The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1913-01-17
TO INVESTIGATE
LAND QUESTION
Governor Surprised at Reported
Dissatisfaction over Wal
akea Lots.
tFrom wednesday Adycrii,ctl


II will be- definitely determined to-
day by Governor Froar and Land Com.
missioner Tucker the exact grounds for
the alleged grievance in the wniakca
lot selections At Hilo. Up to yesterday
Governor Frcnr had not examined tho
map showing the land secured from the
! Waiakca loascholdcrs. lie announced
yesterday that he intends to look over
this map today in an effort 20 deter
Inc the cause Of the recent dissntisfac-
tion.
| "At this time l cannot see what
cause there can be for dissatisfaction, -
said the Governor. eve secured all
the available land for lot purposes and
as there was no other ground to get it
would appear that there can be nothing
over which to argue,
"The negotiations started during
April of last year, when land for tho
Hilo wharf approach was secured from
the leaseholders. A survey of the coast
line was made, streets were arranged
and streets and roads plotted in the
business district and out to the pro-
posed residence section.
CAS- | stated, during September
| visited Hilo and called a mass meet
1 Ahkf tht VI NulCu lnIeHutu
was to discuss the Waiakea lot dues-
ton and give the residents an opportun-
, ity to express their choice. | had the
maps, but for some reason the people
seemed to take more interest in rail
road and other matters. That evening
at n banquet expressed my regret that
more attention had not been given to
the Waiakea matter and called upon
some of those present for their opinion.
They said that the selection as planned
on the map was entirely satisfactory.
The land in question is under lease from
the Territory and has six years yet to
run. Our success in securing the prop
erty depended entirely upon the lease
holders. But the property was secured.
" have been led to believe that the
tract extending from Hoolulu park and
Wailoa toward keaukaha was not avail
able for anything except park purposes.
| The property selected included all the
land available and it would seem that
there can be no cause for complaint.
However, have not given this question
any consideration since my return and
cannot express myself further until 1
examine the map and consult with Land
Commissioner Tucker as to what has
been DONE
The Advertisers Hilo correspondent
sends the following version of the in
teresting controversy:
Hilo Men Excited.
! When it was learned from the Ho.
nolulu files arriving last Sunday that
Governor Frear continues to insist
that he discussed the Waiakea lot mat
ter at the famous mass meeting which
he held in the Hilo courthouse, there
was considerable indignation expressed
was present at that meeting, -
said Senator Metzger. ''The land
which was to be opened for lots was
not pointed out. -
1.-The Governor would let nothing
! be discussed at that meeting, except
railI Dad rights of way,'' said John
Bohnenberg, who is one of those main.
| ly interested in Waiakea land. GAS
a matter of fact, tried to bring the
matter up, but the Governor would not
let 1t be discussed -
The suggestion was made that it
would be best to turn the entire mat
ter over to the legislature. 1t is
therefore probable that those inter.
ested will ask the administration to
take no further steps in the matter. as
1t seems to make matters worse rather
than better, and to ask the legislators
from this side of the island to at.
tempt TO get the land set aside with
out administrative aid, which appears
more likely to be hinderance
The statement that the isolated
tract, away from the road, which it is
proposed to open for lots, is just what
the people of Hilo asked for, is denied
most emphatically by the two persons
who had more to do with the Hilo end
of the affair than any one else, namely
Senator John Brown, who was the
father Of the entire plan; and by Sur
veyor Tom Cook, who conducted the
Governor to the land. Both say that
they pointed out to the Governor that
what was wanted for home lots was
70 much of the tract from the Hoolulu
Park and Wailoa towards Keauhaha,
and from the sea running mauka, as
was unoccupied and had not been set
aside for other purposes.
! 1t may be added that the deal
whereby the Territory secures the 216
acres mentioned for a consideration of
one dollar, has not as yet gone through.
At least, n letter has been received
here from the survey department so
stating. At the same time nm attempt
to get from that department des.
cription of the tract failed.
1