The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-09-26
NEGLECT Is TELLING ON
PUBLIC PARK.
Beauty of Thomas Square Being Des-
troyed by Lazy and incompetent
Northumberland to Blame.

The complaint of residents of the
Thomas Square neighborhood against
the condition of the park is fully sus-
tanned by the facts. The square is real
ly in a miserable looking fix, and the
parties responsible for it's condition
would seem to deserve a thorough
roasting" at the hands of the COM
munity.
The worst part of the park is the
half from the band stand to King
street. over this entire area the grass
is perched and dying. In fact, in the
past six months most of it has dis
appeared entirely The bushes, which
are so luXuriant about the time the
Legislature meets, are also parched and
show plainly the lack of water and at
tention. This is specially true of the
young palms.
The fence and hedge row of this end
of the square are also in deplorable
condition. In many places the fence
is down or nearly So evincing a neg
lect that is almost criminal The
bushes forming the hedgerow are
parched and stunted. Looking into the
park from King street the impression
one gets is of an embryo waste, patches
of brown, dying grass and numerous
stunted, parched bushes forming the
picture.
The Beretania street side looks bet
ter. This is prObaly due to a better
distribution of large, protecting trees.
On the whole area, however, there is
| not enough grass for a goats break
| fast. The bushes and hedge-rows look
! healthier than those of the lower side,
| though the fence is in many places in
a pitiable plight
The cause of the condition is un-
! questionably lack of attention or neg
| lect. The park is in charge of an old
! Portuguese, who, to all intents and
oil IaC hn.1
! perience in such matters. Under his
! are two lazy fellows who work like a
! pair of Pains Cinnamon. For an hour
| yesterday afternoon they were engaged
| cutting the grass from around a small
| bush. 1t is painful to see them work
| 1t is understood that the caretaker's S
| business bOssing these two old men,
and the business of the two old men
| is getting out of as much work as
possible.
| THE cause of the bad condition of
the square" said the caretaker yester-
| day, lis lack of help. Three men are
not enough. | need at least six men
here all the time and two or more al
! Emma square"
| The impression one CLEANED from ar
! afternoon watching the laborers was
that a regiment of men, working as
they do, would accomplish little. A
| strong boy would be more serVicable
| than the present force.
What is needed is inspection at rea-
sonable intervals by the bureau and a
! hustling up of the men employed tO
work in Thomas Square. If something
| is not done, and very soon, the park
may as we'll be cut up into building
| lots.
David Haughs, the secretary of the
Bureau of Agriculture, was seen re-
garding the above. He states that tbs
trouble is caused by a scarcity OF
water. The well on the grounds is fur.
nishing but a poor supply, hardly
enough water to irrigate the hedge,
added the secretary. A suggestion was
made some time ago to have the Gov.
ernment furnish a supply from the
street mains, but no steps were taker
in this direction. This change is ne
cessary. 1t is Mr. Haughs opinion thaI
the Beretania street pumping station
has affected the well in the square.