The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1890-09-23

The House proceeded TO the Order OF
the Day, consideration OF the Appropri-
alton Bill in committee OF the whole.
Rep. Kapaehaole in the chair.
Item for the Volcano Road.
Noble ]. NJ. Horner moved il pass as
recommended by the committee. The
committee report was read.
Rep. Il. w. Wilcox wanted to know
what good the road was going to do. II
would cost more than $4,000 and
would be chiefly for the convenience OF
travellers. 1t would be better for the
House to consider the item of SIS, 900
separately from the other.
Rep. Rickard for one believed that a
great deal OF money had been spent on
the Volcano Road injudiciously. Ii the
road had not been begun, it would have
been better to leave it as it was. The
work had been we'll done, but had cost
more than it ought to have. Now that
the road. had been begun, however, it
was for the interest of the country to fin
ish it. He was told that lands which
were almost worthless had increased in
value ten times since the rosd was built.
The country had more to gain IN this
way than from increased tourist travel,
though that too should be considered.
The speaker went on to show that the
forests on each side should bepreserved.
Otherwise it would have been better to
leave the road as it was before. 1t would
ne anything but an Improvement if this
beautiful shade was destroyed. He would
favor $55 900, as in the bill, including, of
course, the $4,000 already expended,
but first he would favor reference to
special committee to confer with the land
owners with view to securing the pre-
servation of the forests.
Rep. Kanealii agreed with the hon.
member from Hamakua, but he favored
appropriating the amount borrowed sepa-
rately. The Cabinet might not have had
the right to borrow that money, but it
ought to be paid nevertheless. He did
not favor finishing the road this session,
but let So, 900 simply be appropriated,
the balance to be used on the road after
the money borrowed has been paid. The
ministry had no right to borrow the
money, but the people who lent it did so
in good faith desiring to assist the Gov
ernment.
Noble Macfarlane said so far as the
report of the select committee goes they
were little out in their estimates as to
the cost of completion. The last esti-
mates of the Superintendent OF Public
Works show that $S6, 900 will be needed.
1t will be to the public advantage to COM
plete the road 1t was never expected
that the road would cost so much Mr..
Lee did not intend building the road on
the extravagant scale which has been
adopted 1t would have been built very
much as his own Volcano Road has been.
The present minister informs me that
the rest of the road will be more eco
nomically built. / think the road should
be completed as fast as possible. As long
as it is not finished it does not attain the
end desired. l am not in favor Of any
postponement. So far as the borrowing
of this money was concerned, l think the
money was advanced with the feeling
that it would have been mistake to let
the road lie idle. As to the policy of re-
funding the money, | am willing to be
guided by the opinion of the members.
They advanced it in good faith, but they
took their chances, knowing that the
Minister had no right to borrow it. With
regard to the protection of forests, if it is
true that the forests are being destroyed,
the great object OF this road will be lost.
The picturesqueness of the route is its
great advantage. The great superiority
of the Hilo route is in this particular, and
if it is true that the forest is being de-
stroyed, the matter ought by all means
to be referred to special committee. |
do not think too severe structures have
been made by the Finance Committee on
this road considering the fact that it was
not expected to cost more than $50 200.
If this road is so fine, why is it that peo-
pie are nearly drowned on it. Several
have been. Mr. Vogel got into fourteen
feet of water, aud had to swim for his
life.
Rep. Brown said the committee in re-
about $4,000 for the COM
pletion of the road base their calculations
on the cost OF the road already completed.
If it is true that the road has been ex-
built, this amount will prob
ably be sufficient. As to the destruction
of forest, nothing can be done. We have
no forestry law. Ii these people own
the lands, they cannot be hindered from
cutting the trees. If they hold under
leases forbid6ing tree cutting, the lessor
can stop It. There is no use in referring
to another committee. The road has no
more forest to pass through, except what
belongs to the Government. think the
money advanced by merchants should
be paid, but the items should be sepa-
rated. move the item pass as in the
bill, $50 700.
Noble Burchardt said there was of
course no doubt that landowners had
right to cut wood, but in doing so the
landowners (or landowner) was acting
contrary to the wishes of the community
md pressure could be brought to bear on
him.
Minister Spencer thought the road
,ould be finished for $55, 900. He would
suggest that the Minister of the Interior
De instructed to stop the destruction of
he forest.
Noble Baldwin thought the Finance
Committee were mistaken in their esti-
nate of cost. The special committee
lad estimated very carefully on the basis
II the cost of the road actually COM
'leted. The road was costing more than
vas expected. There were various ex-
olanations As for the flooding, this had
'een very unusual year. The road was
! better road than was originally in
ended. Then good service was ex-
,dcfo i