The Hawaiian gazette., 1903-05-15
KALUA AND
HIS PA|A|
Almost Left the
Lepers to
Starve.


July. The weekly paIai due at the set
Element in the middle of April failed
to arrive, and for week the lepers
were in danger of starving. Fortunate
ly however taro was growing at the
settlement and some of it was picked
before having fully matured.
Supt. McVeigh reported Kalua's fall
ure to keep his contract to the Board Of
Health and DIR. Pratt tried to have the
difficulty remedied. He sent wireless
telegram to the Judge at Waikiki ask
ing why the paiai hadn't been delivered
and If he intended to abandon the con-
tract. Kalua was requested to reply
by wireless but paid no attention to
the telegram. This was in the latter
part of April. Pratt sent another mes
sage to .Ka1ua asking why he did not
reply. = Finally letter was received
which was read yesterday In this
letter Kalua said he had only received
one message, which was telephoned to
him at Lahaina, and which simply
stated that no paiai had been received
at the settlement. Nothing was said
about a reply by wireless. and the
message was delivered too late for him
to send paiai by the next steamer. He
denied also having received a second
message, and said he had prepared a
shipment for the Claudine.
Kalua further explained that the
shipment which was not delivered was
to have been sent by his agents on
Molokai, and he had since seen them,
and been informed that the weather
was so wet and stormy that the paiai
could not be prepared. He said he had
abandoned his contract and asked for
the kind indulgence Of the Board.
DIR. Pratt reported that there had
been a shipment later of which forty
six bundles were spoiled, and that the
lepers were saved from starvation by
pulling the taro growing there before
it was ripe.
Mcveigh had written and denied that
the weather was bad on Molokai as
stated by Kalua. Further his state
ment as to the non-receipt of the tele-
grams was investigated with the result
that the following message was re-
ceived from the Waikiki manager:-
Message to Kalua 23rd received at
11-delivered 11:05; located him in lao
saloon; he received message and re-
peated it to another, plainly heard by
operator. He also said to operator that
it was too bad. On 9th message from
Pratt received at 1880, but could not
locate Kalua till 2:30, when he rang
from lao saloon and received message.
No message for ,Kalua from Pratt on
%, one from Magoon delivered and
answered., both operators state posi-
lively, Kalua and no other received
the message, and they are familiar
with all regular subscribers voices and
could not be mistaken. Will see him
as soon as can locate him and ask
explanations"
+. c. Smith moved that in view of
the fact that the contract with Kalua
expired in month, that nothing be
done in the matter, and so Judge Kafua
will be left undisturbed for that length
Of time at least.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
President Cooper asked an opinion
from the Attorney General as to
whether the title of executive officer
would have to be changed under the
new act, and if this is done whether
the auditor could pay out the appro-
priation under the former title. Mr..
Andrews replied that the appropria-
tions as now made, carried until July
1st
THE INSANE ASYLUM.
A communication was received from
Secretary Carter demanding control of
the Insane Asylum for the Board Of
Public Institutions. the health board
to remain in charge as agents. Re-
ferred to a committee composed of
Andrews and Kane.
DIR. Cooper also reported for the COM
mittee that had visited the insane asy-
lum saying that its condition was bet
ter than he had ever seen 1t before.
However the place was overcrowded,
and new buildings were badly needed.
He advised that no improvements be
made until the change of location was
made
VACATION FOR DOCTORS.
DR.. Archer Irwin, government ply
stefan on Hawaii, asked for a nine
months vacation in order that he might
visit Europe. 1t was granted and his
act in his place.
A vacation was granted also to DIR.
Sandow of Kauai who intends to make
a six months trip to Germany. A DR..
McLain who Is coming down on the
Sonoma will fill his place if he passes
satisfactory examination.
DIR. Atcherly of South Kohala re-
peated his resuest for an increase in
salary to 800 per month. He asked
also that the board allow him back
salary at that rate from February.
which could not be done for want OF an
appropriation.
A communication was received from
DIR. Stow of Hilo asking for an assis-
tant to Fish Inspector Herring to take
care of the Waiakea market A native
is willing to do the work for nothing.
HOSPITAL RULES.
Rules for government hospitals as
submitted by DR.. Mays were adopted.
The hospitals are to be under the
management of the trustees subject to
approval by the board. and the money
appropriated is also subject to the same
body. IS