The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-02-18
Correspondence Of the Commercial Adyertiser.)
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 8,

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 8, 1858.
DEAR SIR:-Sincet the sailing of the POLYNESIA for
your port we have ushered the old year out and well
coined the new year in. New Years. Day was cele-
brated in various ways by our mixed population. The
time-honored custom among New Workers of calling
on friends was generally observed here with perhaps
less enthusiasm than has been displayed in former
years.
The entire town of Downieville was destroyed by
fire on that day, resulting in serious loss to the in
habitants, say $780, 900. An explosion of 100 kegs
powder took place, but. fortunately, no lives were lost.
The Inauguration of Governor Weller takes place at
Sacramento City to-day, and our politicians have
been for several days on the qui rire arranging their
wardrobes and ''disguising themselves as gentlemen"
by sundry modes preparatory to preferring their
claims for favor from their chief. The way this State
will get raked down this year will be a warning to
honest aspirants for political fame. A cute Yankee
here hit upon a plan to make a clever sum out of the
Governor before he took his chair, and, moreover, in
an honest way. He chartered the steamer Sea Bird
(well known to your readers) for a trip to Sacra-
mento, having first secured the august parsonage
aforesaid, whom he invited to take passage. Ofcourse
when the fact was public that their dear friend was a
patron of the said boat, all the political vultures
rushed to secure tickets on the same, thereby allow
ing the charterer to realise a snug profit.
An usury law will be passed by the Legislature, it
is thought, this winter. The Governor advocates it
and the farmers and miners are all in favsr of it.
Older States who live under a like provision have
failed ID make it operative, and it can be Of but little
utility in this.
1t is rumored the banking house OF Sather & Church
will soon resume with a good capital. The honorable
course pursued by these gentlemen entities them to
the highest respect and confidence of the public.
From our last advices from the Atlantic States | CLEAN
that our government intends to make this State the
base of operations against Brigham Young. If this
is the case we shall have brisk times here for o while
at least. 1 doubt not many volunteers can be raised
in this State to assist in reducing Brigham to one
wife. When Uncle Sam and a few of our Texan
rangers commence circulating about in Mormondom.
if mistake not, there will be several families break
ing up housekeeping. Our members from Pike say
g dog-dern the traitor he must weaken, and we kin
make him."
No arrivals from China in the last fortnight.
Sugars are quite firm; No. / China, 124c. Sandwich
Islands, III % 12c. San Francisco refinery, crushed,
15c. Sandwich Island syrup, 40 % 45c. Rice mar
ket dull. but holders of No. l China are demanding
&c. Some lots of recleaned Siam nave been selling at
being adequate to the demand. Trade in general
quite dull and monetary affairs very stringent. In
terest ruling at 81 "a 8 per cent. per month, and in
some instances higher rates have been submitted to.
Of bullion have materially decreased and
we expect to see money matters easier soon.
Aloha. SYpHAx.