The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-02-17

NOTES OF THE WEEK.


NOTES OF THE WEEK.
ANOTHER FREsHEr.-On Sunday, the 18th inst,
one of those steady rains &C. amenced, with a ignt
breeze from the westward. which, though gentle and
making but little noise, are the very ones which pro-
duce freshets. The rain commenced at about IL
O'Clock in the forenoon, and fell almost constantly and
increasing in volume till between 8 and 8 o'clock in
the evening. The bulk of the rain fell on the north
side of Nuuanu Valley, mauka. and the streams IN
that direction commenced about shutdown to swell,
and at 8 O'Clock the temporary bridge below Smiths
Westinghouse was swept away by a lot OF spars,
which were stored on the flats above. These, with
the ~planking of the bridge, brought up against the
lower bridge leading to Palama, which at one time
was in imminent danger. Sheriff Brown, and Road
Supervisor Harding, with a posse of policemen ana
other natives worked hard until a late hour at night,
otherwise the bridge would no doubt have been at sea
before morning. The causeway was two feet at least
under water. In regard to these spars, 1T has been
remarked, and very justly too, that government au-
thorities are censurable for allowing them where they
we're placed, and where they have, on the occurrence
of every freshet, rushed down the stream, bearing
everything before them, bridges and all. They should
either be placed above the reach OF freshets or Sc
curely anchored. and they would require nothing less
than q ships anchor and chain to hold them. PUB
lie as well as private interests demand some reguia-
ton in this matter. Up the Valley, some apprehen-.
sions were at one time felt for the stability of the up
per Nuuanu bridge, but it stood the test OF the great
body of water which rushed down through its arches.
Macfarlane's baths were perfectly inundated, and the
dwelling-house of the keeper was carried down some
forty or fifty feet and brought up against a huge
stone, which alone prevented its going over the falls
of waikahalulu. Large quantities of kalo were rooted
up and swept down the stream, and several horses
were drowned. During the night the wind came
down from the northeast. with occasional showers,
and on Monday blew with a force that almost took
people off their feet, strewed the streets with leaves,
and destroyed some valuable trees and shrubbery. In
many gardens the leaves of vegetables were turned
black, as with a blight, while the cold was so unu-
sually severe that everybody complained of il.
AT Hrs OLp TnIcKs AGA1N.-Like a petted cur.
swapping at every passer by, the Polynesian takes us
to task for publishing a correct and "oficial state
ment'' of the taxes, Sc, on Maui, Lanai and Melo-
kai. Our statement is undoubtedly correct. (the
Polynesian to the contrary Notwithstanding as it
was procured at head quarters. ut the Office of the
Governor of Maui, where statistics are probably as
correctly kept as in any place to which the govern
ment editor has access. The Polynesian's ''industry''
NOT to say impudence-in trying to correct our
statistics g is very commendable. g but could it not
have wanted until all the collectors had made their
reports,'' before swapping at US for publishing a
fuller report than it has lad access to! Try again.
Monsieur; $ sand and sawdust. y as well as facts and
figures, are hard things to deal with.
SAP AccrpENr.-Soon after the Rinoole party had
encamped on the plain in sight of the volcano, one of
their number, Alexander Smith, formerly a clerk
with Messrs. Castle s. Cooke,) fell into a pit. and in
the fall. his spine, between the shoulder-blades. re-
ceived n most severe confusion or fracture. The ply
siciaus think it was not broken, or instant death
would have been produced. As it is, it is probable
that he will not survive the accident. 1t was thought
best to bring him to Honolulu, but the agony pro-
duced in the attempt to move the sufferer prevented
it, and he was still at DR.. Herrick's when the Kamoi
left Kona. A paralysis had seized his body and
limbs, and there is but little hope of his surviving.
~ Our readers will perceive that our columns
are becoming more resorted to as a medium for adj
vertising. A column of ne,o advertisements areinsert-
ed on an average every week-con6nedt to no one bust
ness, but to all kinds. This is as it should be, and
there is no better medium for calling the attention of
the public, ladies included, to what one has for sale
VI WantS " 8css suou q newspaper "uo " . u Bao
to see that it is h becoming more and more resorted to
as such every month.
A DIscovERY.-The Haze Hapaii (native newspa-
peri having apparently awoke from the embraces of
the heather god Somnus, has just discovered that the
heather goddess Pele was q month ago attracting the
attention of everybody. Perhaps the editor thought
the natives had no curiosity on such subjects; if so,
the crowd which for two or three days hung about
the post Office gate to look at a rough sketch Of the
eruption, might have convinced him to the contrary.
A GREAT CoNvENrENCE-one of those handy, light,
and neat ladders. advertised to-day by C. b. Levers.
They are conveniences about ones premises that
every gardener and housekeeper. when once familiar
with win never be without.
A Quick PAssAGE-The Josephine made the run
to Jarvis Island in six days and twenty hours,-the
best time ever yet made between the two points. She
came back with light winds during most Of the pas
sage, in q little less than ten days.
LUNAR EcLIpsE.-A total eclipse Of the moon oc-
Cured last night, commencing at half past nine
o'clock. 1t was quite cloudy, and only a partial ex-
of il could be had.
q Next Tuesday. Feb. q, is the anniversary Of
Washington's Birthday.