The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-02-16

AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITU-
TION.
The amendment to Article 63 of the
| Constitution, proposed to and acted
upon by the Legislature at its first
regular session, will be presented to
you for your consideration. This
, amendment to the Constitution in no
wise changes or affects any of the vi
tai principles of the fundamental law;
but if adopted will render it less like
ly that some important law may be-
come unconstitutional through a de-
feet in its title.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
During the past period most graft
flying progress has been made i'm the
way of public improvements. Near
/ ly Il hundred miles of roads have been
constructed on the Island of Hawaii.
! The almost impossible trails have
been replaced by highways of easy
| grades with finely finished and firmly
made road beds. This system of roads,
which has been so well begun should
be pushed to speedy completion. BY
this means a large area of land which
has been heretofore practically mac
cessible will be made available for set
| tlement and cultivation
While the road improvement has not
! been so great on the Islands of Maui.
Oahu and Kauai, important work has
been done on all of these Islands. The
opening of the Nuuanu Pail road
marks the completion of project
that has been before the public FOR
many years.
Extensive improvements of the har-
| bors of Honolulu and Hilo are now
under way. The demands of our in
creasing commerce permit of no ces-
sation of these works.
An important factor in the preser-
vation of the health of Honolulu has
been the Strengthening and improve
monD of the lower portion of Nuuanu
Streams, while the installation of a
modern disinfecting plant and other
appliances at the Quarantine Station
gives assurance that the possible in
PRODUCTION of disease from foreign
countries has been reduced to a min
imum.
Many new school houses have been
built, but a still greater number are
needed for the accommodation of on,
school children, some of whom al
though several years above school age
have never had the benefit of in
struction in the public schools.
All the funds necessary for the con,
tinuation of the general plan of pub
lie improvements should be granted
without hesitation, having only in
view the sources of revenue at the
disposal of the Government.
SEWERAGE.
At your last session an appropr.a-
ton of $4,000 was made for sewera ge
investigation. The greater part OF
this sum has been expended in obtain
ing plans and specifications for n
system of sewerage for Honolulu. In
vestigation was undertaken by an en-
inent sanitary engineer, and his re-
port, which included elaborate draw
ings, together with estimates of cost
of construction and maintenanae, will
he submitted to you by the Minister
of the Interior. While the completion
of the entire system would require
the expenditure of nearly a half mill
lion of dollars, a portion of the work
may well be commenced, which,
when completed, would give that part
of the city which is most thiclily set
tied, sewerage facilities.
The protection of the health of
Honolulu is not only important to itsI
inhabitants, but to all the group rs
well, it being the principal distribut-I
ing point and business center the
prevalence of an epidemic would Sc
riously interfere with the general
business of the country.
LAND POLICY.
The extent of the undeveloped re-
sources of the country are but just
beginning to be understood. The /!
growth of the coffee industry has en-
phasized this and given rise to a Ie-
mand for land in small parcels, upon
many of which homes are being erect
ed and occupied by a very desirable
class of people. The present land
policy of the Government has an inn
portant bearing upon this subject,
and should be continued, but upon Y
more extensive scale.
The subdivision of public lands
suitable for settlement should be ear
ried on with all possible expedition.