The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-06-18

" CIeghorn celebrated. quietly at his
- home, the fiftieth anniversary of
his arrival in Honolulu. It was a day
of "reminiscences for him, and, comfort
ably seated in his favorite armchair In
his study at his beautiful home at Alma
hau, surrounded by the many relics of
Hawaii's past glories and industries. the
old gentleman smoked his cigar and talk
ed of Honolulu as it was half century
ago, when he arrived, a boy of 16, with
the world before him and only the weap-
ons of youth-courage and ambition
with which to fight it. That ne was sue
cessful is evidenced by Hawaiian his
tory, wherein his name appears as one
of the most prominent men in public af-
fairs during a period of two decades.
Starting wiz a humble clerical posi-
ton, he made for himself a career. in
the periods of which he appeared first as
a wealthy merchant, then as a success
full leader in politics, later as member
band of Princess Likelike, sister Of
King tKalakaua and Queen Llnuokalani,
and still later, through appointment of
the Queen, he became Governor of Oahu.
After a two years term in this honor
able position, he was appointed Collector
General of Customs, which position he
held until the overthrow of the monarchy
in 1888.
Since that time Mr. Cleghorn has lived
quietly ar Wa4Aiki, having retired from
active public life.
Mr.. CIeghorn is the father of the late
lamented Princess Victoria Kaiulani,
who. up to the time of her death, was
properly styled the heiress apparent 10
the throne of Hawaii.
The Ex-Governor declined to speak in
detail of his personal career since he ar
rived in the year 1851, and offered as more
interesting reading matter, description
of the present metropolis OF the Islands
as it was the day he landed.
Fifty years ago today said he, Il
ca me 10 Honolulu with my father in the
brig Sisters from Auckland, New Yea
land, arriving after a long voyage. We
had put in at Tahiti and my first i'm
preston of Honolulu was OF its barren
ness by comparison to the beauties of
Tahiti Honolulu would not now suffer
by the comparison, but nalf century
can make a great change anywhere, and
l think fifty years could not have made
much greater difference in any place
than it has in this city and its surround
ings.
I'VE landed at the foot of Nuuanu
street. where the principal wharf was
in those days, the present esplanade and
steamer landings then being all under
water When we left the brig we walk
ed up Nuuanu street At the foot OF
Nuuanu was the old custom house. which
is stin standing, being now used for stor-
age purposes; it was then the custom
house and also the place where people
deposited t;.eir money, there being no
banks.
We went up Nuuanu street, my father
and l. to cali on DR.. Richard A. Smythe,
who was a partner in his profession with
DR.. Rookie. living in the residence now
known as Queen Emma Halt and re-
Gently used a kindergarten. II was
then the home of DR.. Rookie and his
daughter. who afterwards became Queen
Emma
The place looked terribly sterile.
There was hardly q tree in sight. on
Nuuanu street just as We lett the wharf.
there We're few 10 the left, but this
was the only patch of green about that
part of town The most conspicuous
buildings r.ere the old stone church of
Kawaiahao. the Kings pa.aee. and the
tHo-story building, now the Queens res
idence, then known as Washington place
and occupied by Mrs. Dominis. mother
Of Governor Dominis.
LAS we came to the top of the little
knoll, about whore Nuuanu crosses Der
etania street, We could see up Nuuanu
valley, which vas as barren as the rest
of the landscare, although there were a
fart n "a gr he n he a
most conspicuosss being that OF DR.. Judd.
called Sweet Itome,' now the residence
Of Mrs. H. 4. 7. Carter.
"All over the business part of town
were grass htIts, with the exception Of
the few busi1ess houses of fcoral, adobe
and wood. Throughout that section
where the postgfice now stands and back
of il 10 King street. were the native
grass houses, and grass houses covered
the ground promfscuously. with their dis
mai gray roofs in perspective, all over
the village
The churches were Kawaiahao, Beth
ell Church. of which Mr. Damon was
pastor. and the old adobe church which
stood on the present site of the ruins Of
Kaumakapiii. then in charge of Rev.
Lowell Smith.
There was no such thing as China
town, there being only a few of the
MongoIans here then. and those few
were distributed about in the business
portion of town, being merchants.
"A few merchants were scattered along
Front, Queen, Kaahumanu and Fort
streets, the latter street then extending
only TO Beretania, and the merchants
being along the lower part OF it-also
along lower Nuuanu. These buildings
were of coral or adobe, and sometimes
of wood
1.-THE only part o: the city that has
remained practically without change is
Union street. The Roman Catholic prem
ises are still as they were, and the old
Monsarrat buildings, now known as the
Dowsett property, are Unchanged; there
has been absolutely no alteration along
this street, with the exception of the
walls, which have changed the appear
ance slightly; Wright's carriage factory,
which is now about to be torn down.