The Hawaiian gazette., 1884-07-09

So THE Minister of Foreign Affairs, the
great Hawaiian patriot, has appeared in
yet another character, that of a land grab
Der and breaker of the law. As is well
known the lands on Lanai were leased by
Mr.. Gibson from the Government, very
little beyond homestead lot is owned in
fee simple. The first of Mr.. Gibsons leases
dates back as far as 1873, and was to have
run out in 1888; another was to have run
out in 1856, and the third in 1885, The
total amount of land leased was q, 1913
acres,-for this the lessee paid originally
$3.50 per annum. When the leases were
originally made land was cheap, it was be-
fore the flush times. Now comes the cream
of the story. In November, 1882, when
Gibson is Minister of Foreign Affairs, he
goes to Bush and between them they de-
termine to act in direct defiance of the
law, Chap V, Session laws of 1878, which
reads as follows:
'Section l. All sales or leases of Government
lands shall be made at public auction, after not
less than thirty days notice by advertisement in
| two or more newspapers published in Honolulu,
in both the Hawaiian and English languages, ex
cepting lands and portions of lands of less than
three hundred dollars in value. All such sales
| shall be made at the door of the Government
4
Minister of Interior, or by of his clerks, I'M
der his direction, who shall perform this service
without extra compensation"
Notice of sale herein above required to be made,
| shall contain full description of the land to be
| sold, as to locality, and quality, with re-
ference TO the survey which shall in all cases be
| kept in the office of the Minister open inspec-
| ton of any one who may desire to examine the
same.
In case application has been made for purchase
of Government land, and price has been offer
ed for same, the price offered shall be published
in the notice of sale at the upset price for which
the land shall be offered at public auction.
On the 23d of November, 1882, GIbson's
three leases were renewed for 20, q and
II years respectively, making them run till
the years 1865. Not an advertisement
appearing in reference to the same. Oh
course there had TO be some salve or CLAM
our thrown over the transaction, SO the
Lanai patriot made small advance in his
rent, amounting in all to $120. Thus fol
the very mookrate rental of $500 per an.
NUN, the patriot has secured for himself
q, 1913 acres of pasture land till after the
first lustre of next century.
This sort of hole and corner land grab
ging must show people, if nothing elst
will what an unprincipled man the pres
ent Minister of Foreign Relations is: how
self rules uppermost and the public in
terests are nowhere when they come il
contact with self interest As keen bus
mess man the Minister has arranged ;
very soft thing for himself. Had the leases
of the Lanai lands been put up at auction
there are plenty of people who would hav,
been glad TO take them at double the renta
that the Minister pays: but as man o
honor how does he stand with himself: h,
must look with self pity upon his be
smirched reputation, and as his underhant
dealings are one by one brought to light
he must hang his head in shame, that b
who has boosted so much of his patriotism
his love for the dear people, and his desir
for the public good, should be unveiled a
a very charlatan, hypocrite, Tartuffe
[ This land grabbing oppose shows the Min
lister in one of his worst lights. The Hor
j. 1. Dowsett is to be congratulated upol
the effect of his resolution which brough
this revelation forth There is more t
come too.