The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-02-09
steam Again.

The report. brought by the Comet. that the
steamer AJaz was being reftted in San Francisco,
preparatory to a return 70 the Hawaiian trade,
we consider reliable, in the absence of any init
nations to the contrary, as this IS almost the only
route on which she can be employed with any
chance of paying. 1t is stated that .'she has
been thoroughly oyerhauled, cleaned and repair
ed, has had n fine saloon built on deck in place of
the former two rows Of state-rooms, and has gone
to Mare Island to have her copper scraped."
Until Congress has taken final action on this
matter Of steam communication between San
Francisco and this port, it will be useless TO make
any definite plans, though suggestions may not be
out Of place. \ vessel Of less capacity than the
Ajar would probably be better fitted for the ser
vice. Two vessels of smaller size-say 900 tons
each-to leave every twenty days, would serve
the interests of the Islands much better, and
prove more profitable than Of l,jOO tons ike
the AJar. \ monthly service would give little
satisfaction, and certainly not insure success,
even with q subsidy Of 500, 900.
Besides the regular Island trade TO san Fran
cisco, which now amounts 70 at least p 600 tons
Ter annum, it is not improbable that a portion Of
the Tahiti fruit trade may be diverted to this
port, and be secured 20 the steamers, after they
have become permanently established. The aver
age passage made by twenty vessels between Ia
hiti and san francisco during 1866 was about
forty days, some having been over fifty days. The
loss 10 the owners Of fruit on these long passages
is often very large, rendering the fruit trade an
extra hazardoss one. The average passage from
Tahiti u Honolulu, for fret class sailers, i
twenty days, 80 that fruit might be regularly de-
livered here for the steamers ! few days before the
date Of sailing. reIacked if necessary. and deliy-
cred in san Francisco after q passage Of ten or
twelve days, or thirty-fye from Tahiti, in nearly
a. prime condition as when put On board. The
risk attending this trade would thus be almost
entirely removed, and the orange trade. from be-
ins a most Trecarious one, would become a. safe
and certain A. that of sugar or molasses. Besides.
the fruit. which Is now picked sixty days before
being ripe. 50 as to guard against long passages.
may BE- gathered in better order g.. e.. not 50
grcen,) and supplied in the san Francisco market
in 4 more fresh and Tala5able state. One-half
the oranges sold in that market are totally unfit
TO be eaten. owing to their being picked 50 young,
and possess none Of tine favor they have in their
native country.
While on this subject. we may add that the
work on the new steamboa wharf Is rapidly
progressing. under the management Of Mr.. Tor
bert, with a fair prospect Of being completed be-
it will be required for the use Of the new
The depth Of water alongside the pier Is. .
- feet, gradually increasing to - at a distance
Of 100 feet from the pier. The term Of thirty
years. during which this Government proposes q.
to bind itself to the China Mail Company, and
grant the privileges specified to in the contract .
it. has been thought too long. \ genera
ion i certainly a long period for which 10 bind Z