The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-08-10
The sIetcaIf Plantation.

Mr.. EDIToR-Sir:
The Advertiser 10 its issue OF Both ut, states with
regard to the sale OF the Metcalf Plantation that
out Of valuable plantation worth $50 600, two
three years since, little nothing will remain to
the heirs" And that "heavy commissions and inter
est have however swamped this valuable planta-
ton, as they have swallowed up others before it."
1t has been part Of ms business for the last two
years TO make myself familiar with the affairs of the
Metcalf Plantation, and have been more or less
acquainted with It from its commencement. think
! only state what all who capable Of forming an
opinion well admit, that there never has been a
time when that Plantation was worth $4,000 or
$4,000 or even 10000 Indeed it is quite ques-
tionable whether at any moment since it
plantation any one would before the present time,
have come forward and offered $4,000 for it.
AZ to its having been swamped by heavy commissi-
ons and interest il would be about correct to say
that it was swamped by heavy wages paid TO labor
ers, or by any other necessary expense. For the
last two years in particular can answer that both
commissions and interest have been very reasonable
indeed.
II NAV be as well to state that about two years
ago the heavy claims and mortgages on this Plauta-
ton were purchased by certain parties in the inter
est Of Emma Metcalf Beckley, to avoid threatened
sale at auction, and the Plantation has been carried
on in the mean time in the hope of gradually re-
deeming it, but the low price of sugar lately told
against it, and making up the accounts whe1. the
last crop nearly off, it evident there would
be a large balance against it, Still, there was good
prospect for 500 tons Of sugar for the next crop and
am inclined TO think that if all else had gone right,
the Plantation would have been carried on for an
other year, when if fortunate it might ultimately
have redeemed itself, and been saved to the heirs
but at a critical moment when all hands were re-
quired in the fields to fight the Hlo grass and weeds
forty three OF the best Cinnamon the Plantation
instigated no doubt by some of those who to
consider it a duty to dsorganze labor system
without providing with better, struct work Oh
some riyalous technical pretext and refused to do
a hands turn.
Now we all know that forty three men leaving
Hilo Plantation for six weeks or two months with
cane growing, and no immediate means of replacing
them means that an expected crop of 500 tons of su
gar may not turn out go tons, in other words, in
case like this, it means ruin.
In such 4 situation where delay is death it was
most fortunate that Chinese firm could be found
with the WILL the knowledge, the capital and the
manager all ready to take hold and purchase the
est in it for 50 large sum as $40 900, which happily
to the heirs the Oahu property and leaves Mrs
Beckley same profit besides, on her speculation.
It is much to be regretted that the children and
heirs Of Metcalf will reap the full benefit from this
plantation which the founder of it intended that they
should but it pretty evident from what has been
stated that the pursued the labor question
by the Adrerser and its confreres has had more to
do with the loss thus entailed them, than either
heavy commissions heavy interest.
In the last issue Of the Adreriscr there are further
statements, impugning in bitter and unmeasured
terms, the Dores of Mr.. c. c. Harris in the part he
has taken in connection with the Metcalf Plantation
on two different recent occasions do not profess to
know anything Of Mr.. Harris's motives, neither am
called upon to defend one who can answer 50 much
better for himself but in common justice, having
been perhaps familiar with the facts than any
one else should state that when, two years ago,
trying to raise the money buy up the claims
on the plantation in Mrs. Beckley's interest, Mr..
Harris stepped in and gave most efectual assist
ance that, before the Courts, in getting new Ex-
ecutors appointed and in defending the suit of Tucker
and Waller against Mecalf, he worked diligently and
often, and never received single cent He did the
same III tle Cdec % the
to by the Adrertiser lie also tried hard to get the
plantation carried for another year, when a sale
was spoken Of. In the negotiations pending the
close of the bargain for the Kaupakuea Plantation
where the Adreytser states that Mr. Harris interfered
for purposes of his own the affect Of his interference
was to obtain another thousand dollars for Mrs
Beckley
Now, when consistently lends his assistance
to a cause, under variety Of circumstances, and
with invariably good effect, to be told that he had
each occasion, different motive, other than the
tensbe Of giving such assistance, the proposition
becomes simply incredible, and one would hardly be-
lieve it his admission, much less on the state
ment Of his enemies.
It is pity that the Advertiser can not ventilae its
views, and cnlghten the public the questions of
the day, without sacrificing truth and fairness by
reckless statements, in order crafty feelings of
personal luminosity. W. L. GREEN,
Honolulu, August 9th, 1870.