The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-12-31
NOTES OF THE WEEK.

New YEARS DAY-with this evening closes the
year 1864 most %eventful one in Hawaiian history;
and with to-morrow's dawn, a new year ushers in.
The weeks. months and years glide by with a speed
that permits but few to improve them as they would.
The year 1862 was marked with the loss of one Of
the loveliest buds that decked the evergreen wreath
that surrounds the crown of Hawaii; and the year
just closing has broken the stalk from which that
bud grew. The crown is there, aud the wreath is
there, but the two bright jewels. that = few months
ago adorned it, are now known only in history. 1t
will be the prayer of every well wisher of our gov
eminent, chiefs and people, that the hand of Time
may rest lightly on US all, and years pass ere We are
called to chronicle the death of another prince of the
house of Hawaii.
= PRESENTATION Among the little incidents which
serve 10 enliven the monotony of existence, when
whalers are scarce and business dull. we would no.
tice the presentation Of q beautiful Hawaiian flag to
the officers and members of the " Punahou Vol
%unteers," "a company whose precision and thorough
knowledge of everything pertaining to the rifle tao
tics, is worthy of much commendation,) by the pat
riotic young ladies of Oahu College, accompanied
by a fitting address from one OF their number. The
flag was received by the Captain, who. in behalf Of
the Company, made a few remarks, which were fol.
IOWeu Oy three cneerS lr our Tag, three more
for the officers Of the institution. and three times
three for the fair donors. The flag was then saluted
with three rounds. after which the company went
through sundry evolutions for the benefit Of the
spectators. --
PoIsoNED-We learn from DIR. S~tangenwald, that
some serenity natives have been poisoned within the
past week, by eating beef packed in a barrel that
formerly contained - hide poison" The poison pro-
duced immediate and very severe vomiting, which.
with most of the patients, has given relief But two
deaths are supposed to have occurred from it. An
analysis of the brine and wood of the
barrel showed the poison to lie very strong. The
container was probably used with the idea. perhaps,
that after an ordinary washing it would do no injury.
But this instance is sufficient to show that any bar
rel or box used for hide poison, should never be
used for anything else but fuel.
A MODEL CRAFT.-The little schooner bearing the
sweet pretty name Helen. which returned on Friday
from a cruise to Howland's Island, has proved her.
self to be no ordinary craft. Though only about
fifty tons burthen, she is a very fast sailer, and a
splendid sea boat. She made the passage up from
Howland's Island in tcenty-one days. which time
has been beaten on only one occasion by that re-
markabie vessel, the Josephine. And this was done
by the Helen, deeply laden with A persons on
board, comprising her own crew and the officers and
crew of the wrecked ship .fsierion, with the necessr-
ry provisions, water. SC, for a long voyage. She
sailed yesterday on another voyage. having been
chartered to visit the Phoenix Guano Islands.
- ELECTION DAY.-There is no telling what a day
here in Honolulu may bring forth. Last week there
were no signs of any general interest in the coming
election, but this week the tables are turned, and we
- - 49,. - Jo., sLoo f.oof, 114raDk
tickets in circulation for Honolulu alone. As there
are only four representatives to be chosen here, it
would appear that the chances of the 80 candidates
are narrowed down to be as small as those in a
Havana lottery. If all these tickets keep up before
the people, there is promise of a lively time on Mon
day next. Among the prominent foreign candidates.
most likely to be elected, are-G. Rhodes, JAS. L.
Dowsett, VIM. Webster, and j. Mott Smith. One or
two natives may be chosen, but among IS names up,
it will take shrewder Yankees than we to guess who
they are. X -
3 PACIFIC AND ATLANTIC wHALEs.-One of the New
Greenland whaleship. "from which were obtained
two hundred barrels of oil and 1000 lbs. of bone"
This may be an extraordinary animal for the Allan
tic waters, in which whales are so sharply pursued
that they can only grow to about two thirds their
natural size. Our Arctic whales, however grow
much larger, and several have been taken this
season that yielded from 240 to $50 barrels.
Whales are not untreqrently captured in the Arctic
yielding over 300 barrels of oil, with a correspond
ing amount of bone.
ssSouARE Your SAILs."-Thereis no more appro-
pirate time than the close of the year to settle up
old accounts, by prompt payments. The older
they are, the more reason for their speedy settlement.
If there are disputes between parties regarding
bills, make concessions, so as to rub out the old
scores. The sailor never is more happy then when,
after heavy and rough weather he is called to square
his sails and run before a fair breeze. So with
Observation-Disclosures mechanics, merchants and all
they never are more cheerful and happy than when
they are able to commence the new year with debts
all settled, and square sails.
4 GETTING SHAKY-The inhabitants of Hawaii may
congratulate themselves that they are not the only
people living on shaky foundations. By the follow
ing, it would appear that even old England herself
is beginning to feel the humping of Pluto against
the walls of his enclosure.
The whole Of England was shaken by an earthquake, on the
9Th of October. Windows were shaken, doors opened, and in
places crockery broken. Charles Dickens was quite
rudely turned about in his bed. |
This is what we should call playing the
D;oIans., u;th on anthor apd tho eyent NAV suO- |