Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-03-21


thousands nore in Piihonui. I would
not object to any citizen having what
ever small traction OF this land he
could use, but I certsiniR don't want
anyone to GET my particular let after
nave spent good moHey in Improving
t. s ssssststE @rzR -......
The idea Of acquiring the territory's
interest in the part OF this land that
/ was opening for a quarry was not a
recent notion. for ? discussed the mat
ter with Mr. Judd when ne was land
commissioner, in 1910, ana he assured
me he thought it a proper subject for
eIchaCg er- fsr other faIli wanted by
the territory.
Getting Land for Homestead Lots. I.
When the agitation for OPENING
some Waiakea land for native house
lots began, way back in ex-governor
Frear's administration, became in
terested, as did many public-spfrited
citizens. in pushing the matter along,
and while. the task of getting anything
whatever done for Hilo By that adj.
ministration seemed greater than
moving "a mountain, | think it Vas
largely due to the continuing efforts
of Messrs. W. H. Kinney, w. II. Heen
and myself and few others that any
initiative steps were ever taken. Then
the government first secured a prom
ise of release from Waiakea Mill Com
pany of 200 acres or more Tits was
"a satisfactory amount Surveyors were
sent from the territorial survey de-
partment to lay it off on the ground,
and despite the fact that we had re-
ported to the governor and land COM
missioner that the citizens wanted
the lands nearest to the river and
Waiakea cane fields, the land select
ed and surveyed was that including
the pest house and abutting On the
Hilo Railroad Company's extensive
manawahi tract next to its yards
Then real kick went up from Hilo
and the government said it would take
the matter up again with Waiakea
Mill Company and see if it could Sc
cure the land wanted The next thing
learned In HilO was that the railroad
company, under Mr.. Thurston's able
management, had received a deed
from the government for q large tract
OF land at Waiakea, incidentally tax
ing In my home lot lease at the beach,
srearranging it's former holdings and
including a slice of the identical land
asked for for native. home lots near
the river ...-. - ~
How Land Was Laid Out. r
= After much time ran on Tom Cook
was commissioned by the land office
to survey a tract of certain acreage TO
include the remaining part of the land
really wanted, and to lay out block
and street system following the OK
pressed wishes of public meeting.
held for that purpose. Everyone con-
cerned at Hilo was glad to have
competent local man entrusted with
this work, which was promptly per-
formed, and reported. So far as &
know and believe, no change was
ever made or suggested in this gem
eraE system, although it was under
review by the Board of Trade and diff.
ferent committees on several occa-.
sio1is. / never heard that either Mr.
Lyman or Mr.. Thurston had any fault
to find with it.
In order to include the acreage
called for by his instructions from
the land office, Mr.. Cook; had to-
either include part Of my lot or run
sharp angles around it, as It protruded
obliquely into the tract The first I
heard of this was when he told me of
the situation and asked If the govern
ment had made any arrangements
with me for releasing this part. He
was told that it had not, and, so far
as l know, prepared his plan accord.
ingly. At a later date took the mat.
ter up with Land Commissioner
Tucker, who said he was acquainted
with the situation and would be glad
to have this land released to the gov
eminent. was willing, for a fair con-
sideration, and told him so, and he
asked me to make up what consid-i
cred a fair business proposal and if
both he and the governor considered
it fair and reasonable he would be
pleased to lay it before the land board
for It's consideration and final action.
Metzger Makes Proposition.
made the proposition to pay the
rent to the end of my lease and sur
render and release not only the land
mauka of the railroad, but all that
part makai of it, if in exchange the.
government would give me its title
to part covering my quarry pits, the
amount to be proportionate with the
rent money would have to pay on
the part surrendered, on a valuation
of about s25 per acre q don't remem-i
Der the exact figures), which valua-I
ton was determined by capitalizlng,
on an per cent basis, the annual
rent paid by me on the entire acreage.
In my communication brought to the
attention of the land commissioner
the fact that If the pahoehoe lands
adjacent to the railroad tracks on the
mauka side were in any way suitable
for house lots, that land included in
my lease on the makai side was even
more so, as it was higher and airier,
and being partly of IA formation was
capable OF growing trees and lent IT.
self to easier disposal of sewage
wastes and was generally more SAM
tary and healthful.
There is no question in my mind,
and never have expressed myself to
the contrary, that the most valuable