The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1890-10-22
THE LEGISLATURE.
10STH DAY.
TUESDAY, Oct. 21.

Noble Macfarlane was doubtful
about the legality of the lease, but
there were some extenuating circum-
stances. According to Mr.. Corn
wells statement his father let adj
joining lands at $75 a year, and he
doubted if this could have been
rented for more than the lease calls
for. However, he would take the
ground that the lease was illegal
1t has been stated that Mr., Corn
well has good claim for damages.
Even if the Government would
have to pay damages of S20,-
600 on account of breaking this
lease, he did not think that the
House could afford to make a new
lease after the previous one had
been adjudged illegal. He would
not admit that the late Minister of
the Interior was actuated by high
motives and a conscientious sense
of duty in breaking that lease. Mr..
Thurslon was personally interested
in an adjacent piece of land-the land
of Omaupio, situated in the middle of
his Haleakala Ranch--in the case of
which the application was carefully
pigeon-holed and it was not until
fifteen months after that the
lease was put up at auction, when
it brought $3.50 per year. In that case
Mr.. Thurston was not paying cent
of rent, it was what is known as a
"sleeper" on the land. There were
numbers of other expired leases over
the kingdom, including valuable
business property and sugar lands,
which should have been renewed by
Mr.. Thurston and at considerably
advanced rentals. Noble Macfar-
lane then proceeded to read list of
these lands.
Noble ]. NJ. Horner called the
speaker to order. He should give
his information to the Minister of
the Interior.
Noble Macfarlane proposed to
give the information TO the House.
If Noble Horner did his duty he
would move a resolution tomorrow
to have all the illegal leases of pub
lie lands broken, and the expired
leases put up at auction at once as
provided by law.
Noble Baldwin wished to correct
the previous speaker. He was
equally interested with Mr.. Thurs
ton in the ranch to which reference
was made. There were thousands
of acres there of which the outside
public had more use thar the NOM
inal holders. The land was largely
worthless for agricultural purposes,
and it was when they desired tc
fence portion of it for cattle rur
that, IN order to establish theil
right, they concluded to have it pu
up at auction. This was done ant
the lease run up to three or fou
times its value by Chinese and 9th
ers. Whether the slur by the hon
Noble was intended for Mr.. Thnrs
ton or himself, it was unjust ant
should be withdrawn.
| ltCP. cummings SdNS oOhlS Jaw
from his own experience in leasing
public lands to prove that the leas,
in question was reasonable on
when made. Opponents of thi
measure were overlooking grave
encroachments on public rights
such as the harbor lease previousl
mentioned. A few years ago 20
could get all the land on the Homo
lulu plains for dollar an acre
whereas now you could not get
for thousand dollars an acre. MI
Cornwell's enterprise had increase
the value of this land, and now a
cutlery was raised that he was ge
ting it too cheap.
The President, on motion ft
recess, appointed the following con
mittee on the Fire Marshal resoll
ton: Messrs. Lucas, Muller, Be
ger, Bush, and Spencer.
Recess from II to 80.
AFTERNOON SESSION.