The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-09-10

several steamer. Of 5000 toes burden have passed safely
through the eanzL A Uniform depth of water Of 3 feet is
now attained. II : evident that the largest STEAMERS required
Tor the East India trade El pass through the canal without
serious difficulty, although il Is reported that they viii require
tugs TO help them through, the larger steamers not being able
70 keep up steeragc-Tsy enough to avoid the banks Of the canal
SETTLEMENT ~ A. IMPORTANT POIST IN THE Law OF
GENERAL AvERAGE--The supreme Court % California re-
Gently decided a long disputed and very important question
relating 10 the principles Of general average, which grew cut
of the stranding g q ts clipper ship Star Of Hope, a few years
ago, while on a voyage from New York % San Francisco.
The roint a issue was whether this stznding and the cOnse
quent expenses made a case Of general average contribution
by ship, freight and cargo. The master having sold the freight
az aontevbiio 70 pay for repairs thereby rendered necessary.
The New York underwriters on the cargo and other libel
hnts in San Francisco claimed that the strandiDg was not
d" Voluntary" the Captain being unaware Of the existence Of a
reef in Gan Antonio Bay CPatas0niaJ and that therefore The
damage and consequent loss were subjects Of particular aver
age, 10 be borne by the ship alone. Judge Hoffman sustained
this view Of the question, and his judgment was affirmed On
appeal by Judge Field ia the Circuit Court. The Supreme
Court nov reyerses this decree, and BY holding that the strand
ing Of this vessel was voluntary, establishes the general prin-
eipIe based on the facts admitted by all parties to the contrO-
versy) that when a ship is outside, on a Lee shore, with wind
aud sea forcing her on at the imminent risk Of destruction TO
vessel AMI cargo, and the Captain chOosss rather TO run into r
ds-OlA,e and unknown bay, taking all risks to be thereby ef-
countered, including standing, the stranding, If it occur, fs/
- voluntary" within the meaning Of the Law. and subjects II
the interests to a contribution Of general average.
LOCAL COMMERCIAL.
The North German bark Courier, from Liverpool TO Thfo.
II Davies, Esq, and the ship ToIGHi, l22 from BOstonI9'
Nessrs- G. Brewer & 20, arc the frat arrivals from home
ports br the fall season trade These vessels bring full cargOes
% staple American and English merchandise, selected ex-
pressly for our ISLAND trade II is somewhat curious 70 observe
the changes in the tastes Of the natives Goods which a few
years ago we're extremely saleSble are now wholly undesirable,
having gone cut of fashion, as is customary with goods for
foreigners The styles Of goods wanted in this market can
only be learned by being on the spot and watching the demand.
The arrivals the past week, besides those noted above, are
the ship Eastern Star, in distress, from Manzanila. Mexico,
with a cargo Of dye woods for Liverpool the ship John
bryant, from san Francisco for New York, with assorted
cargo Of lumber ) and the British ship BssrenHe from Japan,
under charter to load guano.
Il 5 somewhat unusual TO have so many vessels arrive al
This port in distress, as has occurred during the past month
one bark and two shiPs-aTl Of which received damage in gales
or the Mexican coast, between ATTITUDES 1Oo and ZOE. No
better port for repairing, however, can be found in this ocean
than Honolulu, and we doubt not the repairs will be promptly
and satisfactorily made.
The schooner Ward j. Parks, with assorted cargo, and IN
u. 3. steamer KeaTsaygs, sailed on the 9Th for San Francisco,
1 he latter taxing the mail The a. P- Jordan will follow,
WIKI 'he same destination, about the end Of next week
The bark Ethan Allen is now looked for from San Fran
cisco, and is probably at least II days out She will bring two
weeks later news
Mr. C. 3. Barlow sold at public auction on Saturday last,
the Nafchez premises, formerly owned by DIR. Guilou, for
$l,70O- II was knocked down to His Excelency Governor
DonInis, but il il understood that the purchase was made for
". RapIee, Esq.
Gold was reported at the latest advices from New York
at ITs.