THE JUNIOR MEMBER FOR THE THAMES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 196, 18 August 1881, Page 4

THE JUNIOR MEMBER FOR THE THAMES.

(» Ignotus " in the JV.Z Times) Ao " Irish half-caste " ia what M Sbeehan lately described himself. Born in Auckland, Mr Sbeehan is a wonderful specimen of the genus ColonialPaddy. If his oaroer cannot be deemed a success, it is not for the want of being held in excellent; estimation by one man, that man being Mr John Shephan. Not without experience in speaking and debate, for be had held office in proviocitl administrations, Mr Sbeehan waa yet a young man when he was elected to a seat in the House of Representatives — i man of no such high culture, rank, or experience, but that it might have been expected of liini that ho would have commenced bis Parliamentary course with modesty. But the flattering remarks of congratulation on his being the first New Za-lond-born statesman who bad entered the House, heaped upon him by Bnbh old politicians as Sir Francis Bell end others, cbimsd in so well with his own vanity that he launohed out ai oace into one of the most bombastic speeches ever beard in the House. St. John crying in the wilderness be likened himself to, but the similitude I have ever failed to recognise. Of Mr Sheehao's reputation and the best-known traits of bis character in private life — if any life can be deemed private which is so open to public observation and of so frequent public remark— it ia no; seemly to speak. It is no longer whispered in the ear, but proclaimed from the house-tope. It gives me, therefore, the more pleasure to draw attention to the points of merit in Mr Sheehan's public character. Without doubt he is the best tactician in the House, and wero he a person on whom more dependence could be. placed, might command a large following. He speaks well— not pleasantly, for his voice is rough, his enunciation common, and be rushes the last part of bis sentence?, so as sometimes almost to make, tbtm uninttilligibla. Bui he has that great gift of oratory, the power of speaking with apparent ea;neetness and iogenuousness, which deceives tha innocent ani ignorant. His speeches are clever, pithy, and amusing. He hits hard, but always above the belt, levels no truthless insinuation?, end makes no enemies by the misuse of his tongue. A tone of leviiy eeems to pervade bis speeches, because be constantly quotes the Bible — Hot that I obJ2ct to the use of Biblical phrases or similes occasionally, but Mr Sheehan, by his frequent use of Scripture language, begets a feeling of irreverence. He is ever quoting them, And nndlttutbed by conscientious qualms, Perverta the Prophets, and purloins tha Pt&'.ma. As a man of business, Mr Sbeehan | is loose, reckless end unreliable, bnt as an administrator he carried tbat looseness and recklessness to such a pitch as was never heard of in the country before. His bills for cab hire tra not yet fort otten, but it iB io keeping with the friendly wey in wbieh all parties treat him that the House passed them without a murmur. His utter extravagance helped to place the couDtry in the difficulties in which Sir George Grey's Government left it, and bis mismanageI meet of Native affairs was unexampled. I Wiih all his knowledge of Maoris and Maori customs, Mr Sheehan has no real influence over the race. While be scattered gold broadcast among them, the Natives suffered him ; but the Maori chief has the instincts of a gentleman, and he can discern es well as the best of us who is and who is not a Bangitira - Pakeha. Mr Sheehan's bonJiornmie m^kee him liked io epite of all his faults; but hs is not trusted, and | will Df-ver t.;ke a leading position again. Though a member of that pure Libjer>l ( p-rty whose highest aspirations" were to prevent the acquisition of large eßtates, Mr Sheehan is now himself the agent of (the largest of the large land purchasers in tho Island; and though a member of Sir George Grey's Cabinet, be bes lately opposed himself so much to the views of his chief, tbat it is freely said be will not, at all events witb Sir George Grey's consent, be returned for the Thames again. If he doc 8 lose bis seat at the next election, Mr Sheehtn will never be seen in the House again. He has so abused and degraded the position of a Minister of the Crown, that no party *oqU again entrust him with office; acd even hie great powt r of debate is going, if we are to take hia speech on (he Redistribution of Seats Bill as an example of his capcbilities now. Socially and politically, Mr&beehanis in \ ski odcur, and once cut of the arena there is nothing in him to bring about bis return. He is oce out of many s.d instances of bow a career bright wiib promise can, by an over-weening sei '-confidence, by an abeecce of principle, by a misuse of the powers besicwed upon him by Providence, end final, use of the position those powers btne pieced him io, become Emudged and blurred, pass from cur recollectio:), and leave co good or successful deeds behind to keep his memory grc-eu.