The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-11-03
THE PACIFIC
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER B.
a Tour TO Oregon and British
Columbia.
BY THE REV. ALEXANDER MACINTOSH
Continued from our last issue)

(Connnued from u last lsSu
There has been a little excitement lately owing
to the setting up of an opposition line OF steam
ships between Portland and San FRANCISCO.
This reduced the cabin passage money from
twenty-five dollars to ten. In another week a
farther reduction to $3.50 took place ana IN
one week more q person could travel hrst-class
from San Francisco to Portland, a three days
iourney-for five dollars, and in the steerage Tor
two and a half,-this beats the Kftauea or
Likehke for chcapness
The people of Portland are better of for
amusemeDts and relaxation than the people OF
Honolulu. They have a very fine Public Library,
which would do credit to any city. Subscribers
have the privilege of introducing their friends,
who then share the benefits of the Library tor
two weeks at a time. | suppose there would be
scarcely any book extant that an enquirer could
not get, Judging from the size of the rooms and
the number OF books therein. Then the reading
room is fully supplied with the current period,
calls and magazines, of almost every civilized
country. This is necessary, for Portland is some
thing like Honolulu in the diversity OF its inhabl-
tants. Then again there are side rooms where
people can take their books or papers, or play
games, or smoke or chat,-ina all forming the most
| attractive of resorts. The Theatre is a handsome
building, the ground story of which is used as a
Market. The Market did not seem to be very
| fourishing. On one side, a part of the lower
| building is partitioned off into little rooms which
are used as a restaurant. Here the business
people have their luncheons, and people who live
in lodgings their meals.
The Gymnasium is largely patronised by the
young gentlemen of Portland. The Museum is
small, but very credltable.
There are several small Parks in the city, in
which are stands for the convenience of bands of
music, and one large Park which ~traverses the
city from one end to the other. This last is
planted with trees, and in a few years it will be
a most delightful place. Boating on the smooth,
broad river is largely INDUCED in. Picnic par
ties, both by day and by moonlight, pull up the
river and encamp on the thickly wooded and
picturesque islands with which the river is inter-
spersed.
Portland cannot boast of its roads, though the
scenery which one passes through is truly mag
| nifcent. The road by the 81 White House as
| it is called-is very decent, and leads through a
forest of pine, maple, red and yellow hr, oregon
| cedar, alder and spruce. The underground is
chiefly oak scrub, hazel, blackberry, wild goose
| berry, huckleberry, and other berry bearing
shrubs. The caHonS are beautifuLdrives, if only
YOUR horses arc docIle and we'll under control.
| A very slight shy would precipitate carriage and
all, thousands of feet below. But the grandest
| of all walks is that to Markham's Hill. The
road winds round and round a densely wooded
hill, until it reaches the summit every now and
then, a glimpse is afforded Of the valley OF the
river, with the city at the end OF it, when the
top is reached the whole eXpanse OF the country
is open to view. Far away, rising out of the
thick dark woods, the lofty snow-clad peaks ap-
pear. dazzling in their whiteness. Here and
there a township b~rightens up the gloom OF the
deep green foliage. The placid surface OF the
Willamette lulls one into a deep reverie, from
which one is rather rudely aroused by the ap-
pearance of q railway train, running along the
bank, or of one of the river boats disturbing the
waters.
Portland is not behind the age in " Societies."
1t is said that hardly ever does a man die IN this
city, but that he belongs to. and his funeral is
undertaken by one or more of these Societies.
Free-mason, Odd-fellow, Good Templar, Knight
of Pythias, Improved Order of Red Men,-and
if it does happen that he is not a member OF any OF
these, he is sure to be a Fireman or a Soldier.
| believe that much the same may be said of our
Honolulu citizens. The companies and wards of
the Fire Department are on the same principle
as those of Honolulu. The British Benevolent,
and st. Andrew s Societies are hourlshlng.,
There are five daily newspapers published in
Portland and three weekly. The Germans pub
fish a paper in their own language. The people
are not exempt from newspapers even on Sundays.
Hotels are numerous, but they sink into in
significance when compared with our beautiful
Hawaiian building.
The schools are numerous and are Of the best
description. The Government Central High
School is an immense establishment. The Ro-
man Catholic Sisters have a large school for girls.
St. Helen's Hall is the name of Bishop Morriss
girls school. The pupils number one hundred
and fifty, and these have a staff of teachers num-
boring eleven. Every facility is given for a
sound education, together with accomplishments
both useful ana ornamental. One wing OF the
hall is used as a chapel, another for the
Bishops residence. The school-rooms are large
and lofty. The whole building is exceedingly
pretty, and the grounds are laid out with great
taste.
The Bishop Scott Grammar School for boys
only, is situated in a healthy locality. 1t affords
an excellent education to its pupils. The Rev.
George Burton is the Principal. The Bishop of
the diocese is the Visitor, or Rector. All the
schools were enjoying their holidays,-conse-
ouently | could not see them in working order.
The people of Portland appear to be a great
church-going people. Each religious body has
it's church, so the number seems legion. All,
except the Roman Cathedral, add to the beauty
of the town. There are two Synagogues. The
Jews form a very considerable part of the popu-
lation of Portland.
There are two Hospitals-one under the care
of the Roman Catholic Sisters the other under
the supervision of Bishop Morris, who founded
the establishment. An Orphanage adjoins this
latter, which was also founded by the Bishop.
The population of Portland is formed of repre-
sentatives from nearly every nation under the sun
I believe Turkey is the only European nation
unrepresented. However all unite In speaking
the master language-English-and in their love
for their adopted country. The greater proper
ton has been attracted there, with the hope of
realizing a speedy fortune but, with the loss of
this hone, ali have settled down to the only GER
tain means of acquiring wealth-steady indus
try. met some old Hawaiian friends.
~ ., 8saa .