The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-08-01
WNA GROWN LANDS
A TALK WITH COMMISSIONERS
IAUKEA.
Information Relating to Crown Lands in
General and North Kona
Especially.

dacity Much as the STAR dislikes to
notice anonymous communications,
this one contains so much of deliberate
lying carefully designed to deceive the
public and make political capital
against the Government that an excep-
ton is made and another apt pupil of
Ananias and Sapphira exposed.
The letter calls attention to the ad-
vertisement by the Crown Land Com
missioners of the sale of the lease Of
40, 700 acres of land in North Kona at
the upset rent Of $3.50 per annum, the
sale to take place at public auction,
with the proviso that the bidders must
keep the forest land in preservation,
keep out the lantana, and make per-
manent Improvements of the value of
$4,000 within three years, which i'm
provements must be left on the land.
The anonymous scribbler of the
Bulletin endeavors to make royalst
capital out of this advertisement, and
!. tharges the Government with so re-
stricting the sale Of this land that none
but its special favorites will be able to
bid on it, and incidentally makes the
point that the sale or lease of crown
lands in such large sections is contrary
to the intent of the new Cr2wn Lands
bill
To ascertain the facts in this matter
and set them before the public in their
true light reporter called on Col. c.
P. Iaukea, member and acting agent
of the Board of Crown Lands Commits
sioners this morning. After referring TO
the letter above mentioned and inquir-
ing for the facts connected with the
proposed sale that gentleman said:
"The letter is a misstatement of
facts from beginning to end. While it is
true that 4o,oo acres is advertised for
sale, it is also true that out of this
amount only about 1000 acres could
be termed arabic land, another 1000 is
suitable for grazing only and the balance
is utterly worthless for any purpose
whatever. being simply the lava over
flow from the crater of Maunaloa.
have been over the property and know
whereof l speak. The arabic land is
scattered about in small! patches and
consists solely Of ...iall spots which we're
not covered by the lava. The land has
been held by Frank Spencer for thirty
years past on alease at $I5o per annum
rental. 1t is in exactly the same condi
ton to-day as it was when he first took
it, no improvements having been made.
For good description of this land l
cannot do better than refer you to the
following official report of the Special
Commission appointed by the Legisla
ture Of 1887 to examine and report on
the adaptability and area Of Crown
Lands to homestead purposes
"This land is the most northern part
of Kona, running up to Hualalai. 1t
has about six miles of sea coast and
the best landing is at Kiholo. The
Government road from Kailua to Ka-
waihae passes through it. The only
real good cultivatable land on it is a,
few acres near the Puuwaawaa cone.
Here fruits grow we'll, as well as pota-
toes and taro. The only hamlets are
at Kiholo and Puuwaawaa; but very
few inhabitants are at either. The
most part of the land is extremely rocky
and would offer but scant pasturage to
any herd Above, in the woods, per-
haps one-sixth of the land, on which
there is scanty growth, cattle might
browse. The principal wood is koa
and ohia, and also little sandal wood.
Dependent on rain for water supply.
Value of the whole ahnpuaa is at twenty
FIVE cents per acre. The fishery is
good. But little encouragement for
!. settlers. About &C, 1000 acres.
Continuing, the Commissioner said /:
spencer kept some cattle on the tract
and did some fencing near the sea
shore, but it was destroyed in the over
flow OF 1850. The good land lies
directly in the line of any future over
flow, and is some six or seven miles up
in the mountains. This land has been
advertised for lease at the special re
quest of three persons, who each offer
to bid on it not less than $3.50 per
year, to perform the conditions speci-
fed in the advertisements. and also
erect the $1,000 worth Of improve,
ments. l want you distinctly to under
stand that although the lease Of Frank
Spencer had expired the Commissioners
had taken no action in regard to this
particular land until the receipt Of
these three offers. A special meeting
of the Board was then called to con
slider the applications and in response
thereto the lease Of the land such as it
is was ordered to be sold at public
auction, and even this action was only
authorized when the Board had thor
oughly satisfied itself that the land was
totally unsuited for homestead purposes.
This being ascertained, the Board deter
mined to meet the wishes Of those who
are not only willing but anxious to pay
$3.50 or more per year into the Gov
ernment treasury. With regard to the
restrictions on the sale, this has been
rendered necessary to protect bona
C 4 \ l. r =. l.