The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1888-07-17

SATURDAY afternoon the Committee of
the Legislature having the bill for the
Encouragement OF Coffee Culture under
consideration, held a public meeting
Unfortunately the nature OF the meeting
was not generally understood and it was
scantily attended in consequence. The
object was to enable the Legislators to
acquaint themselves with the views Of
the business men, and to arouse in the
latter an interest in the proposed bill,
and q readiness to take hold Of the in
dustry in an active and practical way.
There can hardly be any measure upon
which the genuine interests Of the
country are more dependent than they
are upon this and others OF similar
nature, and their true significance ought
to be brought home to every one. The
bill now before the Legislature has al
ready been printed in full in the Bull
letin of July 18th, and we need only give
brief resume Of its provisions. It pro-
vides for the payment by the Govern
ment to any parties having contracted
with the Minister of the Interior, OF
s35, 900, as follows; $4,000 when 100, 900
trees have been planted and the neces-
sary buildings have been erected for the
laborers, ETC., $4,000 when all the nee
essary machinery and appliances for tax
Ing of the crop and curing it have been
put IN, and final 10000 when 100000
pounds Of coffee shall have been raised
and cured. The contractor is to render
full quarterly accounts to the Minister OF
the Interior who is to be ex-ofhcio a
member Of the Company's Board Of
Directors, with the right to examine the
books at any time. The money furnished
by the Government is loan only, TO be
repaid out Of all profits over and above
8 per cent. interest on the total invest
ment.
The following citation from the Min
lister Of the Interiors Report indicates
briefly the history and present status Of
the industry:
Some thirty years ago the cultivation of
coffee appeared TO have bright future be-
fore it, and small plantations were started
on several OF the islands, when blight at
tackled the trees, and, after few years
struggle, the planters became discouraged,
nd Ofriff NJ rs.fFa
was discontinued 1t has since been CARRIED
on in desultory manner by the natives
in kona and Puma, the beans produced
being a superior article. Within q few
years past it has been noticed that the
blight has almost entirely disappeared
from the coffee trees, not only In one
locality, but on all the islands. But owing
partly 70 the fact that all the available
capital and agricultural talent Of the
country vas, by the. stimulus Of the Rect
procity Treaty with the United States,
partly 70 the fact that there has been no
one with sufficient means and faith in the
subject TO take il up and give il fair trial,
coffee has been almost utterly neglected.
With the experience OF other countries
to guide US; with the facts before US that
other countries with less advantages than
We have are annually exporting it by
millions Of pounds, and continually in.
creasins the volume of such export; and
that, in spite of this enormous and in
creasing production, the price has not only
not declined, as has been the case with
almost every other staple, but has in
creased within the last few years; and in
view Of the immense advantages 70 be
gained BY this country by the establish
ment Of this industry, now seems to be
the time and this the industry which
should be stimulated, assisted, and, If