The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1876-01-12
Centennial Commission.

Too much can hardly be said upon the OPP
portunity which the coming Centennial Exhi-
bition offers Hawaii, in common with the other
civilized nations of the earth, to make herself
more extensively known-to show that we are
making some progress even if we are only a
"pin-head Kingdom" Some of our principal
articles of produce find market on the near
est coasts which we can never fully supply,
and perhaps the cultivators and manufacturers
of such can expect no pecuniary benefit from
their exhibition. But there should exist pa
triotic desire to show the great world what we
can accomplish in our various specialties
And we have variety of products, indigenous
and otherwise, for which there is no demand
at present, such as the Olond fibre, which the
natives have used from time immemorial for
nets and fishing-lines, and which is of unri-
vailed strength and durability ; hau fibre which
makes a good serviceable cordage, but which
would perhaps be better adapted for paper max
ing loGIte and a number of other fibrous ma
terials from which the natives formerly manu-
featured tdpd, sort of coarse paper which
they used for clothing, all of which paper
makers would find valuable additions to their
material, for which they are now obliged. to
ransack the ends of the earth and ramie,
which grows here most luxuriantly. By plac-
ing things of this kind which are now unutil-
lied within the Centennial buildings, we Sc
cure for them kind of advertising which
could be obtained in no other manner, and at
a small expense. To the exhibition will come
manufacturers and commercial agents from all
parts of the world, and all articles of genuine
merit will be sure of recognition.
Our Commission has a fund of $4,000 at its
command. 1t has contracted with Messrs.
Fischer and Wick for variety of furniture of
Hawaiian wood, and Mr. Brown has under way
a very handsome table of inlaid work which con-
tains upwards of sixteen hundred pieces, includ-
ingnearly every variety of wood on the Islands
suitable for cabinet work. The Commission
has had nearly hundred small kegs made of
redwood, which will be vanished, and pro-
vided with glass tops, for the exhibition of
sugar from every one of our plantation, as well
as lVI speCiulellS VI IiCc anu OGheI dIliCltS
1t has procured from various sources an assort-
ment of the various textile and fibrods pro-
ducts of the country. The volcanoes will be
well. represented by full and complete collec-
tions of interesting specimens, and the eryp-
togamic reputation Of the country will be fully
sustained by number of choice assortments
of ferns including every known variety. The
Commission has obtained from Mr. Mills of
Hilo his consent to forward his well-known
collection of Hawaiian birds, upon the condi-
ton that it shall be returned. A native from
the island Of Hawaii has sent in contribution
for the Centennial consisting of the head and
beak of sword-fsh which is invested with
greater interest from the fact that the fish at
tackled fishing canoe off that island a few
weeks since, running his slender weapon
through the side of the canoe, and into the
body of a man sitting in it, who was killed by
the wound.
Specimens of salt, pull, tallow, etc. will be
forwarded, and also bundle of the largest
sugar-cane to be procured in the Kingdom
together with any other vegetable products
exhibiting the fertility Of soil, which can be
obtained. To illustrate the past Of Hawaii,
the Commission will draw upon the govern
ment museum, and it also expects to receive
aid in this department from the many large
collections in the .. S.
In the Surveyor Generals office fine map