Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-19

formerly held by the Hutchinson Sug-
lar Plantation. The corporation now
does not hold any Of this tract, he
asserted. He understood that for sew.
eral years it had held the land on a
verbal contract. and was told by the
plantation manager the contract had
been made with Land Commissioner
Pratt, under the administration OF
Governor Carter
! Ashford and Tucker engaged in an
amusing dialogue concerning the lat.
ter's opinion of Mr.. Gregg as a de-
sirable homestead applicant. Tucker
thought Gregg would not prove salts.
factory, because he believed he would
prove ''erratic," and If he-Tucker-
were to exercise discretion he would
debar the man from demonstrating At
the height of the colloQuy it was found
that the Mr.. Gregg under discussion
| was in the room. Tucker blamed
Ashford for calling Gregg "erratic,' .
and the attorney called ON the man to
stand up, which he did, and joined in
the general laugh. :
Governor Frear, q few minutes
later, discussing highways, said il
was peculiar that in the face of all
the talk about demonstrating it has
been. most difficult to get approprfa-
tons from the Legislature for roads
to make demonstrating possible He
explained that the money comes in
from the homesteaders very slowly
and is turned over to road building
as rapidly as 1t accumulates in ade-
quate quantities. But the money does
not go far because of the high cost
OF road construction. The money
| from homesteads In each county n
applied on the roads of that partic'
ular county.
Frear has twice caused the law to
be amended increasing the percent
age of these receipts to be used on
the highways. At present, however,
the entire receipts go to that work
He admitted, in reply to Fishers
question, that if any relief or assist
ance Is to be obtained other than from
the sale.or leasing Of public lands for
highways for homesteaders, it must
come from the county governments.
Ashford questioned Tucker further
concerning the homestead lands held
on the other side of Oahu. He asked
Tucker If the only reason they have
not been examined and given titles
where warranted was lack, of time
Tucker said 1t was. Ashford asked
If fuckers contemplated visit to the
Coast would delay that investigation
still further. Tucker replied in the
negative, and the Secretary took up
this phase OF the subject, asking for
further explanation. Tucker said de-
lay In examining the lands because
there had been some squabbling
among the holders, and that it was
commonly considered most OF them
were not in condition to undergo an
examination. The delay, he said, was
to give them opportunity to comply
with the regulations, so they will not
lose their lands. ..-s
Ashford queried him, concerning the
81 lots at Wood Valley, 10 of which
have been applied for, the entire
tract still being held up until all are
called for. however. These applica-
stions alsO were made to fuckers
predecessor. Mr.. Campbell. and
Tucker did not know whether they
were answered.
Ashford made the most startling
statement In the days hearing thus
FAR, when he said word has been
brought him that the reason the Gov
ernment had declined to open up the
residence lots at .Halakau was that
stores might be opened UP on them
in opposition to the stores of the
plantation. ..<' ri
Tucker exclaimed: '"That's ridicu-
lous!" -
ut is indeed ridiculous" remarked
Secretary Fisher, unless 1t is true.
That is a very serious charge" and
he requested Ashford to take steps
to trace down the story and bring in
definite information showing either
its truth or falsity.
81 will do that" said Ashford. eve
don't want to reflect anything like
scandal on the administration
this certainly approaches scandal"
The Governor explained that the
residence sites had been surveyed
and held in reservation, awaiting APP
plications from the .homesteaders.
Evidently, as this was not advertised
or made matter of public knowledge,
the homesteaders thought they. were
not opened for them, and did not
apply. ,.... &c.,. H. ~ '
"In other Words interjected the
Secretary, tine administration and
the, people were passing each other
on the great highway"
The Governor admitted there was
nothing to prevent - one person from
taking all these residence tracts,
which are about 75x40O feet in size,
by the medium of dummy home
steaders, and in years time acquir-
ing title to the entire tract, except
that none seemed to want the land
badly enough to try the scheme. The
law does not prevent it.
Ashford said he thought the law
yer, doctor, clerk, mechanic or other
city man should have the privilege
of taking up small homestead tract
outside the city, on which he could
t. g, -