Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-11-22
A wonD rnoM HAWAII

A WORD From HAWAII.
Elder a. NJ. Musser has received
letter from Brother John NJ, Horuer OF
PaauIlo, Hawaii, In which the writer
returns thanks for sympathy extended
to him In the great bereavement he has
experienced through the death of his
wife. He gives the following particu'
lars concerning the drought and other
calamitles to sugar plantations In the
Sandwich Isands, when Will be Of In
terest to the readers Of the News
The writer is now over eighty-two
years old fIe will be remembered by
many OF our people as the generous
donor who contributed q large sum OF
money, when In California, to our mis-
slonaries who were sent to the Orient
many years ago, Tie IL still firm In the
faith and desires to mingle with his
friends in Utah, but at present does not
seem to be able to arrange his affairs
so as to accomplish what he wishes. lie
says
"Thls usually rainy district Is suffer
ing from severe drouth, the first for
torty-1ye years All water has left the
district, all tanks, cisterns and springs
are dry save In the west end; l75 days
has the addiction continued, with no
appearance OF its letting up. Only Ill
In Of rain fell during the five and a
half months. Looking back over the rain
record f9f the four previous years we
find the average rainfall for the same
months TO be 2l60 In, scattered through
all the months.
"There are thirteen large sugar estates
In this drouth~strioken district, and all
have lost three fourths Of their crops
beyond recovery. All are hauling water
fordrlnking and washing purposes one
of them ten miles. Our monthly eX
pense for water for the plantation alone
Ia over 500 The combined output year.
ly Of sugar In this district Is $4,000 tons
and three fourths Of Il has already dis
appeared beyond recovery
"'rhe loss on our plantation Is $500
TONS Kukaau the plantation that
am interested In. has In connection with
It's sugar, a coffee grove of over l2O
acres and stock ranch Of horses and
cattle approXimating 1000 head, and
no available supply OF water within
| thirty miles, We have sent
away 500 of our horses where
they can get water and feed
A few only have died, but for the
horned stock we can find no place, and
they are dying by the score and most OF
them must die IL rain does not come
soon.
"Yet more. About the first OF July a
fire started on an adjoining plantation
which burnt over 100 acres OF cane for
that plantation and 100 acres for this.
and some OF It's coffee and spread over
some 10000 acres Of valuable forest and
pasture lands.
"Six other fires have been started the
past three months, some OF them fifteen
miles from the first. Altogether some
10000 acres Of forest and pasture have
been burnt over and none Of them put
out although large numbers OF men are
out trying to do II, but don't succeed for
the reason the earth II so dry the hui
mus of the soil burns beneath the sur
face as well "a the forests on top, THIS
plantation has expended over $4,000 try
ing TO subdue the fire. 1t Is now under
control. Most OF the land burnt over
belongs TO the government and 1t has
promised to refund the money.
"stll further, Last mail letter
reached us from our agents stating that
they had shipped a lot Of our coffee
to the main land for sale and after it
was placed upon the wharf at Seattle
the wharf pitched over into the bay
and most of the coffee was lost
| may yet mention, Just before the
above losses commenced, ! got lame IN
my LETT knee without any known cause
II panied me night and day. AT times /
lImped around like an old man; II
stayed by me so long. | did not Know
hut II meant an approaching dissou
ton. Gradually the pain left. Now, my
leg does my bidding as u ten years
ago, but I now move more cautiously.
1.-THE above Affections and others not
named Is the cause Of my heavy heart;
| IL seems TO be touch Of the Great One
Let His viii be done II is. no doubt
| for the best, but as yet ! don't see IT,
| and don't know whether or others are
Jobs having our integrity tested, or
| Jonahs being punished for dlsobedence.
I must confass ! have not been q $ faith
! ful h Lattersday Saint as | had in
| tenNtui W az INV won hh' Dtths
My sins were those OF omission not
commission"
Brother Horner has occupied an hon
orable and prominent position on the
Islands. and was elected TO seat In
the legislature as Noble for six years.
He was made chairman Of the most i'm.
portant committee. and by his financial
shrewdness and economy he saved the
Hawaiian government nearly 100000 II
its yearly expenses, He INDUCED in no
vices, used no stimulants and con-
Quoted himself as Latter-day Saint.
but not fully to his own satisfaction. he
IS superintendent Of Kukalan planta-
ton, in which he has quarter interest
including It's stock ranch and coffee
groves. There was some delay IN the
mailing OF his letter, and In a postcrip,
he expresses profound thanks for the
falling Of four inches Of gentle rain,
that has sool,ed the thirsty soil ana
hr,rcht relief which Is greatly appro-
,'oied. We wish Brother Horner con-
ilnucd life aud greater prosperity.
a ~ ~ - PROPOSITION.