The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-06-22


But to return to my companion.
"The present site of Honolulu was
selected," said he, in reply to my
question, as we walked up the street,
"about one hundred and fifty years
ago. The streets were formerly very
narrow and crooked, and remained
so until the great conflagration in
the year 1882, when 1920 houses,
or nearly the entire town, was de-
stroyed, the streets on the unani-
nous petition of the citizens, were
then laid out entirely new and
broad, and the large park which
you there see, (said to have been
formerly garden of the old
dynasty), was much enlarged and
beautified. Indeed the entire town
was resurveyed and rebuilt. Some
twenty-five years later, in the year
1904, another extensive conllagra-
ton occurred here, which destroyed
the lower part of the city. Includ-
ing the spot where my insurance
building now stands. The fire ex-
tended to the wharves and shipping,
and destroyed some sixty-seven
vessels then lying in the port. 1t
was at that time that our stone
quays were first built. About five
years after this, movement was
made by the Government and
wealthy citizens to build yonder
hourishing city of Heliopolis, dis
tant by railway about ten miles.
The population of our city is not far
from eighty thousand souls, while
the population of our sister city
lleliopolis from its superior COM
mercial advantages numbers over
100, 000."
can only give the briefest sub
stance of this most interesting con-
versation with my companion of
1860, nor detain the reader with my
many inquiries and observations OF
surprise at this, and that curiosity
that attracted my attention. The
population did not appear to be the
aborigines or natives, but mixture
between European and Chinese.
We had now reached his residence
"a most elegant and costly mansion,
surrounded with stately coacoanuts
and other lofty trees-whose interior
shone with oriental splendor and
comfort.
How long | tarried here, and en-.
joyed his hospitality cannot say, as
dreams allow no measure of time
spent, but next found myself witt
my companion on board train Oh
cars whirling out of Honolulu witt
lightning speed towards the famou:
city of Heliopolis. "This Railroad
said he, in answer to my inquiries
"was first built by private company
of wealthy traders, some 60 years
ago, and as you see, runs along thu
shore and frequently crosses the
water on piers. Originally it wa:
built with one track, but now there
are three tracks, and trains rur
every half hour. The same company
built the Oahu Insular Railway
which runs entirely around the
Island, mostly along the shore" A
the train dashed along we passed
several thriving villages On the shore
extending back and up the valleys
The houses were principally of cora
stone. The sides of the valleys,
noticed were terraced and covere,
with vineyard and olive groves
Hardly had my companion spoken
dozen sentences before the car
rushed under, an extensive depot
| where nothing but confusion pre-
vailed. Glad to get out, we strolle'
along the quays and my companio
resumed his narrative. 81 stated t
you before that this city was CON
menced about 80 years ago. A com
pany Of wealthy merchants wa
organized, and at the expense O
about two millions of dollars, cut
channel through the reef of sufficen
depth to admit the largest merchar
and war vessels. Stone quay's wer
built at great expense, at which thes
vessels can lie and discharge. Tha
noble ship which you see there is tn
Celestial Empire of 1000 ton
burden, being the smallest of lin
of eight packets to China and Japar
She landed here last week owe
1000 immigrants. Formerly whlat
ships visited this kingdom from til
East, but now none come from tht
quarter, but in place of it no les
than two hundred steam sailing ve'
sells are owned in this port, an
employed in the Pacific whal,
fishery. 1t is this trade in oil tn;
has built up this city, and made
one of the greatest commercial en-
poriums of the world" Here il
terrupted my companion to enquil
: what became of the oil brought I'M
this port. "That steamship" sa
he, (which you see there, is one
. our semi-monthly Pacific steamer
| running between America and Chin
On each return trip, they carry
America 10000 bbls each, whit
t pass over the great American raj
! way to England. Besides the abov
T we have lines to the Republic
Australia, to Panama and Sou
An,arico oil cnnterinu at thia nor