The San Francisco call., 1899-09-02
OLAA TRACT NOT
ON THE MARKET
Dole Explains the Stu
alton.
SQUATTERS HAVE NO RIGHTS
LAND IS IN THE CUSTODY OF
THE GOVERNMENT.
When the Proper Time Comes 1t Will
Be Sold to Settlers and Specu-
lators Will Be Barred
Out.
BY HORACE WRIIHT.

HONOLULU. Aug 26.-I am in receipt
Of a communication from an alleged
squatter on the Olaa lands. on the island
OF Hawaii, to the following purport, and
have investigated the matter at the
fOuntainhead;
For several months past the Hawaiian Cow
ernment has advertised in the United states
public lands, and has stated the terms by
winch they cfn be obtained. whch are very
favorable 60 the settler. ON the strength OF
tiigHS ett l,i-9 tIsS lt'iilDel 49,,
come 10 the Islands 10 take ldnds and make
for themselves homes They have waited all
the way from SIX months to a year and still
the lands are not open. Growing impatient.
the intending settlers began Investigating and
found out several things. First OF all they
learned that sugar plantation promoters were
contracting with men to settle the land and
agreeing 10 pay them for their time and the
understanding that they were to deed il 10 said
promoters as soon as the patent was obtained.
nexation treaty the Ha waiian Government can
not dispose Of il nor can the United States Gov
eminent until Congress enacts special laws
The intending settlers wish 70 obtain a perfect
title, and believing that that can only come
through Congress as things stand at present,
they settled on the land to prevent its being
opened by the local authorities and to initiate
their own right to the land The island author
and there are several hundred American citi-
sehs here who will be barred out and they
wish to know what Uncle sam is going to do
President Dole. being in theory and
practice at the head of these land mat
ters and the active founder of the public
lands and homestead laws. ! applied to
him among others for the necessary infor-
nation, with the following result, which
will show that the "squatters. of whom
there are but very few-some thirty at the
inost-haVe no rights at all.
The first tracts of land in the Olaa Dis
triCt, a very fertile one and now beCom-
ing famous for the sugar and coffee being
raised within the belt, were not allotted
satisfactorily, owing to certain conditions
attaching to them which could not be con-
Neniently remedIed; and 1t Is very prob
able that the intentions of the Govern
tnent to preserve them as homesteads for
bona fide settlers who would build up a
family home thereon were in instances
frustrated.
With the present sections, however, it
is different-in the first place, as to whom
has been clearly defined by the State De-
partment in Washington in correspond
ence with the Hawaiian Government on
categorical queries since annexation was
accomplished by the Newlands resolution.
The United States holds these lands in
trust for the Hawaiian people and their
revenues are to be applied to specific pur-
poses, and the Hawaiian Government acts
as the agent of the Federal Government
in their administration, the mere use Of
the titles of "a republic and President
being held not to grant independence or
independent action. 1t is also explicitly
decided that the land laws of the United
States do not apply TO Hawaii until Con
EresS has taken action. These lands do
not in any practical sense of the word,
correspond to the unsurveyed public lands
Of the United States upon which squat
ters" are presumed to have inchoate
rights of settlement. They are and have
been for years surveyed lands, with the
legal title vested in the Government Of
Hawaii and are not open to squatters, for
there is no dispute of jurisdiction or title
between the Federal and the home Gov
It should also be said that the corre-
spondent is in error in stating that the
opening up OF these lands has been ad-
vertised in the United States. There has
been no authority for such action. They
have been advertised in certain of the
Hawaiian newspapers and their sales
open at Hilo Courthouse on November
"a The desire has naturally been to OBJ
tain American or European farmers for
sugar. coffee or fruit, as cereals are out
of the question.
There are 460 lots averaging about fifty
acres in each lot in this new district, and
the upset price ranges all the way from
81 & SO. SS Sz' an acre principally from Sl0
The conditions are such that every op-
portunity is given to encourage bona fide
settlement and to discourage land-grab-
bing and speculative purchases. which,
however. under existing laws cannot be
absolutely prevented.
chaser of one lot may bid for a second lot
in actual contact with the first lot, but
for no other. this rule applying TO the lots
other than those on the main road, but
q purchaser of a lot on the main road
cannot bid for a second lot on said road
but may bid on second lot elsewhere.
The agreement of sale contains also the
following conditions
The purchase price Of the land TO be paid
within ten years either in full at any time
within said period of ten years. or in install.
ments of one or more tenths Of the purchase
urce on any interest date. Interest at rate OF
per cent per snnum from date Of agreement
on unpaid balance of purchase price. payable
semi-annually
The purchaser shall begin substantial i'm
movement of his holding within two years
from date of agreement, and shall from the
end of second year have under cultivation a.
all times not less than 10 per cent Of the prem
ises To entitle him to patent grant giving fet
simple title. he shall continuously maintain hi:
home upon the premises for term of sio
wears and have at the end Of such term % pei
cent of the premises under bona-fde cultiva
ton or shall have maintained his home con
tlnouously upon the premises for four years
and have under cultivation, at the end of such
period 80 per cent of the premises. such main
tanning of a home to begin at any time before
the end of the fourth year from date OF agree
ment
maintain in good growing condition from end
OF second Year until termination of agreement