The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1875-08-11

sistance in behalf of those who have been rem
dered destitute by the recent foods in the
| South of France, will, we doubt not, find re-
Spouse among our citizens. We, in this IA
vored archipelago, are peculiarly exempt from
the disasters of floods and hurricanes, as well
as the terrific earthquake disasters, such as
have Just been recorded in Iceland and Central
America. The Iceland disaster is told in our
columns to-day, and is truly dreadful calam-
ity. Those who prefer can make their con-
tributions in produce, which will be disposed
of and the proceeds RENTED as the gifts of
those sending them. Hawaiians as well as for
eigners are included in the Consul's invitation,
and will doubtless contribute their mites.
On our fourth page will be found two inter-
esting articles showing the progress of steam
in this ocean. Such ships as the Oceanic and
Belgic of the new China line, and the CITY of
Picking and City of Toxic, of the China Mail
company, are the class of vessels which in a
few years will perform the carrying and pas
senger traffic of this ocean. We must be pre-
B1ASA III blNtu NliSu lilG1 IDlllS our
door and seek an entrance. This can only be
done by dredging the bar few feet deeper
only -four feet aoiH das1Uer. And the expense
Of this, besides the first cost Of dredging
steamer, such as is used on the Clyde, and in
the Liverpool docks, will not be very great.
Then, the largest merchant steamers as well as
ironclad war ships can enter our port, and ad-
mirals will make Honolulu their headquarters !
THE CHALLENGER sails to-day at noon,
homeward bound, via Hilo, Marquesas, Tahiti,
Valparaiso and Montevideo, expecting to reach
England in May next. During her cruise thus
far she has voyaged 1854 miles or more than
twice the circumference of the globe She has
yet TO traverse more than $4,000 miles before
she reaches home. Like the U. S. Steamer
Hassler, which conveyed Prof Agassiz from
New York to San Francisco in 1872 and 70,
and obtained thousands of rare specimens from
the deep sea, which have gone to enrich the
museums of Harvard and the Smithsonian In
stitute, so the Challenger has secured and sent
home several hundred boxes of specimens from
the ocean and islands visited, which will add
greatly to the knowledge heretofore had of the
inhabitants of sea and distant lands, and enrich
the British museums, which obtain these speci-
mems. While in the East Indies, or rather the
Molluoca group, large number of birds of
paradise were obtained, some of them exceed
ingly rare and of the most exquisite plumage.
These were not dissected and stuffed, but put
into alcohol (Which we learn is the best way
to preserve birds for transportation.) Regard
ing the wingless birds of Hawaii, Prof Thomp-
son informs US that wingless birds of the plo-
yer variety are found in almost every group in
this ocean, and if the Hawaiian bird is like
them, it is not rare. Wherever the shipstops,
the search for specimens is renewed. So in
our harbor, a species of fish has been discov-
cred by the scientists of this vessel, which has
been supposed to be extinct. This discovery
alone is worth the ships visit here, and should
serve as q hint to naturalists among us to
search our waters as well as our forests
for novelties. During their short stay here
the officers of the ship have received every
attention, and will carry away with them very
pleasant memories Of Honolulu and her people.