Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-10

i Fisher: Do they own their lands
Aiken: They own. their own lands.
Fisher: How did they acquire
title-by purchase from individuals
or by hoTnsteadings from the Govern
ment?
Aiken: Most Of them were &C.
quired by purchase; but some were
acquired from the Government BY
homesteading.
Fisher: Had the lands which they
acquired ever been used to raise
sugar cane?
Aiken: No, they had never been
used for that purpose.
Fisher: Was none Of this land
which Is held in small tracts ever
used for sugar cane land?
Aiken: Well, with the exception
OF part OF the tract / have and a
little below, that is lower down, but
not much of It
Fisher: Are there large sugar
plantations in that vicinity?
Aiken: Yes, within q mile of my
place there is plantation camp, but
they are for the most part further
down. believe / am the highest
planter in the Territory Gin eleva-
toni.
Fisher: Would this land belonging
to these small holders be adapted to
raising sugar cane?
Aiken; Yes, certain varieties.
Fisher? Is there any reason why
the lands to which you have referred
lS,~.. he IN, v.af
except that the people prefer to raise
other crops7
Aiken: No, they are not as well
adapted to cane raising, but cane can
be raised there.
Fisher. Tie fact that cane is not
raised here is not due to any unwill-
ingness on the part of the plantation
to take the sugar that is raised?
Willing 70 Take Sugar.
Aiken: The plantations are always
willing to take any sugar that is
raised.
fisher: When did you become con-
nected with the Government, and in
what capacity?
Aiken: In 1901 was employed in
the Tax Department. whsre. / worked
for awhile. !.
Fishers: What duties did you have
in this office?
Aiken: l was Deputy Tax Asses
sor and Collector for the district. s
Fisher: Then you are thoroughly
familitr with the land situation there
Aiken: Yes. sir
Fisher: Have you been connected
with the Government ever since?
Aiken: Yes.
Fisher: In what capacity?
Aiken: was Tax Assessor for
some 10 years; and in 1906 i was APP
pointed Land Agent for. the district.
Fisher: What are your dutiesg
Aiken: As Land Agent super
wise the government lands there,
chiefly; ana after the lands are
opened up and cut up into lots for
homesteads everything Is put In my
hands to receive applications;
have general charge over the whole
thing.
Fisher How much land has been
opened to h0mesteaders under your
supervision, approximately, OF course?
Aiken: suppose perhaps 5000 or
1000 acres.
Fisher: Tell Us in your own way
what your experience has been with
the lands that have been opened up.
Aiken Well. the first tract open
ed was I'm the Nahiku District, about
100 acres of land. In 1897 great ex-
pectations were had for this land as
coffee land. 1t seemed very. we'll
adapted as coffee. land. However.
there seemed to be no: money In the
coffee. industry. as the cost of plant
ing was toe. great. But most Of the
settlers proved up by living there the
required time Al majority were Por-
stuguese. Some Of the lands were
taken up by white settlers under Spe-1
ciRl agreements, which contained no
residence clause but required that
money be put in improvements. Most
of the lands were acquired by the
settlers and patents issued.
Fisher: What happened after they
got their patents3
Aiken: Well later the coffee I'm.
dnstry proved not to be auccesss The
land then laid idle for some time.
Then an attempt was made; to start
g Cu6oA pt9k4ldAtO1k IHcT Gss4
Fisher: Who attempted to start al
sugar plantation. tAeFe3
Plantation Proved Failure.
Aiken; It was started among the
settlers themselves. hut it proved Ell
failure, as the land proved not to bel
adapted to cane. so the plantation
was finally closed down Since that
time the lands have been standing
idle,
Fisher: Have they been sold?
Aiken: Three rubber companies
are planting rubber there now.
Fisher: Who are the people?
Aiken: The holdings are quite
numerous.
Fisher: Are they people Of large
or small means?
Aiken: People of moderate means.
Fisher: Even the rubber expert
ments is not being carried on, by PEG.