The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-02-05
from the Wednesday Express, February p
From Our Kohala Correspondent.
KoHALA, JANUARY 21st.
CHAs. NELSON, NJ. D.,
Resi- dent Physician.

koHALA, JANUARY 21st.
On the l1th and 18th insts, our district was
visited by unusual ~southerly wind and rain storms
the rain at times a perfect deluge, almos, every gulch
had its running streams, work everywhere being
suspended. AS near as can be ascertaiued the rain
fall for The two days exceeded Is inches, (something
more than we generally have in so short n time) we
have since had some showers with variable winds,
but the weather finally cleared on Friday last to the
joy Of all, and those in particular who had cane cut
but not hauled to the mill. The past week has been
a very warm one. the evenings cool and heavy dews,
just the weather for the young cane and the mellow
ing OF crop now being, and about to be, cut. All the
works here, except the {" Star are in full blast,
the Multi mill began this week, and b" Hswi' got
up steam yesterday, beginning with some ration
from the Beecroft estate. L hope in my next letter
to be able TO present some figures touching the yield
OF some of the fields of plant cane. Planters are
actively pushing the breaking up of their lands for
this years plant, some having finished the first plow-
ing in former years this work was not generally
begun till January or February, and frequently
much later. Planters are, however, becoming
wiser every year, they see that by early preparation
OF the land all the grasses become thoroughly rotted,
the young cane has a better chance from the very
start, while, OF course, the prospective yield is
greater. While on this subject it may not be I'M
interesting 10 compare the present way of planting
with that Of the past. In former years "a time when
this district could boast of but one plantation, I'M
less is included the small affair of DIR. Wight, driven
by water over the cane burrows Thea were run from
Z TO . feet apart, and the hills Of cane distant from
each other about 3 feet. 1t was deemed folly to plant
any nearer than that, for the (supDosedl reason
that the soil was sufficiently taxed, and that the
running OF burrows nearer together involving so
much more seed would only produce small and
weakly canes this manner of planting gave a Weld
CT from Z to 4 tons TO the acre, seldom however ex-
ceeding 3 tons. What a difference now The nlanter
Of to-day has his rows of cane but about 5 feet apart
and but a few inches between the hills, in fact.
practically a continuous row of cane here and
there will be found, in some of the fields, n shoot
developing rust, they likely enough had rust in those
days though | have never heard il spoken of. nro-
badly II was not identified. However that NAV be
this one fact stands out, that ms cad of . to 4 tons.
as formerly, we now get from 3 to Z tons, according
to the richness of the sol and the position of the
land fields much sheltered from our dry trade
winds, favor a much larger crop than those lands
upon which the wind has full play. The Chinese
appear to be pouring in on you very rapidly, socially
doubtless. the influx of this element of our perv
mired population is a sore evil to the nation. RE
cuperation" is a good word, but unfortunately a
mere expression in our case aud l fear that. until
our Government set 10 work in right good earnest
to remedy the evil by bringing those to our shores
who would be acceptable to all, few amongst those
who are sadly in need of labor can be found un-
selfish and philanthropic enough to vote us abate-
m-nt. Your paper has, time and time again
indicated the move necessary to be made for. the
solution of our social problem, increase of people.',
When our Ministry has fully aroused itself TO a sense
of the vital Importance of the situation, and action
as taken, then, and then only, may we realize that q
calamity has been averted involving in ruin and
extinction this Kingdom and people.
The Chinese spoken of in my last were liberated
Friday, all sound. We soon expect to hear OF ground
being broken for our railway. February is spoken of
as the mouth for beginning the work. Two routes
have been surveyed, the one beginning at Mahuko-
ma, and following the coas. line as sa- es Niulii
(near Hart and Co.'S Mill then striking mauka
obliquely and through into Hauakua lha ether
commencing at Multi (neaE Hart and Co.'S Mill