The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1890-10-21


ed with the explanation made by
Noble Baldwin the other day, that
the most valuable part Of the land
had been divided into homesteads,
while for the poorer portion the bill
provided that the Queen should pay
double the former rental. The bill
would probably prevent claim for
damages next session, and he was in
favor of it.
Noble Widemann read the law to
show that he was not mistaken. TWAS
land worth not less than $500 that
must be put up at auction, and not
land OF any certain rental as claim
ed. The value of the land and not
that of the rental was the question
with the Minister.
Noble j. M. Horner thought it
wrong for the House to repair the
consequences of illegal leases.
Noble Widemann was glad that in
one single instance an illegal lease
was upset. He hoped the hon.
member from Hamakua would bring
in resolution instructing the Min
lister of the Interior to go for all
illegal leases. They were as thick
as blackberries. Just one instance
was the sale of lot to H. Hackfeld &
Co., adjoining their premises, which
was 800 by 60 feet, for the magnif-
cent sum of $4,000. There was a
niger in the fence there.
Minister Brown related the his
tory Of the lease and said that it
was legal principle that if the
foundation was illegal any subse-
quent transactions thereon must also
be illegal. 1t would not be condu-
Give to confidence in the Ministry if
they should condone an offense of
their predecessors. He would there
fore be compelled to vote against
the bill.
Rep. Lucas asked why the late
Minister of the Interior did not try
TO break the lease whenever he came
into office. The ground of the at
tack on this lease was simply the
opposition of the late Ministry to
everything for the benefit of the
Royal Family That regime of Min
isterial tyranny was over, we were
now under period of justice.
There was not a member who had
ventured to assert that the land was
worth $500 at the date of the lease.
Noble Parker did not think the
lease legal so far as the law went,
but there was wrong In the matter
calling for remedy. The Queen
leased the land to Mr.. Cornwell in
1887, and the lessee had paid $1,000
or $1,000 since, but he had got little
or no benefit from it, as he was al
ways under threat of being dispos-
sessed. The House had rectified
several illegal transactions this ses-
sion; for instance,in voting to repay
certain firms for advances on the
Volcano road. Bet now when an
injured person applies to the House
to have his land restored, the objec-
ton is raised that the House is sus-
tanning an illegal transaction. Some,
thing should be done to prevent in.
justice in the matter.
Rep. Nawahi described the bust.
ness before the House as part of the
biennial house cleaning. Members
were making great fuss about LAND
on the slopes of Haleakala, but neg.
lected what was under their noses
on the west side of the harbor, where
the late Government gave a lease Of
very valuable property to the OAHU
Railway Company for one dollar {
year.
Noble Muller said the harbor leas,
was being investigated by commit
tee.
Rep. Nawahi said great bodies
moved slowly, and that committed
had been out four months withou
doing anything.
Noble Widemann said the hon
member was not speaking truth
The committee was not appointed
anything like four months ago. l
was not like the opium committee.
Rep. Nawahi said that was jus
where the hon. Noble was wron!
again. The opium committee hat
reported and named the guilty per
son. (Laughter.)