The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-02-01

people. These, briefly, were as fol-
lows:
ITO the King a third, to the chiefs
third, and to the people third. The
number of holdings taken up by the
common people came up to 11,132, ag-
gregating 2S,65S acres and averaging
PSI acres apiece A considerable num-
Der of the small holdings so acquired
have since passed into the hands of for
eigners through direct sales or mort
gage foreclosures. The lands of the
chiefs have also largely become the
property of foreigners by the same
methods.
I'm the year 1884 the Legislature en-
acted a law providing for the sale of
homesteads to such persons as wished
them for permanent occupation. The
however, were So little
in sympathy with the policy of this law
that no action was taken under it un-
til 1888, when the new administration,
which had come into power under the
revolution of the previous year, took
vigorous measures to carry out its pro-
visions. Up to the time of the enact
ment of new land legislation, in 1895,
about 534 homesteadS were taken up,
aggregating S,48S acres and appraised
at $6S ,047, or about SIS per acre, and av-
eraging 10 $40 acres and a value of
1927 apiece.
1.-The land act of 1895 was far more
comprehensive than anything that had
preceded it, and covered the whole adj
ministration of the public lands, ex-
eepting town and forest lands, parks
Ig mt nf Ind ixrid
uals on small holdings was its predom-
inant feature.
-Four special methods were provid-
ed for furnishing land to applicants
wishing to occupy the same, i. e.,
homestead leases, right of purchase
leases, freehold agreements and spe-
cial agreements of sale. OF these the
right of purchase lease has been the
most popular, with list of $50 hold
ings taken up; the special agreements
of sale comes next, with 122 holdings; ;
homestead leases, us holdings; and
freehold agreements, % holdings.
THE holdings occupied under these
different systems, aggregating GIG in
number, have a total area of 2S,065
acres and an average area of 1856
acres. Their aggregate value at the
time of occupation, as appraised, was
SITS, 464, or S2S9.70 apiece, and 1886 an
acre.
The administration of the public
lands was considered of sufficient i'm
portance since the organization of the
Republic of Hawaii to justify the call
/ ing of a special session of the Legisla-
ture. In view of the possible failure
of the project of annexation to the
/ United States, it was deemed necessary
to develop a citizen class which should
! by its conservatism, industry and in
/ telligent interest in public order, be-
come reliable support to the Govern
ment of the republic. There appeared
no more effective way of accomplish.
ing this than by opening the public
lands to those, both from the existing
population and future immigrants, whC
would be ready to occupy them perma
nently as farmers. The privilege o
taking up lands under this policy wa'
limited to citizens and such others a
might receive the privileges of citizen
ship through letters of denization. A
the same time the Legislature had il
view the alternative of annexation.
The results have been somewha
disappointing. In proportion to thei
numbers, comparatively few Hawaiian
have taken up homestead leases o
, lands under any of the methods pro
vided in the act.
Annexation, when complete, viii
cut off a considerable measure of tn
cost of carrying on the local govern
ment, such as military, customs an
postoffice expenses, but such relief vii
in no wise Offset the loss of the Gus
toms revenues as they existed befor
annexation. Moreover, with the rapi
development of the country under tn
stimulus of annexation, there will b
need of increased expenses for publ
improvements
As the public lands of the Hawaii
J an Islands are limited. and a larg
proportion of them are comparative
valueless, the Importance of the lease
mold system is apparent. 1t is equal
apparent that repeal of this system
which would force the public lands o
the market, would deprive Hawaii {
material part of the considerable
upon which the annexation was effec
ed.
The Hawaiian leasehold system
also important to the country in al
other way The policy of land settl
ment in small holdings, if necessary 1
. the country in its Independent cond
~ ion, may be regarded as imperati7
y lnder annexation.
This system conserves the publ
domain with adequate provision fl
furnishing land to settlers according
the demand, under the reservation
the general leases of the right of Il
Government at any time to take Pc
session Of any part of the leasehold f
10 settlement purnOsas. The renaal of 4