The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-01-28
OPPOSITION TO
DOLE'S SCHEME
The Proposal to Use Portion of
Thomas Square for Athletics
Is Attacked.
PROMINENT CITIZENS QUOTED
Governor Cleghorn Reviews His
tory of the Park and States
Objections.
CITIZENS QUOTED

AS yet, on the proposal to set aside
portion of Thomas Square as an ath-
letic field for the students of McKin.
ley High School, the "noes" have il.
No one has come out in advocacy Of
the suggestion of Judge Dole, while
many are open in their opposition.
Governor Cleghorn, who practically
made Thomas Square the beauty SPOT
/ 1t is, heads the opposition.
If, as is stated in The Advertiser.
Judge Dole approves of the use of
Thomas Square as an athletic field. I
must say that take exception to the
proposal" said the Governor on Sat-
urday.
II am very much surprised that the
suggestion that the park should be used
as building site for the new library
should be followed by a suggestion to
clear it off as an athletic field. Thomas
Square is one of the few beauty spots
and historical places left in the city.
and if you refer to the last edition
Of Thrum's Annual you will find an
article by myself on Honolulu parks
that gives the historical data / would
point out. All that Thomas Square re.
CURES, in my opinion, is modern
bandstand,
:" Much as I admire Judge Dole, both
as governor and as a Judge. 1 must
say that he has made mistakes before
regarding public parks. In the first
place, when he was president of the
Republic, he sold or exchanged nearly
all the sea frontage of Kapiolani Park,
which can never be recovered except
at enormous cost. 1t was also under
his administration as governor that
nearly all the trees in Emma Square
were cut down, not excepting a very
handsome pine, planted by Judge Mont.
gomery, and a fine banyan, planted
there years before by myself. I can
not think that if consensus of opinion
of the leading men of Honolulu were
taken it would be in favor of this
misuse of Thomas Square.
Library Site.
81 consider that the best place for
library site would be on, the capitol
grounds, about where the present bun
galow stands. Failing this, my next
choice would be on the west corner of
Richards and Beretania avenue, owned
by the Bishop Estate This would be
central and very desirable.
"As regards recreation grounds for
the high school students. there is no
objection to the use of Thomas Square
for the ordinary small games, with
which the trees would not interfere,
while for an athletic field there is the
Makiki Park, without trees, made ON
purpose for such use.
"The board of park commissioners
n arlr bo,
polo field and golf links laid out.
We would have had these sooner if
we had had the funds.
"There are no places in Honolulu
more neglected than the grounds of the
Judiciary Building, and not much more
can be said for the Palace Square up.
keep. Take a look at the Judiciary
grounds from the Queen street side
and around the board of health build
ing and see the evidences of neglect
In the Palace Square the trees plant
ed, since the-overthrow, are not the
kind suitable for the avenues, while
the trimming generally is done without
any Judgment.
"In connection with this suggestion
of Judge Dole to cut down some of
the Thomas Square trees, will he tell
MS what beauty spots he has helped
make in Honoluluf''
1Tis.o-ic,, s,roro
The article referred to by Governor
Cleghorn in Thrum s Annual states in
connection with Thomas Square:
"Named after Admiral Thomas, who
restored the flag on the particular spot
IN ls43. 1t has an area of SIX and
six-tenths acres. In the early fifties
reviews, etc, were held there in com
memoration of the restoration of the
flag. In the sixties little or no atten.
tion was paid to it, and it WIS soon
overgrown with weeds. About 1875
I took charge and had the square laid
out and piped for water. and also had
n hand stand erected The banvans
now growing there are from Alma.
hau. while most of the other trees
are from the government n,rserv
There were crotans nlanted round tSe
the band stand and also In clusters
ahont tba c,rn,,nds a.;ua5 =.