The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1882-04-19
Laborers' Qua-ters
The COMMISSIONERS MAKE THE TOUR OF OAHU.

The COMMISSIONERS MAKE THE TOUR OF OAHU.
Messrs. Wodehouse and Cleghorn left town last
Tuesday evening, returning on Saturday, after
having made a thorough inspection of all the
plantations on the island. Their investigations
Oh this trip, were not confined to the dwellings
of laborers engaged sugar plantations, but also
to those of men on the rice plantations which are
entirely in the hands OF Cinnamon
The general condition of the houses on this is
land is better than those on Kauai. There is of
course a difference in the manner in which owners
house and look after their men, but as a whole on
Oahu the men are we'll housed, with one exception,
whereas on Kauai there were several exceptions
The quarters of the Chinese, employed by the
Chinese planters at WaImanalo were specially
inspected. 1t was found that they were in a salts
factory condition. The Chinese seem to have a
preference for sleeping i'll hunks, arranged in two
tiers around the room; this, to the European eve,
is al first objectionable but the places clean,
airy, and there was all the room required by law.
Outside the garbage was cleared away, and every
thing looked ship shape. In one or two places
further along the coast, Chinese plantations were
visited where the men did not have quite such
comfortable quarters, and one place especially
which was actually dirty. sugar plantation also
errs in this particular. Whenever the men have
been well cared for there appears to be no trouble
about getting laboreTs. Where no such care has
of men.
An interesting portion of the trip was the exam
ination of the Mormon settlement at Laie. Here
there Is no contract labor employed but there are
some 800 people on the land; of these 100 are chill
dren. The commissioners were told that the
births were in excess of the deaths. Forty acres
of the rice land has been leased to Cinnamon
There is a special clause in these leases which is
well worth the attention of landowners through
out the group. If the Chinese leasehoders are de
tected OF selling opium or liquor, or having any
improper connection with the women of the settle
ment, the lease is at once broken. This clause has
worked admirably up to the present. The Nor
mons deserve the highest commendation for look
ing after their people in this way. flowing well
irrigates portion of the land and smother is very
nearly completed: these have been sunk at the
expense of one of the Chinese leasehOlders. There
Is general air Of quietude, happiness and pros
perity about the settlement
The Commissioners give the highest praise to
the plantation at Malanae. The condition of
laborers here is thoroughly satisfactory. This is
the only place, they have yet visited where the
South Sea Islanders seem perfectly happy. The
labOrers on this plantation from three nation
alities, South Sea islanders, % men, 16 women ;
Hawaiians, 30 men and women Cinnamon. So
men and one women. Each class of laborers has
its quarters well separated. The lot given to the
South Sea Islanders, IS fenced off. and there is
enough space for them to keep chickens and
ducks, besides ordinary food, there is good sup
ply of cocoa nuts, pumpkins and fresh fish. The
quarters are clean and airy ard there are offices
manufacture fishing nets and hats for sale. The
Chinese quarters are also good, clean and have
plenty of room. The natives live in separate cot
tages; there are double cottages, and these are
allotted to relatives or personal friends.
The great want on Oahu, as on Kauai is suffi-
cient medical attendance Doctors are required
who will actually visit the plantations The COM
missioners feel assured that were doctors sent
around. lives would be saved. The mortality
among South Sea Islanders at one place, had been
very large, out of twelve who had contracted five
were dead, four were sick, and only three were fit
for work. At the same plantation, out of about 20
Hawaiian laborers, the death rate had been about
one a month. There are plenty Of ailments which
need attention, but which men do not care to 90
twenty or thirty miles to have attended. The
managers of plantations keep stock of simple
medicines on hand and do good work, not only
among their own men, but among the natives
around. People come from considerable distances
to get medicine from Blr. Julius Richardson
1t is interesting TO note that at Waianae the
South Sea Island aborers are liked. while at Wal
alua they are considered very poor and unfit for
work.
The commissioners note that in distributing the
South Sea Islanders, it would have been mnch
better TO have kept those taken from the same
island together.
The reports of the commissioners are looked for
with interest by all classes Of readers; they are
collecting very valuable amount of information.