The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-03-05
From Mondays Daily)

TeNuTHtu az
days we're spent in investigating the
conditions of the unfortunate people
who are compelled to stay on that ls-
land. The Legislature left Friday
night on the w. G. Hall.
The trip to Molokai was a hard one
for the members of the House and the
Senate, at least for those who were not
sailors, but the return trip was much
harder. Nearly all were more or less
troubled with NAL de mer and many
legislator wished that he had let his
brother worker go in his place.
Testimony OF a score of witnesses
WAS taken and the evils existing at
present were clearly brought out. Lep-
ers gave the testimony and the COM
nittee visited personally all OF the puo-
,ic BUILDINGS and the store, where they
made a thorough investigation,
Others of the committee went to the
settlement at Kalawao, while others
went to the water works supply. Care
full and searching was the inVestiga-
ton, and no stone was left unturned
In their search for facts. The hospital
intended for the use Of anyone sick or
helpless was poorly ventilated. Inc
walls are of rough painted boards ana
the rooms were devoid OF any furni-
ture. In the hotel adjoining and IN
tended as an auxiliary to the hospital
the rooms were about eight feet by ten
feet in size, with painted interiors.
They were clean and though not fur
nished were inviting. There are eigh-
teen OF these rooms, all openir~ out
on a lanai which runs completely
around the building.
A visit the taro patches revealed
the fact that there was about fifty
acres of land under cultivation and
this was not enough 10 supply the set
element. If water IL made available
there Is ABOUT 800 acres OF good level
land suitable for raising taro. If this
were done 1t would be possible to take
care OF the settlement so far as taro
is concerned, and great saving in rice
and -four would be effected for the
Board of Health.
The water works are situated on the
side of ,..e pail about 500 feet above
the sea level and about four miles dis
tant from Kalawao and consist OF q
small cement reservoir which catches
the water from two or three small
streams wholly dependent upon the
surface water From this an eight
inch pipe leads down into the valley
and this is inadequate for the number
Of people. Even this was not doing It's
full duty. for when the committee
reached the reservoir the screens pro
tecting the mouth of the pipe were
stopped up with leaves and moss and
only about n two-thirds head of wa
ter was running down the main.
This will be remeded by laying
larger pipe and putting into place
screen that will be sefcleaning.
Investigation at the Board of Health
store slowed that n fair supply of sta
pie articles We're kept on hand and that
the prices were not eXorhitant, in
many instances being below the prices
obtaining in Honolulu
Various charges ,were brought
against Superintendent Reynolds by
iepers. their chief cause of complaint
being that he was negligent in attend
ing to their wants when they were
made known to him.
The investigation was carried on en-
tirely in the Hawaiian language. and
when the committee convened in Bere-
tania hall II was packed with lepers of
all ages. The legislators We're warmly
welcomed and were looked upon as n
source of relief from the present con-
iitions. The fact that they were care
full in going to the bottom of all COM
plants seemed to gain the respect OF
the lepers. who took every opportunity
10 assist them.
IL the laws are enacted which the
members of the House and Senate
stand pledged to enact, the lepers will
be given an opportunity to govern
themselves before July l, and the re-
suits OF their selfG government will be
with interest.
As n fitting close to the two days OF
toll the members of the committee and
the press had some exciting expert
ences when taking their departure from
the Island. heavy trade wind had
been blowing nearly all Of yesterday
and the surf made 1t impossible for
small boat TO land rom the steamer.
When II was found necessary to get
word to the captain to 80 around to
Kalawao. where the surf was not so
great. the booming of the surf effect
ually prevented any conversation be-
tween the boats crew and those on
shore.
A kukoa was found who volunteered
10 swim through the boiling water to
the boat and convey the message and
when he plunged into the water none
On shore expected to see MIN reach the
boat alive. But native proficiency I'm
swimming prevailed and slowly but
surely he made his way through the
surf, breasting the waves until he was
pulled into the boat by willing nands.
Horses were brought into service and
all went To the other end Of the Island,
where the emberkation took place, Al
we're compelled 90 make their way
around prccipltous elm an. descend
10 the waters edge, where az the rlfk
~ their lives they Jumped as the op.
porinnlty presented Itself, into the
small boats waiting fpf them An were
landed on the steamers deck without
mishap and ifip that hAi boon a hard
gne for the members ~ the committees