The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-01-13

At the immigratr depot they are well cared for
supplied with tie has substantial food and seem
to be growing IL, These islands have s good
reputation among them and they exhibit willing
bedienee in everything.
Mr.. J. H. VAN GIBSON in charge Of the Branch
Hospital, has commenced a series of systematic
weather reports upon the plan pursued by the
Storm Signal Bureau at Washington D. c. He
has kindly agreed TO furnish this Office with weekly
reports which we viii lay before our readers in
each Saturday issue. From the other islands we
should be happy TO receive such meteorological
reports as can be furnished; and would state that
the experience of the Bureau at Washington has
been that the percentage Of g Notifications to
Probabilities 4" has increased with the increase
in the number of stations. Hence, the more re-
ports that are published, the more valuable will
be the yearly ummary
KAxEKoSA, Hailama and Kaai are under arrest
for assault and battery committed on Saturday
night about IL O'Clock, on another native named
Paeole. The affray took place on the mail steamer
wharf. There were about a dozen concerned in it,
one of whom states that he and Kaai went to the
wharf in an express. They had a bottle of liquor
with them. After finishing it, a dispute arose
about money wherewith to buy another bottle. A
fight ensued in which several others took part.
Hailama hit Paeole with q piece of board, and
afterwards Kaai hit him on the head with a bucket.
One of the number went for a doctor. Three
policemen appeared on the scene, and the wounded
man was taken to the Queens Hospital. Nine
arrests were made, six of whom were released after
the matter was investigated by the Marshal and
Deputy Marshal. Kamekona ran off, but was
caught on the other side of the island in the Koo-
laupoko district. The wounded man has received
a scalp wound about four inches long. The prison
ers have been a~rraigned before the Police Justice
and have been remanded subject TO the order of
the Court.
THE abundant supply Of water that rises to the
surface of the Kulaokahua Plains, through the
deep borings that have been made into the grand
reservoir beneath, has been, and is, not only a
direct source of wealth to those who ara growing
rice where formerly there was but rushes and
coarse wiry grass, and useful fruits and vegetables
on hitherto barren wastes, but ii has also enhanced
the valne of the plains in a very great degree. In
view of these facts, any report of a sensible and
regular dimunition in the flow of water from these
wells will be received with concern by all and we
hope that those who have reason to believe that
there is cause for apprehending a gradual but
steady falling off in the volume of water discharged
day by day, will study the question carefully be-
fore announcing their fears as facts. 1t has been
stated that careful observations of at least two
wells have shown a decrease in the flow during the
past six months at the rate of one inch per month.
Inc IabeIneHUl IL SOIueWHAI ambiguous, as what Is
meant by one inch per month is not stated. If, as
we may infer, it is meant that the height to which
the water rises above the top of the pipes of the
wells mentioned lowers at the rate of one inch per
month, then their " life as flowing wells must be
nearly ended. But if it is meant that the volume
of the flow diminishes at the rate of one cubic inch
per month, we can hope that the supply will not
be exhausted for some time to come. 1t is not to
be presumed that the record that has been
kept, so far, of the flow within stated
periods has been so complete as to estab-
lish, beyond a doubt, the fact that the amount dis
charged from these wells is steadily decreasing,
and must, therefore, soon cease. No such state
ment can b. accepted as indisputable until we
know more of the causes that have filled the reser-
voir these wells penetrate; and, as it is reasonable
to suppose that this water finds its way into the
reservoir from the mountains, we can argue that
the flow will always be influenced by the amount
of rainfall there. Again, if the supply of water is,
to a certain degree, restrained from flowing into
the sea by the counter-pressure of the vast body of
salt water inside the coral reef basin fringing the
shore, then the flow from the wells would be varied
by high or low tides. This is the season Of low
tides, and an inspection of the tidal records, with
those of the flow from the wells, might develop an
intimate relation between the two. 1t would seem,
in view of the great value of this water-supply, |
Of the magnitude of the interests involved in
the question of its permanency-that the wells
should be fitted with some self-registering device,
similar to the tide-gauges used herein order that
q minute and systematic record may be obtained
of the fluctuations in the flow of water. Mean
while, we would suggest that due care be taken to
prevent waste of water as far as possible.
SUPREME COURT