the Islands according to the census of 1890 was
89,991, or in round numbers 90,000. A census of the population has just
been taken, but the results cannot be exactly known for some months. An
estimate recently made based upon the knowledge of general increase from
various sources gives the population as follows:

Hawaiians 35,000
Part Hawaiians 10,000
Chinese 15,000
Japanese 24,000
Portuguese 9,000
American and European 14,000
-------
Total 107,000

Since the census returns began to come in, it is very evident that this
estimate will be exceeded by some 2,000, making the total population
109,000. The increase will probably be found among Japanese and
Portuguese. The population of Honolulu is 29,920, or practically 30,000.

SHIPPING.

The vessels flying the Hawaiian flag number 52, aggregating 21,678 tons.
They are divided as follows:

23 steamers, aggregating 9,575 tons
5 barks, " 4,198 "
3 ships, " 6,272 "
21 schooners and sloops, aggregating 1,623 "

Of these vessels 13 are employed in foreign trade and 39 in trade
between the Islands.

FINANCES.

Mention has been made of the taxes of this country. A few words will be
to the point upon the financial condition of the government.

The direct taxes yielded, in 1895, $592,691.92. The Customs revenue was
$547,149.04 and licenses, &c., produced $600,224.23, in all
$1,740,065.19.

The current expenditures are kept within the current income. Great
public improvements are provided for by loan. This is what every growing
country has to do. The public debt of the country on January 1, 1896,
was $3,764,335. With a population of 109,000, this gives about $34 per
head of the population. The Hawaiian Government finds no difficulty in
obtaining means for internal improvements, and a scheme is now on foot
to reduce the interest and consolidate the public debt.

The exports in 1895 amounted to $8,474,138.15 and the imports to
$5,339,785.04. This certainly shows well for a country whose total
population is exceeded by dozens of cities. Of the exports $7,975,590.41
were accredited to sugar, $22,823.68 to coffee, $102,599.25 to bananas
and $8,783.84 to pineapples. These three latter items are elastic and
the showing of 1896 will give a very large in