The Hawaiian gazette., 1903-02-20
OIaa Farmers Said
to Be Doing
Well.


report is voluminous, and contains,
besides, a general resume of the work
of the land Office, an account of the
visit of Mr.. Boyd to Washington, and
his correspondence with the Secretary
of the Interior relative to land matters
and to the Kohala ditch bill.
Boyd's report shows that $3.50 acres
We're taken up in the Territory during
the year under the right to purchase
lease, while 1876 acres We're settled by
homesteaders. Nearly all of this land
was in Hilo, Puma, Kona, Kau, Kohala
and Hamakua, and is an increase over
the previous year.
In his report Commissioner Boyd
says:
Most of the lands taken up, as rep
resented in above table, were in Olaa.
The demand for homesteads in Olaa is
surprising, and we are supplying the
demand as fast as the nature of the
land and roads will permit. And it is
hoped that the remaining lots in this
section will be opened up at an early
day; in fact, it has been practically so
decided.
The advent of the Hilo Railway in
this region largely accounts for the
demand, where heretofore transporta-
ton was a considerable item and some
times an impossibility; which was
largely responsible for the failure of
former homesteaders, has now been
practically eliminated, and attendant to
the present progress shown by home
steaders in Olaa.
have great faith that farming will
be a success in this and adjacent tracts.
The demand for homesteads in the
other districts has been good, and in
fact marked increase of intending
settlers desiring land is quite evident.
Several tracts of land in Puma for
which surveys have been completed
during this period will be thrown open
for settlement. There is quite a de-
mand for land in Puma; lack of desir-
able land has been set back, as it Is
well known that Puma is practically
covered with Pahoehoe, and lots had
to be laid out in pockets and to suit the
conditions; to lay lots on Pahoehoe is
Of nd
In Hamakua and Kohala, 3S lots Of
Kaapahu, and remaining lots in Po-
hakea and Paauilo tract have been
opened up for settlement during
have been taken up.
Settlement in these districts must
necessarily be slow, solely on account
of lack of transportation facilities, and
also the impression left upon intending
settlers by the drought that very near
ly destroyed all developments in these
districts during the last two years, as
it depends entirely on rain for its mois-
ture Disastrous fires occurred in the
Hamakua forest from the middle of
last year to and including the early
part of January this year, and unfor-
-tunately it originated in the very mid
die of the drought; consequently, the
underground was very dry and infiam-
mable, nothing could hinder its prog
ress. though many attempts to check
1t We're made, but such attempts We're
not successful until a good portion O.
the forest was burned.
Mr.. Boyd refers also 10 the damage
done in the Hamakua district through
forest fires, He says that In Kona land
transactions have decreased through
lack OF new surveys, There has been
little land taken up on Maui, which II
accounted for the by the Commissioner
by lack ~ roads, Mr., Boyd says that
the opening OF the Hauula tract on
Oahu was success, and also highly
oommends the Wahiawa farmers,
Kauni'lands are mostly under lease,
ana Mr. Boyd thinks IL matter Of
congratulallon that the land In Waloll
in iianalol has not been taken up
though opened Tho rght 90 purchase
leases arc reported 90 have been most
popular,
Boyd also explains the lease of ih,
Hand ~ hnnuka, s2soO acrr tfapl or
kau. far 90 d year which hs says Wa,
faf ihe purppse " protecting enc FOR
Gets Tho lana b. described ss simIi,
lsuen Java Nasle Thls 10 ihe ifsns
sriiep criticised by lhs hnohpi oum
NiaaiDn
nllahIna luIlhnl nl ~ nnLasalN ~