THE NATIVE MINISTER AT THE THAMES.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1532, 15 January 1879, Page 3

THE NATIVE MINISTER AT THE THAMES.

[By Telegraph.] GbAHAMSTOWN, January 14. Mr Sheehan was entertained by the Thames people at a banquet given at Gresham Hall, on Monday night. There were about 200 present. The Mayor presided, tho County Chairman being vice-chairman. Tho toast of the Ministry and Parliament of New Zealand was responded to by Hon. Honi Nahe, and Mr W. Rowe, M.H.R., but nothing of importance was said by them. Tho health of Mr Sheehan was given by the chairman, who spoke of the guest of the evening as holding a high place in the esteem of the Thames people, for he had done his best at all times to promote their welfare. He was similarly entertained at the Thames in 1874, and had since done nothing to forfeit the esteem of Thames residents. The placing of the Thames Valley line on the Estimates was largely due to Dim. Mr Sheehan had during tho week seen an immense area of excellent laud in the Upper Thames, which comprised millions of acres ready to be settled upon. Mr Macandrow had not cruised over from Waikato and seen the lands there, but Mr Sheehan had, and would know the value of the country better than the Minister for Public Works.

Mr Sheehan, in reply, said that he was puzzled why he had been singled out for this honor. The Thames was a festive place. He was afraid Captains Murray and Williams wanted to score one by getting something out of him in the evening when they spoke of volunteer wants. He remembered the time when Mr Swanson, M.H.R., proposed that all Auckland merchants should meet on Barrack Hill and burn each other’s dishonored bills. He then spoke to a friend who was off to Japan, and ho had thought of going to the Whau himself until the Thames opened up and elated them all, and led to the public works policy of 1869. Auckland people sent their money and men to the Thames to assist them, and the old Provincial Government, of which ho was a member, did all they could. Ho proposed a loan for works at that time, which included the Thames railway. Ho would, however, rather be considered their loft forces than a third member for the Thames. He had helped the railway, it was true; but he did not wish to sound his own praises. He was simply desirous of endorsing the bill the Q-overnment had drawn upon him. He did not consider this a political meeting, and did not wish to transgress that point. lie public lands, he was told that Mr Macandrew bad found on inspection that Otago was not New Zealand, and he could endorse his statement, for a finer stretch of country could not be found than the Upper Thames, and he spoke this as the result of his visit. What was wanted was that the Thames people should have Thames lands. That was the object of the Act of 1874. It would be a pity if the heart of this country had been given to Mr Bromball. The Qovernment had redeemed their pledge that the land should be opened for the Thames people. He wished to acquire the lands for the people in opposition to private purchasers. That was his aim at present, [Cheers.] Ho had to encounter the enmity of an enormous power in doing this, but he told them plainly that the Government would euchre them yet. Thrice was he armed whose cause was just. Ho did not wish to burst up large estates or landowners, but he did insist upon the public having the unearned increment as it had been called. A paper published in the Empire City had said the Waikato lino would not. pay for grease for the wheels. They knew the man and his little mind. The fact was they had all the essentials to make as good and payable a lino as any in the country —good land and population and resources. They had merely scraped the peninsula of the Thames, but their land resources and timber were unknown in the South. If the line did not pay it, would not be the fault of the country, but of the residents. The Harbor Bill was not so satisfactory ns they would wish, but it went through in bad company. The Darwinian theory would, however, apply to it. Ho had a difficult, task in conserving the Native interest, and should have fair criticism through the colony. He had paid a tribute when entering his office to his predecessor, but had not been well treated in return by the professed friends of the late Sir D. McLean. At first Rewi was played off against the King, and now it was the reverse. All they wanted was to feather their own nests, and they cared little for anything else. An East Coast paper had recently referred to the Hauhaus at Katikati, but that, was only a sample of some of the rubbish which at times found its way into print. Ho had just another statement about his being turned back at Mokau, which was quite untrue. The Maoris sometimes believed these things. The Native Office was one of mystery, but for ways that are dark and tricks that are vain commend him to a Pakehu-Maori. They nursed the idea of a Native war. Ho had no personal interest to servo, had no transact,ions of his own in any form with Native lands, and the time was coming when such men would bo appreciated over others* Mr Sheehan concluded with an excellent peroration on the administration of Native affairs. He wished to see that the balance was evenly held between the two races. Mr Sheehan interviewed Tukakino at Te Koraati this morning. He was accompanied by the county chairman and (die gentlemen who have been with him through Wftikato. Thd river steamer Te Aroba went

as far as Tepuke, arriving there at 1.30 this morni'>.g. M aho at six o’clock Mr Sheehan started for 'J uknkino’s kainga, which is about two miles distant, to see the old chief about the obstruction offered by him to the Thames and Ohinamuri read passing through his land, that being the only difficulty now existing to the making of a good road between the two places. On arrival at Komati the Native Minister was not received with the usual welcome, Tukubino being evidently very dark. After a while food was offered to the visitors, and when sufficient time had been spent, in silence to satisfy the Natives’ idea of propriety, Mr Sheehan opened the meeting by informing Tukukino of the business upon which he had come, and that'as he had only a short time to stay, be would bring the matter forward at once to hear what Tukukino had to say.

Tukukino replied that he objected to the road being taken over his land, that Now Zealand had been created for the Maoris, and a deal more to the same effect. Mr Sheehan told him that he had not come to discuss the matter, but to ask the Natives what they meant to do. He had given the subject long and careful consideration. The road was required for both races, and would be entirely for their advantage. If the road •was not to be fenced, and they were not compensated, it would be different, and they might have ground for complaint. But all their interests were well protected, and he could not allow one man to stand in the way of what would be a public benefit, and for the carrying out of which the law provided. After some remarks had been made, Mr Sheehan told Tukukino that he had decided to allow the matter to rest for six weeks, until the Waikato meeting, at which Tukukino said he would be present, and that the matter must be settled, and the road taken at this meeting. Tukukino was much pleased, and there was an entire change in his manner, and he accompanied the Native Minister to Tepuko. On arriving at that place they found that a number of settlers had come in from Paero (Ohinemuri) to see the Hon, Mr Sheehan, but as it was necessary to catch the tide that the steamer should leave at 11.30, Mr Sheehan promised to visit Paero to-morrow morning. The party reached the Kopua wharf at about four o’clock. On landing on the wharf Mr Sheehan was met by Mr McCullogh, Mayor of the Thames, Mr Davis, chairman of the Harbor Board, and others. The Chairman of the Harbor Board stated that he had been requested by the Board to ask Mr Sheehan to open and name the wharf, which had been built with the assistance of the present Government. He should like it to be after same member of the Government [cries of “ Sheehan”], but as he had not had on opportunity of consulting with his colleagues of the Board, he would suggest Te Kapu. Mr Sheehan, in reply, said that it would afford him much pleasure to comply with the request. Ho was not a Thames man, but ho had always taken great interest in the place, and had done whatever ho could for it. The wharf which they had erected was a great public convenience, and without it he would not have been able to do what he had done to-day. He congratulated them upon the agricultural resources of the district, which were second to none in the colony ; and if they would only develop these resources, and not keep all their eggs in one basket, the gold industry, he believed that the prognostications of Captain Cook would be fulfilled, and that upon tho shores of‘the Now Zealand Thames there would be another London, equalling in size and importance her cider namesake of the mother country. As regarded naming tho wharf after a member of the Government, there were two members connected with the Thames, the Premier and Mr Nahe. He well know the services of the former, and none could take a deeper interest in the Thames than Mr Nahe, whoso residence was near the wharf. However, the local name was the best, and he would declare the wharf duly opened by the name of Te Kapu. After champagne the party returned to Grahamstown.