The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-10-21
ROYAL HAWAIIAN AGRICULTURE
SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the r. II. a.
Society is to be held at the Hawaiian
Hotel this evening. If all those who
profess to take an interest in the welfare
and progress of Hawaii should be pres
ent there will be large gathering; but
between profession and practice-talk
and work-there is a great gulf of hui
man weakness fixed, and few be they
who cross it.
This society was instituted for the pro-
motion OF agriculture in the widest sense
Of the term-of horse and cattle breed
ing, of dairy farming, of horticulture, of
Horticulture. Almost every one in the
community takes some interest in one
or other of these pursuits, and certainly
the whole community Will be benefited
by the promotion of these industries,
which provide for mankind ali the neces-
saries and many of the luxuries of life.
It would seem natural therefore that
every one should feel an interest in the
welfare of the Royal Hawaiian Agricul-
tural Society. Shall we say that it is
the climate, or bad management, or
something wrong in the organization of
the society which causes so few to give
second thought to the question whether
the society shall live or die?
The society held two very successful
shows, and awarded prizes in a most
liberal measure. The expenditure under
taken to provide for these fairs, and for
their annual repetition in the future,
coupled with an unexpected closing of
the purse strings upon it by the Legisla-
ture of 1884, placed the society in finan-
cial difficulties. To the other troubles
which it had to encounter must be added
the fact that its choice of a site for its
fairs at Kapiolani Park. before a rail
road was built out there, has proved TO
be premature The Park and the So
ciety's show ground will be the most
popular places of resort in the course of
time, but meanwhile the expense of get |
ting there is too great for the bulk of
those who would willingly be exhibitors
or spectators at the fairs. A partial |
remedy for this has been found in the !
removal of the society's large hall to the |
Government Nursery ground, on King |
street. We hope to see some successful
flower shows there in the future, and |
exhibitions of such products as the place
is suitable for. But for horse and cattle |
shows, which are a really important part
of the society's programme, mo one has yet
been able to point out any other avail
able site fit for the purpose than that
now occupied by the society, and we
can only hope that the means OF reach
ing it quickly and cheaply will soon be
provided.
The Legislature has this year made a
grant in aid of the society which, con-
sidering the means of the country, is
perhaps as much as could have been
By private subscription those
who have the society's interests at heart
have betrayed the expense of removing
and re-erecting the hall. The society,
we believe, starts with a clean balance
sheet, and fair prospect before it on
the new year of its existence, which be-
gins to-day. These are good auguries,
and we hope to see them supplemented
by large attendance at the annual
meeting tonight, by the infusion OF new
blood into the management, which those
who have borne the burden of initiating
he society and carrying it through its
difficulties for four years past will gladly
welcome, and by a largely increased
oil of members. Every one who has
my sort of stake in the community
,ught to support the Royal Hawaiian
agricultural Society.