Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-01-06

llaNt any IltltAtAllonN AZ All bttu made 10 tic
ieni their interests in case OF absolute ne
crssty'
OUH H.fTER SEppLT
In cur last issue We advercd to the fact that
the lower portion OF the slope under Punch.
bowl llill between the stone quarry NJ Mt.
I.ishmAn and the upper end Of Emma street,
was being rapidly settled that new lots were
bcing constantly measured out, and that new
buildings wcrcbcing constantly crcctcdthcrcun.
Now, while, as We have said before, it may he
pleasing to note such marks of an increasing
population, there are other considerations in.
yolycd in the subject referred to not less
worthy Of our thought, though certainly less
pleasant to contemplate. Loud and repeated
complaints haycsbccn freely uttered about the
already scanty water supply Of the town and
before the supply had been tapped to any eS.
tent to meet the needs OF this recent bu, fast
increasing settlement, the scarcity OF water in
the pipes about town had become, upon oc-
ehsions, almost alarming. Little gardens OF
become almost waste, while in one notable in.
stance the supply was SO small as to render in
chcc,ual all attempts of the FIRE companies to
get water to burning buildings, which, in all
probability, would have been saved with a
comparatively small loss had the condition OF
the water supply been otherwise. But, not.
withstanding its knowledge Of such facts and
their dangerous import, the Government still
continues to grant new privileges, whenever
and wherever asked for, at the same time it is
utterly lc,haIgic of all endeavor to increase the
supply in correspondence with the augmented
and still increasing drain.
Under the present reign, rfstHhe seems to he
the only object worthy of consideration. be.
sides the orgination of tawdry and unworthy
objects upon which that revenue may be'spentj
and this seems to be the basis upon which the
workings of the water works, in common with
those of other departments, are carried out.
Were this not the case in the instance referred
to, it is difficult TO conceive how the Govern.
ment could attempt TO Justify its action. 1t
seems to us simply fraud practiced by govern.
ment upon those with whom it has already con.
tracted TO supply, knowing, rs it does, that
that supply during certain seasons is often
dangerously Scant and the sooner the public
look the matter reSolutely in the face the bet
ter. This is but one of many modes by which
the Hawaiian Government, of late, has sought
nd Ia fa hA nF
pie, and it may well be characterized as the
most unjust of all. The town, in its center, as
well rs in the suburbs,is being rapidly built up,
mostly of wooden structures, and the danger
from large and destructive confiagrations is
thus being every day proportionally increased,
while the water supply is being daily dimin-
ished by the addition Of new taps and is ii
not to be supposed that insurance companies
will fail TO recognize the fact and make it ap.
ply in fixing their rates Of insurance
Means have before been suggested by which
the supply Of water could be greatly increased
and made adequate for every present need
been too busy with coronation affairs, and such
like display, to attend TO the actual needs
until the discomfort Of district famished fol-
want of water shall assume the proportions o
an emergency eompeiiing them to act, 1t has
been suggested that a number of artesian well.
be sunk in town, by the Government, 10 sup,
plement the supply from the reservoirs; that
these be connected together and with the
pipes from the reservoirs, and that by steam
pumping, either through additional reservoir:
OF directly applied to the connecting pipes, {
uniform pressure be induced, equal 10 thai
from the main reservoirs. The difficulties If
the way Of such system could be readil,
overcome, and it is estimated that the cos
would not be excessive. Something of thi
kind mnSt, sooner or later, be done TO meet ou
growing needs, and the cost, whatever it be
should be a question Of secondary consider
alton only. We deem this question Of al
adequate water supply for the town one Of i'm
mediate and paramount importance, and an,
delay of its proper consideration fraught with
danger to the community.
Reverting again to the settlement unde
Punchbowl, we would state that the lane
spoken Of is Crown land, the proceeds from
the rentals Of which SO to the Kings private
purse. The land has been measured out il
numerous small lots and rented for shor
periods, mostly to Portuguese, upon an under
standing that a supply of water could be go
from the pipes. Possibly this fact is suiiicien
to account for the readiness with which tn
Government has granted new privileges, not
wiihstanding the knowledge that privileges 5.
granted would add to the deprivation alread
seriously felt by the town.