The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-04-03
NOTES OF TIL WEEK.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26.-The Ball at the Court
House on Wednesday evening last. given by Mrs.
Hackfeld, the lady of the Consul for Sweden and
Norway. was a most brilliant affair. The ball was
tastefully decorated, under the supervision of DR..
Hoffman,, whose taste in such mntrers is second to
none. The decoration was plain, aud yet novel and
unique. The dais prepared for their Majesties was
elevated n few inches above the floor, and ornamented
with flowers and cocoanut leaves, and back Of it the
Hawaiian and Swedish ensigns were intertwined,
while the British supported the right and the French
the left Of the throne. At the main entrance to the
ball, an elegant silk American flag guarded the right
and the Russian Aag the left, with a wreath of flowers
between them, encircling the motto 4" Aloh .''-(wel-
come). This design was 90 exceedingly chasie and
appropriate, and wiIhal so symbOlical, that it attract
ed the notice of every spectator. The flags which
decorated the hall, of which there were fourteen
different natiOualities. were affixed to gilt headed
staff, that leaned gracefully forward, giving TO the
scene n military air as pleasing rs it was novel. 1t
was admitted by all that the style of decoration sur
passed that Of any previous similar occasion.
Shortly after 8 O'Clock (s2O) the carriages of their
Mnjesties and suite drove down from the palace. and
Immediately on their approach. the whole square was
brilliantly illuminated with blue lights, and the cor
vette Caierala. which lay in full view from the build
luR JOlilel ID u ulsph1 ~ eAuiOiNlnS oide IlSnlsl TOIl
her yards and from the mast-heais. This exhibition
was enjoyed very much by those who witnessed it.,
and 10 its design and execution WAS exceedingly we'll
carried out, and was a graceful tribute to our Sove-
reigns.
Besides their M~ajesties. Who appeared in excellent
spirits. there were present the government ministers,
the foreign representative and consular corps, the
officers of the Russian war ship, and a large crowd
of residents and strangers. Indeed the capacity OF
the hall was too limited for the assemblaSe present.
Our report would be incomplete were We to omit a
notice of The supper and repas' provided on the lower
floor. For abundance. variety and richness. we have
never seen it surpassed. IL appears almost increii-
bic that such a display Of the cnnfectioner's art could
be made in Honolulu. rs was shown in some of the
specimens OF cakes and pastry on the tahies-speci-
mems, which would have done credit 10 Paris. London
or New York. The person who prepared them is. we
understand, a German, recently arrived among us.
The liOeraIity with which the tables were provided
was exhibited in the fact that nearly as much was
left after the repast, as was eaten.
"No. 11O."-1be Commodore's Rag, rs it moved
around Diamond Head on Monday last. floating from
the mast head, settled the point that the SpeedpcH
was in again. She had a run of only III days from
Francisco to Molokai, where, finding he could not
reach the anchorage safely. the weather being squally
the night dark. Capt. Patty hove to and came in
in the morning. In the Morning Call, we find the
notice Of the Commolore's trip over, from
which it seems he logged his vessel through the flood
wood a little more s~killfully than did the Captain of
the Emperor, the accident to which we noticed a
week or two since:
CAPTAIN Patty PrzzIED-yhis JluT old hero Of one hundred
eleven voyages between this city aud Honolulu, 8. ID
arrived in port early yesterday morning. lie was twenty days
in performing the trip just twice the length of time OF the pre-
viuus trip. About two hundred miles from the California coast
he encountered quantities Of drift-wood and logs. which passed
his vessel in Quick succession. Some Of the trunks of trees were
so large that Lley were mistaken for b ats, and the projecting
branches, stirred by tie Jrct r., conveyed the Illusion that hap
Shipwreckel mariners were appealing for aid; acting under
deception, the captain hove to tn. bark several times. The
sea for miles was o cred with this drifting wood, and Captain
p. ignorant. Of course, of the immense hOois in the interior.
couldn't account for il. d" What kind Of n country can it he >"
asked a passenger. Don't think there's any country left,'
responded tie captain, =" all washed away; made the trip last
time in ten days; out over that time now, and no land; don't
know what il means"