The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-05-28
THURSDAY MAY %.

THURSDAY MAY %.
The heat, dust and monotony of our tropit
summers have fairly set in, and threaten us with
a term of q~uietness hardly equaled by that of any
former year. The whalers have taken their last
barrel of provisions and shipped their last man
for the spring season and are now in their har.
vest field, filling their capaciOus hulls transient
merchantmen shun the port as though it were IN
fected with the plague and our coasters idly lie
in port calking their decks, hardly caring if the
pitch does not dry for a fortnight under the
scorching sun. or if at sea their spankers saucily
flap under the lee of Waianae, Molokai or Lanai.
while the breeze that ruffles the sea around the
point remains provokingly distant, and will not
heed the cooling whistle of the helmsman.
Were it not for these almost intolerable doldrum
spells at sea, the idle denizens of our city would
lay their plans to spend at least a month in learn
ing, on the highlands of Hawaii, the skill of the
caguero, or in measuring the rise and fall of the
lava lake at Kilauea, or in strolling over and en-
loving the cool retreats of Makawao or Halea-
kala, on Maui, or Hanalei and Wailua on Kauai.
The mere rumor that an inter-island steamer
enterprise is on foot, comes like a cool gust of air
to the would-be traveller. Now in the hot sum-
mer months is the right time to talk of and COM
mence such an enterprise if we are to have one.
1t was no doubt a due sense of the oppressiyeness
of the weather and the wants of the people that
led a gentleman the other day to pledge $25OO
towards the introduction of a steamer. And a
score besides will be found to stand with him
(provided the present weather continues). The
want of a steamer keeps hundreds at home who
have never been twenty miles from Honolulu, but
who might then see and enjoy the unrivaled
views of nature which exist on the other islands
Of this group. A good steamer would draw more
visitors from abroad, and as travel would increase
thereby a hundred fold among the islands, so
would trade necessarily increase, and every coaster
would receive the benefit of the impetus. But
not having a steamer at Land, the crowd settle
down to the same dull IyItine of life which has
always been their lot, except where here and
there one musters up courage to brave the hor-
rors of a week at sea.
Yet, Notwithstanding the general dullness, it is
pleasant to notice the improvements and changes
going on in various parts of the town, which
show at least that there is some prosperity in the
place. New stores are being erected or old ones
remoddled on almost every corner, while a num-
Der of dwellings have recently been erected. Yet
with all these Improvements, rents continue high.
A correspondent in another column calls attention
TO this matter of high rents, and now that people
have little else to do than count up the cost of
living, it is well enough to inquire why rents are
so high. Good dwellings command from $500 to
$500 per annum, while it is almost impossible to
find a desirable dwelling for a mechanic at the
same rates as in other cities. The rate of rent is
usually based on the cost of the dwelling premises.
Many of the dwellings in Honolulu were erected
ut the time of the California gold fever, when
and labor were much higher than at pres
ant. Buildings are erected now at much less cost
Fhan five years ago, and the rate of rent ought to
joe based on the present cost. Yet no theories can
rents. The public wants are the only
regulator. IF a house or store has a desirable To-
cation, it will always rent for more than one with
q less desirable site, though the former may have
cost the least sum.
Speaking Of dwellings reminds us of the trees
about the residences in town, which never looked
more beautiful. All kinds of trees and plants,
especially the algeroba, tutui, and prideo of India,
have grown more, owing to the abundant rains,
during the past three months than during the
previous fifteen. Many Of the lookouts which
two or three years ago were much frequented, are
now entirely useless, the trees having stretched
up SO much and shut off the sea view. The
algeroba is che of the most valuable trees we have
making a cool shade and growing with great
rapidity, even in a dry locality. We hope to see
more of these trees planted in every part of the
town, as well as on the other islands. Those
having algeroba seeds will do well to take care of
them, as they are not abundant. At the rate
that trees have been planted in town for the past
few years, Honolulu will be a /" forest city,
twenty years hence. Even now some of the
dwelling enclosures resemble a tropical forest. 1t
is truly refreshing in a hot day to walk through
such premises as those of Capt. Snow, Mr.. Mont
gomery or the Palace. The introduction of the
valley water has done much to give a charm to
our town. Its value can be estimated only by
cutting off the supply for a week or month.
Presentation OF a Bible.
On Tuesday morning last, May 26, His Majesty
--~@.-z A. L Il. -