The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-10-14
NOTE OF THE WEEK.

A DRIFT LoG.-Capt. Zenas Bent of the .9dpance,
informs us that he recently visited Christmas Island,
the scene of so many shipwrecks. On the north side
he found a huge stick of California redwood, seventy
or eighty feet long and about four feet in diameter at
the butt. 1t had evidently been q long time in the
water and was thoroughly honeycombed by the
worms. Its presence on that solitary mid-ocean
island can only be accounted for by the superstition
that there is q powerful southwest current constantly
setting across the North Pacific Ocean. The bark
J. C. Fremont. which was wrecked at Christmas
Island in 1856, had no redwood on board. Capt.
Bent also states that the west end of the island is
laid down on the chart some thirty miles too far to
the eastward, and that the island itself is about thirty
miles longer than represented, as according to his
estimate it is sixty miles from the east to the west
end. The sun has for years been making salt in the
lagoon, and whole ship loads of beautiful crystals
could be obtained without trouble.
The CorFEE BLIaHT.--We regret to learn that the
coffee blight has again made its appearance in Kona,
Hawaii, and that the crop this year will fall below
the small yield of 1857. On the plantation of Mr..
Charles Hall, at Kainaliu, where 25 200 pounds
would be a fair yield, there will hardly enough be
gathered to pay for cleaning. Numbers of fine
orange trees have also suffered from the blight. The
plague often appears to be confined to particular
localities. some spots having been visited by it each
year since 1856, while others have escaped altogether.
1t is a pity but that some means cannot be devised of
stopping the ravages of the destructive insect which
causes the blight.
REscuED.-A little boy, a son of Mr.. NJ. NJ. Web
ster, got over his depth while bathing at Smiths
bridge one day last week, and came near drowning.
He was going down for the last time,'' when q
native passing by discovered his situation and
plunged in without stopping to take off either clothes
or shoes. The little fellow was insensible when
brought out, but soon recovered. The gratitude Of
the parents toward the rescuer of their little one was
the more heartfelt, as they had but a few days before
lost a lamb from their little flock, whose death is
recorded in this paper.
The FRANCES PALMER--We notice with pleasure
that this vessel. long a favorite packet on the San
Francisco route, is throwing of her whaling gear
and undergoing a thorough renovation preparatory
to returning on to her old route. The travelling pub
lie always regretted her withdrawal and we hope
that she may soon regain her former popularity.
Since writing the above, we learn that Messrs.
Waterman and Stott have bought the bark and that
il is their intention to run her as stated above. She
will sail for San Francisco sometime in November.
THEIR MAJEsr,BL-From b. A. Nelson, Esq. who
returned in the Kekauluohi, We learn that their
Maiesties the King and Queen were enjoying good
health at Kailua, Hawaii. They will be absent some
six weeks longer.
SHERIFF OF OAHU.-John H. Brown. Esq. has
been appointed as Sheriff Of Oahu by the Marshal,
with the approval Of the Acting Governor, in place of
H. 8. Swinton, Esq, resigned.
-LX l.
II The steamer Sea Bird, formerly running
among these islands for q time. was totally destroyed
by FIRE on the 7th ult, between Fort Langley and
Vessel and cargo. valued 1t $4,000 .
total loss