The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-04-03
NEW HILO POSTOFFICE is
0PEN FOR BUSINESSAT LAST

there VIII be Oblitcrated nnnmhlk
which has been connected with the his.
tory Of Hawaii for more than q half
century. In 1861, Sheriff COney was
the postmaster and used small build,
ing facing the present location OF the
Hilo Hotel Shortly after this Reid
and Sisson built the present building
for a store. In 1864 Sheriff Concy
moved the postoffice TO its location at
the foot Of Waianuenue street. He
was officially the postmaster, but John
Ina did the work and was the RESPONSE
bic head of the office. In 1869 the pres.
ent circuit court house was built in the
State of Maine, and then taken down
and sent by a sailing vessel around the.
Horn to Hilo. The postoffice was then
moved to the second floor Of the court
house where IL remained for several
years. Mr.. Luther Severance became
postmaster in the early seventies, and
about the year 1884 moved the post
Office to the location Just vacated. >
From that time until 1903, Mr.. Sever.
ence was the postmaster, when he was
succeeded by G. MADEIRA He was sue
ceeded in turn by George Desha, who
served till 1913. when II. D. COrbett
was appointed by President Wilson.
The earthquake of 1868 severely
shook the Office buildings and al
though the inhabitants insisted nothing
was done to repair the damage. In 1877
a thirteen-foot tidal wave washed over
the building and demolished a ware
house lying makai Of IL. Enough was
left of the old postoffice to allow the
government to do business, and no re-
pairs seemed necessary. A photograph
taken by j. J. Williams in 1889 shows
the building in practically the seine
condition as IL is today, except the
wear and tear due 10 climate and the
lapse Of time. The inhabitants of Hilo
have INDUCED in gentle complaints aud
in mild chatting, but have continued to
use the office without breaking out into
actual riots. On one occasion the post
master received an unsolicited bid for
the privilege of pasturing cattle on the
roof. This was one means of calling
TO the attention of the government that
the moss had collected sufficient
amount of soil so that the grass was
growing in spots. The bid was filed.
Nearly ten years ago Delegate Kuhio
interested himself in congress, and
after the usual waiting was promised a
portion of the appropriation for public
buildings His then secretary. Mr.. Nc
Clellan, took very active interest in
the matter, without which, it is doubt
full, whether the building would have
been occurred. The appropriation of
$4,000 was finally made, and that
amount has been spent in the erection
of the building. At the time of the
congressional visit in 1915 the corner,
stone was laid by Hon. Joseph G. Can.
, non. ~ s"Es
Three years ago the board of trade
appointed a committee for the purpose
of having established a free city deliv-
cry. Many pieces of red tape had TO
be unwound, but the committee kept at
it, and at the end of last year the post
master general instructed Mr.. .Corbett
to select the carriers and arrange for
the system. On April End two carriers
will eommehce the free delivery of city
mail fl5ff$ $E ~ sga
On the Second floor of the building
there is large court room for the
United States district court, together
with chambers for two Judges. The
United States district attorney, the
marshal and the clerk all have spacious
and well lighted Offices. There are
rooms set apart for the grand jury, the
petit jury, witnesses and other court
officials These rooms are being com,
pleted, and the furniture will be in.
stalled within the next few weeks
Judge Vaughan is now arranging Ia
open court in the~new court room as
soon as sufficient amount of business
has been found to justify the holding
of term in Hilo. ysas Is ~ -g,. .l. 4