The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1856-08-28
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY. AUGUST %.


Fresh WATER and fresh air are absolute necessities
for a healthy constitution. Wherever one or both
are wanting, suffering to a greater or less extent must
follow. Hence when any one is looking out for a loca-
ton to build and settle down, perhaps for life, his
first inquiry is whether there is an abundance of water
to be had, and secondly whether the spot is healthy
having plenty of fresh air, or is close, hot and dry.
If the latter be the case, he viii look farther if the
former, he will be inclined to purchase and lay out
his capital on it.
Honolulu, as We all know, is not the most desirable
spot on the islands for a large population. The eli
mate and fine agricultural country around Hilo on
Hawaii or Koloa on Kauai, render either of them
much more desirable as a location for the metropolis
U NE T~tE5aOnr,
harbor which alone gives to Honolulu its pre-emi-
nence as the commercial mart of these islands. The
town is located mostly on a once barren plain, where
all the ingenuity and perseverance of its residents,
especially the ladies, are taxed to adorn their resi-
dences with flowers and trees.
In a growing city like ours, nothing is more neces-
sary than an abundant supply of fresh water, where
it can be obtained with anything like a reasonable
outlay of money. It is a necessity alike to all, rich
and poor, but especially is it needed in the manufsc-
tory and the work shop, and all are willing to pay
for it in the proportion that they use it.
All the valleys near Honolulu, but especially Nuu-
anu valley, in rear ofthe town, possess small streams,
supplied by fountains of as pure water as ever gushed
from the bosom Of mother earth. From time imme-
mortal these streams have supplied the native taro
patches, which cover the valleys, and they now deem
the right of their land to receive the water as ina
lenable, and any attempt to turn it off as an infringe
ment of their ancient rights. To some extent they
are correct. But if the wants Of the town demand
that the stream be turned from its ancient course to
supply its inhabitants, as must soon be the case, the
rights of the taro growers should yield to an absolute
necessity, and the production of taro must be removed
to some more distant locality, where the progress of
civilization viii not interfere with it.
Seeing the necessity of supplying the shipping that
visit our port with what water they might require,
the government undertook the construction of a res
ervoir and laid down iron pipes to tie wharf This
took place in the year 1850 and under the charge Of
Mr.. Vim. Brandon. The work was undertaken orig
inally solely to supply the shipping, and with nc
thought of supplying the population Of Honolulu
and Notwithstanding the suggestions of several gentle
men who deemed the latter an equally important OBJ
ject, small four-inch pipes were laid down. The cos
of the works with subsequent alterations was $17
900, and the annual cost since has not been more thar
one-fourth of the revenue derived from them.
IN Juc luOHl1 VI ~ udi y5 4Occ5 tNO OhClHhlC
authorized persons wishing to procure water from thu
pipes to do so, fixing the rate at $25 90 per annum
and up to this time 40 applicants have availed them
selves of the privilege of obtaining their supply from
the government pipes, all of them we suppose payin:
the usual rate, thus yielding an annual revenue t
the government, aside from the receipts from ships
of 100000, or an interest of about Is per cent. Oh
the investment.
Before the experiment was tried, it was believes
that it would not be wise to undertake to furnish
supply of water for the town, and least of all that ma
tlves would ever dream of paying $25 per year t
obtain fresh water but the books of the harbor mas
ter show that a fair proportion of the persons no7
paying for water are natives. The pipes appear t
be tapped beyond their ability, for there is scarcely
family that obtains at all times the water needed
This is q source of frequent annoyance, and will con
tinue to be until a remedy is found. A larger suppl
of water is wanted Immediately, and it was a mistak
of the Ministry in allowing the Legislature to adjour