The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-10-26

dying fertility. Although too late to eradicate
the evil, yet it may be partially remedied.
fatal chronic disease may be alleyiated; life NAV
be prolonged, though radical cure can never be
effected 1t is in tine social and political sys-
tenn If we cannot now accomplish what should
have been done in lS4S let US do what we can
to arrest the fatal blight which is fast turn
ing the most beautiful agricultural districts Of
Hawaii into desert. The Government owns
many fine lands in the districts of Kohala Hama
kua and Hio. Let these be surveyed into sec
tiOns, and quarter sections, and even down IL low
a. quarter-quarter sections of forty acres each
let n minimum price DC fixed for these lands ae-
cording to their value; give pre-eDiPtiUe right To
actual settlers and encourage immigration. Let
the crown lands be surveyed and divided in the
same way, and though they cannot be sold, let
them be flrmed in long leases, like the school
lands in many Of the Western States of the Amer
lean Union-say for ninety-nine years to actual
settlers and producers. Then permanent popu-
htion will come into these Islands, who will be
identified in interest with them it will he the
ftherland of their adoption. They will bring in
dustry, energy and capacity for developing the re-
taried and fast deeaying of the Islands.
They will increase the revenue of the Government,
will bring permanent labor and laborcrs to our
shores of higher than the impOrtatiOns of
the refuse of the pirate vessels OH the coast of
China They Will bring men to open roads and
build bridges, because they will have an interest
IN public improvements, and thus lessen the road
tax and expenditures. They will bring popula-
ton who will improve the harbors, make moles
and break-waters, and thus increase the naviga-
nS. .I,a LIE Il tIo
They will make lands which are now unproductiyc
wastes, whiten with Sea Island cotton near the
beach, while every glen Will be made emerald with
rich fields and radiant with tropical gardens the
high inland benches will be covered with sugar
cane, and the chimncys and smoke of sugar mills
will rise over elevated and rich but now desolate
,nesas, where the wild dog roans after hungry
cattle. Higher up, beyond the region of the cane,
around the mountain slopes and bases, coffee,
fragrant than that Of Mocha, will flourish at its
proper elevation Wheat, rye, oats and barley
will yield abundant harvests to supply not only
these Islands with grain and bread, but all the
islands of the Pacific Ocean. The mill wheel will
be busy ON every stream, and the pcoplo of these
Islands will eat their own bread beneath their
vine and fix tree, without the necessity of i'm
portation- Then, in that same elevated belt, po-
etables of a temperate climate, will grow abund-
antly. Then, under such n system, the decay of
this forest will not only be arrested, but new
groves and trees will be planted, the sod will
again cover the Iarched earth, and showers and
moisture return. This is not a picture of fancy.
1t is a sketch of changes that have been realized
in other countries, and in less favored climates.
Let it be tried in earnest, and we will the
NJ. -. -. a.
lation of these Islands will increase to half n
million of people, with revenue increased in pro-
portion, without an additional dollar of expcndi-
ture, except the cost of the survey, sale or
lease of the lands, and the proceeds of these will
not only pay all of the expenses, but will place
curplus in the treasury, and the private purse of
His Majesty, in return for the leased CROWN lands.
We paused n few minutes at the residence of our
friend Harry it Is on u high ridge of land in the
plain, overlooking it from mountain to mountain,
and from the ut Kawaihae across the green
plain of waimc1, and the skeleton of iic dead,
and the withering survivors of the dying forest,
by the deep gorge OF WaipiO, to where the waves
roll against the iron-bound coast of Hamakua.
In 'front.' high up ON the side Of Mauna Kea,
among deep green woods, was the residence OF
John Parker, senior, the venerable patriarch Of
Hawaii, at Paauhau. Although, there are no
running streams, yet the irrigating showers and
dews from heaven, keep the yerdurc bright around
the base of Nauna Kca.
We rode across the rolling and ascending plain,
Of rich brown soil, mixed with land shells that
resembled uarl, passing herds of fat and fine
looking cattle, among groves of woodland and
green grassy glades, that looked like the parks
and lawns Of highly cultivated country. We
could not repress the idea of looking for deer
bounding over the green wooded and gentle hills.
The mountain air was cool, refreshing and balmy;
it produced feeling of exhilaration of elasticity.
Our pulses bounded with new life, and the widest
thoughts mad wing. Passing fine herds, numer-
Gus stone cOrrais, ,Mexiean-like, without order and
n noble bull that wouH have made model for a
picture or would have taken the prize at a cattle
show, we ascendei the green slope and alighted
in the bright cleaning of the evening at Paauhau,
the residence of Mr.. John p. Parker, jr. We
were welcomed with generous hospitality, for
which the dwellers of mountain regions ever
famed from the Swiss chamois hunter to the llama
keeper of the Central Andes. How grand, how
extensive the scene, How magnificent the
view from this mountain home of the venerable
patriarch To essay to describe il vain. 1t
must be seen to be appreciated. Far beyond
Waimea and Kawaihae, the ocean glittered under
n bank of crimson clouds that deepened and dark
ened toward the zenith. Like giant Phoenix
arising out of the dying flame of Its ashes, one
sladowy wing rested on Hualalai, the other on
the Kohala mountain. Sweeping the plain along
the KofaIa range, by the dark, deep gorge of
waipio, the surged up against the rocky walls
of Hamakua, the cast, while to the north the
dome of Mauna Kea, with the rosy farewell of
diving day on its summit, smiled over its belt of
cloud ard forest covered slopes. The evening
wind made music in the forest trees, and the wild