The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-05-11
TIE PACIFIC
SATURDAY Y. MAY II.
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
MAKAwAo, MAUI, APRIL "a. 1873.

Tue journey OF some fifteen miles was perf0rme
on horseback and as we proceeded leisurely
the Waikiki mill we come to kahului, the por
OF this district, when there is a collection O
storehouses on the sand beach and a landing
stage. There is a good anchorage here, protec
ted IN ordinary weather from breakers by
line of reef to the windward. As we were goine
10 call at Haiku on the way, our road from
hahului lay for several miles along a sand
beach of dazzling brightness and among sand
hills blown up by the wind. At Hamakuapoko
on a bit Of plain skirted by the sea beach We
came upon a fine field of young cane, 60 acres il
extent, belonging to Mr.. Jas. NJ. Alexander,
and irrigated by a stream Of water all the way
from the heights of Mt. Haleakala, twenty miles
away. This was our first introduction to the
results of the
"BIG DITCH
OF East Maui, the pioneer enterprise in irriga.
ton on a large scale, on these Islands.
1t was a very gratifying sight to observe the
sparkling mountain water, brought by human
enterprise, skill and industry SO many miles
from Its source, gushing forth on it's heaven-sent
mission of enrichIng and identifying the hitherto
barren plain. From this point to where the
gulch or ravine of Maliko debouches on to the
sea-shore, the road ascends over apparently
fertile lands capable of being plowed, though
they are now used for grazing only. The cattle
we saw appeared to be in fair order, though
N~J WV AAOSHy OACh II JUL 10
rest. We here saw the result upon forests of
cattle. Near the roadside Il grove of trees
pride of India, Eucalyptus and other kinds
had been planted some years ago, in long
straight lines, and had grown to a pretty even
height of twelve to fifteen feet. But now the
cattle were turned loose to pasture on these
broad plains, and see the result. Over half
the trees are withercd and dead, and the remain
der, stripped of bark by the cattle, are fast
going the same way.
a couple of miles this side of the mill build
ing of Haiku Plantation we came to the
HARBOR OF MALIKo,
where the sugar is shipped to Honolulu and
where supplies are landed. 1t is formed by
the great gulch Of Maliko, which, starting
away up on the side Of Haleakala, deeply i'm
dents the district TO the seashore. The scene
from the top of the gulch, as we suddenly came
upon it along the table land, was very fine.
The sides were precipitous, say three hundred
feet to the narrow strip of level ground at the
bottom, reached by a winding road, up and
down which Ox-teams were slowly vending
their way. A store-house and a few native
dwellings surrounded by sweet potato patches
and cocOanut trees were under the bluffs on
each side, and through the centre ran a rivulet,
that by the water-marks, becomes quite a stream
in rainy weather. There is a landing stage
with a crane for loading and unloading merchan-
disc. The harbor is formed by a reef that runs
a short distance from the Eastern bluff, inside
which is a buoy for vessels to tie up to. The
anchorage is safe in moderate weather but it
Is open to the trades, and when these yeer to
the Northward and blow strong, it is not very
safe for a vessel to lie here.
a couple of miles beyond the gulcb. tbrouoh
fields of waving cane in various stages of growth.
we come to the buildings of the
HAIKU PLANTATION,
where Mr.. S. L. Alexander, the eneroetic and
enterPrlslng manager, receives us Hospitality and
This gentleman is one of those en-
planters who believe in tree-nlanting
ana we see the evidences Of this around Haiku,
There are thousands of the different varieties
OF Eucaiyptus-but mostly the blue quinn
sight OF the milI-building, planted in groves and
ON each side of the road. The tree appears to
thrive well here, and stands the strong trades
like the sturdy pine. We will not undertake
TO say that the presence of groves of trees had
anything to do with it,-but they had a nlentv
Of showers of rain at Haiku all this spring. and
on the day of our visit the mud on the roads
was ankle deep. And the country all about
here was clothed in emerald green, while lone
stretches of a lighter color Indicated the cane
of gold, and all surface dIggings.
Haiku has one thousand acres of cane nIanted
winch ought to turn out over a half a million
lollars worth of sugar for 1883. 1t must
De remembered that here they have the water
rom the mountain for irrigation. Mr.. Alexan-
Ter very oblIgIngly accompanied us a mile or
.wo above the mill to inspect the water ditch
Shere 1t crosses the big gulch. This was an
ENGINEERING FEAT
II no small magnitude, when the fact is CON-
ldered that all the materials for the work had
o be brought long distances over difficult roads
t a heavy cost. The ditch above the ouIcb
S three feet wide and five deep, and when we
aw 1t was full within a few inches and flowing
apldly. There was, IN fact, more water than
vas needed at the time, and uuite a stream of
urDlUEa Dn WAS rnnnInn RI Yuoeto d. II
We could but speculate-what would the
rought-strlcken planters of Kau give for such
stream as is here thrown aWayl A few rods
the road along the edge Of a cane-feld and
re come to the great 1" hole in the ground =
ne .gnrlch-and standing on the brink of the
reclPIce we see on the opposite side the
me OF iron piping running with a slipbt angIa
, the top. From the bottom of the gulcb To
ne outlet into the ditch at the top. is a distance
no less than four hundred and fftv-eiobt
The piping measures % inches on the
lside, and is OF sheet iron. 1t was imported
ON California in convenient lengths, and put
'sether here. This gulch is the principal one
q the route from the mountain source. but
lere are some nine others crossed bv similar
ping, that are from one to two Thousand foot
'ch across. Besides the crossing of ravines
were tunnels made through bills. in some
stances three hundred feet in length. This
and neutrality-suspicious. for these Islands-was
i"e eiSuIeeh months IN process OF construction.
nploylng several hundred men, and cost some l.
ing over $3.50, 000-about twice the amount
at was estimated at the outset. But it is
worth all 1t has cost. In fact, it constitutes
r the plantations in this section-Haiku.
lldwln s, and Sharratt's-a mine of wealth.
surer for returns than would be an interest
any OF the silver mines of Nevada.
Leaving Haiku and its water-works we cross A
e gulch some miles further inland and are
ortly IN M~akawaO, and in sight of the Female
minary and the Boys Boarding School, both
situated above the main road. To :
, left are the broad cane fields QOOO acresl
M. Akana, an enterprising Chinese resident,
10 will erelong erect a mill and works, al
'dy ordered from Glasgow, through Mr.. Wat
"of that ilk," who lately visited the islands.
heard also of another mill ordered through a
same gentleman, for Mr.. W. F. Mossman =
/ associates. who are interested in cane Gull
e in Makawao. :
This is a fine district in every respect, both for
purposes and for salubrity. There
room and to spare for large enterprises in IT
ar culture-a rich, deep soil. The elevation |
ures a cool, bracing atmosphere, inducing
God annette and sound SIoap CO Al a.