The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-06-27
NOTES OF THE WEEK.

From MICRONESIA The Hawaiian topsail schooner
Blossom. Formerly the .Nahisaasna,) arrived on
Thursday from a FIVE months cruise among the isl
ands west Of this group, where she has been collect
ing a cargo of cocoanut oil, of which she obtained
about FIVE hundred barrels. She brought up in irons
a Prussian sailor charged with having committed
murder on the Island of Jaluit, about 100 miles
north of Ebon. As near as We learn the facts, a sea-
man named Lewis Scheberth, had an alteration
with the accused, named Keslow, a Prussian by
birth, who was u sailor, discharged from the Morn
ing Star. ON her last trip there, and who resid-
ed on the island. Lewis shot at him, but without
doing any injury. As Lewis turned to 60 away Keslow
shot him in the back, killing him. He claims 20
have only acted in self defence. He was arrested
and brought here for trial, with no evidence or wit
nesses To support the charge. This Government
has no Jurisdiction whatever in the case, no more
than if the murder had been committed in California,
or any other foreign territory and he will probably be
released. The proper way would have been, to hold q
Court Martial on the island, under the authority of
the local chief, and if the accused had been found
guilty of murder, to have him hung on the spot. No
government, it would appear, can now claim juris-
diction in the case. unless it be that of Prussia, of
which the accused is a subject. Lewis Scheberth
formerly lived in Honolulu, was an American by
birth, from New England, and connected with a res
pectable family.
There are rumors Of a plan to cut off the missionary
packet Morning Star oh her return TO Micronesia.
II is also stated that a British war vessel is cruising
in search of Capt. Pease, of the Blossom who is charged
with having been engaged in some outrages on Eng
lish Missionaries, stationed at the Loyalty Islands.
Be this as it may, the reports current about him are
not to his credit, and he has probably decided to
make good his escape and secrete himself.
From Butaritari we have good news. On the re-
turn of the Hawaiian Missionaries, who fed from the
island at the time of the murder of three Hawaiian
sailors, they found that the King had tabued the
manufacture and use Of intoxicating drinks, and that
he and his people had become teetotallers. They also
found that the few scholars whom they had taught to
read and write had Lecome teachers, that over 200
had learned to read, and that religious services
were regularly held by these native Butaritarians,
which the King and all the men attended, but from
which fhe ioomen icere tabued. The cause of this lat
ter regulation has not been learned. The population
of the island is about $500. The Hawaiian Mission
aries found moreover, that their houses and house
hold effects had been preserved untouched, and they
found everything as they left it. This certainly is
more remarkable than the other facts.
At Ebon n German named Cabelle, who went from
Honolulu, had become converted, during a period of
unusual religious interest, and was very active in
furthering the work of the Missionaries. The native
converts. too, are busy making plans to spread the
work among the surrounding islands, and the pros
poets are favorable for its advancement, mainly
throughout their efforts.
y The japanese coolies, imported by the Scioto
have all been taken up for domestic or plantation
service, and most Of them have already begun their
,lrao x-aara. IaI..- Ill., - n &C :. II
the price paid for each was seventy dollars to Gov
eminent. and four dollars per month to each laborer,
with food, lodging, clothes and medical attendance,
equal to about ten and in some cases twelve dollars
per month as the cost of their labor. The service
term of hres years is too short altogether. If they
can be secured for five or six years just as well, as is
alleged. they would be far more valuable as house
servants or labOrers, and we hope that any future
will be for u longer period. As soon as
the japanese Government becomes again established,
n new shipment will probably be made, as thousands
are anxious to leave Japan for Hawaii, and only
await the consent of their Government, which would
aoccde more readily, if we had a treaty with it, COW
ering the rights of these emigrants. In the course of
time this will probably be made. Respecting this
lot Of coolies, the Japan Ga=ehe has the follow
ing remarks:
The Hawaiian Consul, f. NJ. Van Reed. Esq has.
after much negotiation and trouble, succeeded in en-
gaging n goodly number of men, consisting Of agri-
mechanics and servants, all of whom 90
the consent OF their Daimios, as free men, and
notas mere government chattels They 90 honestly
to better their condition, receiving a free passage
back at the end Of three years. Their wage is to be
dollars a month, payable in such a way as while
literally for their necessities in the islands, !
leave a good sum to return home with at the
term of their engagement.
They are assured of equal privileges with foreign
IN the islands and the HaNNaffan gnNaru-f
ment has earned for itself so excellent n character,
that we cannot for a moment doubt its acting with
them in all good faith.
They thus 90 from an overpeopled land where six
a month would be considered large pay, to the
receipt Of twelve bOos a month and their food, and
the governments directly fostering care. And
not the least interesting view that may be taken of
his enterprise Is, that although here they are to n
yreat extent debarred from hearing the tidings of SAL
ration, there they may and most probably viii be-
,ome the care Of the missionaries, who have already
wrought such wonders in the islands themselves, not
leading them from darkness to light, in the most
matters that concern mortals, but teaching
hem those arts of civilization and good government
hat has 50 quickly raised them from savages, to q
lingdom to which all the old nations are extending
he hand of fellowship and protection.
CoRREcTIoS.-Mr. G. Rhodes requests a correction
n our report of what he said last week in one of the
lebates. He was reported as having said q" that the
attempts of the member from South Kona to stihe
Investigation were from wicked and injustifable mo
He claims having said 'sthat this was a wicked
nd unjustifable attempt to stife investigation"
again, = that if he had said anything unparliament-
nv, he would withdraw it," sc. These corrections
re what he intended to say probably, and we give
i'm the benefit of their insertion, though at the same
ime we maintain that our reports of what members
lid actually say are reliable and trustworthy, and an
ppeal TO those who heard them would in most cases
ustain the language of the reports.