The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-02-17
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY II.


DURING tie past week, two important bills have
Hawaiian Steam Navigation Company and the
Honolulu Gas Company. The members of both
Houses appeared to consider these two measures,
particularly the former, as such god-sends, that
they swallowed them without examination. When
it is emil that inter-inland steam commu-
~nication has undoubtedly been retarded several
years by the introduction of such old worn-out
and ill-adapted affairs as the Akomai and West
Point, it might have been considered worth while
to pause before fully committing the country to
the possibility of a repetition of IA like occurrence.
In the Mobiles, some little discussion, we hear,
was had upon the very liberal terms conceded to
the company, but no such objections appear to
have been made as those which would occur to
any ordinary business man.. As, for instance,
what is to prevent the company selling out their
monopoly to third parties in San Francisco or
elsewhere; and what provision exists by which
such parties are debarred from putting on some
worthless, boiler-patched old craft, provided she
measures $50 tons and can steam a few knots an
hour. 1t may be that in the charter granted by
the Minister of the Interior, it is provided that
the steamer or steamers shall be ne,c and staunch
sea,going vessels, but as yet, the public have no
assurance of such a very necessary proviso- The
Legislators on granting all that was asked should
have insisted on some obligations or definite limits
on the part of the charterers. 1t is true a term
of twelve months is provided, but suppose at
the end of it, we have no steamers, what then?
But we wait the publication of the charter, which
it is to be presumed has been executed and signed
by this time
The Act of Extension of the Honolulu Gas
Company is another important measure, and one
upon which we were glad to note that the Mobiles
and Representatives entertained a unanimity of
feeling. The advantages of the "new light
were SO apparent and indisputable, in point of
economy, cleanliness and safety, that none were
found to oppose the liberal extension of fifteen
years monopoly. But in this, as well as in the
former bill, we are inclined to think that there
was a little too much haste, or at all events a lit
tie want of forethought. Government might just
as well have secured to itself some privileges in
regard to a necessary supply of gas for the streets
and other purposes, during the long term of ff
teen years to come. Itmay become expedient, as
it has long been necessary, to establish light
houses at each side of the mouth of the harbor,
and what finer light could be imagined than q
cluster of gas burners? Our streets, too, will
require Lighting at the public expense, and some
privileges might have been secured in fMfrro in
this regard. So much for hasty legislation.
The long-deferred and much taIked-of claim of
Mr.. William Jarrett, still hangs in committee of
the lower House, there being quite a difference of
opinion as to its disposition, although all are
agreed that he ought to have something. Some
~ th>k the House. in order to dispose of the
matter intelligently, should 60 into an extended