The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1886-08-17

modore Jones to the King to require of every man,
who was able, a half picul of sandal wood (67lbs)
to be delivered to the Governor, to be applied by
him to the payment of these debts and for moth
ing else, was a wise measure rs 1t prospectively
secured expressly for this payment, whatever
might be collected under this order when, other
wise, even If collected with the proverbial improvi
dence common to most barbariaus it might have
been sold to meet some fancied want and the debt
remained unpaid.
This method insured something toward paying
the debt from the only staple of the country with
out adding hour to the labor of the natives,
taking one more stick of wood from the forests
than there would otherwise, for the selling went
on whilst the wood lasted, which was or years
as copies of accounts before me show. | find IN
der date of Dec. LIST. 1884:
1893 Picus wd per vcluntee- Griffin q s7,16 S9979 IS
Less forfeit $l1s pr Picul 2,O3s 80
s7.8s4 80
In the account before the price for good san
dial wood averages about Sc per picul, but l find
inferior quality low 50 for 1900 picul freight
to China uniformerly at 'S1.50 and insurance to
cover cost and freight at 50 per picul.
Commodore Jones allowed IS per picul delivered
here in payment of the debt, was 81 or 3S% per
cent. more than the market price. This was
equivalent to so much deduction from the debt,
and to that extent offset to the original profits
upon the sales which are supposed to have been
liberal, but very likely not to liberal, when all the
risks and uncertainties of those early enterprises
are considered. In case of arbitration, in which
was engaged with the Hon. Il. c. Wyllie, then
acting British Commissioner and Consul, IN Feb.
1916, remember old merchant, on the witness
stand replied to some query regarding profits, that
they charge large profits as they had TO wait q
great while for their pay.
On the 18th of Oct 1929 the United States ship
of war YiHceHHes commanded by Captain William
Bolton Finch arrived bearing letters and instruc-
tions, of the most friendly character from the
same executive hand viz. Hon. John q. Adams,
President of the United States, and Hon. Saml
l.. Southland, Secretary of the Navy, with presents
suited to the occasion aud the friendly character
of the mission As in the case of Captain Jones
all his intercourse with the chiefs was of the most
friendly nature and left only pleasant memories
behind, although the mission of Captain Finch
followed that of Captain Jones in less than three
years yet he found over $1,000 debts due to Amer
leans for which the chiefs pledged the payment in
sandal wood. Whether these we're newly created,
or unpaid balance remaining over from the
amount promised to Captain Jones do not know,
but the United States were and are fortunate IN
having officers of such ability and probity,
those at the head of affairs, when Messrs Jones
and Finch were commissioned, as well as IN such
men to send as we'll also as the chiefs in having
such men to deal with.
Improvidence seems to be the normal condition
of Intoxicated and undisciplined men. They do
not seem to comprehend the relations between in
come and expense, when DR. Judd was called to
aid of the King and chiefs Ill Sept 1912, they we're,
and had long been embarrassed by debt, but hav
ing great confidence in him they put there sources
of income into his hands. BY managing them to
reasonably good advantage and studying economy,
not allowing waste be paid their debts, and
heved them from their embarrassments In COM
partivey short time. Their sources of income were
not increased, only as they grew themselves by
being wisely husbanded and not allowed to be
frittered away. He built the old Custom House,
the Polynesian Office, the wharf and building
occupied by c. Brewer d Co. the Court House
now Hackfeld g. Co, made other improvements
organized and enlarged the public service, and
left after eleven years, with S60,000 in the Trea
sury.
This was the result of knowledge, adherence to
system, and economy, with perhaps especially IA
voring circumstance, but Captain Jones method
of collection and retention of the wood, and rigid
application to the debt is a part of the same
principle, of the system, which finally paid the
debts. The lesson is valuable to all, of whatever
race, who will practise it.
write this for the profit of those who know
little of old Hawaiian History. l am indebted for
my facts to Jarves and Bingham and other relia-
BILE writers, using their language sometime, with
quotations land sometimes reducing 1t with
out quotation. forgot to say, that the popula-
tion in 1876 about 10000 At the ratio of male
to female, in the census of 1866 the males Is
years would scarcely reach $1,000. This at a pcul
per man would give $4,000 pcul and at $500 per
picul would pay 100000 Of the debt which would
be $50,000-over its value at the market price of
$500. The chiefs must have applied more wood
in payment of this debt, than their promise to
Captain Jones called for. S. n. CASTLE.