The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1877-09-05
Editorial Correspondence.


number of passengers than wero on this vessel when
she started the 27th for Maui and Hawaii She
had 400 passengers. and including her officers
and crew, there could not have been less than 440
souls. 1 cannot now recall the largest number taken
by the "Sea Bird" " West Point" or e Akamai,'
twenty years ago, but it was probably much less.
One who has not witnessed the cannot readily
imagine where many found resting place but
they all seemed to, some sitting, some lying down,
and all packed around like sardiues in tin Just
think of hundred cabin passengers, in steamer
provided with forty fifty berths, and all comfort
ably accommodated, with not complaint from any
one! And just here is where the convenient after
main deck with its hurricane deck covering and side
awnings comes into In ordinary weather it
affords the best and coolest sleeping place for ladies
and children.
PAS a. m. is very inconvenfent hour to be re
minded by the steamers whistle that passengers for
Lahaina must wake up and leave. Yet it must be
long Lahaina is located eight hours from
Honolulu. Some fifty passengers went ashore here,
but their places were taken by the number de-
srous of going to Hawaii. Six o'clock a. IN.
found us at Maalaea Bay, and eleven O'Clock at Ma
KEGS Landing, at both of which places considerable
freight and passengers were moved off and on, with
hardly any perceptible diminutiOn in the numbers
left on board.
1t $3.50 on Wednesday evening before the
steamer reached Hilo harbOr owing to delays at way
stations accopn. Of freight and passengers. For
instance, she detention at Lahaina was two and
half hours; at Maalaea Bay and Makee's each four
hours; Kawaihae seven houre; Mahukona four
hours; ookala Of. Spencer's plantation) half an
hour; and at LaupahOehOe hOur,-a total of
twenty three out of the ftyone hours between Homo.
lulu and Hilo. In other words, the time occupied in
steamng between the two ports was twenty eight
hours and that lost in landing cargo and passengers
twenty three.
steamer cannot and ought not to be required to
spend half her time 10 detentions, with full steam up.
This loss of time and heavy expense can be largely
reduced by cooperation the part of planters and
merchants at the way stations, in this manner: By
providing at each landing suitable covered scow
whale boats to receive all freight from the steamer
alongside the vessel. and receipt for it as delivered
there. In this way the deteutions need exceed
half an hour, an hour at the most. If some such
arrangement this is not entered into is certain
that the steamer only take cargo for such places
cause delay. 1t may be answered that it will
be heavy expense to the consignee. Very true,
but whatever the expense may be it will not be so
great as the cost of fuel and time of the steamer
This expense may be shared by charge for lighter
age, as is customary in many ports.
A false alarm occurred on board the steamer on
Tuesday evening, while crossing the Hawaii channel
About seven O'clock just as most of the natives had
snugly slowed themselves away for the night an
alarm of FIRE was sounded from the forward hold
Al.
ton and excitement, many jumping to their feet and
inquiring what the matter 1t proved to be not
fire, but accident to Chinaman in the fore
hold, caused by iron safe falling on to him.
which broke his leg, making ugly compound frac-
ture of the bones below the knee. A physician was
on board, passenger, but having no facilities for
treating the wound, beyond bandaging aud cold
water applications, nothing could be done for him
before the steamers arrival at Hilo, where Dr. c.
II. Wstmore set the fractured leg. A subscription
was taken up among the passengers for the poor
man, headed with ten dollars each from Her Majesty
the Queen and S. G. Wilder, Esq, agent for the
steamer, the whole amounting to $37.4O. He was
one of the new arrived laborers from San Fran.
cisco, and the effect of this small charity cannot be
else than salutary on him and his countrymen here
The boat throughout the trip has been as comfort
able as the most exacting persons could wish for.
She is none too large for the service which she is
called upon to perform. The agent, who is now on
board, is endeavorng to introduce reforms in the
habits of the passengers, both deck and saloon but
SO long as there men who will get into their berths
with their dirty boots on, what can be expected. j..
Passengers should bear in mind that they can assist
in this matter, and that. unless they do assist, all
efforts of the officers not keep the boat in such
condition as she may and should be kept. No smok-
ing is allowed at, ,ft the engine as is the rule
on board Of all steamers. The hold of the steamer
where combustible materials always lying around
loose, ought also to be tabued to smoking The lives
of several hundred people and ship worth one hun
dred thousand dollars, of too much value to be
risked by match or pipe. Had the alarm on
Tuesday night been real one, it might have been
the last heard of this fine ship and the 400 pasen-
gers on her. HMw