The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-09-22
How Some Were Acquired by
the Early Settlers.
OF LEWIS REES.
Difficulties Encountered by Foreigners in
Retaining Their Holdings Before the Mis-
sionaries Came Here Sharp Practices
Among Old Chiefs They Gave Away Land.

About two months since there was
published in this paper a statement by
the late Captain Adams on the subject
of land in Hawaii and how it was
acquired by the early settlers. The
article was interesting to many of the
| residents of Honolulu who were living
here back in the forties when it be-
came necessary for people holding land,
over which there was a dispute, to
come forward and prove property.
The following statement made by
Lewis Rees in 1848 carries with it the
same interest as did that of Captain
Adams and will no doubt find a place
in the scrap books of many citizens:
DECLARATION OF LEWIS REES.
On the 9th day of April, in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hum
dred and forty-eight, before me, VIM.
Miller, Esq, H. B. MS Consul General
at Honolulu, personally appeared Lewis
Rees, a native of Townihe in Merion-
ethshire, Wales, now residing at Homo
lulu, and voluntarily made the follow
ing and sincere declaration:
That after completing my appren-
ticeship on board a coasting vessel be-
longing to yarmouth, / was in 1874,
pressed into the British Navy, in which
served eight years, principally on
board the Frigate Success" in the
Mediterranean, having been in the
blockade of Malta, and several other
affairs. l was paid off at Portsmouth
in 1902, when the short peace took
place, and after that 1 joined and con-
tinued in the merchant service.
1 left the ship king George" a ira
der amongst the South Sea Islands, at
Otaheite. We had lays on board that
vessel, and being unsuccessful the mas
ter of her was glad enough to get rid
of some of his crew before he returned
to Sydney, to which place the ship
belonged.
1 came to the Sandwich Islands in
1919, working my passage from Ota-
heite in the ship Arab" of Boston.
Soon after landing 1 went to live with
the chief Nanuia, who was Chamber
lain to king Riho-Riho, to whom
acted as a sort of mayor-domo or stew
ard on grand occasions, and when he
had strangers to dine with him. 1
used to take charge of His Majesty's
plates, glasses, earthenware, and such
ike things.
my services and conduct that he fre
1uently offered me land, and ON one
occasion wished me to accept a public
house in Honolulu, but that l positively
refused to do, being averse to sell
liquor. 1 at last, however, did accept
from him a small piece of land at
Maititi situated about a mile from
honolulu.
Soon after that, in 1928. Manuia
vent to England with King Riho-Riho,
and when he came back in the Blond"
Erigate joined him again, and he con-
inued TO consider and treat me as one
If his own favorite people.
Soon after this l made known to
Manuia that the land he gave me at
Iaititi was too small to keep cattle
lpon, when he replied he would give
he in exchange for the said land the
plains at Ola, in the district of Eva, or
Pearl River-He added, we will have
look at them, for 1 am going down
here to cut sandal wood and you
must come with me-" We went ac-
'ordingly. His people were cutting
sandal wood He told me to cut wood
o make a house for myself, which l
lid He then pointed out. and gave
o me, the land which l now hold and
lave ever since held, the boundaries
nd dimensions of which are designated
n the plan of survey, lately made by {
he Government surveyor, Mr. Metcalf,
Who, when on the spot whilst, and be-