The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-06-27
CORRESPONDENTS.
The Lepper settlement.
Ed. The INDEPENDENT:--

your paper to state few facts and
of the situation here in
the Settlement during those weeks
we were hard up for poi. Some
time during the fore part OF April,
1898, Mr. w. l.. Wilcox, contractor
for supplying the Leper Settlement
with pai-ai, informed the Board OF
Health that he was no longer able
to furnish the lepers with psi-ai on
account of the scarcity OF taro. Two
weeks after notice given to the
Board the supply of pai-ai ceased
altogether, and from that time the
lepers had to live on flour, bread
aud rice. The sudden change Of
diet brought on diarrhoea and other
stomach troubles, as the food did
not agree with the digestive organs
of the majority Of the people. They
we're lost without their poi, and
craving for the same began after a
few weeks living on diet foreign
to them. Every week when the Mo-
kolii arrived the lepers wendell
their way to the storehouse At the
Kalaupapa landing, expecting . re-
ceive pal al; and every time l. al to
come away disappointed, as NO pal
al arrived. Loud complaints were
heard on all sides, and the lepers
began to ask one another WIN they
did not receive pal al: why the
Board Of Health did not seud I.ai.a
how long were they to go without
poi? No one eau answer these ques-
tions or give them a satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION.
On May II. 1898, the steamer
Mokolii arrived and again no pal-ai
The lepers held mass meet at
Beretania Hall, Several speakers
addressed the meeting, and tho I'M
dersigned was one OF them. 1t was
decided and deemed best to petition
to the Board OF Health, praying for
relief and to try and obtain pai-ai
from the Hawaiian Fruit and Taro
Co., or from other parties who can
furnish pai.ai, as it was learned that
taro was plentiful on Maui and on
this island, in the valleys OF Halswa,
Wailau, and Pelekunu. The petit
tion was drawn up and signed by all
present at the meeting and mailed
that afternoon, addressed to the
Secretary of the Board of Health.
From that day to this nothing has
been heard about that petition. On
May 10, 1898, the lepers again met
at the same meeting place, the topic
was poi; how to get it was not easy
Of solution until the Board was
heard from, A resolution was
brought in by one j., Aimoku to ap
point a committee of fifteen, and
the pai-ai matter left to them until
relief was obtained. The resolution
passed unanimously. The members
of the committee were appointed by
the chairman OF the mass meeting
the undersigned was one Of them
the meeting then adjourned after
the usual formalities. At both mass
meetings held at the aforenamed
place, no rabid talk or violent Ian
guage used by the different speak
ers, and there were no threats OF
rioting; on the whole the meeting
was quiet, tame affair, and con-
Quoted in peaceful and orderly
manner.
After the meeting adjourned, the
committee held a consultation and
in body called on w. j. Feary, act
ing superintendent, at his residence,
who received them and answered all
questions put to him by j. Aimoku
chairman and spokesman of the
committee. Mr., Feary told the
committee that every week he sends
down his pai-ai order for the usual
weekly supply of paiai, but received
no answer nor pai-ai, and he does
not know if the Board of Health
tried to purchase pai-ai from other
parties than Wilcox, When asked
about the taro in Waikolu Mr.
Feary said if the taro planters haC