The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-09-18
Ian TERS
WANT Time
Continued from Page 81

en- up us investigation are simply intent
upon hearing all that they can as TO
the plan and the capacity of the pro-
motors to carry out the work Mr. F.
NJ. Swanzy of T. H Davies & Co, said
yesterday afternoon: We do not think
matters should be disposed of in this
way at ALI We want to have full in
formation upon the subject. While
there may be none of our rights invad
ed, we want time for the full investi-
cation of the case and then we will de-
eide upon what we shall do in the way
of recommendation or protest. Many
years ago there was a survey made of
the lands and water courses which are
involved in the license, and the matter
was figured upon by the then promoter,
Mr.. I.edgate, whose report was publish
ed in pamphlet form. This contained
his surveys but soon after this pub
LEGATION the matter dropped from view.
| 1 cannot say what we will do until we
have all the information possible, and
we will then meet and discuss the ques-
ton and formulate our course.
| Mr. w G. Irwin said in this con-
nection: I'VE have an interest only in
directly, in that the water would have
to be taken to Paauhau before 1t would
come directly to us. However l believe
that in such matter as the disposition
| of the watershed of the kohala noun
tains, there should be a thorough in
lvestigation of the matters involved, and
the responsibility of the parties secur-
ling the concession, which would be tied
fup for five years by any license. This
lis a matter involving millions of dol
HAIRS and need not be rushed.
Mr. j. 3. Atherton, of Castle e.
Cooke, said: I'VE did not commit our
selves to any course in this connection,
as we do not know what the conditions
down there are and cannot speak until
we have heard all about the feeling
in KohaIa. 1t is our intention to have
the managers of that district hold a
meeting if possible and send us the
consensus Of opinion as to the water
rights. We do not know what we shall
do but if we are not ready to present
our case next Monday we shall ask that
the matter go over again and that we
may be given all the time that we need
Personally I believe that the develop
ment of the watershed would be under
some conditions most favorable thing
license would do would be impossible
now as l have not read it as yet
The Bishop Estate is largely interest
ed in the license as for some months
tkere has been lin the Kohala noun
tains an expert irrigation engineer,
whose business it is with his corps of
assistants to. survey the whole noun
| tain side and the water courses and find
| If practicable a way to place the water
of the great gulches upon the lands of
the vicinity. 1t is from this fact that
springs the principal objection of the
trustees of the estate and museum to
| any action of the executive at this
time. They do not know what may be
their rights in the premises and it is
! their intention to fight against any
closing out of their matters before they
have a report from their expert. upon
which they may have an estimate of
costs and advantages prepared.
While the application of Col. Samuel
Parker and his associates was with
drawn, there is belief that in fact the
two plans have been merged into the
one which is being pressed. Col. Par
ker said yesterday that he had with
who were pressing the present plan had
come out with wider scheme and
would have made it impossible for his
concern to carry out all their plans.
The relation between the two plans
was such. he said, that there would
be necessarily relations between the
new corporation and himself, as the
lessee of much of the lands which are
to be affected by the water rights.
The history of the attempts to con-
serve the waters of the Kohala noun
tains involves several surveys and
much trouble. At one time a complete
survey was made by Claus Spreckels
and careful consideration given To the
matter of the piping of water across
A to the Hamakua plantations. This was
abandoned and during the past decade
there have been several attempts tC
make the plan go, but it was not unit
the past year or so that anything wa:
done. Then Col. Parker went in fol
the license and submitted an application
to Washington, which was sent bacf
here with the recommendation that tbs
plan be approved if the local official
thought wise. Then it was that tht
present corporation came into the fie
and the battle between the two com
panies went on until now there is only
one applicant, and the settlement seem:
at hand.
AS bearing upon the case in pein
there is an interesting question being
raised by some of the men who hav,
been investigating the land laws of IN,
Territory and the United States, anC
who see in the Organic Act som,
grounds for saying that even if tn
executive should decide that any cor
poration should have the right TO. Ger
tain waters, there is a question wheth
er or not the supreme court would no
, throw out any such compact as havin;
no standing in law owing to lack of ful
legislative enactment. This view i
taken by some of the best lawyers il
the city who believe that the entir
matter Of lands in Hawaii will hav
to be taken up< and given settlemer
during the coming winter by Congress
The license for Col. Jones plan in ful
is as follows: