The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1879-12-20

and particular in connection with disease of the
malaria fever type. 1t had been abundantly proved
that malaria could be entirely stamped out even in
the worst districts by planting the eucalyptus in
proper numbers.
PROPERTY IN A LETTER. Some of our readers
may remember one or more instances of controversy
with our Postmaster General about returning letters
to the parties mailing the same. The following Order
of the U. s. Postmaster General shows the view
taken of the subject there: The attention of all
postmasters is especially called to section 467, Postal
Laws and Regulations, edition of 1879, which must
in all cases be strictly complied with. After a letter
is mailed it is the property of the person to whom it
is addressed, and must be sent to the post office to
which it is directed. if there be such an Office. But
whether there be such a post Office or not. the post
master or his subordinates have no authority, in law
or otherwise, to change the direction or address of
the letter without express authority of the party or
parties entitled to the letter. Should the postmaster
or his employees change the address or direction of o
letter or package, and should such letter or package
in consequence fail to reach the addressee, the post
master would in law be liable for the value Of the
package. A postmaster may complete or perfect an
address already made, but he cannot change it's d.
rection to q different person, or different Office, or
different State, without authority.
The PLANETs.-In view of the approaching per-
ihelia of several of the planets composing our So
lar system. and perhaps in some degree Influenced
by the prophecies OF maliGc effects upon the earth.
astronomers have been attentively observing
Mars and Jupiter of late. We read that they have
just discovered that the ice accumulated round the
south pole OF Mars is scarcely visible, inamuch "a
the Summer in that portion of the planets hem
isphere is drawing to a close, and the sun has re-
duced the frozen block to a minimum. The north
ern pole. which can not be seen at present, doubt
less shows a white spot ofimmense expanse. They
have also discovered a red spot on the face of
Jupiter occupying One-fftieth of the planets
disc. in the northern hemisphere in parallel lati.
tudes to our own it's shape is %elliptical as seen
from our earth. and its length is set down at IL
miDutpS and its breadth at 4 n1inules and IL avi-
IDENTIFY adheres to the surface. The appearance Of
the phenomenon can only be accounted for by
supposing that considerable changes have been
taking place in the solid body of Jupiter and not
in its atmosphere. The region thus disturbed oc-
cupies a space equal to that of Europe. and is re-
latively one hundred times as great. considering
the difference in the sizes of the two planets.
THE DIFFERENCE.-We are given TO understand
that most of the South Sea Island immigrants who
have recently arrived here, are from the low, coral
islets OF Micronesia. that are elevated but "a lew
feet above the sea, whereon little else grows but
cocoanuts. The people are unaecustomed to re-
gular labor. At the Samoa Islands. these people
are employed in cultivating cotton and the manu-
facture of cobra. They could here be employed
with advantage in growing coffee in Kona, Hawaii,
where. by the way, we hear that the blight is at
last really disappearing. The people of Rotumah
though OF a cognate race with the Micronesians. are
from the western and higher lands, where a varie d
agriculture has prevailed for ages, and any one
who will take the pains to investigate will note the
difference in energy and stamina between The two
peoples. The Rotnmah men are superior as planta-
tation hands and can be Immediately utilized. 1t
is a matter for surprise that plantation owners
who may be in need of labor. do not combine and
make it an object for the P. NJ. Steamers on some
one of their upward trips to call at Rotumah, for
say 800 men at S40,-an outlay of $4,000. Time
and practice will improve the people from the low
islands, and as whole families and tribes are easily
obtained, they answer the purpose of repopulating
the country. as they readily assimilate with Ha-
waiians. And at the same time their own condi-
ton will be improved by habits of Industry. instead