SANDWICH ISLANDS.

Wellington Independent, Volume VI, Issue 506, 17 August 1850, Page 3

SANDWICH ISLANDS.

Thk Honolulu Journals (which come down to Ist of June,) contain further evidence of that quiet but steady prosperity in the interesting little Hawaiian kingdom which we noticed with gratification, when the papers brought by the Shamrock reached us. The Committee to take steps for the promotion of agricultural operations, appointed at the public meeting of which some account appeared in the .Yew Zeulander of the 29th of June, was? actively performing its duties. An ad- ' dress had been issued inviting general I co-operation in the object, and specifying the plans in contemplation. En addition i to the importation and circulation of j standard works ou the subject, the estab- j lishment of a local periodical devoted to : agricultural operations, and the introduction of new fruits, vegetables, &c, (to : which we before adverted,) it was proposed to adopt means for improving the breed of cattle, sheep, poultry, &c, and it! was intended to open a warehouse for the | collection and sale of such agricultural implements and machinery as are best adapted to the country—the warehouse to serve also for the sale of the products of plantations and farms the owners of which have not agents at Honolulu. The introductiou of Coolie labourers from China, to supply the place of the rapidly decreasing native population, was also 1 under consideration. It had been resolved to hold a meetiug at Honolulu for the purpose of formally organizing the society, on the 12th of this month, (Aug.,) at which planters from the other islands were expected to attend. Specimens of the various products of the islands such as sugar, coffee, potatoes, indigo, arrowroot, &c, and animals of superior breed were to be sent there for exhibition, and, if the owners should wish it, for public sale. The Hon. Judge Lee had engaged to deliver an address on the occasion. The project seemed to be generally taken up with spirit, and at Lahaina an agricultural meeting had been held, at which resolutions in support ol it were cordially adopted, and delegates to the meeting were appointed.

The town of Honolulu exhibited various tokens of prosperity. Building was going forward rapidly in all quarters, and many of the natives were substituting wooden houses for their small aud Jeaky thatched huts. This they were stimulated to do not only by the additional comfort they might thus secure, but also by the cheapness of timber, and the increasing expeiisiveuess of the native material aud of the labour of thatching. The harbour was unprecedently full of vessels and those, not as in former years, principally whalers, but " almost entirely merchantmen, coming from all parts of the world, entering with spiritinto competition for the Islands' market." The Polynesian reasonably argues that these are the vessels from which most advantage to the agricultural interest may be anticipated, as while whaling ships only required articles for actual consumption on board, merchant-ships were taking them in increased quantities as exports. Our contemporary takes the occasion to suggest, that it is time to withdraw from whalers, the privileges which they now enjoy, (such as exemption from pilotage and harbour dues, and permission to land goods up to a certain value free of duty,) aud to place them on the same footing with other ships. It also urges—-as im-

perutively called for by the increase of commerce, —the immediate construction of now and adequate wharves. The Government was engaged in'the undertaking of bringing pure water from "The King's Spring" into lionoluh,—u benefit not only t) the residents, but to the vessels calling at the Port, which cannot be over estimated. As there is no Insurance oifioe in the town, it was suggested that something of the kind might be connect jd with the management of this plan. Tiu hint was taken fro in a. proposal made in the New York Council to confl-r the power of effecting insurances on the Crotou Aqueduct sshems which it was expected would, if it were worked successfully, carry the Crotoix water free to every inhabitant of the city.

Loud complaints were made of the vexation and trouble caused by the circtir laliou of coin at uure than its real vulu.«, —five franc pieces passing for dollars, and English shillings and other " short coins,"' for full quarters. The only wav iv which the Polynesian thinks that the government could reg ilate the matter WDtild be to establish a mint, and buy up all such coin at its actual value by weight, and then coin it over agaiu.