The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1866-05-05
Correspondence of the p. C. Advertiser.

HAWAI-. April IJtn. 1000.
If matters on this island have not worn a cheer
full aspect for the last few weeks. it has certainly
not been owing to the weather, for that has been
bright and sunny in the extreme in fact, almost
too much SO for all interests dependent on a supply
of water. and March, on this island as well as on
the others, has utterly belied its usual well-knOwn
character. To travellers though the district of HilO,
and the usually muddy woods of IIamakua and to
the sheep shearers on the highlands, this pleasant
and rainless weather has been a decided advantage.
\ gloom. however, was cast over the district OF
kohala by u singular succession of accidents there,
most of which have been mentioned in your paper.
First. the suicide of Mr.. Smith, then the crushing
of a mans arm in the cane mill of the kohala
Plantation, then The bursting of the centrifugal
separator, in the Same establishment, which, besides
causing the instant death of one man, MORALLY
wounded Il second and made dire havoc among
limbs and bodies, utterly unncrving the susceptible
natives, and tending to destroy confidence; then
trouble in landing the machinery, and TO end up
the list, the stabbing ARRAY on the -HarHdd all
these made rather a sad chapter for one district in
one month. But things are moving on again. new
machinery is in operation, and soon all will be as
.sbright and cheerful as ever.
Matters about Kawaihae.
The release of the steamer hdaued from her reef
bound imprisonment at Kawaihae, has removed n
dispiriting spectacle. and the bay of Kawaihac has
been lively with whalcrs receiving their spring
supplies of potatoes from the hill sides above.
Trains of - pack bullock = and horses from the po-
tato fields are frothing and sweating up and down
the steep. dusty, rocky road, and under the burn
ing SUI of this rainiess lee coast, while around the
thick-walled store on the point, all is activity and
hustle, loading Of boats and gingling out of hard
dollars to the enterprising kanakas of Kawaihae-
Il. Ir ,Ior, ,,nta+ony that furnish tho IobcpOucp
and hash of hot meals on cold mornings away up
in the Arctic. are not quite mp to the usual high
standard, in size and quality, it is due to the dry
season and not to the planters. And apropOs of
potatoes it may be remarked that Mr.. G. w. Macy
of Hamakua. is furnishing an excellent article to
the residents Of IlilO, and perhaps of your city too.
The tubers of Kawaihae are much superior in real richness OF
substance to those Of ten years ago, and with care in cultivatlng,
will improve each year. For supplies of wood to ships and plan
tatious, IIo probably takes the precedence on Hawaii, or at
least expects to, under the enterpriSing management Of ID.
Hitchcock, Esq, who IS undertaking the business with a will
Rumor states that he has contracted for some thousands Of
cords Of wood, to be supplied to plantations In the Hilo dis
trict. owing to the abundance Of rain, there is no danger of the
mountains ever becoming stripped of its hedged and almost i'm
penetrable forests.
The Trade in Poi.
To turn to A heavier article Of diet than potatoes the extern
sfve and fertile valley Of Waipio on this island, probably fur
pishes more OF the Hawaiian staff of life than any equal area Of
land on the islands. The level floor of this valley, over a mile
in width, is a paradise to taro growers, and therefrom go sup
plies Of yai-ai to Kawaihae, Kona, Kau, and even IHo. A short
time since the natives Of WaipiO very independently formed an
association, declaring themselves the mountain to which Maho-
met must come or in other words, they would bother themselves
and their cattle no more to carry poi TO market No more
should barelegged ons of Waipio, follow the patient pack
animals up the steep ydH, and on through the depths of Aiku
forest, seeking a market for what all must certainly have, and
might as well 20 there to procure.
Meanwhile, the potato merchants have better business for
mules and horses than to go for poi, and forthwith meetings for
hoohikt SeS Sn bin d r h eli on W n les s'd Kob hoa' Ws sy
anywhere but proud waipio. And so the matter stands But
on the other side. a schooner stands in at the hsppy.vahey and
bears away to EilO five hundred bundles of the precious treas
ure, to the evident delight of the Waipio-ans, who claim having
thus far carried their point; IL may De mentioned that me
conicaI " par Of Oahu and Maui is unknown in many parts OF
Hawaii. a cylindrical bundle called "hOi0ai," and weighing
from thirty to thirty-fve pounds being the form adopted Tor
trade purposes. So much for business matters among the natives.
Volcanic.
The crater on Mauna La has sent forth during the month Of
March. only a faint film Of delicate smoke. For a few days Of
the present month (AprD it showed quite a signal cloud, in
dica ing renewed activity, but has again subsidized, totally to all
and snow Of the summit, where the eruption is located. It's
actual distance from the Kona coast is however far less than
sixty miles, as has been stated, though, it may be added, the
difficulty Of ascent is not to lie estimated in miles. A number
OF daily afternoon thunder-storms a week or two since, left most
rIttering coats Of snow on the twin mountains, (Nauna Ka and
Mauna LOAF but this like the late spring SHOWS Of colder lands
soon vanishes, leaving only the soIii!y capped crest and terminal
peaks.
Some dissatisfaction exist on this island with respect to the
present management Of schools, not very marked TO he sure.
That the two boys day-scheois OF such a Protestant village az
Hlo should both he taught by Catholic teachers seems hardly
til hoped not t create str1ie. Inc inhiotantS d hohala el
that the division Of the schools of a thinly peopled district into
places. Is. in this instance. more nice than advantageous, COM
peliug as it does, many Of the girls to 90 a long distance from
their homes. SAXON
RESPONSIBILITY OF RAILROAD COMPANIES FOR Loss
OF LIFE-A bill has been introduced in the Penn
sylvauia House of Representatives requiring 1000
minor children of any person killed on q railroad
while riding within a car. If the railroad company