The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1886-03-09
Prospects of the Oahu Colonization Scheme


Among the recent arrivals here is gentleman |
from Australia Mr. j. Herbert Reeve, who has |
been connected with cultivation and sheep and |
cattle raising IN that country.
He had n through ticket to America but he !
determined to stop over on the passage and eI-
anime the commercial interests of these Islands
and after STAYING few day in Honolulu became
suuainted with the Land Colonization Scheme of
Oahu promoted by b. T. Dillingham;, Esq. The
proposals therein contained induced Mr. Reeve to
take a tour OF this Island and examine the pro
perties included in the programme. This gentle
man has Just returned after six days tour on
horseback and here presents his views OF the
possibilities and prospects of the success of
this scheme, SO these properties are
brought into working order. Having first visited
Honolulu freehold of 40,950 acres on the west
ern side of Pearl harbor about 10 miles distant
from Honolulu, he says: rode over large
portion of this estate which comprises some 700
to 5000 acres of deep aluva chacite soil situated at
an average elevation of about thirty feet above the
level of the sea- This plain which overlooks the
sea is composed of exceedingly itch soil having
been originally deposited thus by the disinterar-
ton of the hills, which surround this ranch, this
portion of the estate commands situation which
for altitude fertility natural drainage and
capacity for irrigation cannot be surpassed IN the
Pacific Islands or the Australian continent. Upon
this PLAIN grow many varieties of shrubs and
/ grasses which indigenous 20 this altitude and
locality and which quickly spring up into new
growth after rain the grasses of which are so sweet
that the stock never leave this plain until every
particle of food Is deyoured.
The soil upon this plain Is IN most places, to all
appearances, from twenty to thirty feet deep very
porous and rich IN all the constituents essential to
vegetable life.
This plain also possesses the advantage of very
/ gentle decliyity which furnishes it with all the
facilities for irrigation, these and other advantages
gives these lands prominent position IN the cul-
| tivation of sugar canc and may safely predict
that whenever Honolulu is planted and skiilfnlly
managed it well yield as high If not much higher
percentage Of sugar than any other part IN these
| Islands.
Immediately joining this plain are tho slopes
which extend to the uplands around the loot OF
the hills and upon these rising lands should estl
mate there are least 0O00 acres of culivateable
soil and account of the salubrity oil the climate
and uniform temperature the upands would be
| well adapted for the cultivation OF every descrp-
| ton of tropical fruit, dairy produce, and even
cereals, for which purpose these lands would be
wisely subdiyided into small holdings OF freehold
farms where men of small means may establlsh a
home and bring their holdings into high state oil
cultivation. On the lowest portion of this estate
are some hundreds of acres of exceedingly rich
deconposed vegetable soils which are well suited
for the production of nice, taro, and other root
crops.
brought TO a high state Of perfection and prod1c-
tiyeness by proper succession Of arteslan we'll $
sunk in jUdicinus places all round the foot of the
| hills surrounding this properly. From certain
indications and results already obtained by boreng
| am of opinion that almost unlimited supply
of water for all irrigation purposes can be secured
mon this property-lnd to supply this water will
involve the first preliminary and principle item oil
expenditure connected with the opening, settle
rlent and cultivation of this estate.
There are other sources of water supply available
l surb as building dams across the gulches IN the
natural watersheds and careful conservation o.
all storm and rain water on the same principe
rs adopted in Australia where arteslan springs ar
seldom discovered and people are entirely depend
eut upon surface water, which there Is ass
J abundance of water 10 be taken by pumping iron
a large swamp at the south eastern corner OF TIN
estate that there need not be any apprehension
as to the irrigation of this property
After spending some time at honouhuI, pro
, ceeded to the KRvailoa and Waimea Leaseholi
? Ranches included in the Colonization Scheme
| and / here saw some good arabic and pastur
lands with large herds of cattle and horses depas
turing in good healthy condition. In conversation
Q with the manager, was pleased to hear tnat az
cattle upon these estates are free from that dead
disease of Plura the scourge Of cattle breeders Il
u Australia Passing on the east of these rancho
and on the northern extremity of this Island IS
| freehold of 2O,0O0 acres called hahuku, on thu
4 estate there is very large portion oil evel lanu
. M an elevation of about 10 to 10 feet above Sc
! level well adapted for the cultivation OF nee who
: / rresume is one of your staple industrles-im
mediately above which Is, and at an elevation Q
70 about - feet, 4 large area OF gently nhuulatn
: lands which should estimate at 10000 to l2OO
acres: all this country is very thickly Grassed-
rode over this estate in company with the pFesel
excellent manager Mr. Lane, and was shown som
valuable artesian wells OF water Wlcn nas recenli
= ,een secured there, and am assured that Wnert
ever wells have been sunk, they nave always SUI
. ceeded in discovering water upon inc upper ~
= ton and on the sides OF tine NILS OF tnis eS.ae
tbere are orange groves and other fruits ylelaln
= I,-ndanilv of splendid fruit, some OF which nav
I never bsen cultivated by the hands OF men.
: smell prolific results could TOW from the unable
operations of nature, would leave your tssoei
10 estimate with what abundance ths naIFe {.
,vould Be crowned when the hills and valleys az
it cultivated BY skill and industry
One great consideration OF advantage In conne