The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-12-05
A MERRY SCRAMBLE FOR CITY
PROPERTY.
Wealthy Business Firms and Bankers
Vie With Each Other for Possession
of Precious Soil.

There was a land sale in front of
the judiciary building at noon today
that was more interesting in all points
than any in a very long while.
Throughout, almost, it was a clash of
the heavy financial guns of the town.
At one time the head of the banking
, house of Bishop d Company and the
president of the First National Bank
were the opposing bidders. At an
other the Inter-Island Steam Naviga-
/ tion Company was pitted against
Brewer & Company in a death strug-
gle for a piece of property that a
dark horse" finally purchased.
The property sold was that of the
Newton Estate. on Queen street near the
Nuuanu stream and a half interest in
the property between the police sta
ton and Nuuanu street. Lillian L.
Newton, an infant, by her next friends
Albert F. judd petitioned the Circuit
Court for partition of the property
The other persons interested were
George H. and Sarah w. Newton
Flora A. Stevens, Caroline n. Clark,
and Juliette and George w. Forbes, all
residents of the mainland of the Unit
ed States Judge Humphreys granted
the petition and ordered the sale.
The first lot put up was the corner
of Kekaulike and Queen streets, north
side, containing 44-1000 acres. The
| City Mill stands on this lot. A China
man started the bidding at $1,000. 1t
went by hundreds and fiftes to $4,000
and was knocked down to Henry
| Holmes.
! The next piece sold was the little lot
on the south corner of Kekaulike and
! Queen streets, containing onlv $1,000
+ acres. Prior to sale the Hawaiian
/ Fertilizer Company, which had claim
against the lot, waived the same. This
company finally purchased it for $500.
The next sale brought up the first
/ big clash Of capital. The lot was the
one at the corner of Queen street and
| Nuuanu stream containing a little
over a half acre. This has been a pond
for long time and was condemned
/ by the Board of Health in cholera
times five years ago. 1t was whisper
ed in the big crowd that the |. l. S. n,
| Company simply had to have the lot for
wharf room; it was also whispered that
Brewer & Company simply had have
the lot for warehouse purposes. Wher
put up $4,000 was bid. This was quick
ly raised to $4,000 and advanced steadi'
ly by thousands to $4,000. The fight
then narrowed to a three cornered one
between John Ena, of the l. 1. S, n
Company; II. Faxon Bishop, of BrcSye
& Company, and Frank Hustace, on hi
own hook. Gradually the price wai
forced up to $4,000. Hustace retired
fight. The price went up STILL by thou
sands At $4,000 Mr.. Ena retired
Bishop bid $685. 500. At that point Hus
tace entered again, bidding $4,000
Ena refused to raise. Bishop replied
Let him have it" and the lot went t.
Mr.. Hustace.
} The property is so valuable on ac
count of the approach of the harbo
lines to it. In very short time ther
will be wharves along there, when tn
: lot will be as good as so many inche
in gold mine.
The fourth sale was half interest II
the property between the police statiol
: and Nuuanu street. S. NJ. Damon an
Cecil Brown were the bidders, after
+ few fainty strides by small investors
| The bankers stood facing each other o
t the step to the building. Mr.. Damo
was bidding for the Austin Estate
which already owned a half interest
= Mr.. Brown had set his heart on tn
= property some time ago and was in
{ tensely anxious to get 1t. Bidding start
e ed at $1,000. From that point 1t wa
forced by easy states to $4,000 an
went to Mr.. Damon, Mr.. Brown retil
ing at $500.
The total receipts from the sale wer
e S47, 900, about ten times as much a
it would have brought seven year
ago. Royal d. Mead, commissioner
- the sale, was more than pleased wit
= the result. James F. Morgan was au'
It tiOneer.