Walter M. Giffard
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Walter LeMontais Giffard (May 27, 1856 - 1929) was a member of Liliʻuokalani's Privy Council of State.
Not present in any recorded Privy Council meetings, 1891–1892
Privy Council, Aug 5, 1891
Early life
He was born May 27, 1856, Island of Jersey, Great Britain, relocated to Hawaii in 1875 and was employed as a clerk by Honolulu merchant John T. Waterhouse. About a year later, he began working for W. G. Irwin & Co., Ltd as a bookkeeper, and by 1890 was secretary and treasurer. Irwin was then president and manager, with Claus Spreckels as vice president.[1] Over the next several years, Giffard worked his way up in Irwin's company to become vice-president. He was a director and co-trustee with W. G. Irwin of all affiliated corporations under the Irwin umbrella.[2]
Government and civic service
His diplomatic service included Acting Chancellor of French Legation for three years, Acting French Commissioner and Consul General for one year; Acting Commissioner and Consul General for Portugal, three months. He was appointed to Liliʻuokalani's Privy Council of State on August 25, 1891, but did not attend the council meetings, so as to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest with his diplomatic obligations.[3]
In 1896, the legislature of the Republic of Hawaii authorized an increase in postal rates for 1897, and ordered that all existing unused postage in the old denominations to be destroyed. Giffard was appointed to the Committee to Destroy Postage Stamps, Postcards and Stamped Envelopes, that oversaw the destruction.[4] It was estimated that over $100,000 (Hawaiian dollars) worth of the old postage (in denominations from 3¢ to $1) was incinerated.[5]
Giffard was with the Honolulu Park Commission for eight years and three months, for the period January12, 1904 through Oct 21, 1912. He served on the Board of Agriculture and Forestry in 1903, becoming its president for the period in 1907. He continued as a member of the board up through 1923.[4]
He was 1906-7 president of the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce.[6] He a commissioner of Kapiolani Park, and secretary-treasurer of the Kapiolani Park Association.[7]
Horticulture and forestry
Giffard's interest in horticulture and forestry led to his being on the Board of Trustees of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association, as well as serving as 1903-1907 chairman of Hawaiian Sugar Planters Experimental Station committee.[7] He was an avid proponent of agricultural quarantine to keep the leafhopper off the cane fields. Giffard's efforts on behalf of the sugar industry were instrumental in importation of the Yellow Caledonia cane.[8] He was founding member and 1908 president of the Hawaiian Entomological Society.
While serving as secretary and executive officer of the Board of Agriculture and Forestry in 1904, he was appointed to act in place of president Lorrin A. Thurston who was temporarily out of the territory.[9]
California landscape architect R. T. Stevens counseled with Giffard for the design of the landscaped grounds of the modern-day Royal Hawaiian Hotel.[10] Built by Castle & Cooke in 1925-1926, it replaced a Waikiki hotel of the same name that had been transferred to the federal government for use as the Army and Navy YMCA. in 1917. The original Royal Hawaiian Hotel was built by Robert Lewers in 1872, once used as a home by King Kalākaua, and later managed by George MacFarlane.[11]
Personal life
He married Martha Petre Brickwood of Honolulu, June 30, 1881, with whom he had a daughter Jane and son Harold. His son Duboit was from a former marriage.[7]
Bickford was a member the Pacific and Oahu Country Clubs, and of Hawaiian Lodge, No. 21, F. & A. M. Shriners,[7]
Bibliography
- Siddall, John William. (1917). Men of Hawaii: being a biographical reference library, complete and authentic, of the men of note and substantial achievement in the Hawaiian Islands: volume 1. Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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References
- ^ "Wm. G. Irwin Co., Limited". Evening Bulletin. August 29, 1890.
- ^ George F. Nellist, ed. (1925). "Walter Le M. Giffard". The Story ofHawaii and Its Builders. Honolulu Star Bulletin.
- ^ Siddall 1917, p. 119; "Privy Council of State office record" (PDF). state archives digital collections. state of Hawaii.
- ^ a b "Giffard, Walter M. office record" (PDF). state archives digital collections. state of Hawaii. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
- ^ "Stamp Cremator". The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. January 29, 1897. p. 1, col. 5.
- ^ "Election of Officers - Honolulu Chamber of Commerce". The Honolulu Advertiser. August 18, 1906.
- ^ a b c d Siddall 1917, p. 119.
- ^ Smith, Jared G. (July 2, 1929). "Walter M. Giffard". The Honolulu Advertiser.
- ^ "Thousands of Trees". The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. January 21, 1904. p. 2, col. 3.
- ^ "Landscape - Royal Hawaiian Hotel - planned by Walter M. Giffard and R. T. Stevens". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. May 22, 1926.; *"Island Touch to Landscaping of New Hotel". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. May 22, 1926.
- ^ "Choose 'Royal Hawaiian' For Hotel's Name". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. August 11, 1925.; "Young Gives Transfer Deed to Wakefield". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. August 3, 1917. p. 1, col. 2.