The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-03-02
GAY A LANAI
WITNESS
He and Several Others
Give Interesting
Testimony.

The Committee on Public Lands met
last night to resume the Lanai fnvesti-
cation. Mr. Akau was absent owing
to the death of his wife ]. H. Boyd,
almost invisible behind a huge flower
which weighed down his buttonhole,
acted as interpreter.
f. E. Harvey was called and sworn
as witness. Representative Rawlins
conducted the examination.
Mr.. Harvey was called upon to iden.
tify various portions of land on a map
of the Island of Lanai and was ques,
toned particularly in regard to the
water supply.
M. e. Lyons of the Public Lands or.
fee was next called and sworn by Mr..
Rawlins, who brought out the fact that
Mr.. Pratt had left Honolulu shortly
after the publication of the Lanai ex-
change advertisement. Mr.. Lyons tes-
titled that he was in charge of the
Land Office during Mr.. Pratt's absence,
and that during that period he was IN
receipt of only one application for land
exchange, this being from Mr.. Cooper.
Mr.. Kaleiopu then took up the ex,
amintion of Mr.. Lyons.
F. S. Dodge, superintendent of tho
Bishop Estate. was next placed upon
the stand by Mr. Rawlins. Mr.. Dodge
stated that as far back as 1904 Mr..
Holloway had said that the Govern,
ment would like to secure control Of the
Bishop wharves; this had not been ac-
complished up to October or November.
1905, because in the opinion of the wit,
ness, Mr.. Holloway had never asked
for an appropriation for that purpose.
Early in 1906 Mr.. Dodge stated he was
approached by a third party who Of
fered a certain sum in cash for the
Bishop wharves, the understanding
being that the wharves and adjacens
property in the event of sale to this
third party were to be exchanged for
Lanai lands. After further cxamina-
ton by Mr.. Rawlins it developed that
the third party in the deai was the
Territorial government.
L. Nj. Vetlesen of the Mutual Tele>
phone Co., was the next asked to tes-
tify. He stated shat for two years he
had resided on Lanai as chief book.
keeper and store superintendent Oh
Maunalei plantation. His testimony
was confined chiefly to the water sup>
ply. He stated that aside from some
wells sunk by his company the only
other effort to secure water was made
by the Palawai Development CO., which
between $4,000 and $27, 900 In
a vain attempt to find water. Mr..
Vetlesen further stated that at the
time this company abandoned its ef-
forts the chief visible evidence of its
activity consisted of empty beer bot
ties. In Mr.. yetlesen's opinion the
government lands on Lanai are not
adapted to cultivation, owing to lack
IF water; they were fit, he thought. |
only for grazing purposes; he had new
ar heard of crops Of any kind being |
raised on the island. 1t is doubtful, !
Mr.. Vetlesen further stated, if a man
could make a living in any manner ON
thousand acres of Lanai land. He
hought that if the government could
secure income bearing property in ex-
,hange for Lanai lands, it would be 10
is (the government's) interest to DO
10. Mr. Vetlesen, whose examination
asted more than an hour, made an
excellent witness; his statements were
Il all times carefully considered and
learly expressed.
Mr. Charles Gay then appeared be-
ore the committee. He stated that
e had been engaged in ranching on
ANAL about four years and half.
In 1900 Mr. Payne set price on La
al to Mr.. Gay of 100000; he (Mr. Gay)
Tho at that time was unaware that
ny portion of the island was govern
1ent land, offered s150,00O. The deal
ell through. At the time of the
'ayne & Newman foreclosure Mr.. Gay
ought Mr. Payne's interest (two-
hirds) for s10s, 900; this comprised
bout 5000 acres
CONTINUED on Page Four.)