| Show SANDWICH ISLANDS MISSION CoNDiTi CONDITION ox OF THE WG THE government aa A FIRE AND lis ils MENT NEW MEETING HOUSE hoube the following 13 ia 13 extracted from a letter from eider eide nedward rEdward partridge president of the sandwich Isla islands lids maslon to a friend in this city the report from the elders who are traveling on the different lalands lalanda are generally encouraging some additions are being made enough perhaps to make up for those who die or apostatize which is pretty fair if we can manage to hold our own in the present condl tion of the people I 1 think we are doing tolerably well the opposition of foreigners to mr administration still continues which apparently has haa but little effect however upon the present incumbents cum bents benta in office except mr preb pres ton the attorney general who was induced to resign and of course coarse receives the encomiums of the opposition press for his hib so called manly action the only visible result of which was to cause the appointment by the king of mr gibson to that office ad interim inte rimy rims who already in addition to the office of prime ulin minister later tater la Is president of the board of health president of the board of education and accredited with managing or mismanaging the whole machinery of the government squandering the public funds for coronation and other childish pastimes which bids fair to bankrupt the littie little kingdom or throw it into the arms of some responsible power who may have the inclination to reach out and save it from complete ruin of course a good deal of bombast is indulged in but past experience indicates that possibly there may be some substantial reason for so much outcry we try to attend to our own affairs and tod not bother about politics and na as a result are allowed to pursue the aven even tenor of our way without eliciting any particular opposition from anyone the old missionary party being out of power and influence with the government can only annoy us ns to in a petty fetty way that has no particular effect we we haxe have hwd had a dexy dry season I 1 the cane has suffered buffered for the tho want of rain rafn everything looked dry and parched with scarcely any water in the gulches for the stock laal last week a fire got started in the grass in the field which threatened the destruction of our cane the people all turned out saints and sinners bin aln nera men women and children natla natives and foreigners but it appe appeared ared axed that they could not subdue the fire the natives worked like heroes going on the burnt stubble and into the nire fire with their bare bara feet but it appeared that the fates were against us and the fire was within a few feed of the cane perhaps not more than two feet when tho the wind suddenly veered around j so BO they were able to get the upper hand of the fire at that point but bat it still raged toward the sea and was waa near burning a native thatched hutchen hut when all at once onee without ap parent preparation or war warning ninga a shower of rain descended putting out the fire and giving the people a good wetting which was a grateful consummation of the performance as many were nearly ready to melt with the heat hoat of the fire and their heir exertions in trying to subdue it bince since that we have had hird several nice showers Bh owera causing things to loob different ferent and wear a more pleasing plea piea aing aspect we aie are getting along slowly with our new meeting house it will be all we can do to get it 16 ready for ded leation by october conference but we want haveit to have havelt it dedicated athenas the people are making great preparation pa ration rations and there will no doubt r be many here at that time the event is expected to rival the coronation of the king in importance but you know kenow the character of the people and how easily they are car aled away by enthusiasm at times the elders all appear to benj elloy OY the spirit of the mission and are willing to labor in any place or in ig any man ner nor they are required to which makes it plea pien pleasant saut sant lor lon all parties I 1 expect that when the meeting house hoube shall be finished it will be all paid for I 1 must eoy eay that I 1 never saw a people eo willing to donate as the natives nati uati yei vei considering their financial circumstances I 1 consider it wonderful the cash donations have amounted to about for that building |
