The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-11-20
H|LO
HAPPENINGS
Merchants Want Coast.
ing Steamer-.Rubber
Growing.

| The Hilo papers received Saturday
contained the following news:
IAROUND THE COAST OF HAWAII.
| j. A. Kennedy. President of the In
ter-IsIand Steam Navigation Company,
! made his first visit to Hilo since the
Iamalgamation of the Wilder Company
| with the latter line. His visit was
largely of a formal nature, but while
here he met the members of the Execu-
| tive Council of the Board of Trade and
discussed the proposition to place one
| Of the smaller steamers of the COM
pany on the run around the coast of
Hawaii, making Hilo its headquarters.
The Hilo merchants and tradesmen
have been seeking to extend their field
| of operations, which at the present time
| is greatly handicapped by reason Of the
difficulties of overland transportation.
Agent Mckay, who was present, was
opposed to the innovation, as it would
entail a loss upon the company, and
could not be done without a guaranty
against possible loss. President Ken
nedy said if the merchants would meet
him half way on the proposition he
would be willing to make the expert
ment. He desired, however. to be sat
isfied that there would be enough
fl eight to pay the cost of running such
vessel. He understood that at the
beginning his company would not eX-
pect to make more than expenses. He
promised to look into the question Of
cost of operating the steamer Makee, or
similar vessel, and if such a round the
island service could be arranged he
agreed to cooperate with the local
merchants.
RACING IN NORTH HILO.
On Saturday evening last large and
enthusiastic meeting was held in Homo
kaa to arrange for a days races on
January L, 1906. a good program was
arranged. Besides horse races there
will be athletic sports of all sorts and
a dance in the evening will finish the
days amusement. The following We're
elected officers for the meeting: Presi-
dent, w. G. Walker; Racing Commit
tee, A. Horner, G. Kyser, Fred Carter;
Treasurer, A. B. Lindsay; Hon. Secre-
tary, Dr. w H. Jones.
RUBBER IN PUMA
The cultivation of rubber on this is
land has been, in a measure, in the
air." until now Roderick Ross has
demonstrated the adaptability of Puma
soil to the cultivation of rubber trees
of the Ceara family.
Some years ago Mr.. Ross purchased
a thousand seeds and planted them on
the Crane plantation about mile from
his dwelling. For some reason the seed
did not all terminate and only 200
sprouted. As time passed several grew
to a height of several feet. A few of
these We're to be transplanted, but a
japanese laborer made mistake in at
tempting to move all of the trees in
stead of the few strong ones.
This was seven years ago and photo
graphs of the trees shown by Mr.. Ross
illustrate some excellent specimens.
One of these he tapped a short time
ago, the first tap, by the way, with the
result that four ounces of fine quail
ity of rubber was obtained. This par
ticular tree has a gKth of thirty-six
inches and has strong, healthy
growth. The sample of rubber shown
was produced by primitive means and
would no doubt be vastly improved if
the modern methods of treating the
sap We're at hand.
1t is the intention of Mr. Ross to
plant more of the cuttings and extend