The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-08-04


lie lands, we determined 10 make the
best terms possible with the plantation
in order TO induce 1t to relinquish its
possession Of the lands which had been
assigned 70 u.s.
Upon investigation we felt convinced
that their claim had sufficient legal
foundation to entitlo it to most serious
consideration, more particularly so
when taken In connection with let
ter received by rs from the commission
er of lands under date of December 2,
1907, about two months after we had
received our leases, stating that he had
given the plantation an extension of
one year from November, 1905 and fur
ther permission to harvest the grow
ing crops. We eo1ld not understand by
what right this had been given long
after we had applied for the land, and
the land department had notified them
not to plant in consequence.
How did it happen that the H. s. p.
Co. had new cane growing on the land
three years after our application, and
by consent of the land department.
We were in a serious predicament as
regards the H. s. p. Co. in consequence
of the government action, the H. s. p.
Co. having the fwhip hand, - instead
of the homesteader, as the Governor
states.
We then engaged an attorney to meet
the attorney of the plantation in Ho-
nolulu and devise some way out of
the trouble The first plan suggested
was turned down by the commissioner
and new one was framed whereby
we sold the cane, this was submitted
to the commissioner, and he refused
to give an opinion either for or against
it, and being assured by the attorneys,
that it was the best that could be
done for all concerned, and that it was
within our rights under the law, it was
signed.
We without delay built good, sub
stantial houses and began actual res
idence, some moving on TO their lots
within month, after receiving the
lease, and all well within the time re-
quired, so that some had lived in these
homes thirty-fve months of the first
three years, and the rest more than
the required two years, and all have
kept up their actual residence to this
date. In every instance many more
trees have been planted and cared for
than the law demanded, and these
homes are now surrounded. by groves
ranging from ten to thirty feet in
height, including fruit trees of many
kinds, some Of which are Of imported
varieties.
Our original contract with the plan
tation ran for three years. When 1T
was approaching termination, we en-
deavored to make another agreement
similar to those in vogue in other dis
tricts of Hawaii for the future cuiti-
walton of the land by ourselves, and
for the sale to the plantation of the
cane We might raise, but the planta-
ton refused, and still refuses to so
contract with us, But for this refusal
on the part of the plantation every
acre Of our holdings would now be in
cane of oar own cultivation. We all
have much more than the required
twenty-five per cent under cultivation
att the present time, though we are fire.
quently reminded that the will be no
market for it. Does this look like fake
homesteading7
The one party referred to by the
Governor as having left his lot idle aft
er the cane was cut the first of the
year, did have crop of cane growing,
on which he had expended considera-
Bile amount in cultivation, when the
manager claimed it, under the original
contract, and cut it for horse feed with
the evident intention of placing the
owner at a disadvantage with the gov.
ernment. A large portion of this land
has SINCE been planted to foreign grass
es and all has been fenced preparatory
to establishing a dairy thereon.
All of our members intend to con.
tinue our homes upon our homesteads,
and are anxious and ready, to put them
under high cultivation as soon as we
are sure of market for our product. But
/ it is well-known the ii. s: p. Go. is
the only possible customer for such
cane as we might raise, and its refusal
to treat with us for the purchase of
our cane to be grown is alone Tespons-
ible for the lack of a growing crop
upon every acre of our holdings.
The Governor states that cultivation
was not begun till short time before
request for patents. In most cases it
DN6hh anu
Immediately after the company had
harvested its crops on those lands. On
some of the lots cultivation by the
homesteaders began nearly, if not quite
a year ago. We VIII further state that
on an average about two-thirds of the
amount received from the cane was ex-
pended on the homesteads in improve
ments, tree planting, interest paid the
TERRITORY, cultivation, etc, leaving
about nine dollars net income per
month for the time the homesteaders
lived upon the land, surely not a slm
to get hilarious on, aud especially when
you consider that all supplies had TO
DO packed from one and a half 10 two
miles, over steep and sometimes near
~ impasmble roads. Some Of the
hOmesteaders have families 10 support
and one has a wife, aud nine children
10 assist him ia getting rid Of this
prineely amount,
The aiiltude " the plantation sud
ia manager TOWARD our ASSOCIATION u
sueelnrily ~ forth Ia tho written
~ aiement o. gno ~ Our mo1nbefH, Mis-
I ~ d a