The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1913-07-25
"F|SHy" CLAIMS
IN BANANA COURT
Commission Discovers One Claim
ant Did Not Hold Lease on
Land Where Plants
Were Destroyed.

Fifteen claims were heard yesterday
afternoon, starting at two o clock, by
the banana court. Chairman w. \.
Rawlins, Secretary +. +. Fernandes and
Commissioner Manley G.. X. Hopkins
were on hand during the three hours
the banana court was in session. The
balance of the court was made up by
Clerk w. +. Drake and Hawaiian In
terpfeter w. II. Crawford.
Oae particular remark passed around
the solemn hall of banana justice was
that "Banana Jack Kalakiela failed
to put in his appearance, but it was
eXpllined that the receipt of the news
that President Wilson had nominated
l.. T.. Pinkham for Governor cf Hawaii
had so affected Jack that he drove all
banana thoughts from his stately lead.
Jack was reported, however, to Lave
made the announcements tlnt he wlull
now Join the Republicaa parry.
Among number of ''Gshy' claims
looked into during the sitting OF the
banana court was one presented by Na
haunaelc Vance, whose sworn state
ment sets forth the fact that he lost
Sll77 worth of propert% daring the
anti-yel!ow fever campaign ~ Il result
OF the orders of the LoErd Cf health.
Wainee claims damages III the sum
named for the alleged emitting Of "A
number of ,Iauhala aud mango trees,
as also for some banana, plants de
stroyed ,-, IA,
The important point lrou2hr out at
the hearing was that the property IN
question belongs to the Bishop Estate,
but had at one time been leased to the
claimant, who had, however, before the
alleged destruction abandoned the
premises. with the result that the
Bishop Estate had cancelled his lease,
and this also prior to his alleged loss.
Another Sad Case.
Another sad ease was that of George
Hlaaheo, who testified he was stock
holder in corporation doing business
at Kalihi-kai at the time of the cam
paign, and who claimed to have lost
property in connection with this bust
ness. Judge Rawlins drew out from
the man that the total capitalization of
his concern was $500, but that the
monthly profits of the business amount
ed to $500.
essay, let me in on that kind of
business" said Judge Rawlins with n
very serious face. while his colleagues
burst out in laughter.
Some of the claimants asked for
damages, for banana plants destroyed,
all the way from one dollar to five dol
lars per plant. One woman claims sire
had sixty plants in her yard for which
she had spent week gathering in the
mountains. The week S labor, she saidJ
was worth $50 TO her.
Hao Volunteers Reduction.
John Hao, ST., who asked for pay at
two dollars and half per banana plant,
sworc he Thought the figure too high
and thought it might be cut down some.
He had made out his own claim and
had spoken to no one as TO what price
per plant he should set forth.
The banana court will hold its see
ond sitting at two clock this after
noon. and fifteen more claims will be
disposed of. There will be no court
tomorrow, but sittings will be resumed
Monday at the same hour. A streak of
economy seems to have struck the ba-
mana court. To begin with, no bailitf
has been appointed yet and other in
terprcters will not be appointed until
the claims of the respective nationali-
ties come before the court. At this
rate the court win he in session, hear
ing claims, at least fifty-three weeks,
and this is not figuring the time the
Judges will require to sum up, consider
and decide on the evidence, let alone
trying to adjust finances so that $4,000
will ray quarter of million dollars
of alleged damages claimed.