Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-04-10

or Pinkha1n and territorial officials d.
The Wnimea lands lease expires nexi
The conference at Kekaha was held
about noon, and in the main office at
the big mill. Through the open win
dows, as the men talked, came the
sweet scent Of raw sugar and the hum
OF heavy machinery.
The conversation on both sides was
free and easy, and the question Of
homesteads, water and land rights
was discussed from some of its many
angles.
Governor Asks Public Sentiment.
Governor Pinkham began the con-
versation By stating that he and his
men had come to look over the situa-
ton first hand; to gain every bit of
information they could from as many
sources aspossible.
He stated furthermore that he is
bound down by the Organic Act, which
allows that any 25 men may be heard
II they petition for homestead rights
In a certain district. regardless Of
what lenses the goyernment may have
made reEardihe T. q sss =
Lef ns know as q people what we
are about. This Is the plea the gov
ernof makes He has proposed that
4 big mass meeting be held in the
Honolulu armory. and that there the
land and water question be threshed
out thoroughly.
Manager Faye is not in favor OF
homesteaders taking the present land.
He declared his willingness to help
the homesteaders. however, If a suit
able policy could be reached by the
government
Rights Very Valuable.
He stated that he was willing to
pay 100000 for the mauka land and
water rights-assurance of cane being
given IL his company is allowed the
ownership Of the mill by purchase
after the old lease has expired.
Manager Faye says he believes that
II the Kekaha cane lands are turned
over to homesteaders the result would
be a yield OF 5000 tons per year in
stead of the present yield OF $4,000
tons. He is sure that with ownership
by the company the yield can be in
creased by storing more waters in
the mountains.
In answer to query as to whether
he considered 1t feasible ~. the ter
ritory to handle the distribution and
regulation OF water for homesteaders.
the sugar man replied emphatically
in Che negative
One homestead would claim here
and one there. he said, and regulation
would be mighty hard.
s'God pity the man who is in charge
of the distribution, he said.
Kekaha mill is making as few re-
pairs or additions to machinery and
equipment as ii can get along with
this in view of the fact that its lease
will soon expire.
"we did put in one $4,000 piece not
so long ago." he said, but this was
because we found il absolutely neces-
sary for the work of the mill For
the most part We are avoiding this.
Bound BY 25-Year Rule.
Again Governor Pinkham spoke OF
the fact that the Organic Act holds
him fast by its 25-year rule.
I'VE are between the devil and the
deep sea- he laughed.
One of the facts brought out by
the conversation was that the com
pany is making about 35,000,000 gal
Ions of water a day cover some 45Ot
acres of cane land.
The noon conference came follow
ing a busy morning, the governor
and his party going from Lihue in the
early morning out TO Waimea, Kekahs
and across government lands as fai
as the famous barking sands.
At waimea a conference held by
Superintendent Charles r. Forbes
with w. o. Crow, owner of smal
electric light llant which supple:
light to at least 80 customers, resultel
in the Waimea man being added Z
the list of those who must pay th'
public utilities fee of 1-20 of l pc
cent of the gross receipts of the con
cern.
Bill Hardy, ranger on Kauai fo
George X. Larrison, superintendent o
photography, was added to the list o
territorial officials. going along wit
the party in his Ford car through tn
Kekaha and barking sands district:
Autom /Ile troubles on this frs
day we're scarceone blowout an