The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-03-21
GOOD WORK NEGLECTED.
THE TROUBLE WITH THE BUREAU
OF INFORMATION.
History of an Institution which Began
We'll But Fared III rs
Time Went Along.

about September, 1892, with VIM. G.
Irwin, president; John Ena, vice presi-
dent; L. \. Thurston, secretary; II. NJ.
van Holt, treasurer: Chas. l.. Carter,
auditor and DIR. Trousseau and J. b.
Rose with the above forming q board of
directors. Starting the Bureau and ar
ranging preliminaries had hardly got
fairly under way when the revolution OF
January 1913 occurred. ct is supposed
that the revolution was arranged by
this Bureau to assist its efforts in adver-
Using the country and making it well
known.) Two Of its officers, the secre-
tary and auditor became commissioners
to Washington, then the president left
on visit to the States, followed later by
one OF the directors, and we were comfy
three" In undertaking the office OF
treasurer, ! thought that | would
only he responsible for the financial
management and it was so understood
when | accepted the position; but it
soon became apparent that the burden
OF running the affair and keeping it
alive would have to be undertaken by
me, and | have done the best | could
with the time at my disposal to try and
carry out the objects, being, | must
say, rather poorly supported by those
most interested, which is the case to
this day. AT our first meeting all sub
scribers were in favor of small monthly
payments; as against lump annual sums,
and | arranged my collections on that
basis. After three months | found it
hard to collect as usual in advance and
some subscribers were commencing to
act as if my asking for their subscrip-
tons was a crime so collected at the
end OF month. Collecting got harder
and remarks got "ditto," so / tried u
plan of getting two months subscriptions
at the rate OF one months abuse; but
at last my tender feelings (for who
likes being abused as pick-pockeO
only permitted me to receive one good
round OF abuse as the equivalent OF three
months collections. Can you wonder,
Mr.. Editor, at the general feeling against
the Bureau, or the idea that is dead, y
"defunct," or seemingly so when the
proprietors of some institutions which,
in the natural cause of events, would
have received the greatest benefit from
the Bureau, are i'll arrears OF their
promised subscriptions, while one OF the
chief promoters has never yet paid in
cent of his subscription. The secretary's
work has fallen altogether on the treas
urer. Papers and guides have been
mailed to enquirers Tor them. Letters
asking for information have been an
swered whenever possible, and when not
possible pamphlets have been mailed to
the addresses. Letters with thirty to
fifty numbers questions are still await
ing a secretary who will have the time
\
men, good dressers," "niCe manners"
etc., willing to work for 1925 month
are still unanswered, ditto stamp-fends'
letters, or those asking for a sample OF
poi, potatoes, wheat, tobacco, etc. There
have been mailed or forw arded thous-
ands of Paradise and Inf q tOS to Cooks
agencies, Hawaiian cOnsulates, steam
ship agencies, railroad agents, as well as
to those who asked for some literature
and information. The Bureau got up
the Paradise and Inferno and had TO-
600 copies printed, and our agents have
personally attended TO their distribution
in New Zealand, Australia, Hongkong,
Yokohama, Toxic and principal ports of
the United States. To my own personal
knowledge there have been three tour
lists here within six months who read
this book one in Calcutta and one in
Java, and one somewhere in the Straits
settlement or Whereabouts who, after
reading. decided to come here, and ]
have heard OF many other tourists who
have been attracted to the country by
these guides and the Bureaus colOred
photographers of island scenery, which
they had seen in the steamship office
hotels in Hongkong and Yokohama,
while the Bureau has forwarded in many
cases free large numbers OF lantern
slides to lecturers who promised to in
clude Hawaii in their talks, and news
paper clippings have shown that the
promises were kept. At present the
Bureau pays 800 per month towards
the salary OF Passenger Agent II. b.
Rice, whose headquarters are at Los
Angeles, and who is the means of turn
ing great deal of Eastern travel to-
wards this country. So the public can
see that the Bureau has done, and is
doing some good, in spite of the shabby
treatment accorded it by its nurses, and
the lack OF support OF those most inter-
ested. Since the talk OF turning the
Bureau over to the Planters Labor and
Supply Company subscribers are only
too glad to put off paying their subscrip-
tons until the matter is settled, and
with subscriptions only paid or called
for to October 81, 1893, and no debts
due to April, 1894, there is still balance
on hand, as appears by statement
further on.
Still my position has not been with
out its humorous side. The famous
Captain Nottage once sent his man
servant to me with "Please, sir, Cap
tain Nottage's compliment to the Bureau
OF Information, and he would like some
one to be sent to the hotel" On asking
what for, was told, ole wants to ask
him some questions" | did not 90 to
the hotel (hence his articles to the
papers,, but found out what he wanted
to know and directed the servant to the
steamship offices. On another occasion
ran up alongside of China steamer to
distribute some literature about Hawaii.
The passengers were very indignant
because nothing had come off to take
them ashore, although the steamer
had been at anchor for an hour. A
young, dark compleXioned fellow
asked me to take him ashore, which
/ willingly agreed to do. Others
asked and | finally left the ships side
with thirty passengers. The young
man was very anxious to know the news
about the revolution and could not
understand how the Queen could have
been dethroned, saying: "Why ii ] lift
my finger have four million people at
my command" ] asked him who he
was. "Why, am the Nawab OF Ram
pur," he replied. ] was supported be-
fore | fell over the rail and soon recov-
cred my breath after the shock of such
name, and then his Aide de Camp
explained who the young man was
During the steamers stay here thest
passengers all stayed at the Hotel and
was continually saluted there and on the
streets with "Why there's our Captain
Hello, Captain" ETC., etc.
1t is almost year since the board o
directors held meeting and it seem
almost impossible To have one, so thinl
it only fair to those most interested thai
this financial statement should appear