136 



HAWAIIAN GUIDE BOOK. 



OCEAN TELEGRAPH. 



The survey of the ocean bed between San Diego and 

 Honolulu, and also between San Francisco and Hono- 

 lulu, and thence westward to Japan, by the U. S. 

 steamer Tuscarora, during 1874, and the more recent 

 survey made by H. B. M's. ship Challenger, have de- 

 monstrated the fact that no obstacle exists to laying a 

 cable from the American shore, via this archipelago, to 

 J apan, whenever a company may be formed and capital 

 provided for this object. 



The Hawaiian Legislature, at its session in 1874, 

 passed a law granting exclusive privileges to the first 

 company which shall connect this group with the Am- 

 erican Continent. The concession includes the right to 

 land a cable on any or on all the islands, the right of 

 way over them, and the exclusive monopoly of inter- 

 island telegraphy in this Kingdom. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE WEATHER. 



The weather during 1874 was remarkable in sev- 

 eral respects. ISTot only was it unusually cool during 

 the spring, summer and autumn, for this latitude, 

 but the trade winds prevailed more uninterruptedly 

 than in previous years. The rainfall in Honolulu, 

 was more evenly distributed through the entire year. 

 Thus in June, July, August and September, usually 

 dry months, we find an average of two and an eighth 

 inches of rain in each month. And the total rainfall 

 for the year was nearly 53 inches. The average for a 

 series of years, as registered by the late Dr. Gr. P. 

 Jucld, at his residence in Nuuanu Valley, was 46:80 

 inches. During November there was an extraordinary 

 fall of nine inches of rain during one night. 



