The Hawaiian gazette., 1903-10-06
FORESTER HALL REPORTS.
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closely the present forest line. IT
would be very hard to reforest the de-
nuded portions, as the manienie grass
had come up and the forest was killed.
Answering Mr.. Thurston, he said he
considered manienie grass very dam
aging. The line should run to the
boundary of Hamakua.
MOST IMPORTANT.
This was the most important matter,
and should be the first taken up by the
department. 1t was in very bad con-
dition. Leaving Kohala the reserva-
ton OF almost 5000 acres which was
being made by Kukuihaele plantation
should be taken in. Some means
should be adopted so as to bring the
whole thing under government control.
The reservation should include those
parts where the seeding forests exist
In that one district the presence Of
forests was more valuable and would
continue to be more valuable than the
use of the land for sugar, for grazing
or even for homesteads. The forests
there had a great influence on moist
ure both to wlndward and leeward.
The reservation should be widened
as 1t entered Hlo district to the 5000
foot level, which would take in existent
ohia forests.
PLANTERS UNFORTUNATE.
He thought the line should be fixed
below that level in the Puma district,
he felt that there would be continued
pressure on the government to give
land higher and higher for various
uses. While there was no cause for
increasing the rainfall in Hilo and
Puma, still there would be a demand
in the absence of restriction to take
land from the forests to plantation
uses.
At Pahala the Hawaiian Agricultural
Co. was protecting the forest, but the
government should assure its protec-
ton. 1t was a good fence and might
as well stand. The line ran from 5000
feet to approximately 5000 feet in ele-
walton. Trees above there seemed to
be increasing.
on Mauna kea, between 5000 and 5000
feet the mamane forest was increasing
in spite of the cattle. The seeding ca
pacity was so great that the seeds lay
thickly upon the ground. Sheep in
jured the mamane by eating the young
trees and the larger ones as high as
they could reach. Cattle did not seem
to injure the mamane. He did not
consider it a problem there now. 1t
would not be worth while going to any
expense about protecting that forest.
KONA REGION.
Mr. Hall believed the Kona region
should be examined but understood the
problem was not complicated there.
Therefore he had thought it better to
pay attention to other parts of the
Islands. Answering Mr.. Thurston's
question as to whether forest reserva-
ton was a sufficient reason for shut
ting out homestead land from settle
ment, Mr. Hall would not go so far
as an affirmative but said he thought
it a good plan to have fixed boundaries.
Mr.. Brown asked, with regard tot
Mauna Kea, how far it would be ad-
visable to interfere with any industry.
Mr. Halls impression was that the
forest was spreading both up and down
the mountain and it would not be well
to admit many sheep up there.
MI Judd told of land shells found
six to twelve inches under loan near
the Huumula sheep station, indicating
the existence of forest in ancient times
there.
Mr.. Hall, answering the Governor
said he saw the region west of the
mountain at distance and thought 1t
should be examined In discussion
of agricultural lands. Mr.. Hall sug-
gested that it might be policy to give
small parts in exchange for land with
in forest lines. He stated that If n
settler went into a forest and took
fifty acres. the damage to the forest
did not stop there. our forests were
so delicate that such a breach would
constitute a sore spot from which the
forest would die back.
ISLAND OF kauai.
Mr.. Hall said the Kauai forests did
not receive so full an examination as
he would have liked. one large reserve
taking in the central mountain was
needed. 1t should include the swamp
land marked on the map east of Wal
mea. Francis Gay suggested that re- !
gion and as Gay x Robinson had that
might be made. II would take a good |
deal of work and large reservation
should be made.
GENERAL DISCUSSION.
In answer to the Governor Mr.. Hall |
said the algaroba was valuable tree, |
which he had been told had effect on
local showers along the coast. 1t was
n forest that took care of itself. Gov
ernor Dole said ii certainly had good /
effect at Waimea, Kauai, and Mr. Hall |
said that 1t was one mans opinion
that the lantana gave a similar result
in Kona.
Mr.. Hall did not think the form of
reservation was the most important
matter, They should first protect the
forests. After shutting out animals
then begin a system of planting. Give
preference 10 trees of commercial value.
Mr. Hall gave number of suggestions
about administering the bureau until
the superintendent comes out here. In
answer to n question, he confdentially
named two university men, trained in
forestry technique, he had in mind as
either of them being suited to the posi-
ton, Replying to the Governor, he