The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-06-26
NOTES OF THE WEEK.

BY the following notice, which was in the last
issue of the Government gazette, it appears that
Palmyra Island, located nearly a thousand miles
distant from this group, has been taken possession of
and formally annexed to this kingdom
on the fifteenth day of
April, 1862, PALMYRA ISLAND, in latitude 30 50North,
aud longitude l6l" So West, was taken possession
of, with the usual formalities, by Captain Zeuas
Bent, he being duly authorized to do so, in the name
of KAMEHAMEHA w., King of the Hawaiian Islands.
Therefore, This is to give notice, that the said isl nd,
go taken possession of, is benceforth to be considered
and respected as part of the Domain of The King of
the Hawaiian Islands. L. KANEnAMEHA,
Minister of Interior.
Department Of the Interior, June is 1862.
The above may all be perfectly legal and strictly
in accordance with the law of nations. but our au-
thori,ies, before they proceed any further, and
appoint a governor. with tax collectors, judges. or
other officers for their newly-acquirei territory,
should investigate the title to the claim which is now
set up. 1t appears that formal possession was taken
of Palmyra Island, in October, 1859. for the United
States Government, by DR.. G. P. Judd, the Agent of
the American Guano Company, who visited the
island in the brig Josephine. A notice to that effect
and the American flag were left on the island. The
following is a copy of the notice left there
Be 1T KNOWN to all People, that, on the 10Th day
of October, A. d 1853, the undersigned, Agent of
the American Guano Company, landed from the brig
Josephine, duu niNluR u ucpOSI Ol kuhuO
thereon, doth, on this 10Th day of October aforesaid,
take formal possession of this Island, called PAL
MYRA," on behalf of the United States, and claim the
same for said Company.
isigned.l G. P. JUDD.
Witnesses: .4gent Il. G.. Co.
c. ii. JUDD,
X. DRYsDALE, NJ. D.
W. O. STONE.
York Island was also taken possession of in the
same way, and by the same parties. We believe the
" Uni,ed States Guano Company also claim the
same islands, and that a proclamation was issued to
that effect from the State Department at Washington,
in favor Of one of these claimants. 1t may be argued
that right of possession can only hold good so long as
the territory claimed is occupied on behalf of the
nation claiming it. This is an open question, how
far that argument can uphold or destroy the claim.
The Hawaiian Government several years ago took
possession of several islands to the northwest ,
this group, and since the proclamation was made,
there has been no pretension to occupancy, and the
islands may remain uutenanted for the next fifty
years. Now, cannot the American, British or French
Government lay claim TO and occupy them. should
either government wish to make a naval depot there?
1t appears to US that they would have the sam right
to occupy Bird Island that we have to occupy Pal
myra. Capt. Bent, in his letter to the Minister OF
the Interior, makes the following report concerning
this island, and no doubt for some purposes it may
be worth claiming possession but if We are to set up
prior claim to the American Government, and are
going to hold it III ct arms, under the motto that
g might makes right our Secretary of War had
better call for a larger appropriation for his depart
ment, and order half a dozen ".Monitors." Moth
like being prepared for any emergency.
BY correct observation, I found the island to he
in latitude SO SOY North, and in longitude 1919 So
West. The island is about ten miles in length and
six miles in breadth. The eastern end rises about
twenty feet above the level of the sea. The landing
is on the west end and a vessel can lie la perfect
safety in three fathoms of water. The trees on the
island are cocoanut. puhaia and n species of the koa.
All kinds Of vegetables will grow on the island. 1
planted some beans, corn and watermelons | erect
ID a dwelling house en- the island, and also n curing
rouse for 6iche de mer. l left on the leland one
white man and four Hawaiians, who are engaged in
curing the biete de mcr."