The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-06-30
CONTINUED from LIST poae.)

Sandwich Islands. Tho Hawaiian
group stapds about midway ia the
Pacific between the American CONT
nenL and the great markets Of the
East-China, Japan, aud Australia,
1t would have been most useful TO
Great Britain from a military as
we'll as commercial point of view.
Certainly its trade and wealth are
constantly Increasing,
During 1896, the export of sugar
was 19S,022 tons (of 2240lb), against
$4,000 tons in 1895 and 1898 tons
in 1894. This great increase of Co.
422 tons in the sugar yield is ascrib'
able to the larger area under crop
to scientific fertilising and modern
methods OF cultivation, combined
with the use OF the most approved
modern machinery in the manu-
facture Of cane into sugar, The
business has also been helped by
the instruction in Cuba, which has
kept up the price of sugar in the
American market to 3sc. per pound.
zone new sugar plantation, the
Oahu Sugar Company, capital ST.
100000, was successfully 1oated,"
the Consul tells us, Edwards the
end OF 1896, the capital being fur
nished by local aud German capital.
lists" The national Budget is quite
satisfactory; for its shows that while
the revenue is rising the expenditure
is falling. The receipts Of the Gov
eminent for 1896 amounted to
f407,409 Gas against f358,971 in
1885 aud the expenditure to $780,
739 Gas against f4l4,379 in 1880.
The National Debt has increased by
f23774 in the last twelve months,
but it lie still only fS00,l69. An uu-
successful attempt was made during
the year 10 convert these six per
cent. bonds into four per cents.
The islands appear to TEEN with
possibilities of money making. The
sugar, coffee, banana and rice trades
are obviously capable Of consider
able development. A railway is
badly wanted to run from the sugar
plantation district, 80 miles in
length on the windward side OF the
Island OF Hawaii, to Hilo, the port
on the other side. For want OF this
railway the sugar has to be shipped
on the small coasting steamers at
various stormy landing. places, and
afterwards transhipped at Honolulu
All "the sugar plantations pay
splendid dividends" to quote the
reports; but no capitalist has come
forward to make the railway. Then
a cable is wanted between the ISL
auds in the group, and Govern
ment concession was obtained but
the enterprise somehow fell through
There are only two local private
banks in Honolulu aud branch OF
the Yokohama Specie Bank-a Japa-
neso concern. Yet the rate OF inter
est on bank overdraits ranges from
8 per cent. to 10 per cent, and
money is lent on real estate mort.
gage at from Z per cent. to II per
cent The climate is known to be
one OF the most charming in the
world, but white skilled labour is
very we'll paid. Thus engineers and
ar-boilers get from f25 to f35 a
month, blacksmiths and carpenters
from fl0 to EGO a month, head
overseers from EGO to $50 a month,
and bookkeepers from EGO to ESQ q
month, house and frewood being
provided in every case. 1t is hardly
necessary 10 add that Honolulu is
lighted by electricity, and that the
importation OF bicycles is increasing.
This Pacific Paradise appears to
be threatened with racial troubles.
1t is a melancholy fact that the
pure, bred Hawaiians are declining
in numbe RS, and last year they de-
creased by 34l7 Out of a total
population of 10000 there are
only Hl0lQ nnra HAMaiians: while