The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-04-06
KONA. Hawaii. March 21st. 1S67.

hpNA, hlMdil, hdTCH <lSts IoOi-
To THE EDITOR COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER Il was
very much astonished at the tone of an article in
your paper of March 9th, signed Fair Play
Allow me to say a few words on the subject. Last
year when the Road Supervisor was in Kona and per-
petrated the outrage that KOna'' wrote about, /
was living there myself, and can assert and prove
that every word of the letter signed Kona" is
true, except the term 8 new road,' and even that
may be called a new road now, as there has not been
a road there for the last twenty years. In ancient
times when there were a large number of natives
living on the mauka side of the main road, on those
lands through which the so-called new road runs,
Kapiolani, the good old chiefess, had the road made
for their benefit but in course of time the natives
all died off or left the lands, so that there was no
further use for a road there, and it subsequently be-
came overgrown with bushes so that there was no
sign of n trail left. About fifteen years ago, the
anne private individual that Fair Play says
closed the road without authority, was the very man
that hired natives and with the permission of the
owners of the land cut the bushes away and opened
the trail again, at least a part of it. Kapiolani had
by this time inclosed some of her land, and built two
walls across the old trail which the Road Supervisor
has torn down, without authority or even permission.
And then the writer has the inpudence to say that
he had a petition signed by all the foreign residents
of the district except four. Now, sir, to show how
much truth there is in this part of his letter, there
were not over twenty foreigners residing in the dis
trict at the time, and | have seen and talked on the
subject with ten of those living here, and they all say
they neuer sac The petition, and if they had seen it they
would not have signed it, as there is no road needed
there. Again, he says, "Kona," in his letter says: son COM
ing opposite the residence Of II. B. Neville, the Road Supervisor
leaves the highway" etc. Now, Mr.. Editor, l can find no such
words in Z" Konas" letter as opposite the residence of Mr.. New
lille. We are all aware that this road, concerning which there
has been so much talk, was opened Through malice, and | am
informed that the part of it that was not closed by Il apioani
was closed by consent of the Road Supervisor, az there was no
SUBMIT to this outrage If the Road Supervisor would only repair
the road that is used and needs repairing. i came to KOna Il
few DAYS ago on business, and was really surprised at the con-
dition of the road from Napoopoo 10 the top Of the hin. IL is
actually cruel To ride a horse over it. As to the epithetsw which
Z" Fair Play makes Use of in regard 70 Mr.. J. w. Smith, they
are about as good as can be expected Considering the source from
whence they came. | have been acquainted with Mr.. Smith
for the last twelve or fourteen years, and always found him To
be a man Of truth and honor. If the author Of Fairplay"
was as good a man az Mr.. smith, he would perhaps attend to
his business a little more. 1t is true that Mr.. Smith would be
the last one that the author Of - Fair Play 5" would refer To on
any subject, as he would come too neal the truth for him.. But
/ must close for the present. More anon.
Respectfully Yours, HAWAII.