The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-03-03
The Correspondent Joins the Commissioners.
First Days ride.
KoHALA PLANTATION. Feb. 22nd.

KoHALA PLANTATION, Feb. 22nd. 1877.
My letter of yesterdays date duly informed you
Of my safe arrival at Mahukona landing-place on
the Island of Hawaii, per Steiner RIiauea. I was
indebted to the Marshal of the Hawaiian Kingdom,
Mr.. Parke, who was q passenger, for some recommen-
dations about my safe landing, which took place
without any accident in the surge OF the beach. often
inconvenient for the approach of open boats. |
found O Hawaiian waiting with two saddle horses,
one of which I mounted, and set out with the man
for the habitation of Mr.. Woods at Puuhue where I
expected to find the Royal Commissioners. The sun
had set before / quilted the Steamer, but q clear
moonlight gave q romantic aspect to the silent scenes
in whose midst q rough road led upwards from the
shore half q dozen miles by q constant ascent TO
Puuhue, which l was glad to reach in q couple Of
hours, as it was necessary to walk the horses almost
the entire distance. Arrived at the end of my
night ride, 1 met with a very kind reception from
the hospitable owner OF the Hale, MIR. Woods, to
whom I had the pleasure Of being introduced by His
Excellency, the Honorable Mr.. Kspens, who with
the other Royal Commissioners, His Excellency Hon.
durable Mr.. Carter and Captain Makee, together
with the British Consul General Major Wodehouse,
had come up to Puuhue earlier in the afternoon Of
the same day after having landed at Mahukona
from the British War Steamer Fantoms. 1 had the
honor of being presented to all these distinguished
gentlemen by His Excellency the Minister Of FL
nance, and soon after the party retired for the night.
as 1 was also glad to do, after having partaken Of
some supper, to which was very considerably in
yited by mine host. / sank into the dreamy realms
of Morpheus, while musing over the change wrought
III H 1SA8no " " 49,
wand. since the tragic death of Captain Cook.
This morning, after a hearty breakfast which
spoke volumes for Mr.. Woods cuisine, the word $ to
horse,'' brought us forthwith into the saddle. The
partv consisted of the three Royal Commissioners,
the British Consul General, Mr.. Woods, your hum
BILE servant, and half-a-dozen Hawaiians-one a
constable. I believe. 1 was quite charmed with the
anpearance of Mr.. Woods handsome residence,
which commands q magnificent view of the sea,
some miles below it, while the conical hills of Hawaii
rise up like Titans in the background of the en-
chanting landscape. The party rode down for
several miles in view OF the sea-coast, passing extern
sive plantations of sugar cane, and stopping to view
the site of a sugar mill, of which a mason, (from
Plymouth, England) was then engaged in laying
the foundation. 1t was remarked that the lonesome
ground over which we rode was once thickly popula-
ted By the native Hawaiian race, whose Cairns have
sometimes been discovered. The party halted at a
large store of general merchandise, belonging to
Mr.. Cleghorn, and managed by Mr.. Hayselden,
with whom I exchanged compliments. The sugar
mill Of Mr.. Kinds was next visited, at q short dis
lance towards the coast, where L dismounted, with
the rest of the party, and walked about the pre-
misses, witnessing the entire process of sugar-mak-
ing from cane bruising to sugar-bagging. Mr..
Kinds, whose acquaintance l made, informed me
that last year his mill turned out $50 tons Of sugar
and the previous year about 40, this year he may
make 500 tons. 1t is only three years in operation,
and is known as the Union Sugar mill. The cane is
sent by the sugar planters around. From Mr..
Kinds mill, the party rode on several miles,
through q most picturesque region, consisting alter
nately Of hill and dale, with the glistening sea afsr
of below, on the left, and high ranges rising grad
ualIy on the right. Successfully, sugar plantations,
cultivated patches of faro, and little Hawaiian ham,
let's, consisting of Clearly, comfortable thatched cot
tages with laughing groups of pretty children IN the
foreground, were passed. l was gratifed to notice,
here and there, the spire of q neat church, which on
week days serve for school-houses. At several
places the Commissioners had conversations with ma
tive Hawaiians, about matters which, of course, do
not enter into my particular province. The party
was Joined by Mr.. Holmes. Inspector of Roads, and
Mr.. Vida, the latter afterwards riding of with
Captain Mtskee on special business. Foreign read
ers will be interested in the Hawaiian names Of some
Of these localities-as Makahala, Null and Polulu,
where our further ride terminated at a most roman
tic valley opening upon the sea-shore with high pre-
cipitous cliffs towering like %seutinels on either SIDE