The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-10-04

sum on the part of the government
which is to be applied to the payment
for cablegrams up to that sum. How
ever there seems to be majority OF
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nal point of commencement, and It was
stated that several times the woods.
some hundred yards in the rear. were
on fire, while attention was being con-
centrated against the progress of the
conflagration in front. tMr Carter and
a band of his laborers came very near
being enclosed in a fire belt from this
distribution of sparks from lofty burn
| ing trees at the time of the Horner
fire. When it is remembered that
there was not a drop of water availa =
BILE for quenching the fires, and that
the long continued drought had caus
! ed all the underground to be of tin
! der-like nature, 1t can be readily be
| lieved that the work even of suppress
sion was remarkable, and well worthy
of favorable comment and recognition.
Both Mr.. Horner and Mr.. Walker have
established laborers' camps in the
upper forest areas to prevent further
spread, and to suppress any danger
Gus outbreaks of fire within their
properties.
Shortly before shutdown on the 18th
instant departure was made from the
forest lands. and journey was contin-
ued through the destroyed and injured
coffee plantations of Messrs. Osborne.
and of Mr.. Horner and others. Inves-
tigation showed that the coffee plan
tation of Mr.. Osborne was entirely de-
stroyed, while Mr.. Horner suffered but
slightly, in comparison.
After the completion of further in
much valuable information and assist
ance was given by Mr.. Albert Horner,
at at whose hands, as well as by Mr.
J. Nj. Horner, the party was the recip-
lent of kind and even generous hospi-
tally, return was made from the scene
of the Hamakua forest fires. and to
the established headquarters at Wal
mea. The result of the investigation
made resulted, as you have been in
formed by wireless message, of the fire
being under control although still
burning, and that no assistance was
required from the government.
Arrival back at Wamea was made
on Saturday, the 21st instant, and a
needed rest was taken on that day and
on the next, sunday. During the
three days used in the investigation
over 100 miles of territory was travers-
ed and although several narrow es-
Capes occurred, no accident of moment
happened to any OF the party. Every
endeavor was made to obtain full and
decisive information relative to the
fires, and the results arrived at as
before stated, We're from "A full and
very complete inquiry, and nothing
has since occurred to cause a change
in the statement forwarded to you of
the non necessity of aid from the gov
eminent.
Before closing / desire to present for
your information a few brief facts rel
ative to the fires investigated, viz:
Ookala-Started on July Sd, on land
OF Henry Haa, a homesteader at Niu-
pea (may l2). This fire travelled
/ through the Osborne coffee lots, other
homestead lots and lands belonging To
the government. The fire branched and
| spread to the Ookala cane fields and
1 the Kaala land under lease to the
| Ookala plantation, and also to the
/ lands of Kukaiau and Kaholalele The
| forests in the mauka portion OF the
| Ookala lands are still smoldering bu,
hope Is entertained of the ground and
forest fires soon being extinguished
completely by reason of the now pre-
vailing light, but frequent, night
! showers.
Pohokea-This was the second fire
and started on the homestead of Tim
Madden dot II. map IL. This fire
| burned over several homestead lots in
| the vicinity, and also spread to lots
| in Kaapano Dove homestead map.
kaohe-This was the third fire in
number, but the largest in area, and
the most destructive The fire is stat
ed TO have been started by some bee
! hunters, searching for honey, and who
| by presumed carelessness, lost control
of their fire, and in fright delayed and
| finally avoided calling for help or Civ
ing information of its existence. This
| fire started in lot No 46, "A small
homestead, and spread both rapidly
and widely. This fire destroyed coffee
and cane of the Horners and ran on to
kalopa Gulch and Kalopa proper
These lands are government, but under
lease 10 Messrs S. Parker and f. J.
Nj. Horner. The Kaapaha homesteads
| have nearly all been reached by the
/ hre. 1t is now, however under full
control and, although no rain of much
volume has fallen, strong hopes are
entertained of complete suppression.
The fires above mentioned have
covered an area between thirty and
forty square miles, and much injury
has been caused to sod and forest The
prevailing drought has been the main
cause OF the extensive spread.
On the evening OF the 21st g o. M
information was received by me of a
confagration existing at one of the
Paauilo homesteads. but definite in
formation relative thereto was not OBJ
tanned until the next day. Information
was obtained that a fire inquest would
be held, and I sent Mr.. Haughs, the
government forester, who was here, 10
go forward on Monday and attend, or
be present, at the inquest. He was
present and has reported that the in
| uueSt revealed nothing further tbap