The Hawaiian gazette., 1888-03-20

IHE Report OF the COllectOr-Gen-
eral of Customs-Hon. A. S. Cleg-
horn-for 1887 has been issued, max
ing a pamphlet of 120 pages. From
the introductory letter of that official
to the Minister of Finance it is learn
ed that the total value of exports and
imports Of merchandise during the
year amounted to 14,473, 288, as
against S15,335.024 for 1856, showing
a decrease in Hawaiian commerce of
1851, 1876. This decrease is accounted
for by a falling off in the export
trade of 1927, S3S, the total exports of
both domestic and foreign produc-
ton for 1887 amounting to S9,529, All
as against S10,457, 2S5 in 1856. OF
our foreign commerce 90.79 per cent.
was with the United States or S13, 13S,-
916 in value; 4.5S per cent with Great
Britain, valued at S661, $40; 127 per
cent. with Germany, valued at S184,
SCI; liz per cent. with Australia and
New Zealand, valued at $163,001, and
80 per cent. with other countries,
valued at S56.544. In the introduce
tion referred to the decimal mark is
omitted from before the percentage
of "other countries" and the large
figure showing mistake somewhere
a little calculation is made, which
reveals deficiency of 1.65 per cent.
somewhere. Reference to a table
elsewhere shows that the introduc-
tory note omitted 1.85 per cent. of
trade with China and Japan, valued
at S269, 722 81.
1.-The total imports of merchandise
was 81, 943,840, as against $4,677,736
during the preceding year, showing
an increase of SOC, 102 The increase
in the yalue of dutiable goods was
$196,814: goods free by treaty fell off
S139, 443; goods bonded increased
S19,911, and goods free by law fell off
ST., $50" Revelations made in the
Legislature at the extra session will
probably show where the falling off
last referred to had room to occur,
and that for the benefit of the reve-
nue.. 1.-The excess of the value of ex-
ports over imports of merchandise
during the year amounted to S4,505,
606, being a falling off of $677,0 as
compared with 1856" This falling
off is more than accounted for by the
decrease IN exports as above stated;
therefore it shows the "balance of
trade" to have been against us last
year in a way that precludes consola-
ton from the theory of superior
purchasing power" causing a gain of
imports over exports. There has,
however, been an increase of S14,558
in Customs revenue, the amount
being $595,002 as against $580,44 in
1886.
An interesting table in the Col
lector-General's report is that of
quantities of the principal domestic
exports of the Hawaiian Islands
during the ten years 1878 to 1887,
inclusive From this may be seen
the rapid development of the sugar
industry. the increase in production
having been all but continuous.
There was a slight falling off in
1883 from the previous year, and
another last year in comparison with
1886. The sugar exported in 1878
was 36,431, 456 pounds, lowest in the
ten years 1886 gives the highest
production, ZIG, 223,615 pounds last
years export, 212, 763,64f pounds.
Rice production has increased as
between the first and last year in
about the same ratio as sugar, but
huctuated much more during the
period. There was a continuous de-
crease in nee from 1882 down to last
year, both 1885 and 1856 having been
somewhat below 1881. In 1878 it
was 2,767,798 pounds, lowest of the
ten ; 1887 was highest with 1864
200 pounds; next highest, 1882, with
12,169,475 pounds, up to which there
had been an increase of from one to
two million pounds year from 1878.
1t takes from the increase in rice
when the figures for paddy-un-
hulled rice-are viewed. There was
an export of 2,764,86l pounds of
paddy in 1878, dropping to 3S,S15 the
next year and out altogether in 1880,
then beginning with 1O2,37O in 1881
there Is an increase until 1865, 705
pounds is recorded for 1883, followed
by drop to 1924 in 1884 and blanks
the two succeeding years, concluding
with the paltry amount of 400 pounds
the past year Taking rice and
paddy together the product of 1887
exceeds that of 1878 by S,13I. 81
pounds. With a firm market at the
close of the period, and the quantity
nrndnnnd nearly dnnhlinor nrn,. Tic