The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-01-25
Leases of Government Lands.

CORES pOuQeuls.
Leases of Government Lands.
Mr. EDITOR: The "Voice Of the Ma
tion," under date Of January Goth, last,
contains a statement by Mr.. Bush en-
titled Lease and Sales OF Government |
Lands"
After spending half a column in ex-
planning that for the benefit Of the "poor
natives" he leased 1000 acres OF Gov
eminent land to the Queen, by private
agreement, contrary to law, for 800 per
annum, he proceeds to state that he
made other leases OF a similar nature
"among them was one to number OF
poor natives in Kipahuiu, Hama, Maui
This application was allowed to preserve
the lands to the old settlers as home
steads SO as to save them from the capi-
talists who were beginning to reach out
IN all directions. These people held
their leases until our present great home
stead benefactor came into office. He
was no sooner in his position before he
discovered, being lawyer, and mis-
sionary one at that, that lot OF Hawaii
ans had lease that legally they could
not hold, equitably he knew they would
not be permitted to keep it, SO he sum-
marty elects them without process OF
law, and il We are not mistaken, leases
it to a foreigner. So much for our pres
ent Minister'S love for the homestead
system, which as the election is coming
on, he finds it very convenient to adver-
tise and trumpet aloud through the col
umns of their newspapers.
1t is a refreshing thing in these degen-
crate and deceitful days to have man
make frank confession that he has vio-
lated an express statute, which he had
taken an oath to observe, and to find
that although he acknowledges that he
broke the law, he did it for the purpose
of protecting the poor and the weak
against the rich and the strong. But the
situation becomes somewhat complicated
when the confession is made out OF
whole cloth. Confession is good for the
soul, and am willing to admit that Mr.
| Bush made "other leases" many others,
without conforming to the law, but his
confession of this particular sin is entirely
| gratuitous, for the records of this office
| show, and the facts are:
| 1st. That Mr.. Bush made no lease,
either legal or illegal, to the "poor ma
| tives," either in kipahulu or any other
part of Hama, while he was in Office. He
| did make four leases without advertise
ment. % sugar planting friends of his,
two of which were surrendered in Janu-
airy, 1856, and two are still in existence.
I'd. No "lot of Hawaiians" holding a
lease OF lands, legal or illegal, in Kipa-
| hulu or elsewhere in Hama, have been
elected with or without "precess OF law, -
| from any land in Kipahulu or elsewhere
in Hama, since July l, 1887, the date
when | took office.
3D. No land in Kipahulu, Hama, has
been leased to foreigner since July l,
1887.
Having lightened his conscience by a
bogus confession, Mr. Bush Immediately
proceeds to load it up again by drawing
upon his imagination for another state
ment of facts, which he states in sub
stance as follows:
l. That piece of land in Hilo, suit
able for homesteads, was applied for by
homesteads OF it.
2. That the land was conveniently
located to plantation, and for the pur
pose of favoring the planter, it was put
up at auction and purchased by the
planter because his pocket was longer
than the "pOOr natives"
The facts are -
1st. That the piece of land in question
Kulaimano, containing an area OF 341
acres, has for ten years been under lease
to the Pepeekeo plantation, for $3.50 pei
annIlm.
ID That although the old lease ex
PRED last June neither the poor natives
nor any one else, other than the planta
ton, applied for it for any purpose.
3D. That there has been and now is
unoccupied Government land in this
vicinity in Hilo, suitable for homesteads
which the Survey office has been in.
structed to cut up if any one would take
it. A personal canvas by the local home
stead agent, in the vicinity, failed to fine
any one who wanted lots other thar
those now available. Two pieces Of lanC
in this vicinity, one containing $40 acre:
and the other 30S acres OF good lane
have been cut up into fifty-four lots anC
offered as homcsteads, of which twenty
eight lots are still untaken.
4th. Under these circumstances it wa:
not for the public interest to let the lane
lie idle, when an upset rental OF 81 ,30(
was offered, which at the sale was in
creased to $3.50.
9TH. What the object OF the "poo
natives was in running the lease up 81
high, do not know, but l can draw m,
own conclusions from the fact that upor
, the same trip to Honolulu they "bluffed
another party into paying them slOO by
, threatening to run up the rent Of anothe
, piece of land, which he needed, will
which snug little sum they returned t.
Hilo.
Mr.. Bush finally states that the Gov
: eminent has made private renewals o
leases of kapiolani Park lots by which
"acts of collision the Government ha
lost thousands OF dollars"
The fact is that the park lots ar
Crown lands, and not Government lands
: "The Government" has nothing to d
with the leasing or revenues OF tn
Crown lands What arrangement tn
I Crown Land Commissioners have mad
with the Park Association l do nc
, know. LoRRIN A. THURsToN.
HonoIulu Ian % 1890