The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-06-07
GILBERT
ISLANDERS
Rev. h. Bingham
Pertinent
Query.
WHERE SHALL
THESE PEOPLE GO?
History of the Little Settlement
on the Sea Front THE
Homesick Strangers.

Editor Advertiser: 1 have often ask
ed myself whether it might not be my
duty to ask you for the privilege of
Feaehing the ear and heart of the pub
lie in behalf of the Gilbert Islanders.
living in this Territory. / have long
been interested. as you know, in the
temporal and spiritual welfare of this
people. 1 have frequently commune
and my efforts in their behalf have not
been without some measure of success.
An article in your paper of this morn
ing has as a part of it's headlines the
expression, South Sea Settlement
Must Co After reading the article
with the intensest interest, and having
learned from it that the executive of
ficer of the Board of Health had stat
ed that when Captain Merry, Z. S. N,
in command of the naval station, re-
turned, the matter would be laid be-
fore him, and he was of the opinion
that the officer would agree with him
that the settlement must go. / asked
myself. must go where?
Previous to the great fire of January,
1900. many of these people were to be
found in the most wretched shacks in
the neighborhood of Maunakea street.
Driven from their miserable homes by
the raging fire, and losing nearly ev-
cry worldly possession, they took ref
uge at the invitation of the Govern
ment in Relief Camp No. l. At first
they occupied rooms rent free AT a
later date rent was collected from such
as We're able to pay. Some We're too
poor to pay the small monthly amount,
and they began to put UP little huts
near the sea wall, at the mouth of the
harbor. Later on those still occupying
Relief Camp No. l. We're ordered out
and away. as the building was to be
demolished Again made homeless,
and not feeling able to pay the rent
demanded in other quarters for rooms,
most of them joined their companions
at the sea wall, and built for them
selves as you say in your article,
small shacks of driftwood, and almost
anything that would keep out wind
and rain. and have eked out a miser-
able existence by fishing and weaving
hats" Not very long after they
brought me word that they had been
nor Dole in behalf of this poor people,
and learned that the control of the
property was really in the hands of
the United States Government. but as
the order to go had apparently come
from a subordinate in the Territorial
Government, the humane Governor
promptly took steps in the matter, and
the twenty three shacks are still
standing But orders were soon issued
by the United States Government that
no additional buildings should be put
up. Permission was subsequently
granted that any shack might be re-
placed by a more commodious one. The
little colony was again at peace. bu'
their hearts yearned. as they had III
years gone by, to return to their ma
| tive island. Again and again have
| they come to me, with the hope tina
| might suggest some way whereby
they might be returned to their owl
people. Not long ago ] learned tina
! there were parties here who would re-
! turn them and companions in Iahalna
numbering in all about one hundred
and fifty, to the Gilbert Islands, fo
| the sum of SO. 900, they to provide thell
own food. Can we imagine that these
poor strangers could raise any sucf
sum? Most of them had been promis
ed a free return to their home afte
they should have completed thei
| three years term of contract. Is thel
| the question asked, why have they no
| been returned by the planters who EN-
ployed them? The Gilbert Islander
were first introduced by the Hawaiian
Government under the Monarch!
Through the Hawaiian Board of Immi
grafton. They came in small vessel
till some 1,5O0 had BEEN brought here
/ / was requested by the Government t
become their protector" and as thel
three years term of service expired
upon notification from myself the Gov
eminent provided vessels to return
| them to their homes. 1t was foun'
that about 300 had died. Numbers o
them not having been able to lay asid
| anything from their earnings, fei
ashamed to return to their friend
1 empty handed, and elected to remain
until another opportunity offered.
| Some 900 of them, however went
| The Government no longer tried tn
experiment of introducing this class o
IIaborers but later on a few of tn
planters asked permission of the Gov
eminent To go To the Gilbert Island
to secure laborers for their planta
lions. This was granted on the prom
Use that they should be returned fire
of expense to themselves at the en-
Iof their term of service. Other labor
ers had been returned, and new one
were willing to come. At the expira
ton of their term no opportunity wa
offered them. If their reports are t
be believed, numbers of them were or
dered to leave the plantations if the
would not work They were seattere
lover these islands; thinking they ha
been deceived, some of them reshippe
ION other plantations for year. Som
wiser than the rest, found employment
las day laborers. The months rolled or
and a vessel from San Francisco,
its way to the Gilbert Islands for la
borers for Mexico, touched here. Tn
lcaptain offered favorable terms to an
Iwho might wish to improve the oppor