social
institutions of this kingdom. Prof.
Agassiz gave profound disquisi-
tion from the platform on "The
Theory of Coral Reefs" Genl.
Van Buren, L. S. Consul General
in Japan, gave us timely lecture
on "Japan and the japanese, just
after the arrival of the first install.
ment of Japanese labor immigration.
Rev. DR.. Happier, a veteran Ameri-
can missionary to China, preached
several times in the Congregational
churches, giving interesting accounts
of the gospels progress in the Orient.
Rev. Robert Mckenzie, of San Fran
cisco, lectured very entertainingly
on the peculiarities of his country
men the Scotch. Mrs. Hampson, q
reyiyalist of worldwide reputation,
conducted season of evangelistie
services in the Kawaiahao church,
leaving a benign influence behind
her. Lord Elphinstone with a party
of English friends visited the Vol,
cano and tarried while at oul
superb Hotel also, ex-Gov. Downey
of California. Rev. j. Hemphill, Q
pulpit orator of Philadelphia, edi.
fed large congregations with we'll
studied and impressively-delivered
discourses. Mr.. p. Petrovitz, an
artist of the Royal Academy, So