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Total..

1594 37,224 315 4652 2352 9754 278 2206 22,831 462 12,724 1084|

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HONOLULU A COMMERCIAL DEPOT,

THE peculiar advantages of Honolulu, as a depot for the commerce of the Northern Pacific, have not received that attention from commercial men which they deserve, and to which their intrinsic merits entitle them. To some of these we will now allude, in the hope that they may arrest the attention of those interested in the prosperity of this kingdom, and engaged in its rapidly extending commerce.

In the first place, we have a safe and convenient harbor, into which any number of vessels, ever likely to require accommodation, can enter, and be perfectly safe from all casualties of wind and tempest. This is a point of great importance to be known, as thereby the rate of insurance would be reduced, and the anxieties of shippers diminished. Our harbor is also of easy access, and vessels are subjected to but little delay in entering. Whenever delays occur on account of strong winds, those winds blow off shore, and ships can safely ride at their anchors, outside, until they can come in. But with a small steam-tug to tow ships in, no delay whatever need occur. They could be brought in in any weather. The southerly gales that bring ships at anchor outside upon a lee shore, blow directly in, and vessels can always slip and run in, even if they cannot stay to get their anchors. Almost every wreck upon our coast, for many years past, has been of ships bound off, and which did not wish to come inside. Our harbor, therefore, may be considered as safe as any other in the Pacific, and furnishes sufficient accommodation for a large fleet. At one time during the last shipping season, a hundred vessels were counted, and there was room for more. Another indispensable requisite, in connection with the commercial advantages of Honolulu, is good and sufficient wharfage, where ships of the largest class can come alongside and discharge, without the expense and delay of lighters. This, we are happy to say, is now being provided by the government, and will soon furnish all that will be required for many years, even should the business of the port increase in a large ratio. The new wharves are being constructed in a firm and durable manner, and are run out into from ten to eighteen feet water, thus affording vessels of a large class all the advantages they need for rapidly discharging their cargoes. When these are completed—which they will be in a few weeks-no delay need occur, as has formerly been the case, from a want of accommodation at the wharves.

Secure and convenient storage is another advantage possessed here, of great value to the port as a general depot for goods awaiting a market. There are several large and commodious warehouses, owned by the government and by individuals, of easy access, and convenient

THE HEART OF THE PACIFIC.

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to the wharves, where a large amount of goods can be safely stored. Some of these buildings are fire-proof, and others so nearly so as to render them quite safe from the casualties of fire. Should those now built be found inadequate to the demand, there is abundant room for the erection of more, in the near vicinity of the wharves; and such structures would be multiplied as rapidly as the demand increased. At present there is a large amount of storage room unoccupied-sufficient for the cargoes of many ships, and at rates far below those of San Francisco, or any other port in the Northern Pacific. Goods can also be landed and stored at this port at a cheap rate, compared with the ports on the coast, where labor is so excessively high. We have this fact from a gentleman, now here in commercial pursuits, and who is thoroughly versed in the details of expenses of this kind on the coast.

In view of these facts, and with the knowledge that goods can be entered here for re-shipment, subject only to a transit duty of one per cent., the advantages of this port, as a depot for goods awaiting a market, must appear quite apparent. If the late decision of the Collector' of San Francisco is carried into execution, we submit to consignees there, having cargoes upon their hands, whether it would not be a material saving of expense to send their ships here to discharge and store their goods, until a favorable moment arrives for effecting sales.

We shall, without doubt, have a line of steamers running between the Islands and the coast within a few months. By this expeditious mode of intercourse goods could be thrown into that market within a month or six weeks, and merchants there would always know the state of the demand, and the proper time to have them forwarded.

In addition to the above facilities, vessels can get stone ballast, wood, and water, of the very best description, in any quantity, and so convenient, that casks can be filled in a lighter or ship's boat from the hose, as it comes from the iron pipes. This water is perfectly soft, being brought from a spring some hundreds of feet above the sea, without coming in contact with the ground.

We are confident in the belief that Honolulu possesses all the advantages for a large commercial depot for the North Pacific, especially for California and Oregon, which will, ere long, be appreciated and employed, in preference to Valparaiso or any other port in this ocean; and where assorted cargoes for those points, and for the more northern possessions of the Russians, can be made up at the very shortest notice. -Polynesian.

FRENCH DIFFICULTIES AT THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

THE principal demands of France were, 1. That a portion of the money raised by the government for the support of schools shall be

placed in the hands of a few Catholic priests who reside there. This money is now collected and expended by an officer of the government, called the Minister of Public Instruction, and schools are thus provided for nearly or quite all the children on the Islands. 2. That the price of licenses for retailing French brandy shall be regulated by France. The object is to take away all power of the government from restraining those habits of intoxication among the people, which were once almost universal, but are now very extensively abandoned, and thus make an increased sale for brandy.

It will be recollected that Dillon with his frigate did not succeed in enforcing these demands. After failing to persuade the government to yield to them, he went on shore with a body of armed troops, paraded through the streets of Honolulu, went to the fort, hoisted the French flag, sent for the Governor and demanded the surrender of his soldiers. The noble Islander, in a calm and dignified manner, replied, "I HAVE NO SOLDIERS." Dillon's troops then went to work to do what injury they could to the public property, by turning over the small out-buildings, cutting down trees, and making obscene pictures, and writing obscene words on the walls of the fort; and, after other proceedings of a similar character, and destroying property to the amount of $100,000, retired on board their vessel. They soon left for California, and, upon their own account of their proceeding, the California papers spoke of them as pirates; and their proceedings were undoubtedly nothing better than piratical.

The Grand Nation has now sent out Perrin to reassert their claims; and, as the government has no military force, he gave them a limited time to save the town from destruction by compliance. In this extremity, the government has proposed to Mr. Severance, the American Commissioner, as it is understood, to yield the sovereignty of the Islands to the United States, and place themselves under the protection of the Stars and Stripes. It is also understood that he has accepted the offer provisionally, to await the action of our government. The Vandalia, one of our ships of war, is there. It is said, that not only Mr. Severance and Mr. Allen, our Consul, and the commanding officer of the Vandalia, but Gen. Miller, the British Consul, and all the respectable foreign residents, justify the position of the Hawaiian government, and condemn the proceedings of Perrin. And this brutal exercise of power over a defenceless people just emerged from barbarism, is disgracing France in the eyes of the civilized world. It is really a dastardly business.

France has no important interests at the Island. There are scarcely a dozen French residents there. The American interests, on the con-trary, are of very great and growing importance. Several thousand Americans reside on the Islands, many of whom are owners of large tracts of land, and are engaged in agriculture. There is always a great amount of American shipping in their ports. It often amounts to mil

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