Land-patent grants.-Two hundred and thirty-eight land patents were issued, covering a total area of 3,651,307 acres, valued at $126,235.05; 136 were issued on homesteads, covering a total area of 3,501,766 acres, valued at $76,115.64; 102 were issued on cash purchases, preference rights, land exchanges, sales on time-payment agreements, compromises, and equitable settlements, involving a total area of 149,541 acres, valued at $50,119.41. Land patents in confirmation of land commission awards.-Three land patents were issued confirming three land commission awards, covering a total area of 2,532 acres. One was in fee simple on an area of 0.95 acre and two were for an area of 1,582 acres, against which a Government commutation of $99 was paid. Conveyance to the Territory by deed. Thirty-nine deeds were received conveying to the Territory lands for public purposes. Eleven of these were warranty deeds conveying a total area of 256,437 acres for a total consideration of $57,648.98; 3 were quitclaim deeds to 0.306 acre, for a total consideration of $3; 6 were condemnations, conveying a total area of 9,757 acres, for a total consideration of $7,061, and 19 were deeds by way of exchange, whereby the Territory received a total area of 28,244 acres, plus a cash consideration of $164.44 in exchange for 21.76 acres, plus a cash consideration of $353.36. One certificate of title to the Lahainaluna school lands, perfecting title to 2,573.20 acres, was received. Auction sales. One hundred auction sales were conducted. Eighty-four lots, with a total area of 86.306 acres, were offered for sale at a total upset value of $47,145.50 and sold for a total of $55,247. One hundred and seventy-two general leases, covering a total area of 20,327.035 acres, offered at an upset annual rental of $55,665.90, were sold for an annual total rental of $60,070.65. Two wood licenses, covering a total area of 230 acres, were sold for a total annual rental of $501. Special-sale agreements. Fifty-four special-sale agreements were issued, covering a total area of 34.225 acres, valued at $38,502.92. Forty-four were on lots totaling 29.049 acres, sold at public auction. These were offered at a total upset price of $28,272 and sold for $34,096, the purchasers taking same on time-payment agreements. Ten were issued in connection with preference right to purchase claims, covering a total area of 5.176 acres, valued at $4,406.92, the claimants taking same on time-payment agreements. Revocable licenses.-Eight revocable licenses were issued, covering a total area of 20.867 acres for a total monthly rental of $109. Homesteads. Forty-five persons took up homesteads, having a total area of 1,511.325 acres, valued at $18,076.58. These homesteads were taken under various forms of agreements as follows: Twenty-one right of purchase leases, covering a total area of 1,107.15 acres, valued at $7,765.93; 11 special homsetead agreements, covering a total area of 321.51 acres, valued at $10,310.65; 12 certificates of occupation, covering a total area of 82.49 acres, unappraised, and 1 homestead lease, covering an area of 0.175 acre, unappriased. These homesteads were taken by citizens of different ancestry as follows: Hawaiians, 26, having a total area of 837.82 acres, valued at $3,934.03; Portuguese, 9, having a total area of 356.365 acres, valued at $7,048.25; Anglo-Saxons, 3, having a total area of 88.35 acres. valued at $4,050.70; Japanese, 2, having a total area of 95.19 acres. valued at $953.; Chinese, 1, having an area of 16.50 acres, valued at $331.60. Lots available for homesteading upon application. A total of 691 lots, having a total area of 14,261.36 acres, are available for homesteading upon application. Three hundred and seventeen, having a total area of 11,570.41 acres, are on the island of Hawaii; 198 lots, having a total area of 1,973.32 acres, are on the island of Maui; 14 lots, having a total area of 213.69 acres, are on the island of Oahu; 162 lots, having a total area of 503.94 acres, are on the island of Kauai. These lots have been appraised and classified, and, having once been advertised for homesteading, are available for rehomesteading upon application by qualified citizens. Transfers. Eighty-six transfers were approved. Thirty-five were of agreements on homesteads, covering a total area of 1,014.20 acres. valued at $51,944.11; 28 were of time-payment agreements on house lots, covering a total area of 20.216 acres, valued at $9,522.75; and 23 were of general leases, covering a total area of 7,886.963 acres. carrying an annual total rental of $17,659.50. Cancellations.-Fifty-nine documents were canceled for noncompliance with conditions. Twenty-four were general leases, covering a total area of 1,822.061 acres, carrying a total annual rental of $2,997.80; 19 were agreements on homesteads, covering a total area of 796 acres, valued at $20,187.65, and 6 were agreements on house lots, covering a total area of 6.972 acres, valued at $2,555. One land patent, covering an area of 1.411 acres, valued at $183, was canceled, and 9 revocable licenses, held by 5 Hawaiians, 3 Japanese, and 1 Anglo-Saxon were canceled. The canceled general leases were held by 3 Hawaiians, 3 Anglo-Saxons, 10 Japanese, 4 Portuguese, 1 Chinese. and 3 corporations. The canceled homestead agreements were held by 12 Hawaiians, 5 Anglo-Saxons, and 2 Portuguese; and canceled agreements on house lots were held by 2 Hawaiians, 3 Anglo-Saxons, and 1 Chinese. Agreements affecting homestead lands approved. Two hundred and one agreements affecting homestead lands, house lots taken on timepayment agreements and lands under lease, were approved. Eightyfour were contracts affecting homesteads, covering a total area of 2,141.54 acres; 36 were with individuals, covering a total area of 511.54 acres and 48 were with corporations, covering a total area of 1,630 acres. The contracts with individuals were for various purposes; 25 were for cane, covering a total area of 300.43 acres, with 10 Anglo-Saxons, 12 Japanese, 2 Portuguese, and 1 Hawaiian. Eleven were for pineapples, covering a total area of 211.11 acres, with 9 Japanese, i Portuguese and 1 Anglo-Saxon. The contracts with corporations were: Thirty-two for cane, cover-ing a total area of 753.29 acres, with 22 Hawaiians, 4 Portuguese, 5 Anglo-Saxons, and 1 Japanese; 16 were for pineapples, covering a total area of 480.57 acres, with 5 Hawaiians, 4 Japanese, 4 Portuguese, 2 Anglo-Saxons, and 1 corporation. Twenty-four agreements by corporations to furnish water to homesteaders, covering a total area of 554.57 acres, were approved. The foregoing contracts were for terms of from 1 to 21 years and for various rates of settlement. Ninety-three mortgages, covering a total area of 1,871.236 acres to secure loans totaling $240,024.48, were approved. Seventy-eight of these were on homestead lands, covering a total area of 1,860.777 acres, for loans totaling $203,284.48; 15 were on house lots, held under time-payment agreements, covering a total area of 10.459 acres, for loans totaling $36,740 for various periods at various rates of interest. Transfers by executive orders.-Eleven executive orders were signed by the governor, setting aside a total area of 61.611 acres for public purposes as follows: Addition to animal quarantine station, Waiakea, South Hilo, Hawaii. Public pound lot, Kaauhuhu, North Kahala, Hawaii. Public cemetery, Hanapepe, Kona, Kauai. School purposes, Kekaha, Kauai (cancels executive order No. 77). HYDROGRAPHY The general investigation of the surface water resources of the Territory, chiefly by maintaining stream gauging stations on the more important streams and ditches of the five larger islands, has been continued during the year. A number of reconnaissances and special investigations have also been made and an intensive study of the artesian supply has been undertaken. Division of the stream gauging work is shown in the following table: The records obtained at nearly all of these stations are directly useful to the Territory in determining the values of water licenses and leases of water sold by the Territory to plantations and other water users, as well as for the more general use of reference with. respect to studies of possible future developments or improvements. At the request of the commissioner of public lands, special reconnaissances or investigations were made at Koloa and Hanapepe, on Kauai; Waianae, Lualualei, Wailupe and Kailua, on Oahu; and the Koolau Ditch drainage near Keanae, on Maui. A water-stage recorder was loaned to the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association for use in a special investigation of the duty of water. Reconnaissance and inspection trips were made with the superintendent of water works of the city of Honolulu in connection with the development of a high level supply for the city. The engineer for the Hawaiian Homes Commission was furnished with records of the flow of streams on Molokai as fast as these were computed. In addition to this a great many requests for information were received from private individuals and in all cases these have been complied with to the fullest extent possible. In connection with routine field work, the division of hydrography has maintained for the Weather Bureau 13 rainfall stations on Kauai, 4 on Maui and 2 on Molokai. These are mainly at remote points in the mountains difficult to access. Aside from artesian well investigations, practically no new work has been undertaken and construction has been limited to that necessary to the proper maintenance of our stations and equipment. The 1923 legislature made the appropriation for general water investigations available for the study of artesian waters and placed the responsibility for the supervision of the use of artesian waters on the superintendent of hydrography. In July, therefore, the study of the situation was resumed after having been discontinued for two years. The unfortunate break in continuity of the work has resulted in the loss of valuable information and it has required the expenditure of considerable time and money to bring the work up to standard, so that one engineer has given nearly full time to artesian well work. His activities serve two main purposes, the determination of the available supply and the discovery and prevention of waste. By far the most acute situation has been in the area underlying the city of Honolulu, and the work on prevention of waste has resulted in stopping a loss of about 9,000,000 gallons per day, or 18 per cent of the present total draft in that area, chiefly by requiring the recasing of defective wells and by the regulation of surface flow. An additional 6,000,000 gallons per day may be saved by further work along this line. The continuing decline in well water level indicates, however, that an overdraft still exists. The average for June, 1924, is as low as the lowest June on record, whereas the previous low record followed a period of two extremely dry years, while the 18 months preceding the present low level have had a precipitation greater than normal. The local hydrographic engineers state that when Oahu again has a period of three years as dry as 1918, 1919, and 1920 we may anticipate a drop in well level in Honolulu that will involve a serious shortage unless additional steps are taken to reduce the draft or to develop new sources of supply. The division of hydrography is cooperating fully with the municipal authorities and with public spirited organizations in studying the problem. TOPOGRAPHY Cooperation with the United States Geological Survey during the fiscal year, included topographic surveys on the islands of Hawaii, Manui, and Lanai, the island of Lanai being completely surveyed. Two hundred twenty-eight miles of primary levels were run and 695.5 square miles of topography were mapped. Primary levels were completed on the islands of Maui and Lanai. The appropriation of $50,000, contributed jointly by the Geological Survey and the Territory of Hawaii, was expended upon this work. Maps of the following 72-minute quadrangles, scale 1:31,680, have been completed, and photolithographic copies will be available for distribution about November 1, 1924: Island of Hawaii: Puako 15-minute quadrangle, including Puu Hinai, Puu Anahulu, and Anaehoomalu. Island of Maui: Honokohau 15' quadrangle, including Honolua. Koolau 15' quadrangle, including Kailua. Lahaina 15' quadrangle, including Mala. Makena 15' quadrangle, including Keokea and Ulupalakua. Photolithographic copies of the island of Lanai are now available. In addition, copies of the following maps have been printed: Hawaii, 15' quadrangles: Honuapo, Pahala, Kalae. FARM LOAN BOARD The Farm Loan Board of Hawaii, created under Act 225 of the legislature of 1919, and subsequently amended, consists of three members, with an executive secretary. The subagents of the department of public lands, the tax assessors and deputy tax assessors throughout the Territory are agents of the board, as provided by law. The law specifies that the borrower must be a citizen of the United States and must have been a resident of the Territory of Hawaii for at least three years. No loan shall be made for less than $100 nor for more than $5,000 and the loan shall not exceed 60 per cent of the appraised value of the security offered. Simple interest is charged at the rate of 6 per cent per annum. The board has been in operation for five years, and as of June 30, 1924, had executed 417 loans, aggregating $659,769.90. The classification of loans to date, arranged by racial groups, is as follows: Seventy-eight applications for loans came before the board during the fiscal year as compared with 80 applications during 1923. Fortyseven new loans were granted, amounting to $74,630, and the sum of $75,885.47 was repaid, leaving $452,497.50 outstanding in the revolving fund, being about the same amount as of June 30, 1923. Forty-four mortgages were released during the year, the final payments having been made. The sum of $22,362.15 was paid on account of interest and $121 in application fees. Expenses of the |