The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-07-06

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one, and if an agreement can be
made with the owners and lease
holders of the land below the pro
posed line of fence, the work Of
erecting the fence can be commenced
as soon as the necessary arrange
ments are completed. For your in
formation 1 would state that the
proposed limo of fence will commence
at the western boundry of the gov
eminent land of Keaa (not under
lease) and joining the fence of the
Pacific Sugar Co, will run across the
land of Keaa, distance Of 1000 feet
thence across the land of Waikoloa
(owned by the Parker estate), a dis
lance of 1000 feet; thence across the
Unbiased government land of KAPPA
loni, 1000 feet; thence across the
land Of Kapoeola (owned by the
Parker estate), a distance of 5000
| feet; thence across the crown land of
Honokaia Qeased to the Parker
estate), a distance of 5000 feet; thence
across the land of Kawela (owned by
the Parker estate), distance of 1000
feet; thence across the government
land of Nenie Qeased to the Parker
estate). a distance 1900 feet; thence
across the land of Paauhau Owned
by the Parker estate), q distance of
5000 feet; thence across the crown
land of Kalopa (leased by the Parker
estate), a distance of 5000 feet; thence
across the government land of Kaaao
Qeased by j. III. Horner), a distance
of 25,000 feet, and joining fence al
ready built by j. NJ. Horner. The
H., Il,
lance of five miles from the sea, the
same distance as the Pacific Sugar
Co.'s fence, and we'll preserved from
the inroads of cattle, strip Of coun
try three miles in width by eighteen
to twenty miles In length, part of this
being already protected by the fence
of the Pacific Sugar Co.
On about half of the strip men
toned, the original forest is still
standing; the remaining part of
which there is reason to believe still
contains enough vitality to encour-
age the hope that in time the forest
may grow again. To assist this end,
the plantations and ranchers should
plant trees on the denuded parts of
the land, until the whole tract is
covered with healthy and vigorous
forest, the effect of which will be an
increased rainfall, such as Hamakua
was blessed with in former years be-
fore the greater portion of the forest
was destroyed. From conversations
with the representative of the Parker
estate and others who own or lease
considerable portion of the land
over which it is proposed to build the
h0 70
that any great difficulties will be en-
countered In arranging for release
of tie land below the line of the pro
posed fence, and your commissioner
would strongly urge upon your hon
orable body the Importance of bring
ing this matter to the attention of
the government for the purpose of
obtaining a release of the desired
portions of the lands named, and a
setting apart of the same for the pur
pose of maintaining a permanent
forest.
THE HAMAKUA Ho1IESTEADS.
The homesteads situated above
known as the Ahualoa |
tract, were visited by your commits
sioner. These homesteads were |
among the first to be surveyed and
set apart by the government. Most |
of them have been occupied for five |
years, and probably form as good an |
example as can be found of the work
ing of the homestead law. The |
general impressions received by a
visit to these homesteads is not dis
as to the ultimate success
of the law.
While there is no systematic cult
walton of economic plants, the pro
duce of which would add materially
to the prosperity of the settlers, there
has been some desultory planting of
coffee, interspersed with corn and
garden produce. Corn seems to be
the cheap crop, and grows well and
throughout the tract, and
an enterprising Portuguese settler
has erected a mill, run by horse
power, for grinding corn meal and
horse feed. While there is no doubt
but what the settlers obtain con
siderable portion of their subsistence
from the land, it is evident that these
nomesteads are still far from being
self supporting. The people are, in
most cases, poor, and have in a great
measure to depend upon employment
among the neighboriDg plantations
and other work throughout the
district.
There are some signs of an increas-
ng interest in coffee planting. The
writer was informed that it was inn
possible to find any young coffee
,rees in the numerous patches that
nave gone wild in Hamakua. For
nerly young trees by the thousand
we're to be found in these patches,
put now they are all taken by the
settlers and planted. This system of
coffee has been much criti
Used; but all the coffee seen by the
writer that had been planted with
7oung wild trees looked remarkably
strong and healthy. Coffee planting
" the homesteaders will not increase
IS it should until some settler more
,nterprising than his fellows gathers
paying crop, then the homesteaders
will become encouraged and go into
Office planting with good heart.
To ensure the success of the home {
tead law, it is necessary that every {
homestead shall produce by the ex
,enditure of fair amount of labor, [