Gamalielson v. Hilo Sugar Co.

OPINION OP THE COURT BY BANKS, J. This is an action of ejectment for the recovery of three narrow pieces or strips of land situate at Ponahawai, district of Hilo, County of Hawaii. At the conclusion of the plaintiff’s case the defendant moved for a nonsuit, which motion was granted. The case is here on *189 plaintiff’s exceptions. Three of the exceptions relate to the admission of evidence against the plaintiff’s objection, but, for reasons which will presently appear, these exceptions need not be considered. The fourth exception relates to the granting of the motion for a nonsuit. The motion was as follows: “If the court please, at the present time we move that the plaintiff be nonsuited, on the ground that the evidence now discloses that the defendant has been in possession of this strip of, land for at least fifteen years, and this possession has not been explained, and under the law in this jurisdiction, as laid down by the supreme court of Hawaii and other jurisdictions in the United States, such unexplained possession for the statutory period gives rise to a presumption of title in the party in possession of the land.” Plaintiff introduced in evidence a land patent, No. 5484, issued to him by the Territory of1 Hawaii on April 12, 1911, conveying certain described land situate at Ponahawai, district of Hilo, County of Hawaii. Plaintiff then called as a witness Thomas E. Cook, a concededly competent civil engineer, who testified that at plaintiff’s request he had made a survey and a map of a portion of the land described in the patent. The map was identified by Cook and received in evidence. There appears on it a narrow yellow marking running mauka-makai. The witness was asked this question: “There are three portions of this yellow marking, Mr. Cook. I will ask you to examine the plaintiff’s amended declaration, and say whether those three parts of property described in the plaintiff’s declaration are identical with the ones which are on the map as parts one, two, and three of the land of the plaintiff,” and answered: “Piece #1 in the declaration covers the portion indicated as piece #1 on the map; piece #2 covers the piece indicated on the map as #2; piece #3 covers piece #3 on the map.” The *190 witness was then asked whether he compiled a description of the property as described in the plaintiff’s declaration in three parts, to which he answered, “Yes.” He further testified that there was on the three pieces indicated by the yellow marking a flume which was owned by the Hilo Sugar Company and that the land was occupied by that company. After going with considerable detail into a description of the boundaries of the land by courses and distances and areas he was asked this question: “Without going into the description by figures, there being twenty-six, do these represent the present location of the Hilo Sugar Company’s flumeway, oh the land conveyed by Grant 5484?” to which he answered, “They do.” On cross-examination the witness testified as follows: “Q The original declaration describes the flume line in question as containing 1803 square feet. Your amended declaration, after* deleting part of the original description of the main flume, contains an area of something over 2,000 feet. How do you explain that? A I very hurriedly worked that description up. I might check it and see if there is an error. Q You are not prepared to say the description in the amended declaration is correct? A I would have to check it. Q You are not prepared to say, under oath, the description in the amended declaration is correct? A It is correct, more or less. Q Is that a sufficiently exact term for a surveyor to use? A The description of the land would govern the area. Q There must be an error in one of the two descriptions? A It is probably in the area, because I hurriedly worked that area up. Q So you are not prepared at the present time to say that the description in the amended declaration, which has been filed, is correct as to area or as to courses and distances? A I am not.” Referring to the testimony given on cross-examination defendant says in its brief: “No other evidence was *191 given, on this point so that the record contains no evidence whatever upon which a verdict or judgment in plaintiff’s favor could have been rendered covering the land described in the amended declaration.” This statement is inaccurate. The testimony given by Cook on direct examination shows that the land described in the amended declaration is the same land upon which the defendant maintains a flume. If there is a discrepancy between the testimony he gave on cross-examination and that which he gave on direct examination it was a question for the jury to decide, from all his evidence, whether the land occupied by the defendant was the same land described in the complaint. Moreover, there is nothing in the record which tends in the slightest to show that the court’s attention was called to the testimony which Cook gave on cross-examination or that the motion for a nonsuit was predicated upon it. Defendant’s next contention is that it is shown by the uncontradicted evidence that it had acquired title to the land by adverse possession. This contention .is based on the following testimony given by Thomas E. Cook, the witness already referred to, on direct and cross-examination. On direct examination: “Q (displaying a map to witness) Mr. Cook, does this map show any portion of the land described in Land Patent No. 5484, which is exhibit ‘A’? A It shows the upper portion. Q Mr. Cook, referring to the portion which is covered by yelloAV crayon, what does that indicate on this map? A The premises occupied by the flume. Q Whose flume? A The Hilo Sugar Company. Q The property in the larger marking is the property conveyed by this grant, is it? A Yes. Q And the portion Avhich is marked by the yellow is that which is occupied by the Hilo Sugar Company? A Yes. * * * Q How wide is this flume line? A It is of different widths. It all depends on the trestle. Q Approximately how wide would it be, as an average? A About four feet, or four *192 and a half. * * * Q You have stated the Hilo Sugar Company’s flume is on that land. Please describe that flume. What is the nature of it? A Regular northwest lumber. It is a regular cane flume. Q What is it used for by the defendant? A For fluming cane. Q Where does the extension come from? A Mauka, and cuts through Mr. Gamalielson’s land. Q And goes in what direction then? A I think it perhaps goes to Kukuau. I am not sure. Q Is there water running in it? A Yes, although I have passed at times when it was dry. Q What is it generally used for? A Fluming cane mauka to makai. Q By the defendant? A Yes. Q How long have you known this defendant? A Over thirty years. Q And at the present time, and last year,'they were fluming cane? A I couldn’t say. I have passed when they were fluming. I have seen them fluming cane there. Q Have you been up there within the last few days? A Yes. Q What was the flume used for then? A I didn’t notice.” On cross-examination: “Q Now, Mr. Cook, you have testified that you have known this land for a long time? A Yes. Q How long? A Over thirty years. Q As a matter of fact, your business as surveyor has frequently taken you to that district? A Yes, and when the first government traverse along that road was made by the Territory, I was in the employ of the Territory and I made it, some thirty years ago. Q You say this flume, which is on Mr. Gamalielson’s land is the Hilo Sugar Company’s flume? A Yes. Q The main flume? A I don’t know if it is the main flume or a side flume. Q Do you know if it is the main flume through Kaumana which carries cane to the mill? A Perhaps it is. Q You know it, don’t you? A I don’t know if you would call it the main flume or not. There used to be another flume beyond, belonging to the Hilo Sugar Company, which took cane over. I don’t know which is the main flume. Q You understand the difference between *193 main flumes and lateral flumes? A Yes. Q This is not what you would call a lateral flume? A I would almost say it was the main flume. Q As a matter of fact, you know it has been there for a long time? A Yes. Q Do you know how long? A Well, a long time. * f * Q I understood you to say, Mr. Cook, or rather finally say, that this was part of the main flume which connected with the mill for transporting cane to the mill? A I presume it connects with the mill. I have never followed it down from Mr. Gamalielson’s place. Q Do you know how far north it runs? A I am not certain. It runs mauka quite a distance. In fact I think it runs mauka to their waterhead. Q Do you know what distance that would be from the bridge? A No. Q Approximately? A I could not say. Q Do you know where the waterhead is? A No, I have no location of that waterhead. Q The nature of the construction of this flume is for a considerable portion of the way on trestles, is it not? A Yes, some of it close to the ground. Q Some of it low and some high, but on substantial trestles? A Yes. Q You say you know it has been in the same place for twenty years? * * A Yes. Q At least twenty years? A I couldn’t say just twenty, or eighteen, but it has been there a long while. Q You know it has been there at least fifteen years? A I should judge it has. Q Your best recollection is somewhere around twenty years? A Around that vicinity.” We have set this evidence out in full in order to show how utterly it fails to establish title by adverse possession. When the plaintiff in an action of ejectment proves a good paper title and the defendant relies on adverse possession to defeat it the burden is on him to prove not only possession during the statutory period but that his possession had all the characteristics necessary to the acquisition of title. The evidence which we have quoted *194 and which' ig' relied on by the defendant shows' nothing j so far as.the defendant is concerned, bnt the bare facts, of occupancy; of the land and the ownership and use of the flume. It does not even tend to prove when the defend.ant’s possession originated, or. when its ownership..of the flume was acquired or when its . use of it began.'. For aught that. appears to the contrary it may have' been originally built by the plaintiff and its use by the defendant merely permissive. . G. W. Garlsmith (G. S. Garlsmith and M. L. Garlsmith with him on the briefs) for plaintiff. S. Irwin (Robertson & Gastle with him on the brief) for defendant. Finally, the defendant contends that even if the testi: mony of Cook did not show title by adverse possession it was sufficient to show an easement by prescription .and that this justifies the nonsuit.. This contention must fall for the same reason that the contention of title by adverse possession must fall. As we have just seen, there is nothing in the evidence to indicate when the defendant became the owner of the flume or when it began to use it for the transportation of its sugar cane. The exception we have considered is sustained, .the order granting a nonsuit is set aside and a new trial is granted.