The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-05-16

EI- The Rev. Mr.. Frear is expecting to preach
tomorrow evening at the Fort Street Church on
The leakages of our prosperity" with special
reference to the liquor and opium questions, in
their political economy bearings
SUICIDE OF A NArTvE.-By letters from Kohala to
the 10Th instant, we learn that a few days before that
date, an old native, supposed to have been insane,
COMMITTEE suicide. He was found tied by the waist
TO a post in his house, with his throat cut from ear
TO ear. We have not heard any particulars, but the
tying up previous to the cutting, might point to as
sistance. -
= Some of the Honorable members who spoke so
slightingly Of {" foreigners while discussing the
respectful petition yesterday from foreign merchants
and others, asking for a hearing on the labor ques-
tion-might have been judiciOuLy reminded of the
fact, that but for the timely interposition of foreign
bayouets last February, they themselves would have
not survived to air their %eloquence to-day.
DISTINGUISHED vIsITORs.-sir William Martin.
late Chief Justice of New Zealand, Lady Martin,
and the Rev. DIR. Lang of Sydney, n. S. w, en-
route for Europe, paid a visit to the Legislative
Assembly on Monday, aud remained an hour,
listening with much interest to the debates. Sir
William expressed himself much pleased with the
order and decorum and the business-like style of
our Hawaiian Legislators.
RETURN OF THE MORNING STAR,-This Missionary
packet returned to port yesterday morning, after an
absence Of a little over eleven months on a cruise
among the islands of Micronesia. A full report from
Captain Hallett will be found in our Commercial col
umn. We learn that the Missionaries were well and
prospecting in their work. Five new stations were
established among the islands to the westward, where
the natives gladly received the teachers. The brig
will return to Micronesia, probably in July. 4
reinforcement for the mission is expected soon from
the United States. -
THE SAGO PLANT.-A friend corrects our state
ment of last week about a sage palm. The plant
or shrub in question does not belong to the family
Of palms. but would seem to be more allied TO
that of pines. The botanical name is the cycas
reUOludd, a wbeelshaped shrub, which yields the
sago of Japan and China. The sage tree of the
East Indian Archipelago (SaqlS tdrin5erd) bears
very abundantly, and furnishes the inhabitants
with a large proportion of their subsistence. The
plan in Mr.. CIeghorn's premises has not yet
fowered-what was supposed to be a flower being
only a cluster of new leaves.
An INTEREsTNG LAUYCH-In the New Zealand
Auckland, March 2lst, of a new missionary vessel,
built at that place, for the Melanesian Mission.
The new craft, to be known as The Southern Cross,
is 220 tons burthen builders measurement, and is
fitted with engines of 20 horsepower. The launch
took place in the presence of Bishop Cowie, the
clergy, Government officials, and a large cOncourse
Of spectators. Lady Martin, wife of the late Chief
Justice, named the vessel Just as she started on the
ways,-not in the old-time fashion of breaking IA
bottle of wine on the how-bat by marking with
chalk a cross on the stem. with 1.-The words, Al
name thee the Southern Cross, and may thy mis-
sion be to carry the message Of the cross amongst
the islands Of the sea-" The idea of a new vessel
for the missionary service, with auxiliary steam,
originated with the late lamented Bishop Patteson.