The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-03-28
RUBBER
ADVANCE
F. T. p. WATERHOUSE TALKS OF
THE INDUSTRY AND LOCAL IN
TERESTS-BACK FROM ORIENT.

F. 7. p. Waterhouse, Who has been |
away for nearly five months looking
into the rubber industry in the Malay
states, Java and Ceylon in the interest
of the two rubber companies owned by
Hawaiian capital and also for special
study of the ceara plant for the Board
of Agriculture and Forestry, was a re-
turning passenger yesterday in the
Mongolia.
Mr.. Waterhouse in talking about his
trip this morning remarked that he was
very much pleased with the conditions
of affairs at the two plantations at
Tanjong Olok and Pahang, which are
owned. entirely by local capital.
eve have altogether about 900 acres
which are bearing tress and about 1900
which are cleared but implanted at
present. The managers expect to have
the land ready for planting very short
ly and l can see no reason why they
should not become two of the most sue
cessful plantations in the world in
time
81 made a very thorough study Of
conditions on each plantation, and also
visited other plantations in Java and
Ceylon. The Pear rubber plantation
which is owned by Pear of soap fame
adjoins our plantation at Pahang and
is one of the finest in the world.
81 have seen trees on his planta-
tion which have yielded 16 pounds of
rubber to the tree in one year. and
hope in short time that the trees On
our plantations will do as well.
Il was away from one of our plan
tations for nearly a month, and l have
seen trees that have grown 2 inches
in circumference in that time. The
climate there is the best in the world
for the rubber industry, but l think
that in time Hawaii will produce just
as good rubber.
Il have samples of rubber from our
trees, that compare very favorably
with the same kind of rubber from
other plantations in the same district.
Il have made a very thorough study
of rubber, and 1 earnestly hope that it
will do some good to the industry here.
Regarding my investigations for the
Board of Agriculture and Forestry,
would rather not say anything at pre-
sent about it, as 1 will make my report
later on, after I have made trip to
the rubber plantations on the islands.
"The labor that we have on our
plantations is composed of Chinese
Japanese and Tamals and they prove tc
be very good workers, but 1 do not
think that they would do as much good
here as they do there, in fact l dc
not think that they would be able tc
stand the climate here, as the climate
there is much different
while 1 was in Colombo l met Sil
Thomas Upton who has just recently
added the rubber industry to his many
other industries and he thinks that II
is one of the greatest in the world.
"To look at his plantation at the
present time you would hardly believy
that rubber could grow, as his trees
are springing up from among huge
piles of rocks, but they are doing very
well.
He spoke very enthusiastically or
the coming trans-Pacific yacht race anC
offered to give trophy to the winner
but 1 am unable to state exactly wha
the conditions are to be.
while 1 was at our Tanjong Olol
pantation l saw the largest tiger kill
ed that has been killed in that distric
for many years. He was trapped aftel
he had tiffined on three of our laborer5
The skin will be here very shortly anC
I think my friends will be very mucf
interested to look at 1t.
Gust before left for home a large
herd of wild elephants came rushing
down towards our laborers quarters
but they were scared away before the!
could do any damage. Snakes and 9th
er wild and dangerous animals abounC
all around our plantations, but l die
not have the time to do any hunting.
''In conclusion all l can say is tina
my trip has been a great success il
every way !lRN