Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-08-30
FIRE HARD TO CHECK
CONTINUED from page IL

ltoih poSS ~
homesteads. and asked IL the goverIi-
nent could not assist in trying to head
OF the fire. | told Mr.. Horner that
did not think there was any appropria'
ton to draw from for such work but
would communicate with Governor
Dole in regard to the matter. Inc
Governor had left the Volcano House
that morning and was on his way to
.Iilo. The following morning | COM
municated with the Governor who was
then in Hilo. In reply. the GovernJr
said. tnat the plantation managers
would have to try and put the fire out
themselves and rely on the government
TO do the right thing py them. ] in
formed Mr.. Horner at once Of the Gov
errors reply. Since then and up to
the time left the island, Mr.. Horner
and Mr.. Lydgate have had gangs OF
men night and day trying to fight the
fire. and on the evening left | was in
formed that Mr.. Homer had al his
plantation hands at work tryrg to
check II.
In an interview with J. NJ. li"rDer,
this gentleman complained abop the
ndiscriminate burning of brush ny
settlers and by their Carelessness or
ignorance, allowing the fire to spread
into the forest or their neighbours
property and ravage large tracts of
land. thereby destroying much valuable
property.
Legislation is undoubtedly greatly
needed in the dry districts OF different
parts of the Islands to abate the ~ Is
caused by these brush fires. II would
not be advisable to prohibit all fires on
lands but without delay an end should
be put to the system whereby any per-
son can, at any time with impun!ty set
fire to dry grass and brush. and so pro-
duce a conflagration that may and Of
ten does cause great injury anu loss
to his neignbor's property; and that
certainly retards the prosperity OF the
country. Although bush fires need not
altogether be prohibited they should
not be allowed to be set in very dry
seasons as they are then exceedingly
dangerous. and at other times the!
should be regulated that the evils
have brought to your notice may he
mitigated If not entirely abolished.
The Kukaiau plantation has suffered
severely from this fire, in addition to
the burning of forest Immediately maui
ka of the lands. The plantation las
lost about 200 acres of cane ard Mr..
Horner informed me that 1t had cost
the plantation over $1,000 for labor
alone in trying to subdue the fires up to
August 18th.
AS regards the reDlanting of the
burned district should the Governor
decide to retain the govt\nment por
ton of il as a forest reservation Inc
first thing would be the erecting OF
fence around the reserve SO that stray
animals may not trample down ant
destroy the roots shoots and seedlings
that may spring up. would advise
that visit be made again to the dis
trict in about seven Of eight month:
and should rains come before tina
time, have no doubt that here am
there on the tract. roots, shoots AM
seedlings will spring up, then an es
innate can be made Of the amount o
plants required to fill up the blankG
Several of the acacias will grow wei
on the tract. also Casuarinas, Grevil
leas and Eugenias.
Cd tho hnrpnl al at .irt NJ
visited the coffee plantation belonging
tC Mr.. Horner and the Louisson Broth
ers. The coffee on both planta'ions /
looking exceedingly well and has ever!
appearance of heavy crop. Aloni
with Mr. Louisson | went over tn,
greater part Of his plantation. Thi
is a model coffee plantation and
would advise people who may be in
terested in coffee or contemplate golni
into small farming to first visit tn
Louisson Brothers plantation.
Several of the homesteaders ip tina
section complain of the want of road
leading to their homes and from wha
! saw there Is good grounds for com
plant.
Along with Mr. Forbes of Kukui
haele visited the cinchona fores
planted by him about twelve years aga
The trees are now from twenty t
thirty feet high and in a healthy con
dition. On the same tract, oranges
lines, blackberries, raspberries and
coffee are also to be found and LOOKING
we'll, Mr.. Forbes is very much inter
ested in his forests and he cont4m
plates planting up the vacant places il
the natural forest with good fores
trees.
In concluding. will take this op
portunlty Of thanking the followin
gentlemen for cOurtesies received a
their hands during my visit to Hama
kua: David Forbes of Kukuihaele; A.
bert Horner of Kukalau, the Louissol
Brothers, and others.
Respectfully. submitted