The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1872-06-05

coast lines and the relative position Of the snnse
Islands. Land is the fnuudsiiun uf all tine pruper
IN tue Kingdom, and il il chiefly in the int rrsi a
landed property that official survey is called for
Such survey will benefit the country both by sup
plying exact information in regard 10 The lands o
/ the Kingdom, and by ascertaining and describing
I their boundaries.
At present if any one desires information respect
ing land in Of the less known districts, sucf
as Raupo Pnna, be is Obliged TO visit the spot u
person at great trouble and expense, and will then
too often find that the boundaries are indefinite and
unsettled. Now, suppose that at the Office OF the
Interior he could find map OF the district, show
ing plainly the location OF the land ~ winch he IS
Interested the adjacent lands the roads and princ
pal natural features the district, such ravines
forests rivers &c, how much trouble il would save,
and what aid II would be IN The transaction 81 bust
ness In real Such set OF maps would serve
az The best index TO the records IN the Land Office
and might materially assist the officers If the Gov
eminent in assessing taxes on real estate, and In
planning roads. aqueducts and other public works.
Such maps, together with the ACCOMPANY ing records
OF surveys carefully arranged and hcd IN the Office
would facilitate the registration Of land titles well
transfers Of real estate, aud would be cited Hs ev
dence In courts Of Justice.
The Commissioners OF Crown Lands would pro-
badly find them convenient for reference. aud The
Board OF Education might occasionally find them
useful IN managing the School Lands.
But the necessity OF such official SURVEYS more
evident when We consider tie character OF former
local surveys aud The state OF land titles.
The lands in tue Kingdom may be divided into
two classes First those which have been surveyed,
and the boundaries of which have been established
hy the Land Commission OF BY the Commissioners
Of Boundaries and, second, those which have new
er been surveyed, which latter class includes 10y lar
the greater part Of The large lands, called ahupuaas
and Ills
/ In regard TO the former class, the Land Com
mission, unfortunately did not establish any uni
form system of surveying the "kuleanss." The
work was done in hasty and fragmeniary MANNER
Of il by Incompetent surveyors, with defect
i've instruments, and without reference TO other
veys, and the result has been, ard will BE-, much
Troublesome uncertainty aud litigation.
No msps Of districts exist, and materials ont Of
which such maps could be constructed.
1t seldom that care was taken TO mark cor
ners in permanent manner, 50 that comparatively
day
This fact together with the irregular local varia.
ton Of The magnetic needle, makes il very difficult
to retrace old surveys. To put together these i'm
perfect and conflicting surveys is much more diff
cult than to put together disserleu map, for the
pieces do not match hut overlap in one place. aud
leave gaps in another AT the same time there APP
pears TO be general desire among the people TO
have a thorough uverbaulingn of the old surveys
and 10 have their boundaries settled lar US pos
sihle by competent surveyors.
Now il srems evident that all future surveys
shonld be conducted on a uniform plan, and con-
neced together as to form parts of one continuous
work. in accordance with the settled principle in sur
vryng TO proceed from The whole TO the paris and
from the greater To the less.
The only way 10 insure this object is 10 carry an
accurate trigOnomeirical survey over the Islands,
covering them with network OF triaugles, inca
'ured with rigorous accuracy To serve as skeleton
lr framework on which the local surveys are 10 be
BASED. The corners Of these triangles are TO be
marked IN permanent manner, aud will serve as
points Of reference for future surveys.
The true bearings Of these points from each other
'Cing ascerianvd by astronomical observations aud
accorded, will enable any surveyor TO fiTd the true
,earing Of any line in the neigbborhOod and the To-
81 variation of the magnetic needle. In reifacing
be lines OF old surveys pains will be taken to mark
be principal corners in permanent manner The /
rue Interchangeable bearings Of The lines will be re-
orded and at the same time the variation of the /
erdle, to prevent trouble in future.
Our plan is, first, 10 make an accurate survey of |
he ground il really is and then to place upon it
be lines actually run by former surveyors as nearly
s can be ascertaned, taking disturb bound 4
ries of long standing as little as possible. In do
~ this IL will be in the poweref a surveyor who !
assesses the confidence Of the community TO settle /
lany disputes aud prevent much litigation, as rx-
erience has shown. In cases where II is not in the
lrveyor's power TO settle boundary dispute, be
an do much by collecting exact information and
uttng it psper to place the facts in clear light
eure the COMMISSIONERS or higher Court
II. But by far the greater part OF the land in this
ngdom has not beesn uryeyed al all. Most, ifnutal
the larger divisions OF land have been granted by
anne merely, and notwithstanding the appointment
+ Boundary Commissioners in accordance with the
CT of 1865, but few of the owners of these lands
nts who know the Traditional boundaries are fast
wing out, and every years delay makes it more dit
cult to obtain satisfactory evidence the subject
his neglect is sowing the seeds Of endless litigation
the future, and is leaving door wide open for /
aud.
The experience of California. not TO mention
Their States, Is warning to us TIE population Of
lat State would be double what IL is 10 day had the
nd titles been on i sound basis. Those who held
nd at The conquest. by virtue Of Mexican grants |
ere obliged TO through twelve years of litigation
the I. 5. Courts 10 prove their titles 10 carry /
vexatious contests with INSCRIPTIONS squpitrrs,
ID then TO undergo another ordeal to have their
,undaries settled For particulars Hittei's Re
urces OF California.
The sooner the boundaries of ahupuaas are set lei
Il better it will be for all concerned, but no class
persons more deeply interested in having This
me at an carly day than the hereditary Aliis o this
ingdom. The present Is the best time for them 10
we definitely settled the boundaries OF the lands
hich they have inherited from their ancestors.
d which they wish to bequeath uuimpaired TO
cir successors.
Whether any improvement can be made in the
achinery established by the Act Of 1865 settling
'undaries, this is not the place TO inquire. By its
DIVISIONS all owners OF lands whose boundaries
all not have been settled before July, 1873, may
Obliged TO have them settled by the Boundary
and 10 pay double ices. To facilitate
{ settlement Of these boundaries the Government
rvey has been undertaken. aud without il there is
~ little prospect that II will ever be accomplished
part ui an official survey OF the country these
undsries eau be surveyed with Infinitely more .
&c and uracy than il they were surveyed piece
ri by private surveyors, and at far less expense
The money paid by the common people To Gov
lment tor the survey OF their kueauas was pro-
bly, sufficient TO have paid for a irigonomeiricul
rvey of the whole county,
oFFcEThe number Of letters received and forwarded
the General Post Office will be found bellows also the work
be Post Office m the biennial period just closed compared
the period ending March Slst 1870 The expenditures
e been s2i46 and the receipts $l7sOo showing debit