On a completely new installation, when we reached this line:
```php
Kohana::$log->attach(new Log_File(VARPATH . "logs"), LOG_NOTICE);
```
Kohana assumes the logs directory exists and tries to use it.  It obviously fails, so it raises an exception.  In the Exception (```php Kohana_Kohana_Exception```) constructor, it tries to issue this statement
```php
// Set the message
$message = __($message, $variables);
```
Because the framework is not completely setup the function __(...) is not defined... so we fail with even a messier exception.

To further address, the non-use of ```php HTTP::redirect(URL::abs_file("installer"));```.  Because Kohana is not completely setup, attempting to use either ```php HTTP::redirect( ... );``` or ```php URL::abs_file( ... );``` takes us into the error above (the method '__()' is not found)