The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-12-23
VOICES orr THE WEEK.

canes and storms which visit with devastation DOT"
The East and West Indies, and it is only once IN sew
eral years that we have what nay be caiied Ut
structiye storm. One of these. however, occuried gu
Thursday and Friday last. which, IN the extent "
damage done, has not been equaiied for many years.
In 1851 or 2 n severe rain storm occurred IN TINS
pe;ubborhool causing much damage, and Ola resi-
dents say that in 1847 another occurred with "iicn
alone this last can be compared. On THURSDAY eve
ming. the 18th, soon after shutdown, the CLOUDS mick
ened mn in the west, accompanied by lghtning anu
rain. The wind was very moderate, ana the suarP
flashes of lightning indicated that the cool trace WIN
currents had come in contact with the warm sou'"
wind. which had been prevailing for some days. rom
twelve o'clock midnight till three O'Clock IN tne
nor,;no we're witnessed some of the most majestic
displays of the elements ever seen. The heavens ap-
peared lighted up with one continuous fame' SO m"cn
40 that a person could easily read. we nave never
seen the lightning fash so continuously for so long a
neriod. It was not till morning, however, that the
rain commenced to fall in any unusual quantities. Du-
ing the forenoon, for three hours, 1t poured down IN
torrents as though the heavens were a mass OF wafer.
Rv noon all the streams were flooded, and plains
deluoed. while the water flowed through the streets
in town in torrents, in many places two feet deep.
Nuuanu Valley, from the prison up to the Drldge
above Macfarlane's, was so completely flooded that
canoes alone afforded means of communication. Most
| of the dwellings Of foreigners and natives In that su-
burb were submerged, the water rising from one 10
two feet on the first floors. Montgomery's bridge, as
well as the lower stone bridge in Nuuanu. and vari-
Gus others about town, were carried away. Inc gov
eminent water pipes crossing the Nuuanu bridge
were also destroyed, and for a couple of days the town
had its supply of water cut of. The extent of the
ano1 n,,y b, host ;,1,A1 of bv the fact that Nuuanu
street from the lower bridge to Macfarlane's. was COM
pletely overfowed, as well az most of the dwellings
along it., and the damage done was considerable. 1t
is fortunate that the flood occurred during the day
time, else many lives would doubtless have been lost.
As it was, the loss, excepting a death by lightning
noted in another place, is confined to the destruction
of bridges, fences, dwellings,, cattle, horses, and a
large number of taro patches and contents washed
away. Some 5000 lbs. of bread and several tons OF
-four stored in the bakery of the Messrs. Love IN
Nnuanu street. were more or less damaged by the
water. The total losses from the flood cannot have
been less than so 900, and from that to S2o,OOO.
The loss from bridges alone is set down by the Minis
ter Ct the Interior at $1,000. We hope it may be
many years before we are called to record another
such n storm. -
APporxrxESr-It has pleased His Majesty to cause Letters
Patent to be issued, constituting Charles R, Bishop, Esquire: an
Honorary Member Of the Privy Council of state.-Potynes'dn
Perhaps no appointment y sIuCe lHc ooS
of His Majesty to.the throne has met with more gen.
eral satisfaction Vthan the above. The office is not
one of great responsibility, but rs indicative of a
change to q more liberal and conservative policy, II is
an important one. 1t is by calling around the execu-
tive as State councillors such men as CHARLES r.
BIsuop-men of high, moral integrity, ardently de-
voted TO the native as well as the foreign interest, and
who possess the fullest public confdence-that the
Hawaiian Government may succeed in restoring and
elevating its credit and standing, which have been
on the wane for the past two or three years. Mr.. b.
is known throughout the group as n man Of sound
Judgment, uncompromising integrity and undouhtei
loyalty to the true interests of the kingdom and his
appointment cannot fail to command increased
respect for the Government from many whose conf
dcnce in it had heretofore been shaken.
PROPOSED TAxATIoN.-By reference to the report
of proceedings in the House of Representatives, it
will be seen that the Minister of the Interior recon
mends LAYING a tax on the inhabitants of the Kona or
Honolulu district, in order to raise funds TO rebuild
the bridges destroyed by the late freshet. 1t is stated
by the Minister, in his communication to the House
that the funds in the Treasury are not more than
adequate to meet the necessary expenses of the gov
ernment, hence the call for a special tax. 1t is but
fair that the residents of Honolulu district should
contribute towards their own roads and bridges, and
We doubt not in this instance il viii be done cheer
fully. The Minister, We learn. does not take the re-
sponsibility of recommending the kind of tax which
ought to be imposed. but we presume the House will
not hesitate in declaring for a property tax.
Miss CAROLINE IScE's BENErIr-It will be seen by
advertisement in another column that Miss Caroline
Ince will take a benefit at the Royal Hawaiian Thea
ter on Saturday, christina. night.) under the pa
tronage of Capt. Montresor and the Officers of II. B
Ms. Ship Calypso. This young lady is favorably
known to the Theater- going public, as an accom-
plished vocalist, and we hope she will receive, rs she
fully deserves, a crowded house. The play selected
for the occasion is Rob Roy, and will, we hear, bt
gotten up with unusual care and expense.
THE BARK GLIMpsE.-This fine vessel, under com.
mand of Capt. S. L.. Dayton, is, We learn, to run as
a regular packet between Honolulu and San Fran
cisco. Although perhaps rather larger than required
for the trade, she runs at comparatively small ex-
pense. Her accommodations, both for Storage anu
cabin passengers, are superior; and if we are to judg,
of her sailing qualities from her trips already made
between the two ports, she is destined to give the full
est satisfaction. She takes a far amount OF freight
aud some fifteen or twenty passengers, and sails pos
itively ON Saturday next.
KILLED by LIGHrSING.-It is seldom that death:
occur on these islsnds from lightning. During tn,
storm on Thursday night, a native woman was killed
by n stroke of lightning on Waikiki Plains, near tn,
residence of Mr.. Jackson. At the time of the acct
dent, she was crossing the yard between two houses
distant about a hundred feet apart. The only trac,
left on her person by the lightning was a mark or
her breast, very similar to what would have beer
made by a fash of powder. The fluid probably STRUCK
her on that spot and passed through her body to the
ground. -
A New CoAsTER.-Captain Rikeke. the e~nterpris
ing master and owner of the schooner John Young
became the purchaser at auction, last Saturday, Of
the schooner Isabel, lately from Callao for 1,42s
dnllars The LnheI il - TONS rerisfer we'll huilt n