The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-09-19

DRATH or ROBERT G. LAwRENCE.-This gentleman.
one Of the oldest residents Of Honolulu, died on Sat
urday afternoon last, in his 10Th year He had lived
here for 46 years, and during nearly all that peri
Cd been one Of the firm of James Robinson & Co.,
shiP-builders. Mr.. r Holt, the third partner, died
a few years since. Nh. Robinson survives his part
ners, and Is still active and healthy. The GG=ette
publishes a full biographical sketch Of the late Mr..
Lawrence, which we transfer to our columns. The
funeral will take place ut four o'clock on Sunday
afternoon. from the late residence of the deceased:
The Oldest firm in Honolulu, that of James Robin
son * Co, was last Saturday dissolved by the death
of Robert G. Lawrence, one of its two original MEM
bers. 1t was commenced in 1922, and the ship-yard
located ON the point (Pakaka) in 1927, where by
patient industry. close application to business, and
prudent management of their affairs, the firm has
accumulated wealth and grown aged with the flight
Of years. Mr.. r. W. Holt was for many years a
partner. He died in 1861. leaving q large estate to
his family.
The commencement of the firm was through n CON-
mon friendship and a common misfortune-the re-
suit of one of those accidents which give n turn to
human life, and wholly divert it from its former
course. In 1921, Mr.. Robinson and Mr. Lawrence.
both young men, left England to seek their fortunes
in the distant and then imperfectly known Pacific
Ocean. They sailed in the Hermes, reaching Homo
lulu in the spring of 1872. The .Japan whalinr-
ground having been just brought into notice, the
Hsrmes, together with the British ship Pearl, started
the same day from this port to cruise there. Twenty
days out, on the same night, both vessels ran upon
an unknown ref and were totally lost. More than
sixty persons we're thus thrown upon a desolate, bar
rem lagoon island, in an unfreQuented part of the
ocean, with no prospect of succor except through
their own management and skill.
Mr. Robinson commenced to build a schooner from
the wreck of the slius. in which with eleven othars
he subsequently, reached these Islands in October,
1922. Before the completion of the schooner, an
English whaler made the reef, and took away all the
men except MIR. Robinson's party of six, and six
sailors, who would neither 90 away nor work for their
own deliverance.
Four months were spent upon the reef-now known
as the Pearl and Hermes Reef-and the schooner,
short OF water aud provisions, started for Honolulu.
\ long passage of ten weeks, with no other nautical
instruments than an old quadrant and a pinchbeck
watch TO determine their position, brought them in
sight of Hawaii with scarcely any provisions left, and
only three gallons of fresh water on board.
Mr.. Robinson and Mr.. Lawrence, thus thrown
upon this Island rs waits from the sea-their original
plans entirely broken up, had really, by their in
dOmitable energy and thrift, made the wreck ON the
Pearl and Hermes Reef the foundation of their sub
sequent business and financial success. Their
schooner was sold here tor tE2 thousand dollars,
and SIR. Robinson found immediate engagement to
put up others. imported about that time from the
East. They found that a ~ship-yard was already a
necessity Of the port, and they entered upon the
business. In 1897 they obtained from Kalaimoku,
Pakaka-the Poin;-then nothing more than q coral
rect, ON which they established their s~hip-yard and
built the first wharyes able to take alongside coasters
and ships.
Through the long period of ~forty-six years this
firm has identified itself with the business interests
of the Islands, and its name and financial resources
have become familiarized to all our residents. The
partnership that existed was not one founded on
legal forms or written conditions. 1t was commenced
and has been carried on these long years through
l. - - = IL -
dence in personal integrity. That either member of
the firm insisted upon Il transaction or an investment
Contrary 20 the opinion Of the others, was an unknown fact.
The firm has always been an unit in its plans and transac-
tons, keeping their affairs TO themselves and continuing stead
lily prosperous
MIR Lawrence was born 81 BeTmondsey, England. January
9Th. 1898. and waz consequently. at the time Of his death, in his
10Th year. Three sisters and a brother are yet living In Eng
land, all In advanced wears He leaves no children.
Fer some years Vast, n account OF his growing innrniues,
seldom len the premises on the Point, aud httcry was
fEed % his house. Since his arrival in ls22 he has left the
<iaud but once-0n & business trip 10 Mainland has never
been OF the group. such another instance Of adherence TO one
bcality, we think. can hardly BE- pointed out
His large estate has been devised by will, the items Of which
are not get madS public