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



Among the recent arrivals here is a gentleman
from Australia. Mr.. J. Herbert Reeve. who has
been connected with cultivation and sheep and
cattle raising in that country.
He had 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
squainted with the Land Colonization Scheme of
Oahu promoted by B. f. 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 soon these properties are
| brought into working order. Having first visited
Honolulu freehold of 40950 acres on the west
| ern side of Pearl harbor about 10 miles distant
| from Honolulu, he says: / rode over a large
portion of this estate which comprises some 700
$500 acres of deep alluvial chalcte soil situated at
average elevation of about thirty feet above the
level of the sea. This plain which overlooks the
sea is composed of exceedingly Iich soil having
been originally deposited thus by the disintecar-
tion of the hills, which surround this ranch, this
portion of the estate commands n 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 are 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 a very
gentle declivity which furnishes it with all the
facilities for irrigation, these and other advantages
| gives these lands prominent position in the cul.
! tivation of sugar cane and ! may safely predict
that whenever Honolulu Is planted and skillfnly
managed 1t well yield as high if not much higher
of tbpry, ri
/ Islands.
Immediately joining this plain are the slopes
/ which extend to the uplands around the foot OF
the hills and upon these rising lands should esti
soil and account of the salubrty Of the climate
and uniform temperature the uplands would be
well adapted for the cultivation of every descrip
! tion 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 establish a
home and bring their holdings into high state of
cultivation. On the lowest portion of this estate
are some hundreds of acres of exceedingly rich
decomposed vegetable soils which are we'll suited
for the production of rice, taro, and other root
| crops.
An these lands may be made available and
brought To a high state Of perfection and produc-
| tiveness by proper succession Of artesian wells
sunk in Judicious places all round the foot of the
hills surrounding this property. From certain
Indications and results already obtained by boreng
! / am of opinion that an almost unlimited supply
of water for all irrigation purposes be secured
upon 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
| such AS building dams across the gulches in the
natural watersheds and careful conservation Of
| all storm and rain water on the same principle
as adopted in Australia where artesian springs are
seldom discovered, and people are entirely depend
ent upon surface water, which there is also
abundance of water TO be taken by pumping from
a large swamp at the south eastern corner OF this
estate so that there need not be any apprehension
as to the irrigation of this property.
After spending some time at Honouliuli, pro
ceeded TO the KawailOa and Waimea Leaseholt
| Ranches, included in the Colonization Scheme
| and ] here saw some good arabic and pasture
lands, with large herds of cattle and horses depas
turing in good healthy condition. In conversation
with the manager, 1 was pleased to hear that al
cattle upon these estates are free from that deadly
disease of Plura, the scourge Of cattle breeders in
Australia. Passing on the east of these ranches
and on the northern extremity of this Island Is a
] freehold OF 10000 acres called kahuku, on this
estate there is very large portion of level lands
| Mt an elevation of about 10 to 15 feet above sea
level well adapted for the cultivation of rice which
| I presume is one of your staple lndustres-im-
| mediately above which Is, and at an elevation oi
about - feet, I large area of gently undulatine
lands which should estimate at 10,OOO to 100.
acres: all this country is very thickly grassed.
rode over this estate IN company with the present
I excellent manager A4eAAfcf Mde SAO"A Soln
valuable artesian wells of water which has recently
been secured there, and am assured that where
ever wells have been sunk, they have always sue
ceeded in discovering water upon the upper por-
tion and on the sides of the hills OF TINS estate
there are orange groves and other fruits yielding
abundantly of splendid fruit, some of which have
never bsen cultivated by the hands of men. Il
such prolific results could flow from the unaided
operations of nature, would leave your readers
| to estimate with what abundance. the harvest
would be crowned when the hills and valleys are
cultivated by skill and industry.
! One great consideration of advantage In connec-