The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-07-25
HOUSE.

Minister Damon read The follow
ing reply to questions by Repre-
sentative Quincy:
Extract from letter received
from F. B. McStocker, Deputy
Collector General.
81 beg herewith to submit the
following statement re sale Of
opium. During the year 1894,
several attempts were made by ].
B. Castle to sell the accumulations
Of opium stored in the vault at the
Custom House. Several offers had
been made but none with sufficient
guarantee as to expectation, such as
landing certificates in port OF desti-
nation, through bill of lading, etc.
1t being deemed wise that personal
attention should be given the matter
the undersigned was appointed an
agent of the Board of Health and
directed to proceed to San Fran
cisco thence to Victoria, and secure
the best results obtainable subject
to certain stipulations re shipping,
etc. Proceeding to San Francisco
/ authorized Chas. T. Wilder,
Hawaiian Consul General to re-
ceive bids on the opium. such bids
to be submitted to me on my re-
turn from Victoria, to which port
1 at once proceeded. Arrived at
Victoria and having placed
myself in communication with r.
P. Rithet, Hawaiian consul at that
port, and the customs authorities,
l proceeded to dispose of the opium;
from the start l found that the Cal
ifornia opium, which constituted
the bulk of that in our hands, be-
ing subject to heavy duty IN. S.
Sc, B. c. IS per pound) and being
of very inferior quality, was prac-
tically unstable. Finally arrange
ments were made through R. P.
Rithet & Co. for the sale Of the en-
tire lot, the sale being subject to
approval by Jas. B. Castle, and on
ninety days option being given to
that effect. l would here state thai
the buyer was the only one either in
San Francisco or Victoria who bid
on total, the others declined in toto
to consider the California opium.
The sale was as follows:
1870 lbs. Hong Kong OPT
um, at $3. . ' $40. 90
428 lbs. Victoria opium,
at $2. ....,. $4,000
1859 lbs. California OPT
um, at 81. Io52. 90
Total 49,. ..... $244S.oo
F. o. B. in Honolulu, through
bill of lading and landing certificate
demanding money to be deposited
with r. P. Rithet & Co. prior to
shipment. Returning to San Fran
cisco I met several parties but could
receive no bid to include the Cali
fornia. Returning to Honolulu
the offer as above designated, sub
mitted to and was accepted by Jas.
B. Castle, collector-general, and
shipment made by S. S. Miowera,
Feb. 7, 1895. Owing to fermenta-
ton, handling, etc., considerable
leakage occurred for which claim
was made through R. P. Rithet &
Co, and accepted oy ]. B. Castle.
Net subject to informer's claim was
$2, 246.4o
Minister Damon said that with
regard to the questions of Represen-
tative Richards In connection with
the steamer Lehua, he would be
unable to make reply before Mon
day morning. Bills against the
steamer had been advertised for.
Representative Cluney desired to
make a statement to give his rea-
sons for questioning the Minister.
Archie Gilfllan before and after he
held the position Of Deputy Port
Surveyor had told him that he had
sat up nights watching for opium.
He had captured seven hundred
tins of opium and all he got was
$I.7o. If this was the way that
men were to be paid he thought
that they were liable to put their
hands behind their backs and take
brides,