The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-11-30
IN ALL POLYNESIA
Annual Meeting Of Local Histori-
cal Society,".
VARIOUS REPORTS ARE HEARD
Remarks By the American Minister
Mr.. Percy S. Smith-Election.
President N. q. Emerson.

The annual meeting of the Hawai-
ian Historical Society was held last
evening at the hall of the Y. M. C. A.
Mr.. w. r. Castle presided and Rev.
c. M. Hyde was secretary. The visi-
tors included American Minister Sc
wall, S. Percy Smith of New Zealand
and Miss Teuira Henry of Tahiti.
There was a good attendance of mem
bers.
No papers were read last evening.
week from next Monday an address
will be delivered by Mr. S. Percy Smith
and paper will be heard prepared
by Mr.. Paul Neumann. The election
resulted as given below, both Mr.. Cas-
tie and Mr.. JOS. Emerson declining to
serve further. The former has been
president for two years.
President-Dr. N. B. Emerson
First President-PresidentS S. B.
Dole.
Second Vice-President-Co w. F.
Allen
Third Vice-President = American
Minister Sewall.
Corresponding Secretary-Prof W.
d. Alexander.
Recording Secretary-Rev. c. M.
Hyde.
Treasurer-Miss Dorathea Lamb
Librarian-Miss NJ A. Burbank.
Several reports on Ethnology by
Prof. J. w. Powell of the United States
were presented to the Society by Mr..
JOS Emerson, who was given vote
of thanks for his gift. There was also
introduced by Mr.. Emerson a photo
graph of the Goddess of Rain at Hilea,
Kau. This is large stone and the
name is Kumauna. Mr.. J. G. Searle,
a plantation head luna, made the photo
graph. There is a sentence always
used in mention of this Goddess which
signifies that when she declares it is
time for rain there is rain.
There was a call upon the New Zea-
land visitor, who IS an old correspond
ing member, for remarks. He said he
had been delighted with trips. to the
other Islands in company with his
valued friend Prof. w. D. Alexander.
He had been very much impressed
with the beauty and charm of the
| whole group and was ready to say that
the title Paradise of the Pacific" was
not a misnomer. He would wish for
| much more public occasion to tender
his earnest thanks to the many people
everywhere who had been so hOspitable
during his travels. He hoped to speak
| to the Society in a fortnight, but could
| not refrain from mentioning at this
| time something of the arrangement of
such names as Haleakala, for instance.
| The four words were run into one
| which was a mistake and which for
variety of reasons should be correct
| ed and avoided.
The new president quite agreed with
Mr.. Smiths criticism. 1t was erroneous
and confusing. DR.. Emerson also said
| that he hoped the socity would be able
to undertake the registration of Poly
nesian voices upon photographic cylin-
ders In his opinion this should be
| done without delay, as the language
was undergoing with time very marked
| changes. President Emerson also be-
sought Mr.. Smith, upon motion of Rev.
Mr.. Hyde, to convey to the Polynesian
Society of Wellington, the greetings of
the Hawaiian Historical Society. Mr..
Smith said it would be pleasure for
him to do this.
Mr.. Sewall, the American Minister,
being invited to address the Society
said he could not attempt to talk to
scholars excepting after preparation
upon specific topic. He appreciated
the honor of being elected a vice-presi-
dent and would endeavor to submit a
paper at future date as his contribu-
ton instead of g. speech at this time
He had long been undecided as to 8
subject, but now thought hewould treat
of the recent relations of these Islands
with others Of the Pacific Ocean He
: was in Honolulu when the Kalakaus
Embassy left for Samoa in the Kaimi
loa and was in Samoa when the com
missioners arrived and conducted thei
negotiations. Mr.. Sewall was yer!
> happy in his remarks and was ap
plauded.
I At the suggestion of Rev DR.. Hyde
! these members were added to the rolls
D having been recommended by the trus
}. tees: c. R. Bishop, corresponding: c
V. E. Dove, Consul-General Haywoo
and Prof. Edgar Wood, active
The report of Treasurer T. R. Moss
2 man showed that the Society was still
in funds. The following report wa
q presented by Prof. w. D. Alexander
s the Corresponding Secretary:
u Since the last meeting of this So
ciety. three papers have been contri
buted by its members. The first by on