The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-07-23
NOTES OF THE WEEK.

NOTES OF THE WEEK.
THE eGRIp."-Such a week as the past, visits
Honolulu only once in several years. The epidemic,
which is only the influenza, toith variations, has Wis
tied nearly every house Stores have been closed,
auctions postponed and a stiffness pervades the town
as though each week day were a Sabbath. Those
who were attacked with the influenza epidemic which
prevailed throughout the United States in the sum-
mer of the year 1843 (f We remember aright) and
which was called the ''Tyler grip say that the
complaint is in every respect the same, commencing
with a fever which lasts twelve to twenty-feur hours
and ending with the influenza cold more or less severe
and tenacious, according to the temperament of the
patient: The influenza rarely holds on over a week,
and will doubtless soon exhaust itself. Among the
natives, we learn, that the epidemic has prevailed as
generally as among foreigners, and we judge that
fully three-fourths of the population about Honolulu
have been attacked with it. We heard of several
deaths among natives attributed to the influenza, but
cannot trace them to any foundation. We doubt
whether it has been the cause Of death in any in
stance. =
DEATH OF JOHN YouNG.-The old chiefs of Hawaii
have been rapidly following each other to the grave,
till their number is now covered by a unit. But a
remnant of that noble stock which was the pride of
the ancient Hawaiians, now remains. The death Of
His Ex. John Young was sudden, but not unexpected.
His health had long been debilitated from the too free
use of spirituous drinks, which had rendered him in
capacitated for business duties, though his death was
probably FASTENED by the influenza. His failing was
one which is too common even now among his COM
peers, and which must inevitably result in the
extinction Of the ancient line of aiiis, unless checked.
Mr.. Young was born on Hawaii, March 18th, 1910.
His father, John Young, was an Englishman, and
the friend and companion of Kamehameha the Great.
The first office Of importance which the late Mr..
Young held, was, we believe, that of Governor of
Maui, which he held till his appointment as premier,
soon after the death of Kekauluohi. In 1916, he was
appointed Minister of the Interior, which Office he
held till within a few weeks of his death. He was a
bosom friend and companion of the late king, whose
entire confidence he possessed. He was noted among
foreigners for his frank and unassuming character
in all his transactions with them.
From OnEGoX.-By the courtesy of H. c. Leon
ard. ESQ, we have received files of Portland papers
per Metropolis up TO June -. Nothing of interest
is noticed in Oregon. The markets will be found re-
ported elsewhere. From Puget Sound dates had been
received to June 10. Indian skirmishes and murders
still continued, causing uneasiuess among the foreign
settlers. The British Commissioner appointed to sur
vey the boundary between the British and American
Territories had arrived at Fort Victoria, and the work
of surveying would commence as soon as the arrival
of the American Commissioner, who was expected
there in the steamer .4ctiUe from San Francisco about
June %. The indefniteness in regard to the bound
airy line through the sound has caused some annoy
ance OF late 10 the American and British customs
officers, and there is a prospect now that the matter
will be settled. -
The WATER SUPPLY.-Notice is given in the last
PoLynesian, over the signature of the Harbor Mas
ter, that the supply of water from the reservoir will
after August 1st be shut off during certain hours.
What hours are intended is not notified, but we know
of no time in the day except perhaps from 3, P. NJ,
till shutdown, when the supply can be shu, off with
out ~incommoding very much the wants of the town.
But this cutting off the supply is not the thing.
Each applicant pays $25 to receive his water when
ever he wants it. Shall two hundred families be in
convenienced because n dozen fountains have been
put up? 1t appears unjust. The remedy is to tax
the fountains. They are put up as ornaments and MS
such the owners are supposed to be able and ought
to be willing to pay extra for them. The present
system of water rates is not the proper one. A bet
ter system would be to charge, say SO for the first
stopcock, attached in any house, and FIVE dollars
for each additional one wanted. \ fountain to pay
ten 10 twenty uOlElrS ouusilOnal per dnIuln. II
should be unlawful to attach n stop-cock even on
ones premises without authority. While the sup
ply of water is sufficient each would draw what he
pays for. -
kUKUI On.-It is with pleasure we call attention
to the letter published in our advertising columns,
giving the opinion of a most competent chemist in
Hamburg, on a sample of oil submitted to him for
analysis. If, as is believed, this oil will prove equal
TO linseed oil for mixing paints, it's manufacture will
increase, and must prove profitable.
- We learn that few whs}cships have touched
for the past year or two at the Marquesas ports owing
to the exhorbitant charges of the foreigners resident
there, for the supplies which they furnish to vessels.
The only whaleships that have touched there for the
past twelve months are one or two which went from
Honolulu. Sperm whalers seldom go in there.
WATER AT LAHAINA.-The inactivity of the gov
eminent in laying the pipes. for which an appropria-
ton was made by the last Legislature, to bring the
water down into the town, has encouraged the Gov
ernor of Maui to thoroughly repair the old reservoir
in Lahaina. The outlay will be considerable, but he
is determined that ships can obtain the best of water
there, and at as short notice as at any of our ports.
tOUR ISLAND NEIGHBoRs.' w hope every one
of our readers viii peruse the article with this head
ing on our first page. 1t is from the pen Of one of