The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-10-20
sUPT. HosMER's REPORT.

October 10. 1905.
To the Board of Commissioners of
Agriculture and Forestry.
Gentlemen: / have the honor to SUBJ
NIT herewith the report of the Division
of Forestry covering the period from
July 10Th to date. The reason for this
long interval is that since June 22nd
only special meetings of the Board
have been held at which the reading
of reports was dispensed with. These
meetings of the Board were held in
June 20, 80, August 80 and Sept. 9TH.
My own time during the period above
mentioned has been mainly occupied
with matters relating to the creation
of the Hilo Forest Reserve on Ha-
wall, the Koolau Reserve on Maui, the
Halelea Reserve on Kauai and with
examinat lions of lands proposed to be
set aside as reserves in Kohala and
Kau Hawaii, and in the Eva and Wal
anae districts on Oahu. From Aug.
4th to 18th, L visited the district of Ko-
hala on Hawaii, to examine the forest
lands above the Kohala plantations
and to consult with the plantation man
ayers and the members of the Woods
Estate in regard to a proposed ex-
change of certain of these lands. From
August 25th to Sept 30th, I was on
the island of Hawaii, being occupied
principally in the examination of the
forest lands in Kau, back of the Hutch
inson Co. and Pahala plantations, and
the section of the Kohala mountain
back of Waimea.
Two forest reserve hearings were
held during the period, one on July 18th
to consider the setting aside of the
Hilo Reserve and the other on August
23rd to consider the Maui and Kauai
Reserves. On July oath, Acting Gov
ernor Atkinson signed a proclamation
declaring an area of 10000 acres as the
Hilo Forest Reserve, and definitely
setting apart the Unbiased government
lands therein as follows:
Honomu Forest Tract, 926 acres, and
the Laupahoehoe Tract ,Sz5 acres, a
total of u, III acres of government land
actually set apart. On August 23rd,
Acting Governor Atkinson issued pro-
carnations creating forest reserves on
Maui and Kauai. The gross area of the
Koolau Forest Reserve on Maui is
AZ, 900 acres, more or less; of the Ha-
lelea Forest Reserve on Kauai approx
imately 1880 acres. In the Koolau
Reserve two areas of Government land
were dCUudllSt- set dpdIlt Tic 4SdilAhu
Forest Tract. 1904 acres, and the Ha-
makualoa Forest Tract, 6079 acres. A
total of 1908 acres. These areas are
both covered by water leases controlled
by the Baldwin interests. In the Ha-
lelea Reserve the forested portion of
the government lands of Waioli, 1850
acres and Hanalei, LAO acres. We're
actually set apart as reserves. A total
in hi
A description is now being prepared
of the proposed Kau reserve by Mr.. G.
F.. Wright of the Survey Office, who
is at present in the field in Kau. In
regard to the Kohala mountain reserve
both parties to the Parker ranch suit
have expressed their satisfaction with
the line proposed so that expect to be
able to report rapid progress there in
the near future Matters in the Eva
basin on Oahu are also well advanced.
These several propositions will be
brought before the Board in the form
of reports in the near future.
For the details of other work carried
on by the Division of Forestry during
the last three months I refer to the
weekly reports of Mr.. Haughs sub
mitted herewith. I would call special
attention to the following points That
on July 18th members of this Division
responded to a call to fight forest fire
on Pacific Heights. Owing to the ac-
tivity of the Rev. w. D. Westervelt in
calling out the Japanese laborers en-
ployed on neighboring places this fire
was quickly got under control. Fire
Chief Thurston on being notified sent
some of his men to aid in the work,
On July 29th, a more serious fire was
in the upper part Of Kalihi
valley to which the members of the