The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-03-04

estry almost exclusively yesterday after
noon. The meeting was largely in
formal and at the next regular session the
board will be called Upon TO approve the
work done yesterday
Mr.. Giffard reported that Forester
| Hosmer had received notice from W.
l.. Hall that his report on Hawaiian
forests would soon be sent here
LAND is WANTED.
Secretary Holloway presented COM
munication from Land Commissioners
Pratt asking for the action OF the board
on an application for the lease of lands
on either side OF Olelomoana, near Papa
on the island of Hawaii. There are two
tracts, one OF 5000 acres, the other of
63oo acres, covered at the present time
with forests. The land is in the vicin-
ity OF Bucholtz' place. In report to
the Land Commissioner, Surveyor Wall
says that a strip of the land, mile and
half wide is above the 6ooo-foot mark,
and is presumably in the forest reserve
section. 1t was reported further by Mr..
| Wall, that he had previously been in
structed to make division OF the same
| land into 1000 acre lots for homesteads,
ana Ildu 'iiut ti'>
commissioner first make personal in
spection.
Frank Gouveia the applicant for the
lease, offered $500 a year for the entire
tract.
Forester Hosmer reported that the
land in question was covered with for
eSts and the trees were i'll fine condition
and of great variety.
SMALL FARMERS WANT IT.
President rhurston stated that the
lands were those which Governor Dole
had offered for settlement to a party OF
white men from the mainland. These
men had proposed to go into fruit and
stock raising, leaving the forest, and
clearing away the underbrush to plant
grasses for stock. Mr.. Thurston stated
that agriculture was impossible in that
section, which was simply lava flow for
a distance OF twenty-five miles. There
was no agricultural section dependent
upon the forests there for rainfall, but
he said that at the same time Kona and
Kau must be considered in the DISPOSE
ton OF the land He was of the opinion
that dozen good colonists were more
to be desired than the small return from
the lease, particularly as they would not
disturb the forests. He believed that
these white farmers had gone to the
mainland to get their families, since
which nothing further had been heard
from them.
UNDERBRUSH NECESSARY.
Mr.. Giffard said that he did not agree
that cutting away the underbrush would
leave the forest unframed. If this was
done there would be nothing for the
roots to feed upon, and the trees might
be dried up by the sun Both Foresters
Griffiths and Hall had been of that opin-
ion and ii had been found that grasses
did not help:
Mr. Hosmer suggested that il forests
were wanted, then all the conditions that
went with forests must be kept.
Mr. Thurston said that one OF the
greatest problems before the board
would be to find the point of difference
between the forest and homestead line.
The section in the neighborhood of the
proposed lease was all lava and the
trees were growing i'll rocks. In this i'll
dividual case he believed the homcSteads
should be given the preference over the
forests, although not to be taken as a
precedent.
Forester HoSmer said that often home
Steads were OF as great benefit to the
community as forests. The lower edge
of the forest was where the homesteads
could best be located, the only difficulty
being in the means OF transportation to
the farms. If produce could not be TAX
en- to market, then homesteads would not
be a success, and it would tend to dis
courage the homestead movement en-
tirely.
Mr.. Thurston said that there was
lack OF soil in this district but that fruit
trees might flourish. AS a general prin-
ciple he believed that the underground
was needed for the preservation OF the
forests, although there were exceptions,
He related one exception, where w. II,
Shpman had cleared the underbrush
from fifteen acres of land near the Vol
cano House, and the lehua trees had
grown better than before. Peter Lee,
in the same district had cleared about
100 acres and planted grass, which had
come mp luXuriantly. The lehua trees
also did better Both INSTANCES he said
were contrary to generally accepted
rules.
Mr.. Hosmer also related a similar in
stance on Kapapala Ranch where a
young ohla forest was coming up hnely
Mr.. Giffard said that he didn't wish to
act on the matter until he could do
so intelligently. He believed that the
forester should make an inspection in all
such cases.
COMMERCIAL WOOD.
Mr.. Hosmer said that point to be
considered also was the commercial value
OF the forest, 1 he trees in this section
were tall ohia and could be utilized for
ties. The commercial standpoint, he be-
lieved should be kept in mind as well as
the protective feature
Mr. Giffard said he didn't see much
hope for the forests from a commercial
point OF view When Kapiolani Park
was cleared an effort was made to dis
pose of the iron wood trees for piles and
as railroad ties, bit without success. A
part had been sold for fence posts and
the remainder for fire wood
Mr. Thurston said that the Oahu Rail |