The Hawaiian gazette., 1895-10-04

BOSTON, Sept. 1S.-William R
Castle, the newly appointed Hawaiian
Minister at Washington, is in this
city for brief visit, prior to present
ing his credentials to Secretary Olney
at the seat of government. He was
seen last evening by a Journal writer,
who found him very communicative
concerning matters at Honolulu. Mr..
Castle is apparently not far from As
years Of age, tall and athletic in build,
of light complexion, full beard, and
remarkably approachable and genial
in conversation. He is accompanied
by Mrs. Castle and young son. One
Of his errands in Boston is to make
arrangements for the admission of his
oldest son to Harvard College.
Annexation Sentiment Strong.
"TYhat is the feeling in Honolulu at
present in regard to annexation" was
asked of Mr.. Castle.
SIT is still very active. All of the
prominent citizens, it may be said, are
in favor of some form of annexation
to the United States. The mass of the
rank and file of the people are in favor
Of it. The general thought is that the
islands should come into the Union as
province in some manner. The ex-
act status is not generally discussed"
sit is reported here that the Royalist
faction is now advocating annexation
in order to get rid of the Dole Govern
ment?" was suggested.
eyes: that is true, also. The feeling
of the Royalists is still very bitter to-
ward the personnel of the present Gov
eminent, so that they would even vel
come annexation, if thereby they
might rid themselves of the republic
"rhis feeling comes chiefly from the
British residents?'
Largely so. And yet very many
of the British residents, although re
GREETING the fall of the monarchy, are
still very friendly in their personal re-
lations with Mr.. Dole. That gentle
man is very popular among all classes.
As an example, L will cite that of Mr..
Wodehouse, the late British Minister,
who has now returned to Great Brit
ain. He sailed in my company from
Honolulu to Vancouver. On the way
he spoke often of Mr.. Dole in the most
friendly and courteous manner"
"Mr. Wodehouse, / think, is con-
nected by marriage with the royal
family"
Eyes" said Mr.. Castle; "his son
married half-sister of the Princess
Kaiulani. Nevertheless, his refer
ences to Mr.. Dole were, as l have
said, of the most friendly nature"
The Pending Land Bill.
"What is the chief matter of inter-
est before the Hawaiian legislature"
1.-THE Legislature has drawn land
bill and has at last perfected it. This
bill is to provide some method of open
ing up the Government lands to small
settlers. The status of these lands is,
briefly, this: One of the chief acts of
Kamehameha III was to inaugurate
the systems which has since been in
operation in the islands. Until his
time, all the lands were held by the
chiefs under a sort of feudal tenor.
Kamehameha III confiscated all the
lands and then re-arranged them in
three groups. The first of these were
the crown lands, the income from
which accrued to the crown for the
support of the sovereign. The second
group were the lands decided in fee
simple back to the chiefs and to the
small land holders throughout the
kingdom. This assured the farmers
and others of perfect titles. The third
group, and this was by far the largest,
including nearly one-half the lands of
the islands, were the Government
lands.
"At the fall Of the monarchy and
the establishment of the Provisional
Government, the crown lands and the !
Government lands, except, OF course,
those held by private parties under
leaseholds, reverted to the new Gov
eminent. The two classes of lands |
then became merged. The question |
before the Government has been how |
to open up these lands to actual set
tiers. We desire to encourage Amer
lean immigration. 1t is the intent to
offer inducements to young, energetic |
men of American birth to come to the |
Islands and settle and engage in the
coffee raising industry. The lands
will not be sold to spectators but to
bona fide settlers. The price Of the
lands averages, perhaps, from 81 to S.
per acre. The land is exceedingly
rich, and both soil and climate are
well adapted to coffee culture. The
settlers are not given fee simple un-
til after three years. This is to insure
the sale of lands to actual settlers.
"Cholera has appeared at Homo
lulu?'
"Yes, unfortunately it did not ap-
pear until after L had left. / learn,
however, that it is confined wholly to
the native Hawaiians. The whites
have not been affected. Perhaps the
greatest local problem with which we
people at Honolulu have to deal is
hat of good system of drainage.
The city sits upon level plain and
he rise and fail of the tides is very
slight The coral reef outside the har-
DOR acts as breakwater, and also as a
'etainer of the waters of the harbor.
We have several systems of sewerage
Under consideration, and shall adopt
me of them before long. 1t is proba- ,
lie that some form of pumping will be
Idopted."
"You have a good educational sys-
EN- in the islands,"
Excellent, we have a fine system {
4 graded free schools and the very 8
est OF teachers. Oahu College has G
low magnificent endowment,
hanks to the munificence of Mr.. Bis
lop, and as soon IS there is suffi.
lent demand for university educa-I