The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-11-08

he Morrison ca-e--PubIic lands n nd Private
SuryeyorH

Nh. EDIroR-SIR In the -fireriissr Of the llth
instant, a long article appears purporting TO give
: the history Of the Morrison case" The Govern
men,, the Surveyors, the Judiciary, and Mr.. Parker
in particular. the writer says, have al had q hand in
using up Mr.. Morrison. The facts Is far n ! am
connected with the {" Morrison case on that so
much talked Of land " Paauhau,'' are briefly these.
Last spring, I was employed by Mr. Parker to
make a survey Of a piece Of land purchased 10y him Of
Mr.. Morrison, and believed at least to be a part Of a
tract of land known as Paauhau.
The boundaries OF this land had been established before ever
saw the Island Of Hawaii. My duty vas simply TO make a sur
to contain thirty thousand acres instead o. my thousand
Yr Eit0r. for the last twenty-five years. 1 have been a Land
Surveyor. For twenty years l have surveyed for the |. :. Gov
eminent, and nv name stands to-day Gu the list Of approved
surveyors for that government. 1 came 70 this island for health.
For Tie last var aud a half 1 have been employed a. one Of the
Government surveyors for the Island q Hawai-, and l nov defy
Mr.. Liberty or Death" or anybody else 70 point out a single
instance where / have neglected or exceeded my duty a 4 Land
Surveyor. Your eorTssPonient has a Erea, deH. S 81 iaG e ! o NJ mnI
boundaries 70 De- established" surveyed, &c. Now I think lie is
entirely Ignorant upon this subject Ihesystem adopted oy the
Minister o. the Interior. if not the best system in the world, GER
tainIy works well: show me any T'n.r country uhder me
wteh Islands, whore there has been :" little difficulty ories' hi-
lie says. appoint a Land Commission. If I wantel to curse
the islands / would say so too II any one wishes To know the
practical working ola Land Commission which Is not The highest
tribunal in the land, let them ask our neishhoT California. She
will tell him that it nearly ruined hei. that { set her back Tor
years. and caused money 10 be worth three per cent. per month
instead " one. louisiana and Texas formerly shared the same
fate. No man who has anything at stake and thinks himself
right, a. both parties in a land dispute always do, "H ever be
satisfied with anything short Of the decision oi Tue highest court
in Tia. land. The history Of Land Commissions IN other coun-
tries should he sufficient 10 satisfy any reasonable man that
they tend more 10 increase litigation than anything else. lnthe
United States they have shown beyond dispute THAI TIE only
ones benefited 10y them have been lawyers
Ihave no doubt. however, that Mr.. - Liberty or Death would
Ike 10 BE- appointed a Committee OF one 70 straighten matters
him this appointment and give him a yard stick' Of which
surveying instrument he Is perhaps an accomplished master,
and / have no doubt certain lands would increase Snha venge-
ance, particularly II they happened TO have a few unbranded
bullock on them. One would infer from his signature that that
writer must have more liberty or something desperate would
happeu. / would Ike to know what more he could have or
want than he has taken, unless it Is a license to rob a mans
pocket as well as his character.
Prom my personal knowledge, Mr.. Eltor, OF the subject
reatsi upon ~ that writer. II seems TO me that he intended 10
the whole matter.
Very respectfully yours,
U,r,,tua Hawaii October 1850. :. {. MLTsE.