The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-08-13
NOTES OF THE WEEK.

The sugar mills, harvesting and ~threshing were stop
ped for want of laborers. At Lahainaluna the semi
nary was closed for a few days, most of the students
being i'll. From Hawaii we hear that it was spread
ing and is now probably at it's height. We shall
soon hear nothing more about it for this season at
least -
The NEW PRIsoS-is at length, after much delay,
completed and ready for occupancy. As a public
work it reflects credit On its architect ard superin-
tendant r. A.. S. Wood, Esq. The site selected for it
Isl rocky promontory, n quarter Of a mile north Of the
custom house. Although the site chosen was objected
to as being too remote from the center of the town,
yet time will show the selection TO have been judi
cious. The prison edifce consists Of a central dwell
ing, fitted with every convenience for the oyerseer and
guards. To this building are two wings, of two sto-
ries, occupied by cells, each wing containing thirty
two, making ~siIty-four in all. These cells are about
five by seven feet fitted for swinging two harnmocks,
and are well ventilated. The doors are Of hard three
inch plank; but these will probably at some future
day be replaced by iron doors. The prison is go con-
structed that q sentinel standing in the hall of the
main building can see the door Of every cell, and of
course more readily detect anything wrong. In the
yard is q substantial cook house, sentries' lodges and
other conveniences, not excepting a full supply of the
valley water. The whole is enclosed by a wall twelve
feet in height. All the buildings, as well as the en-
closing wall, are built of coral stone. laid up with
solid masonry, under the superintendent of Mr..
Geo. Thomas, whose name is a guarantee that the
work is well done. The free ventilation the building
has from the valley breeze, must add to its healthi-
ness. In short, the whole structure, in its design and
execution, is a credit to the government, and gives us
a penitentiary rarely surpassed in the most civilized
countries. 1t will well repay a visit from any of our
..--. nj -. Il ~ N
coo. We understand the removal of the prisoners to
it will take place next week, when the work of de-
m~olishing the old fort will be hurried forward.
The EARTHQUAKE on HAwAL-Our letters by the
Lihoiiho came TO hand too late for insertion in our
last issue. The shock it seems, was one of the most
severe that has been felt there for years. We will
make an inquiry or two which some of our Hilo
friends can answer perhaps. Are any special changes
observed to follow these severe shocks, in the crater
of Kilauea, or do new eruptions take place after very
severe earthquakes; Are any meteorological changes
observed which can be attributed to the earthquakes.
In regard to the shock on the Both of July, Mr.. WIN.
F. Conway writes ga few minutes past one O'Clock
this morning, the people of Hilo and of the surround
ing districts were suddenly aroused from their usual
ly quiet slumber by a very heavy quake of the earth
which lasted for several seconds and was felt more
severely than any we have had on this side Of the
island for a number of years past during my resi-
dence on the island of nearly five years, l have not
experienced its equal. No damage however was done
though it created a little fright to those who had not
previously experienced the effects of a heavy shock.
The undulation of the earth was from west to east.
You can tell our n~eighbors on the other islands not to
feel alarmed for our safety; for We say here. as school
boys say when skating on the ice, all's right so long
as she cracks" -
The CocHIyEAL INsECT.-The item published in
our last issue in regard to this valuable insect, has
induced one of our oldest residents to send US the
following facts, which will be read with interest
About twenty years since. these islands were visited
by Il scientific gentleman, who had Travelled extensive
ly through Mexico and other countries, and examined
very closely whatever those CO .ntries contained
werthy of his attention. While on Hawaii lie examined
the different species of cactus which thrive SO well in
some portions of that Island, and was of the opinion
that the cochineal insect might be introduced there,
to a limited extent. The proper species of cactus was
at that time abundant in the vicinity of Kailua, in
Kona. But as the cochineal insect will not thrive
when exposed to rain or in a humid climate, he
deemed it doubtful if any attempt to introduce the
insect here would prove profitable, or practicable to
any extent. Hence, though the cactus can be raised
here abundantly, it is very questionable whether the
insect will thrive.
Our informant adds: "I have in my possession,
(though mislaid for the moment,) q paper on this
subject, written by the gentleman alluded to above,
containing the result of his observations and inquiries
while in Mexico, as also definite information in
relation to the cactus and cochineal insect, their
varieties and where the latter might at that time be
most easily Obtained The facts alluded to in this
rco cr,o~., rcox ~ 80 aa,o,<:I loooSk =. ,oc1;.-
fair trial of the experiment of introducing the above
insect, and we hope our informant will be able to
discover the per.
The MOUNTAIN ROAD, MAUI.-Who that has ever
travelled this famous road between Lahaina and
Wailuku, has not been reminded of the Sc isthmus''
or the overland route across the mountains
Though not quite equal to either of the latter, it used
to. have some "awful holes.' But we are much
pleased to learn that this road, or u part of it, has
been put in comparative good travelling condition by
F. A. Oudinot, Esq, the active road Supervisor Of
the Lahaina district. And the more credit. we I'M
derstand, is due this efficient officer, in that he has
done the work with the native tax labor only, with
out a dollar from the treasury. The Marshal"
as he is familiarity known, has shown himself inbued
with the same spirit to surmount obstacles, that his
distinguished uncle marshal Oudinot'' displayed
while under Napoleon. May he ever succeed, wheth-
er engaged in mending the ways of the public or his
extensive agricultural operations.
A VETERAN GONE TO HIS REsT.-We learn by an
arrival yesterday from Lahaina of the decease on
Sunday afternoon last of old Mr.. White, who was ia
miliarly known as :" Jack White" He was, we be-
lieve, the oldest foreign resident on the Islands, hav-
ing landed at Lahaina in 1797-sixty years $50
He must have been near ninety years of age. Ehere
are but few of the old stock left ; few who cam II rs
Of the good old days of Old Tammy, when things we're
better managed then now few who ca6K16k - OF
the battles that they had seen or the hat
civilization has hastened on, and which tx<swIu
scarce admit have been for the improvement 81 &c
natives, at least SO far as industry and honen1v arp
concerned. They are 50 passing away and 3