The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-07-05
NOTES OF THE WEEK.


4 TR1,1 TRrr-Att the invitation Of the owners Of
the new steamer, His Majesty the King, accompanied
bv HIS Ministers and the Memters @: both Houses OF
the legislature. took A. excursion in her on Tuesday
last. leaving the wharf st 10 O'Clock. The steamer
rsn first down towards Pearl river, \ distance Ct
abou; six miles, then putting about. ran . direct
course to Diamond Head 10 pi!es) thence to the bell
buoy Is miles, back 10 Waiaiki, Is Smiles and thence
TO her wharf in The harbor, Il miles, making the
distance run about 3 miles from the wharf back 70
her berth. and the time occupied three anu s half
hours. The DAY was very pleasant, and the sea be-
ing comparatively quiet, every thing favored 4 pleas
ant trip During only the last hour, sufficient steam
was applied to fairly test her speed, which at her best
s,eamiuC Is abou, ten or eleven knots. She i ca,cu-
lated 10 steam up to fifty pounds. but carried only
thirty-s;x NJ the highes; during the excursion. The
motion of the vessel was almost imperceprible, sud so
quietly does her machinery work, that one is unable
TO tell without ocular proof. whether It i in motion
or not. In this respect she differs from any steamer
we have ever had here. To say that every one was
delighted with the boat, and with every thing about
her. only half conveys the encomiums she received.
During the return Of the steamer from Waikiki a lib
eral repast was served up, seasoned with viands. to
which His Majesty and all the guests sat down. We
have 10 hesitancy in predicting that the hIlauea
will prove a perfect success, and a profitable invest
ment 10 sl interested in her.
- The steamer ms de another pleasure excursion
yesterday, (the fourth and was gone some three
hours. -
FOURTH OF JULY.-The anniversary Of American
Independence. passed of yesterday with great zest.
Though the preparations were mostly impromptu,
vet We have seldom'seen a holiday kept with more en-
thusiasm. Soon after midnight, a band paradei the
z.--- - s.-,,o Il -Ia rua11sDrS Of the American
officials. and principal American residents. At four
o'clock a national salute of 81 guns was fired on the
Esplanade, by a detachment of the Hawaiian Artillery.
At > VI. the L. 5. Sloop of War LeraHt manned her
yards, and fired q national salute, which was return
ed from Punch-bowl Fort, and the LeraRt responded
to this markei courtesy of the Hawaiian government
by another salute. After each salute on board the
LeruBt, her crew gave three cheers. Salutes were
also fired from several vessels in port. The afternoon
was taken up with feasts and Iudus among the natives
and picnic gatherings among the foreigners. In the
evening a large bonfire of tar barrels, was lighted Up
on the side Of Puuch-bowl, and drew out an immense
crowd of spectators. Rockets of various kinds were
also sent up at intervals. An unceremonious dance
was given at the residence ofDr. Guiilou, L. s. Hos
pital physician, at s O'Clock which was well attended.
Their Majesties the King and Queen were present,
aud most Of the officers of the LerlHt. The room
vas beautifully uecOTlteI III a natlOnil style, VIII
flags, stars, sc. If we may judge from Yesterdays
proceedings, American patriotism has lost nothing by
being transplanted on to Hawaiian soil. For the sue
cessful arrangement of salutes. fred in the morning,
noon and night. as well as the other details, our
friend Capt. 7. Spencer deserves special credit, and
the honorary title of GRAND MARSHAL OF THE FOURTH.
HAWAIIAN HIsroRY.-We are glad TO learn by ad-
vertisement in another column, that a new and illus
trated edition of Jarves' History of these Islands is in
preparation, and soon to be published. Mr.. J. Is IN
questionably the best writer on Hawaiian archaeology
We have ever had, and his work must rank as a stand
ar1. We trust that every resident will aid in second
ing its publication. Whilst on this subject, we would
suggest that some provision be made for publishing a
history, either Jarves' or some other, in the native
tongue. The natives need such a work, and govern
ment cannot do the country a greater service than TO
make provision for translating aud publishing one.
Another book absolutely needed IS a dictionary of
the Hawaiian language. Cannot some mode be de-
vised TO hasten or the revision Of this work The
author Of the former dictionary mas been ten or more
years preparing a new edition, but we fear its CON-
pletion is a long way of. If some provision could be
made by which Judge Andrews could receive assist
ance, TO expedite his task, he might have the new
work published before the present generation has
passed away. -
DEATH FROM DRowNING.-A melancholy death
from drowning, while intoxicated, occurred on Kauai
week. The deceased, who was = Portuguese,
was found drowned in the Lumahai River, a stream
little beyond Hanalei. on chat island, a bottle of
.ob0ietgO being found on his person, which he had
purchased at a place called Haeua, where that article
Is said TO be manufactured IN great quantities. 4
Corouer's jury was called, and the following verdict
rendered
&c An i-1ri-f.:au taken AZ Lunahaf. Island Of Kauai. on the
22i day of June. l>60. before u NuuHiva. che q the Corcners
az said Island. upon o @ budy % NiE~-i De Castro there wing
dead. hy the Cahs = the Jurors. whose names arr htreGuto sub
scrhed who being sworn TO inquire rhFH. hour, and by what
means the said Miguel Re Castro came 70 his death. upon their
cltts do say
That from the testimony before them. they fully believe that
the SAID Miguel came q his death hy drowning IN the Llmahai
kIver au the tv-urlE % 2lSt instant, being ~ the time iutoN;-
Gated on liquor obtained ~ him on the day of his death. NJ some
unknown % them a; Haena- or beyond. l. testimony
Eh-rerf the sad Coroner and The jurors cf this inquest have
-egeuut0 st their hands the day and year aforesaid.
l.. Nc-HvA- Coroner, L L. A, +. WUNnEyBEsG,
Z. = HuLIISTFE. I. Johnson.
Gus EErr-f-u- = w.