SANDWICH ISLANDS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 302, 21 June 1848, Page 4

SANDWICH ISLANDS.

The following interesting account of "a History of the Hawaiian or Sandwich Islands," is extracted from the Sydney Morning Herald. " The History," of which it is a brief epitome, is written and printed on the spot,and is described by our contemporary, in point of literary merit as well as typographical execution, to be worthy of London or Paris. The harbours in the Sandwich Islands are the chief resort of the American whalers in these seas, no less than 595 whalers having arrived there in the year 1846 ; — a very full account of these Islands is given in Wilkes's j Voyage of Discovery : — The first four chapters consist of legendary and descriptive matters. The author pourtrays the geographical and natural features j and productions of the country, the traditions of the inhabitants, and their manners in their heathen condition. This portion of the work will be instructive enough to the ordinary reader, although (perhaps necessarily) little satisfactory to the ethnologist, who must seek his information in books which more professedly treat of his peculiar study. In the sth, 6th, and 7th chapters is contained the first portion of modern Hawaiian History, extending from the discovery of the islands by Captain Cook, in 1778, to the abolition of Paganism by authority in 1840. This portion mainly consists of the visits of voyagers and the proceedings of seafaring men, the intestine wars by which the petty chiefs were brought under subjection to the dynasty now reigning, the introduction of some useful arts and of trade, and finally of the Christian religion. The second period of the history (the events of which are narrated in the Bth to the 13th chapters,) is from the arrival of the American missionaries, in 1820, until the formal recognition of the independence of the islands by Britain, France, and America, in 1843. During this period the Government had to contend with frequent domestic broils, the intrusion and bad example of foreigners, the intrigues of mercenary consuls and Jesuit missionaries, and the licentious conduct and insubordination of the lowest classes of the natives. Protestant Christianity, however, made decided progress, aud a wholesome jurisprudence was established. In the later years of this period the presumptuous interference of Laplace, Mallett, and Lord George Paulet, occurred, r which brought the whole case of the Sandwich Islands, and their injured King, to the immediate knowledge and consideration of the ruling maritime powers, and resulted in a complete re-establishment of the native authority and independence on the 28th November, 1843. Since that eventful date nothing has occured in the Hawaiian Islands tending to shake the authority of the State. The Government has been indeed annoyed by persevering attempts on the part of certain mercantile persons to force upon it hsavy pecuniary responsibilities, and to bring into contempt the administration of justice ; but these unquiet adventurers have been firmly and yet mildly treated by the Hawaiian Government, and their machinations discountenanced by their own superiors. Treaties and amicable relations have been entered into with France and England, the United States and Denmark. The business of the State offices and of the Courts of Law have settled into system and regular train. " Relying for support upon a correct public sentiment, and desirous of making their views known to the world, and justifying themselves against the prolific charges of their enemies, the Government, in July, 1844, established the Polynesian newspaper as its public, organ. In its columns will be found discussed their views, and a full relation of the exciting topics of the day. No surer index of the safety of the nation and its advancing civilization exists, than the fact, that the press has become equally the weapon of the opposing parties, and both rely upon its use in- maintaining their positions or enforcing their views. By its means the terrors of warlike threats, formerly so freely bandied,

have lost their meaning, and public officers as well as public acts, have become equally as amenable to the bar of public opinion in Honolulu as in London or Washington/ The 20th May, 1845, witnessed for the first time in Hawaiian annals the regular opening of the Legislative Chambers, by the King in person. The first volume of Statute Laws was issued in 1846. The Executive Government is at present constructed as follows :—: — H. M. King Kamehameha 111. His Highness Keone Ana, Premier and Minister of the Interior. R. C. Wyllie, Minister Foreign Affairs. G. P. Judd, Minister Finance. William Richards, Minister Instruction. John Ricord, Attorney-General. The above form the Cabinet, — besides these there are the following Nobles :—: — The Premier, Keone Ana Four Judges of Supreme Court , Chamberlain Governor of Oahu Governor of Hawaii Guardian of Young Chiefs Governor of Maui And ten others. "In no one respect have the Government shown more laudable zeal than in educating the young chiefs, who by birth are destined to fill important posts. For the purpose of bestowing upon them a solid and practical education in the English language, embracing not only the usual studies pursued in the better class of seminaries in the United States, but to engraft in their minds the habits, thoughts, moral and domestic education which children of their age and circumstances receive in civilized countries, in 1839 they were taken from their native parents and out of the sphere of mere Hawaiian influences, and incorporated into a boarding school under the charge of Mr. and Mrs. Cooke, teachers of the American mission. During the seven years the school has been established, their progress has been rapid, and they are now versed in the common branches of an English education, besides being practically acquainted with the tastes, household economy, and habits of refined domestic life. The annual expense of the school is now about 5000 dollars. The number of scholars fifteen." In 1843, there arrived at Honolulu and Lahaina, 366 ships ; in 1844, 553 ; in 1845, 595 ; and in 1846, 674, of which 595 were whalers, 62 merchantmen, and 17 men-of-war. The imports and exports at Honolulu custom house have been rapidly increasing since the declaration of independence; and in 1846 the former were 598,382 dollars, the latter 763,950 dollars. The imports are very various ; the exports chiefly sugar, molasses, bullock hides, goatskins, arrowroot, coffee, salt, and ships' supplies. The tonnage of Hawaii consisted in 1 846 of 29 vessels, 1585 tons, valued at 73,000 dollars. The revenue in 1846, 127,855 dollars; and the expenditure 115,571. In 1842, the debts of the Government amounted to 160,000 dollars, now all paid off, with 24,618 dollars at credit. The state of crime is indicated by the following figures : — Convictions in 1847, for offences of lewdness 806 Theft 211 Gambling 57 Fighting and brawling 48 Drunkenness 43 Sabbath-breaking 39 Blasphemy and idolatry 9 The number of pupils in organised schools is 18,644. Expense of sustaining the common schools 40,000 dollars annually. The entire native population are reckoned under 100,000.