The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-12-07
ROW OVER LEPER FREIGHT
REYNOLDS DECLARES SERVICE
UNSATISFACTORY.
President Wight of Steamship Line
Refutes Many of the Charges Against
His Concern-Other Matters.

The session of the Board of Health
yesterday afternoon was considerably
livened by the controversy over the
handling of freight for the leper settle
ment at Molokai. Superintendent Rey-
nolds of the leper settlement and Pres-
dent G. l.. Wight of the Wilder Steam
ship Company were the participants
and the allegations of the former
against the service of the company to-
gether with the warm defence made by
Mr.. Wight kept the board on pins ana
needles for half an hour.
Some days ago Rynolds complained
that the service by the Wilder Company
was very unsatisfactory, and added
that the Hawaiian Navigation Company
would, he thought, do all the work of
the settlement to the entire satisfaction
of himself for $500 a month. a COM
mittee was appointed to ascertain what
the company would do and at the meet
ing yerteTday an offer in which $500 was
named as the price per month was read.
Mr.. REYNOLDS then proceeded to emu
merate his causes for complaint against
the Wilder Company. In the first place
recently there had been a considerable
number of cattle lost. The company
persisted in landing the stock a Kalau-
papa instead of WaikOle which was a
far superior place for such q purpose.
In their anxiety to get rid of the stock
the company would take as many as
had to swim too far and the stock was
allowed to roam away as soon as it
reached the shore. Often it was neces-
sary to slaughter the stock on the beach
as the animals were too weak to be
driven over to the settlement. Another
cause for complaint was that when the
ranches had charge of shipping the
stock the boats took but 45 head but
since the government had had charge
of it this number had been doubled.
This was too many to take on one trip.
Recently the business of the settlement
was neglected and for three Mondays
no freight was received
In answer, Mr.. Wight stated that
Waikole was not good place for land
ing cattle as the rocks were too num-
erous and the water too rough.
Besides the boats reached there in the
mornings before day break and the
company naturally did not desire to
lose any more time than necessary
waiting to land the stock and freight.
The fault of the cattle roaming away as
soon as they reached the shore lay with
the people of the settlement in not COM
ing down to take charge of them. Of
tentimes the people were several hours
late in going to meet the steamer al
though they could easily see when it
was approaching. So far as taking the
number of stock to a boat that Rey-
nolds claimed was concerned it was an
impOssibility declared Mr.. Wight One
of the faults lay with Mr.. Reynolds de-
clared Mr.. Wight. The former did not
make complaints of these faults and
furthermore was often late with his
freight. The loss of stock and refusal
to accept freight was due to the bad
weather.
On the suggestion of Attorney Gen
eral Dole the matter went over for one
week to allow all parties to be present
and present their cases.
Mr.. Reynolds made several recon-
mendations for changes in the method
of living on the leper settlement one
being that a boarding house be con-
structed for the use of the single lepers
He was instructed to get estimates Of
the cost. Reynolds also brought up
the matter of an article which was re-
Gently published in The Star regarding
the poi contract He said that the ar
ticle had reflected upon him. The
board decided to request The Star to
furnish specific charges.
A letter from George Kanikau an in
mate of the leper settlement requesting
that his wife be allowed to join him at
the settlement and care for him was
read. Superintendent Reynolds will
grant the desired permission. Seven
lepers. four male and three females will
be taken to the settlement in a few
days from Kalihi detention camp.
DR.. Herbert the superintendent of the
insane asylum reported that he had
granted Otto Winkler the assistant SUI
perintendent a vacation of one month
and the latter had gone to the MAIN
land. Since the departure of Winkler
Dr. Herbert had learned that his as
sstant had been guilty of a gross mis-
demeanor so he discharged him. IT APP
pears that Winkler had been forced to
marry a native woman who was not
however an inmate of the asylum.
The action of Dr. Herbert was APP
proved.
Reports from the chemist, plumbing
inspector, bacteriologist, and sanitary
inspector We're read. The chemist was
instructed to report violations of the
food adulteration law to the high she
riff that prosecutions could be promptly
made.
The plumbing inspectors report re-
vealed the fact that considerable fric-
ton existed between Inspector Moore
and Assistant Keene. The latter had
been guilty of INSTRUMENTATION it was
alleged by Moore. Keene said he had
apologiZed and furthermore intended
resigning when he could get a better
position. No action was taken in the
matter.