The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-12-23
EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENCE
(rRoM oun owN conREspoxpENr.l

CFRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
LONDON, December 10, ~1SS2.-LETTER No. 95.
PERSONAL.
Hon. II. A. P. Carter, arrived here this week,
back from Berlin and Paris, and stops al
Claridge's Hotel. which seems to have become
the recognised headquarters of the Hawaiian
Royalty and diplomacy. Mr.. Carter, with Miss
Carter and Miss Dickson, will sail for New
York In a few days, intending to return to Homo
lulu by the December mail steamer. Mr.. Knud-
sen, of Kauai, with his family, is now at
Vienna, where he intends to remain a year.
James Jackson Jaryes, the historian of the
Hawaiian Islands, Is now In the United States.
He left his home at Florence some time ago to
receive surgical treatment in Boston. Mass.
Prince Arisugarra of Japan, the Mikado's
uncle, after visiting Rome, Vienna, Berlin, Brus-
sells and Paris, has now left for Madrid and
Lisbon. He seems to follow closely King
halakaua's travelling tour last year.
The FRENcH IN THE PACIFIC.
In Parliament last week Mr.. Macarthur asked
the Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs, whether
the French occupation of the Island of Raiatea,
to the leeward of Tahiti, against the treaty of
lS47 still continued, and whether any arrange
ment between the French and English Govern
ments on this subject had been arrived at. Sir
Charles Dixie replied that the situation remains
as 1t was on August 18th, when he replied to a
similar question on this subjec., viz. the
French flag shall remain Professionally hoisted
ut Raiatea until December 81. when, unless
otherwise agreed tetween the two Governments,
the status quo ante under the declaration of IS47
will be reverted TO Mr.. Macarthur, who was Lord
Mayor of London, when King Kalakaua, visited
this country last year, has formerly visited
different groups in the Pacific, including
Hawaii, and always takes great interest in ali
matters relating TO Oceanica.
PARAGRAPHS.
Professor Fiehs, has just published his 18th
annual report on earthquakes nnd volcanic phe-
nomena. The total number OF earthquakes for
the year 1881 Is reported Us Delna 297, and of
the volcanic eruptlons AS ten, the most IN por-
tant being that from Mauna Laa, in Hawaii
BY the recent death OF Professor PALMER, the
scientific world has lost incUmparatively the
greatest authority ON the subject ot volcanoes.
For % years he had lived percneti in MS ubsvr-
vntory upon Fesuvius, close to the crnter OF this
terrible and nearly always activi volcaI.c
mountain.-Some years ago u small number of
Mungoose, ii wessel-Ike animal from the East
Indies, was introduced in the Island of ia
maica, for the purpose of destroying the rats in
the su3ar-tields, whose depredations had cost the
planters over half II million dollars per anuum.
They soon spread all over the island and have 50
lessened the number of rats, that the loss on
plantations from cane-eating has been reduced
III some cases 10y 80 per cent. DIR. Morris, the
director of Public Gardens and Plantations in
Jamalci, has published an interesting pamphlet
on this subject, which may also have an interes
for Hawaiian Observation-Disclosures from
Vardoe state that during the past summer the
total catch ut the Norwegian whale-fishery
announced 900 ~ualSb. Next year there VIII
be altogether Is steamers engaged i'll night and
day understanding.
NAVAL NoTEs
II. NJ. S. Constance, which recently sailed fol
the Pacific to relieve the Thetis, is an unarmored
steel and iron corvette, cased with wood, IA
guns, $3.50 tons, 1900 horsepower, and has beer
commissioned for the first time, being an entire.
ly new ship, launched at Chatham about Il
months ago. Her cost is nearly e100, 900. She
also mounts an armament of exceptionally
heavy guns and carries II compliment of 264
officers and men, under the command of Captain
F. PROXY Doughty. Hawaiian bark G.. R. Bis
hop, Wolters, master, sailed from Bremen on
the 7th instant, Tor Honolulu. +. B.