The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1888-07-17
Thirty-ift Day.

TUESDAY, July 10.
The House met at 10 o'clock, the Presi-
dent, Hon. w. R. Castle, in the chair.
Absent: Ministers Green and Thurston;
Mobiles Wilder, Dowsett, Jaeger, Smith,
Bailey, Campbell and Wilcox; Reps. Hus-
tace, Dowsett, Kalaukoa, Kauhi, Mcguire,
GAY and Nakaleka. Minutes read and
confirmed
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
Noble Baldwin read the following:
Hon. w. R. Castle, President of the Leg
islature:
Sir-The Finance Committee, to whom
was referred the petition from Hamakua,
Hawaii, praying that the Government ap-
propriate $3.50 900 for the purpose Of con-
Quoting the water from the mountain
streams between the Waipio valley and
Kohala, into the district of hamakua for
the f1uming of cane and other plantation
and farming purposes, have had the mat
ter under careful consideration, and beg
leave to report as follows:
The petition is accompanied by an agree
ment signed by four plantation companies
of Hamakua, in which they severally agree
to pay s., $50 per annum for water to fume
cane, making the total amount OF S15, 600,
or per cent on $3.50, 900, the amount they
ask the Government to appropriate for this
work Provided, however, that should
the outlay necessary to furnish the supply
of water needed be less than $3.50, 900, then
the undersigned should not be bound to
pay more than a rental which would
amount to per cent per annum upon the
actual first cost of obtaining such water
supply.
6 per cent on the original cost, the Govern
ment to keep in repair and maintain the
ditch at their own expense, is too low
rate of charge for the water. The Govern
ment would be obliged to borrow money
for this enterprise at per cent, and under
the above terms might not realize, after de-
Quoting the expense of maintaining the
ditch, more than per cent on the invest
ment.
The streams it is proposed to conduct in
a ditch into Hamakua are located on
Crown land above the Waipio valley, into
which they flow.
Your committee are satisfied from evil
denee we have, that an ample supply OF
water can be obtained for the four planta-
tons who require water for fiuming cane;
also water for other farming purposes.
1t is urged that the Government should
construct and own the ditch, and thus re-
tain control of the water, that it might be
held for the benefit of small farmers whom
it is hoped may be induced to locate in
Hamakua, as well as for the benefit OF
plantations.
It is urged that the Government lands of
Hamakua, of which there are sew
efal, might be cut up into homestead lots
and sold to small farmers, who might need
the use of the water. and thus this fertile
region be made productive and prosperous.
The Government has already divided up
700 acres Government land located four or
five miles from the sea, for homestead pur-
poses, which have not yet been taken up.
The portions of Government land avail
able for homesteads are mostly on the
slope of Mauna, above the sugar cane belt,
and are at present forest and grazing lands.
The lower lands are mostly owned or
leased by the plantations, although there
are portions of Government land in the
sugar cane region that might be available
for HON esteads.
Now, Just how much of the Government
land of Eamskua can be brought below a
line of ditch that it will be feasible and
practicable to conduct through Hamakua
is entirely uncertain.
Until q thorough survey of the line of
ditch is made, showing how much of the
land available for homesteads lies below it,
it will be impossible to determine how adj
vantageous or advisable it will be for the
Government to undertake this enterprise,
and retain the control of the ditch. rather
than to let the plantations most benefited
by the ditch have the franchise of the
water.
lTo-oova- - Mill he Inaccessible to azfi
mate the cost of such ditch till proper
survey Is made.
If ii can be shown that such ditch con-
trolled by the Government can be made
profitable investment, and matter of pub
lie benefit, we would recommend that the
Government undertake the enterprise; but
as nothing in regard TO this can be de-
termined till q proper survey is made,
your committee recommend that Com