The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-07-30
NOTES OF THE WEEK.

among whom were Mr.. Luther Severance of this
island, and Judge S. L. Austin of Onomea, Hawaii,
made an excursion to the summit Of Mauna Loa
early in July. The route they took was from Hilo to
Richardson's ranch at Kapapala. There they took
guides and rode ON horseback through the forest
belt, to what is known as " the camp" some three
or four miles below the summit. At this point
former travellers have always left their animals, and
walked to the summit, under the idea that they
could not be taken on. This party, however, rode
their animals to the very summit, and to the edge OF
the great crater of Mokuaweoweo, the first time that
this feat is known to have been accomplished. The
day was clear and beautiful, but though it was mid
summer, the thermometer which stood at SO Q in the
sun at noon, sank to below freezing point In the
night. In the ravines there was abundance Of snow.
Owing to the fatness of the summit of Mauna Loa,
the view is very limited, and it seems as if one was
standing on a vast plain instead of the top OF a
mountain, fourteen thousand feet above the sea.
The only object in view was Mauna Kea. Even the
horizon could not be distinguished, the ocean and
sky blending together in the hazy distance. The
fact that travellers can ascend to the very top of this
mountain on horseback (and one of this party
weighed 275 pounds) and feel no injurious effects
from the rarifed atmosphere, is worth placing on
record. But from what we can learn, the view from
Mauna Loa does not compare with that from Hale
akala. -
VDEATH's DoINGs.-The King of Terrors has been
quite busy in our midst of late. In a short period of
time, one after another of our old residents have been
taken away, leaving a blank in the places filled for
years by familiar forms and faces. Last Friday
morning, Mr.. Edward Burgess, a resident here of
some twenty years standing, was suddenly stricken
down with paralysis, under which he gradually sank,
and expired on Sunday morning. Mr.. Burgess came
from New York to California in 1916, in Stevenson's
regiment, and on receiving his discharge at the dec
laration of peace, visited this city. Returning to
California, he was among the fortunate few who
gained and kept q handsome property. His only rel
atives are a mother and sister in England, (of which
country he was a native) and three brothers in Cali
fornia. The funeral took place on Monday last, and
was numerously attended. Hawaiian Lodge No 81,
T. s.. A. NJ. of which the deceased was a member,
the hearse, and at the tomb, the solemn
and touching burial service of the Masonic Fraternity
was read by Past Masters Geo. Williams and c. s.
Barlow, of Hawaiian Lodge, assisted by Past Master
]. o. Dominis of Lodge lie Progress de I'Oceanie. The
regular fire company of Honolulu was organized
in 1850, an old engine having been received here
from Boston by a brig which was wrecked on the reef
outside ofthis port. Mr.. Brandon, who superintended
the building of the Nuuanu reservoir and the lay
ing Of the water pipes, was the first foreman, and
Mr.. Burgess the Assistant Foreman of that first COM
pany of Honolulu Firemen.
THE CHINESE PIRATE CAsE.-In an item some time
since we mentioned that one Cinnamon had sued
another in the Police Court for the sum of $50, en-
by the plaintiff to the defendant to be paid
over to the mother of the former in China. Defend
returned here and stated that while in Chinese
he had been robbed OF this money by pirates,
with everything he possessed. On his re-
turn, however, he had a large stock Of goods, with
he opened a store. The case was decided
against the plaintiff in the Police Court, from which
he appealed to the Circuit Judge of Oahu, who re-
versed the decision of the lower court. The defend
then appealed to the Supreme Court in banco,
last Tuesday and Wednesday were occupied in a
pretty thorough examination of the case. Messrs.
Stanley, Dole and Jones for the defendant and Mr..
Fl. Thompson for the plaintiff: The Court gave
Judgment against the plaintiff with costs. Rather
one would think, all about twenty dollars.
it was a test case, as there was quite a number
of other Chinese here who had entrusted various
sums of money to the defendant to be paid to their
friends in China, and were this case decided against
him, a host of others would arise.
The New DIVORCE LAw.-Last Monday the subject
Of the application of the new law respecting divorces,
vas discussed by the members of the bar before the
Judges of the Supreme Court. The Attorney General
that its provisions should apply to all appli-
cations for divorce made previous to its passage, and
now pending in the courts. The other members of
The bar, without exception, argued that such an ap-
of the law would be in direct contravention
If Article 16 of the Constitution, which says emphati-
ally and briehy-sN No retrospective laws shall ever
be enacted - and also of Section % of the Civil
Code which reads as follows " The repeal of any
aw shall, in no case, affect any act done, or any
light accruing, accrued, acquired or established, or
my suit or proceeding had or commenced in any
case, before the time when said repeal shall take
After q lengthy discussion, in which each
of the bar spoke against the ground taken
oy the Attorney General, the Court intimated that it
vas of the same opinion with the majority of the bar,
,ut a final decision was not, however, given.
e His Elk. the French Commissioners communi-
the following particulars relating to the loss Of
he French transport L EuryaIe:
Son the night of the 4th of March, II. I. Ms
transport ship L'EuryaLe struck upon Starbuck Isl
md, about 300 miles distant from Tahiti. The
,ficers and crew were saved, and dispatches, which
we're on board, were preserved, and brought back to
on the 18th of April, on board the Chevert.
The crew were obliged to remain upon the Island for
some time. Ensign Boufe, who visited Honolulu on
BOARD the Megere, embarked from Starkbuck Island
for Tahiti with three men, in an open boat "a feet long,
or assistance. He met the Swedish ship Mira, |
which vessel varied her course toward the Maiden
Islands to effect the safety of the French mariners. 1t
g needless to comment on this act of generosity.
"lt is very important to give exact information as
10 the exact position of Starbuck Island, upon which
.hree English and one American ships have been
wrecked before this last one. According to calcula-
ions Of the French Marine, it extends six miles from
to east, and its west end is marked lat. 90
s. /; long. 1888 lem. w. from Paris"
English authorities place the Island in 8. lat. 5e
"a west longitude loo so nearly due south of
The south point Of Hawaii.
SUMNER RAISs-Honolulu and vicinity were favor
ID the past week with copious rains, which were much
naadad The Mains of Eva and Waianae have been