GOSSIPPY NOTES.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 144, 4 December 1877, Page 2

GOSSIPPY NOTES.

{FROM HONOLULU.) , , Honolulu is the capital of .Oahu, one" of the Hawiian islands, a group of purely volcanic origin and formation, and possessing a large active volcano.- Oahu has, with the other islands, a population of about 40,000 natives, exclusive of foreigners. Among the latter there is a strong American element, who have succeeded in itnparting to the tone of the society of the island, the free and enterprising spirit which characterises that people in their intercourse with each otlier, and the world at large. The Hawiian group constitutes an independent kingdom, under the protection of its own flag, and governed by a native sovereign, and a House of Representatives, composed of natives and resident aliens. Hia jHawiian majesty, Kalakaua, has lately issued a proclamation, declaring the strict neutrality of his kingdom during the present war. There is communication between all the islands of the group, by means of a commodious local steamer, the Kilauoe. As regards climate, there isno temperature more equable ormore suitable to chest maladies than that of Honolulu.- The highest day temperature in the shade is 80 deg.; the lowest night. 70 deg. It is this slight variation, this imperceptable gliding of the day temperature into that of night, of night into that of day, which constitutes the value of this climate. You can live and sleep almost wholly in the open air with impunity. Glass windows are seldom or ever used. ~ French Sliding shutters, fitted with veneI tian bliiins, taking their place, and afford- | ing the needed privacy and protection, but ! freely admitting the air. About 10 a.m. the North-east trade sets in, and continues till 5 p.m., in a moderate breeze—a gale is unknown. Winter, or more 'correctly speaking, the rainy season f lasts frdtg the end of October to the end of Decetrrber, a period of two months. It seldom rains for more than 48 hours at a time ; a month's consecutive bad weather ,ia unknown. During rain the atmosphere is moist and warm, at about 70 deg. There is an excellent hotel at Honolulu, better planned and more comfortable than any I. ever found in New Zealand. The size and airiness of its public and private sittingrooms and corridors are delightful. Situate in a large garden, in the midst of magnificent algeroba guava, tamarind, and papaya trees ; the balconies shaded with beautiful creepers—it surpassed my recollections of many a pleasant continental watering place, the comparison being cony ■ plete, when, as on the evening of my visit, the king's royal Hawiian Band, of about! forty native performers, is permitted to play on the smooth shaven lawn, and the elite of the town and neighbourhood promenade in its spacious' drawingtrooms, or sit and lounge in its corridors and balconies. The cookery and attendance alone is not up to the mark. With a good French or Chinese cook, and ready American waiters, this hotel would be psrfect. Society in Honolulu is cosmopolitan, agreeable, and easy. There is a freedom from formality; and a desire on the part of the inhabitants to ensure the happiness of visitors, which strikes one a,s" a most pleasing feature in Hawiian hospitality. An instance of this came beneath, my notice during my stay. I was told that a subscription had been started by the residents ;to support the native band ; but that strangers, temporarily staying in the town, were exempted from the list, being looked upon in the light of enests. Comfortable carriages and good' riding hacks can be hired on moderate , terms. For those who prefer an outing on "the water, good boats are not wanting, 'lhe water in the harbour,

protected by the coral reefs from the heavy rollers of the Pacific, is quite calm, and the view of the town embowered in tropical vegetation and foliage, with its noble-back-ground of mountains, completed a scene which I had seen depicted in books of travel, but had scarcely hoped to realise in such perfection of lovliness, English is universally spoken, and so the visitor is not put to the inconvenience of learning a new language to interpret his vants or wishes. Running up from the wharves and landing-places are several main lines of streets, which constitute the town. These crossed and recrossed in all directions form the town suburbs. One only of the main streets is prolonged into the country. It forms the main artery of communication with the windward side of the island, rising 1200 feet in . six miles from the sea to the summit level. At this point, called the " Pali," the good carriageroad, bordered on either side by groves of trees of low growth, resembling the mangrove in the wonderful chaos of roots and feelers, by which they cling to the soil, ceases ; and is continued by a mule path of rapid and steep descent to the plain below. On each side of this road, called' the Nuanu Avenue, for a considerable distance from the town, are built the residences of the principle merchants and natives, charming houses and bungalows- i of one or two stories, in the cottage " ornee" style, deep verandahs shading them from the heat of the mid-day sun, and spacious rooms arranged en suite, to permit a free current of air throughout the house. Each house is detached, standing in the midst of a charming garden, in which grow the choicest tropical and other trees, the tamarind, banana, mango, cocoa-hut and date-palm, affording a grateful shade. A great variety of creepers, of ferns, of . beautiful climbing plants, give colour and charm to the houses. Numerous fountains, common to every garden, give a delicious sense of coolness by their lazy splashing waters. The trees overhanging the road from the gardens on either side, meet in> the centre, and form an, almost unbroken avenue of leafy shade, which the fiercest sun could scarcely penetrate. (To be continued.)