The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-03-09

building then standing on the present
site Of Thrum's book store Mr. Ry-
croft was at this time also proprietor
of the old Honolulu Ice Works, at the
Cummns' place in Nuuanu valley,
which he afterwards sold to the late
S. G. Wilder.
Mr.. Rycroft then went 10 Australia
where he erected an ice machine NJ
Brisbane, which was the first ammonia
machine there using a pump to conf
press the gas. After remaining there
about TWO years ne returned 70 Homo
lulu and soon after removed TO the
Island of Hawaii in 1877. There he
went into the ava shipping business
The trade in ava at that time was so
large that many tons We're handled
each year, much Of 1t going TO foreign
ports, mostly to the United States, for
medical purposes.
About the year 1884 Mr.. Rycroft went
into the cattle business, having pur-
chased the PohOiki and Keahialeka
tracts in Puma, Hawaii, containing
about nine thousand acres. He also
erected large saw mill at Pohoiki and
furnished the Government with all of
the hard wood used in the public
works. He also furnished the wood
supply of Honolulu for several years
by the Allen & Robinson line of schoon-
ers. The ties of the o. X. d l.. Co. came
from this mill. Soon after things were
running smoothly Mr., Rycroft again
branched out and was one of the first,
if not the very first, who went into the
systematic cultivation OF coffee, upon
a large scale When he sold out in
1899 he had in lower Puma sixty-fVe
acres and in Olaa 40 acres of bearing
coffee. This venture, however, did not
prove as profitable rs most of Mr.. Ry-
croft's enterprises. Messrs. II. Hack
field & CO. purchased his Olaa prop
erty of 200 acres and the Puma Sugar
Co lately secured his holdings in low
or Puma.
Last year upon the formation OF the
Puma Sugar Co an offer was made Mr.
Rycroft for his 5000 acres of land in
lower Puma and he determined to sell
out and remove to Honolulu. He has
such confidence in Puma, however, that
he has taken large block of stock in
the new company in preference to cash,
which was offered him. Mr.. Rycroit Is
a firm believer in the great destiny in
store for Puma and Olaa plantations,
which, he says, are the banner planta-
lions of the big island. He is sure
that if they put n 500-ton mill in az
Olaa. in from six to eight years hence
it. will be running the year around at
its full capacity. There is land enough
at Olaa to do this and they can plant
there higher than in any other part Of
the island, as it is warmer at the same
altitude.
The Puma plantation has some young
cane planted in Paaoa which is as fine
cane as can be produced anywhere,
not even barring Eva or Oahu planta-
tions, says Mr. Rycroft, and the Puma
people will have in the near future
5000 acres of just such cane.
Mr.. and Mrs. Rycroft have a family
of six children; three boys and three
girls. The eldest is Harry and the
youngest Gladys, the latter now going
to scaool in Honolulu Harry Rycroft
Is the head luna at the Puma planta-
ton; the second son. Mark Is also n
luna on that plantation. Walter, the
third son, is attending school at Pun
ahOu, Miss Sophia Rycroft is principal
of the English school at Opihikao, Ha-
wall, and Alice, the second daughter,
will attend school at Punahou.
Since coming TO Honolulu Mr.. Ry-
croft has purchased six lots in the old
base bali ground, where he Is now
erecting a fine residence, which will
be completed as rapidly as the work
can be done. Mr., Rycroft will go into
business in Honolulu and will become
permanent resident, He has not as
yet thoroughly settled upon his future
plans, but will make his debut in bus
mess circles In the near future.