Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-02-25
BOARD DISCUSSES
FOREST RESERVES
Agricultural Board In
Its Regular Weekly
Session

N meeting OF lne commissioners OF
Forestry and Agriculture was held
yesterday afternoon in the Office of
the Bureau of Forestry on King
street. Governor Frear presided.
Forester Hosmer reported favorab-
ly of the proposed forest reserves on
the Islands of Maui and Hawaii lie
said there are some good forest re-
serves on West Maui. the soil Of
belongs to Lahainaluna Seminary and
some is Owned by the Pioneer plan
tgtion and Waikiki Sugar Co.
Both II. p. Baldwin and the Wal
luku Sugar Co. wrote, favoring the
reservation of such forest lands.
The Land Commissioner asked Hos
mer If a provision had been made for
the fencing of private lands. This he
asked on account of some people wan
ting to preserve the forests.
Hosmcr replied that the Pioneer
plantation had maintained fences on
its lands. He said It is necessary to
reserve forests for water supply. The
Haleakala section and Koolau forests
were kept up for the purpose Of pro-
tecting the streams The surround
ing country was of potential value in
many instances, and, without water,
It would he valueless. The Ealeakala
Ianch owned a good deal of the sur
rounding land. while some of the adj
Joining land was controlled by Alex
ander & Baldwin.
J. p. Cooke, representing the inter
est OF Mr.. Baldwin of Maui, said that
Baldwin was heartily in accord with
the West Maui reserves covering the
districts of Lahaina, Kaanapali and
Wailuku. Hosmcr read some letters
received from Brewer & Co. and Al
cTander & Baldwin. favoring the pro-
posed forest reserves.
The second reserve is situated In
Hamakuapoko district. Maui, lying
on the northwestern slope of Hale
akala bounded on the north and east
by the Koolau forest reserve. on the
south by the land of Kalialinui and
on the west and northwest by Ma
kawao.
In reply to Governor Frear, Hog
mer said that no objections had been
offered him regarding the reserve.
Walahu spring is situated in North
kona, Hawaii Hosmer said that the
surrounding section of the spring
was swampy and 1t was the only land
in Kona belonging to the Govern
ment. The water was used for irri-
eating the adjoining government
land. Most of the lands were fenced
in. John Mcclure, one of the we'll
known ranchers on the Island, who
was improving the surrounding land,
wrote favorably of the spring. and
the reservation of the Waiaha land.
There being no further business
! brought to the attention of the
meeting, Governor Frear stated that
he would take the whole forest re-
serves under consideration.
Following is the areas of the pro.
| posed reserves:
West Maui Reserve, embracing the
entire top of the West Maui noun
tain, the total area within the limits
of the proposed forest reserve being
i4,440 acres. Government land area,
Unbiased 1860 acres, leased 91i5, La
hainaluna school lands 21OO, private
lands 25,335.
Makawao forest reserve. Hamaku-
apoko government lands, Unbiased
1896 acres.
Waiaha spring forest reserve,
North Kona, Hawaii. Government
lands Unbiased 1913 acres.
The total Of the three reserved gov
eminent lands is 21,O94 acres and
private lands 25,SS5.
The meeting adjourned.
Present besides Governor Frear and
Secretary Holloway were Land Com.
missioner Pratt, Senator Isenberg, w
NJ. Giffard, Albert Waterhouse, J. p
Cooke, j. =. Mendonca, Forester Hos
mer and A. f. Knhdsen.