The Hawaiian gazette., 1877-06-20

Thirty years ago there was hardly a tree in the
town OF Honolulu it stood barren, treeless plain
of ashes, scoria, and aluyial soil. Water being
quired for the shipping and brought from the hills
the port. distance Of three miles, first one, then
other householder applied for permission draw wa
ter for domestic aud garden purposes from the
duit pipe until the government Of the day increased
the size of the main and supplied the town we'll
the shipping with water. The result is to-day
gardens possessing the finest and greatest variety of
tropical trees have ever seen bearing fruit Of all
kinds and descriptions producing vegetables, pota-
toes, pumpkins melons. strawberries, grass Of YER
dure all the year round that English gardeners would
envy aud all this the result of irrigation. There is
abundance. never failing supply of water on the
hills At distance Of two three miles from the sea-
The gardens of Honolulu show what be done for
the waste lands around the coast by irrigation.
Capital and labor only wanting to make these
islands garden Of Eden-the climate has no draw
back
Honolulu has heretofore been port Of call for the
mail steamers the mail rou between Sydney and
San Francisco. II is not certain, under the
tract whether the Pacific Mail Company's boats will
stop here not--the contract leaves it optional.
The traffic in passengers and produce to and from
this port, San Francisco and Sydney, amounts 10 an
average of $1,000 Sl400 monthly and is increasing
nearly equal to the expenditure for coal for
the round trp-so that it is expected the steamers
will have sufficient inducement TO continue this
port of call, if it does delay them SO long
prevent them keeping contract time the main
route.
1t is much to be regretted that the Imperial and
Colonial government have allowed this contract to
fall into the hands Of enterprisiug American
cousins who by this. and their several steam lines
China Japan, Mexico and Panama, and now to sgd
ney, New Zealand and Fiji will dominate over the
steam trade of the Pacific.
1t is important to British interests that our flag
should not only appear in these waters in time OF
peace, but that should be prepared for action in
time of war; and it would have been easy and not
costly for Government to have ranged that this
service should have been conducted by British officers
the vessels built and adapted for carrying
guns, that in time of (which Heaven avert)
might have had in these waters efficient feet OF
fastsaing cruisers, dispatch boats, transports.
The natives of these islands have always regarded
with favor national flag. Now that it is with
drawn they will think care little for them, and
have left them to their fate whatever that may be
but in the present rapid development of trade in Gee
AMIGA, in China Japan, and the Eastern seas it ap-
pears something than blunder to have III.
lowed its steam and mail communications to have
passed from under control.
1t only remains for to say word or two as TO
how to get here.
A passenger leaving Liverpool with the mails may
be landed Honolulu. in "a days from the time Of
leaving that port travelling in the best appointed
steamers, and by the most comfortable railway car.
riages in the world if he wishes to stop the way
he break his journey at many convenient points
If invalid finds this climate too hot relaxing be
can easily fall back on California. where every varie
ty of climate exists, from that of Sicily and Ageri
in the south to that of England in the NORTH On al
these matters he will find detailed inform alton anG
pleasant reading in Mr.. Nordof's book on Caifor
MIA and the Sandwich Islands, and in Miss Bird't
book on the Hawaiian Archipelago.