The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-04-14
NOTES OF TnE WEEK.

tremely interesting lectures before the Honolulu ny
ceum. On both occasions the Bethel chapel was niieu
with large and appreciative audiences. The last lee
ture, particularly, was listened to with great a'ten-
t;on. and the Speakers account of President Lo-
pez, the ruler of Paraguay, and Dr. francia' tue
former president of that Republic, was not merely
interesting, but highly instructive The origin anu
causes of the present war between the unite' ota.es
and Paraguay were given, and the Speaker thought
that the force sent against Paraguay would not De
very effective, SO strongly is the river fortified at some
points. The lecturer took his audience in his travels
nc far as the Andes on his route to Chile. In an
other column is a communication urging another lee
ture on the present condition of Chile, and we would
respectfully urge its delivery, if it can be done with
out incommoding the reverend gentleman's plans.
No subject can be of greater interest to our residents
than this. Mr.. Collins purposes leaving for Japan
AID the Amoor in the .Netita, but his sojourn here
will long be remembered by those who have had the
pleasure to listen to a traveller. whose knowledge ac-
quired in his tours, has not been hidden in a napkin.
We have been requested to correct an error which oc-
CURED after the lecture on Monday. MIR. Castle rose
and moved the following resolution
"Resolued, That the thanks of this audience be presented to
the Rev. Mr.. Collins, for his interesting and instructive lectures
upon South America"
In stating the motion, the Chairman made it read
IS interesting and amusing" The error was caused
by the confusion at the time among the audience.
On Tuesday last Mr.. Collins delivered another
lecture before the students of Oahu College, on the
subject of s Catholicism in South America which
is represented to have been equally interesting with
his preceding ones.
The MAGAzINEs.-Harper's for March is one OF
the most attractive numbers we have ever met. 1t
opens with an article on Mount Vernon-very timely;
which is followed by :. The Croton water and its
Inhabitants under a microscope. Wonder if such
animals exist in our valley water? Then follows an
exceedingly interesting historical sketch of vasco de
Balboa, and numerous other articles of merit. The
illustrations of this monthly are unrivaled in their
excellency by the finest engravings produced in the
book line.
-Ihe Atlantic is growing more and more at
tractive. The story Of the 6 Minister'S wooing''
promises to become one of the greatest " sensation
tales'' of the day. We do not wonder that the list of
subscribers to this Magazine has nearly doubled since
the January number was issued.
-Godey's and Leslies' in their sphere are excellent
and cannot be surpassed.
The British Quarterlies and BiackUoOd for the
new year have been received. and maintain their high
standard. The four quarterlies and BlacAwood are
delivered here for $l5 90 per annum.
New CEMETERY AssocIATIoN--We learn that a bill
will be introduced in the Legislature to-day, to au-
thorise the immediate incorporation of a new cemetery
association for this city, the proposed location Of the
cemetery being. we understand. in the neighborhood
of Waikiki. In a climate like this, it is undoubtedly
desirable that the resting places of the dead should
be we'll removed from those Of the living. Yet we re-
member that some one has some where suggestiyely
said that the characteristics of a people, humanely
speaking, could be very fairly estimated from the
manner in which they cherished the remains f de-
parted friends and relatives. In this connection it is
pleasing to note that the formerly neglected burial
| place Mt Kawaiahao Tin accordance with n suggestion
in this journaD has been enclosed with a substantial
stone wall and subdivided by an iron fence, within
which algeroba, acacia and pride of India trees have
been planted in great numbers. To the lady of the
President of the Board of Education is due, in a great
measure, the credit of the improved appearance of the
church yard. =
AN ODD F1su.-Las Saturday, a party of natives
fishing outside the reef, seined among other things
a queer looking creature, which, when landed on the
wharf was declared by the spectators to be a "Dia-
mond Fish, The name sufficiently describes its
shape, but it appeared to partake of some of the
characteristics of the turtle, being covered with a reg
uIlr coat OF mall, or smell, ike u turue. Al one emu
was a long tail like tina: of a ~stingaree. The mouth,
which was two feet wide. was provided with shark
like teeth and would be capable of swallowing a small
boy with ease. But the oldest of all was the eyes.
These were large and protected by heavy lids
they protruded on each side of the huge mouth, and
on top of each eye was a fin. From the position of
the ewes the fish must have been able to see not only in
front but on both sides and the rear with equal facili-
A. ~ s,o w fr1ly TON foot hotuaap tho axfropna
points of the ;. diamond" The natives placed him
in a hand-cart, and probably, with an utter disregard
for the interests of ARCHAEOLOGICAL researches, have
eaten him by this time. What would not Agassiz
have given for such a monster.
BOTTLES. The old adage that :" there's moth
ing worthless is exemplifed in the rage for old
bottles, that now exists. The demand is for export
to California, where they are used for various pur-
poses, but mostly, we presume, for bottling up the
. 6 sparkling Angelica" which our California ~neighbors
cry up so loudly. Our Polynesian friends having
invited a shipment this way, we suppose we shall
have it in due course of time, whether in the contain
ers now shipped away or not, We can't say. We
hear that 35, 900 bottles have been collected, and if
time was allowed to drum up the other islands, prob
ably 1876 600 more could be readily had. We don't
hardly dare to quote them as an article Of merchan-
die, although our ~neighbor says they are worth 81
a hundred. -
The KoNA.-The storm appears to have been more
severe to the Eastward of this port, than it was here.
A correspondent at Lahaina writes sThis has been
one of the heaviest thunder storms we ever knew. It
commenced raining with a great deal of wind on
Tuesday afternoon and on Wednesday morning the
thunder was loud, and long, 1t was during this
storm that the whaleship Levi Star5uck was struck
by lightning while lying at Lahaina, and so damaged
as to require a new main mast; and the ship Martha,
was also disabled while at sea, compelling her to
come into port for repairs.
TRICKS OF TRADE-Our friend with the "black
bag whose store on the corner has been 30 crowded
of late by the lovers of choice cigars, was "dumb-
founded afew days ago on opening a case of Manilas.
and finding q part of the boxes filled with old