The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-02-07

rived from Hawaii by the steamer
W. G. Hall yesterday after a de-
cidedly unpleasant voyage across
the channel.
The President was. seen by an
ADVERTISERS reporter at his resi-
denee last night regarding his visit
to Hawaii and the impressions
formed from his meeting the people
on the big island.
Our trip" said the President,
was entirely satisfactory TO us all
particularly 10. me, because l
learned more about the people on
Hawaii and their wants and needs.
l made tour of the island and
saw from the condition of the peo-
pie where a change or two may be
suggested in the new land law
which will act advantageously.'
do you mean, Mr.. President,
that the new bill will require
changes before it will work salts
factorily?"
Not exactly that he replied,
but | think there is change TO
be made in one particular clause
that Will be agreeable to the Ha-
waiians. The homestead leases are
inalienable and run for 999 years.
and the Hawaiian who wishes TO
secure a homestead of this char
acter may do so on complying with
certain conditions, but with no
other consideration beyond the
payment of actual taxes. To a
certain extent it is q charitable
donation which is not altogether
pleasing to the average Hawaiian
He feels, rather, that he is put on a
reservation and told to work"
What changes would you sug-
gest as a means of obyiating such a
feeling and at the same time not
make it a hardship for the Hawai-
ians to secure the leases"
l cannot say that / have per-
tected plan. have ideas, of
course, and the one that seems the
most practicable and least burden
some is to have these homesteads
appraised and let the Government
charge, say, four per cent. OF the
appraised value "a the price of the
lease.
The appraising of the property
would be placed in the hands OF
competent men; the land agent or
his deL | presume would be
the proper person to do it."
" Would there not be danger Of
over valuation under this law and
create dissatisfaction Just as the
assessing OF certain properties by
the tax assessors
Il do not think so although l
found in Hamakua where lands
had been appraised even higher
than the Government puts upon it
as an upset price. In some portion
Of Hamakua l learned that lands
were appraised at $50 per acre-a
price much higher than | consider
is the value.
The Government will see that
this is more carefully looked after
and the values graded. l believe
the plan suggest as change Is a
good one for every person. The
has no desire to specu-
late in lands nor does it wish to
give them away. l believe it will
be better to have some small con-
The new law has not practical
" gone into operation yet and l
DO not believe there would be much
TO the change l mention
being made"
what opinion did you form of
the roads on Hawaii? There have
been many complaints made OF the
neglect OF the Government on this
score. Did your inspection tour
lead you to believe the complaints
we're iust?"
''To a degree they were so far as
Kona Is concerned, but that is all
being changed. When the roads
now in course of construction are
completed Kon will advance Just
as the building OF the Volcano
road added to the value OF the hold
ings and increased the population
in Olaa. Kona has been neglected |
ia matter Of roads until now. Dur {
ng my visit there l saw four high s
lass roads being built, Macadam- :
zed. and as fine roads as one /
would find anywhere.
1.-Two of these run out from o
zailua, one from Napoopoo and :
me from Hookena, but, unfortun /
Itely they run up to nowhere. l Z