The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-02-24
European correspondence.
lrRoN ouR ows CORRESPONDENT

IN nm W. - 1879
LsrERARY.-ln my last letter I referred to the
appearance Of Miss Gordon Cumming s new book
on the Hawaiian Islands. The authoress writes
For years il had been my hearts desire TO visit
the little Island Kingdom OF Hawaii, that isolated
group in the North Eastern Pacific, where the
thrilling tale Of Captain Cooks voyages closed so
sadly end from which in the first half Of the CEN
fury Ellis and other enterprisIng travellers sent
hume such marvellous accounts OF volcanic action
of fountains or living ERE aud flaming pillows. ms
seemed to their hearers like fairy tales.-Miss
Cumming is enthusiastic about Honolulu and
her admiration is excited by the industry which
has converted this place by dint of irrigation from
q lowing wilderness TO a blossoming paradise OF
tropical greenery. She writes -'' Honolulu has
all the appearance of being the work Of an en-
| chanter's wand. so lovely is the oasis in the
parehed aud thirsty hand that sketches to tile East
and West. lt seems to me that all that makes
this place delightful is artificial. II is purely
American, idealrsed by imported vegetation.
Certainly it is the most marvellous triumph OF
men over nature The description Of Kilauea
is very good. and the habits Of the natives, the
social life and manners, the history, customs and
laws of the country are interestingly described.
Miss Cummings tributes to the good work OF the
American and other Missions are well deserved.
Her book, which has revived the interest in King
Kalakaua' 8 Kingdom, has been favorably received
by the English press.
A book, which must be of great interest to Ha-
waiian sugar planters, has just been published by
+. A.. N. Spon, at this place. 1t is entitled -
Sugar Growing and Refining a comprehensive
treatise on the Culture of ~Sdgar-yieIding Plants
and the Manufacture, Refining and Analysis OF
Cane, Beet, Maple, Milk. Palm, Sorghum and
Starch Sugars. By Charles q. Warnford Lock.
F. L. S. and @ W. Wigner and r.. II. lIarIand,
F. r. C.. S. With upwards Of 200 illustrations
8 70. cloth IS.
The Morning Posi- of the 26th uItimo, pub
lfshed a very interesting article OF nearly two
columns length ON "Agriealtare in the Sandwich
Islands' from a correspondents.
HELToeRAPHs.
Henry G. Nance. of the Government Indo-
European Telegraph Department, has just been
appointed Companion of the Order of the
Empire of India, Mr.. Nance is the inventor
of the heIiograph, or sun telegraph, to which
reference has lately been made in these letters,
as q practical means of communication between
the islands of the Hawaiian group, in default of
submarine cables. Another successful attempt to
establish photographic connection between dis
tant points, not Geographically connected, has
Just been made in the Indian Ocean, where com
munieation by sun telegraph has been effected
between Mauritius and Reunion. These storm
beaten islands are about 100 miles apart, yet
by the aid of two great telescope photographs Of
Col. Mangin's design, telegraphic connection has
been established between the plateau Of Ponce
on Maufitius and the crater Of Nefes
union, the latter being 1874 miles to- 3
west of Ponce. Recent 6o ST., y
aennoonet" ~ Experiments hay
transmitted ~ aamunication can b
neeti Zh@s ehisf Object SfsG Of the t6is Distance ssw soS s
e1on is for signalling the approach of storm
e from Mauritius to Reunion.
THE WESTERN PACIFIC.
Some time ago I stated that a Royal Commits
sion had been appointed to consider the presen
+ condition of affairs in the Western Pacific. wit
a especIaI reference to the powers exercised b
; the High Commissioner, Sir Arthur Gordon.
now hear that the Commission will hold it's frs
: sittings next month. and it is not expected tina
any evidence will be taken. tits also reporte,
, that Lord Derby viii shortly receive at tn,
Colonial Office a deputation on the subject o
the labor traffic in the Pacific. Strong evidence
tending to show that great abuses still disurac,
that traffic, will be laid before the Coionia
Secretary. At the same time some Official cor.
respondence relative to the High Commissioner,
Court IN the Western Pacific will shortly b,
published,
PERSONAL.
Sir Arthur Gordon has declined the Governor
ship Of jamaica, which has been offered to him.
Or John Pope Hennessy has been appointed
Governor of Mauritius, and Sir George F..
Bowen succeeds him at Hongkong. Sir Thomn.
and Lady Brassey left England last month ia
join their yacht, the Sunbeam, at Marseilles. for
a cruise in the Mediterranean On the 18th
instant, they arrived at Malta from Messina.
NAVAL AND SHIPPING.
Rear-Adnliral Lyons, the COMMANDMENT n chief
on the Pacific Sation, was at Aeon on December
9Th, with his flagship, the Swiftsure, intending to
leave on the 9Th instant for Payta, Galaeaeos
and Honolulu, thence TO Esquimanlt. II. NJ. s.
Mutine, Commander Edwards, was to accom-
pany the flagship. The Sappho, Commander
Clark, was expected at Coquimbo, from Homo
the Scout in the Pacific in 1875, has Just been
promoted to fagrank. Mr.. Isenberg, Of Homo
lulu, has chartered the Bremen teamship
Ehrenfels, to take out about 900 emigrants.
The Ehrenfels will sail from Bremerhayen in a
few days, for Honolulu direct. r r
] -LLAl.r ann IL a.:-A-- c.---- 49,.