The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-04-01
NOTE OF rHE WEEK.

sailed and managed with but little thought fOr COM
fort or even human life, and that it is > matter Of
surprise that 30 few accidents occur. The Ercst
left Kauai for Honolulu on the 18th OF March. ana
was from that time until the 25th wandering about
to the windward Of Oahu and Maui, when she fOrtp-
nately fell in with the brigantine Victorjd, ooundin
from Margarita Bay, which vessel gave Capt Anto-
MO . course for Oahu. It seems that on leaving
Kauai. the usual course was steered for Oahu, during
the first night and following day, but the wind blow
ing quite fresh, it was feared the vessel would fall to
leeward of Honolulu, and accordingly on the second
night out, she was tackled to windward about mid
night and continued to make short tacks during the
night The weather since she left Kauai had been
thick, and squally. The mainsail having been split,
some time was consumed in repairing it, after which
the captain continued to work to windward being
still under the impression that he was to the leeward
Of Oahu, while the vessel was really in the channel
between Kauai and Oahu. By this means the Ercei
passed to the windward of Oahu, and at the time she
was fallen in with by the whaling brig Victoria, was
some sixty miles to the northeast Of Maui. A con-
sultation had been held by those on board, and the
conclusion arrived at that it was useless to look for
the islands, there being no means on board of ascer-
tanning their position, and the vessel would soon have
been put away for the coast Of America. One cask
of water remained and one hog out of q large number
taken on board at Kauai. Other provisions they had
none, though the cargo was of sugar and on this life
might possibly have been sustained. Water would
have been the principal want. 1t has been observed
in connection with this subject that some legislation
is needed to regulate the coasting trade. Tooinsist
that each coaster shall carry, not only nautical in
s~truments, but some person qualified to use them in
case of an emergency, would be the only sure preven-
tive of such calamities as the passengers of the Excel
narrowly escaped. The number of passengers should
also, as in other countries be regulated in proportion
to the tonnage Of the vessel. The seaworthiness of
the c~oasting craft should be looked to, as we'll as their
being provided with provisions and water. In short,
we need a proper "Coasting Act among our stat
utes, and the Collector General would doubtless be
the proper officer to see to its enforcement.
SCHOONER KEKAuLuoHI AsHoRE-By the arrival
yesterday morning of the schooner John Young,
from Koloa, we learn that the schooner Kekauluohi,
which left here on Friday last for ports on Kauai.
went ashore at Nawiliwili outer harbor on Sunday
last and was nearly high and dry on the rocks. Both
anchors were down at the time she commenced drag
ging, but the swell was so heavy that the anchors
would not hold. The Captain writes that the false
keel had come off and he was apprehensive that she
had a hole in her, but that she lay very easily and
he thought might be got off. The schooner War,cick
was dispatched yester lay to Nawiliwii. taking Mr..
Cole, one of the owners of the Kekauluohi, and Mr..
w. Fl. johnson, ship-carpenter, and the effort will be
made to save the vessel. She is a staunchly built
vessel and n first rate coaster, and was recently pur-
chased by Messrs. Cole and Stott for $4,000, from c..
Kanaina.
This is another instance of loss caused in part, no
doubt, by the want of a strong anchor buoy at that
port. We have time and again urged this matter of
providing buoys on the government, and ere only
answered by utter Indifference and inertia. Each
year a new loss occurs to remind them of a laxity of
duty. The loss of the bark John Wesley in 1854, the
schooner Chance in 1855, the steamer West Poinl in
1856, the schooner Riaifo in February, 1867, all at
Koloa, and the Rekauluohi at Nawiliwili in 1858, are
surely strong enough arguments to urge the Ministry
to try to protect the interests of the people. A good
anchor and buoy at each of these ports are and have
long been needed, and would unquestionably have
saved some if not all Of these vessels, amounting in
the aggregate to over 500, 900. Now we ask what
excuse there is for delaying to put down these improve
ments! Anchors and chains are TO be had at cost or
thereabouts, and the expense need not be great. A
buoy has been put down by Mr.. Pease at his own ex-
pense, in the inner harbor at N~awiliwili, but one is
wanted also in the outer harbor. A heavy anchor
and buoy at Koloa are Indispensable, and we trust that
some means Will De ueNlSeu ny Tue proper OmCeTS TO
carry out both of these improvements before any more
disasters occur. -
FINE SuGAR.-we have received from M. Provost,
the accomplished sugar boiler at the Lihue planta-
ton, a box containing FIVE samples of sugar manufac-
tured at that place, assorted from the finest No. l
white to the darkest molasses grade. These samples
will be kept at our Office for inspection. The sugar
manufactured on this plantation during the past
cD.,-- - a hirb ropvfofinp a q hospO tho most
evenly graded of any manufactured at these islands.
This has been owing in no small degree to tho skill OF
Monsieur Provost. who is a thorough sugar boiler
and evidently knows his business from A to 2. We
hear from various sources that he has devoted him.
self with untiring industry to the interests of this
plantation, often taking less than four hours of sleep
out of the twenty-four. Such devotion to the inter-
ests of his employers, should meet its reward. lie is
a Frenchman by birth, and we take pleasure in say
ing that he reflects credit on his country.
SHIP BLACK WARRIoR.-A report has been brought
by the whaleships from Margarita Bay. that some
accident has occurred to Capt. Brown Of the Black
Warrior of this port. This vessel was whaling at
Turtle Bay, about 800 miles to the north Of Marga-
rita Bay. Being short Of provisions, Capt. Brown
left his vessel in a coasting schooner to procure sup
plies from the feet cruising in the latter bay, hav-
inp obtained which he sailed for Turtle Bay. He
had been absent from his ship some twenty days. and
it is thought some disaster has occurred to the
schooner. We are inclined to think there are yet no
good grounds for fears. as the communication between
the two bays is seldom and difficult, and Capt. B.
may have been all safe, when the ships left the lower
bay. The B. w. had 900 bbls. of oil, and will probably
report herself at this port before long, as she would
be obliged to leave soon for want of provisions.
INsAN1rY.-It is worthy Of remark that instances
of insanity are becoming more common in these
islands of late them in previous years. There have
always been cases among the natives Of . harmless
kind of craziness, but the most violent and unman-
ageable madness has characterized the several cases
among foreigners of which we have become cognizant.
A week or two since, q man named Burgess, who
formerly kept school in Honolulu, was brought from