The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-12-30
NOT ENOUGH RAIN
HilOitGS Petition For Better Water
Supply.
ACTION AT MASS MEETING
Peculiar Advice From
Legislature Member.
Wants No MeaIy Mouthed Petition,
No Water No Water Rates
is the Cry.
(Hilo Tribune, December 26.)


In response to the call for a mass
meeting that appeared in the columns
of the Tribune last week a representa-
tive showing of Hilo's business men
gathered at the Firemens Hall last
Saturday evening. Sheriff Andrews
called the meeting to order and stated
the object of the meeting. Mr.. F. S.
Lyman was called to the chair to pre-
side In response to the chairman's
question: What is your pleasure,
gentlemen?' a recital of the water sup
ply of Hilo followed. The danger of
sickness from the use of polluted street
streams was explained by DR.. Moore.
The inability to cope with fire was sug
gested by several merchants, the in
adequate supply was told by Mr.. Van
malta, the injustice of charging for that
which was not delivered by Mr.. Hon.
son and Mr.. Severance believed a
much larger patronage could be Sc
cured if the supply was forthcoming.
Mr.. Richards arose to say that he
hoped no mealey-mOuthed petition
would result from this meeting, but
that the temper of the people of Hilo
be made manifest, that the repeated
delay of this very essential addition 20
our water supply be condemned in no
mistaken terms, and he was in favor of
stopping the payment Of water rates
until the water was forthcoming. Mr..
Richards stand started the ball roll
ing, and it was evident that much in
dignation exists over the Governments
apathy in this refusal to finish the
Water Works. Much discussion fol-
lowed as to the best manner of adj
dressing the Executive, resulting IN
that a committee of five be appointed
ting forth the spirit of the meeting,
which resulted in the following:
HILO, HAWAII, December 21, 1896.
To the Executive Council of the Re
public of Hawaii, Honolulu:
Sirs:-At a mass meeting that was
held at the Fireman's Hall, in Hilo, on
Saturday evening, December 10, 1896,
in response to a call of l.. A. Andrews,
Esq, Sheriff of Hawaii, which meeting
was called Ito consider and decide on
some mode of action to relieve the
present distress of the town, due to
lack of water in the Government pipes,
and to avert, if possible, the public ca
lamity threatening the community
from the use of water for domestic
purposes from bitches running
through the town that are commonly
used to carry off sewerage" The I'M
dersigned were appointed a committee
and by the meeting instructed to pre-
pare and forward to the Executive
Council a letter to be signed by the
said committee, which letter should
contain true statement of fact in re-
lation to the present condition of the
water supply of HilO, as well as its
needs. and also to request the immedi-
ate expenditure of the money now ap-
prOpriated for the increase of the Wa
| ter Works of HilO therefore, in pur-
suance to said instructions we, as said
committee, beg to submit as follows:
1. That the Hawaiian Government
! is maintaining a system of water works
! for the town of Hilo, and is charging
and collecting for privileges from the
! said system, rates equal to what is
| charged in Honolulu.
,. That the town of HiIo is annu-
| ally subjected, by reason of lack Of SUI
| ficient rainfall, to scarcity of pure
water for domestic and other uses, such
| as should be furnished by the Govern
ment system of water works; that this
annual lack of sufficient water general
| " occurs from about October LIST 10
| January or February; that at the pres
ent date the supply of water from the
| Government pipes is totally inadequate
| to the needs of the town; in fact, that
| in certain portions of the town no wa
ter at all can be obtained during the
greater portion of the day.
s. That there are certain pOpulous
sections of the town that are not con-
nected with the present system of wa
ter works, and the residents are there