RETURN OF G. V. STEWART, ESQ., FROM NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4288, 17 December 1874, Page 3

RETURN OF G. V. STEWART, ESQ., FROM NEW ZEALAND.

(From the Belfast News.) - On the evening of the 10th Sept., George Vesey Stewart, Esq., arrived in Ballygawley, on his return from New Zealand, whither he had gone nin» months ago ; and he received a truly hearty Irish welcome from his friends, neighbors, and townsmen of all classes and denominations. Though there was no certain knowledge among the people of the time of his coming home till about four o'clock in the afternoon—at which time he reached Matvy House, the residence of his father, Captain Mervyn Stewart—the news spread like wildfire, and when he and his amiable wife drove into Ballygawley,'a little before eight o'clock, the whole town was brilliantly illuminated from one end to the other, the inhabitants, without distinction of class or creed, vieing with each other in according to Mr. Stewart a I genuine cead mille failthe. Several of the Orange lodges of the neighborhood had come into town with fifes and drums, playing stirring and cheering. tunes of welcome, and these united with all classes of the townsfolk, who turned out en masse, met him on his entrance into the town; and forthwith a number of strong, able men took him off the car, raised him aloft on their shoulders, and carried him in triumph through the principal street. Mr. Stewart having resumed his feet at the head of the street, accompanied by a vast concourse of people cheering, and with fifes and drums playing, marched right through the town to the manse, the residence of the Rev. D. G. Smyth, where the procession halted, and Mr. Smyth in a brief but eloquent speech welcomed Mr. Stewart to his native land, and expressed his own happiness and the happiness of all present in seeing him once again among them, and their thankfulness to Almighty God, who had preserved him in his extended voyages by sea and travels by land, and brought him back in safety to his native place, and concluded by proposing long life, health, happiness, and prosperity to Mr. and Mrs. Stewart and their family. The sentiment was received with loud and long continued applause. Mr. Stewart then briefly addressed the assembled multitude, stating that nine months ago he had set out for New Zealand with the view of selecting and securing a block of land in that distant colony for himself and for a number of his countrymen who might feel inclined to go out with him to that healthy and fertile country. After much trouble and long delay he had entirely succeeded in his mission, having secured from the Government of the country 10,000 acres of the best land in tho whole colony free for ever for himself and his countrymen who would emigrate with him. The block of land was now worth £50,000, and would in a short time be worth considerably more. Ho then gave a short account of his journeying, having travelled by sea and by land upwards of 30,000_ miles, and expressed his intention of delivering lectures on the colony of New Zealand, his dealings with the Government, and ' on his travels generally. He thanked them from the bottom of his heart for the mariner in which his health and that of his family had been proposed by Mr. Smyth and received by that assembly ; and ho assured them ho would cherish to his dying day a grateful remembrance of tho hearty reception and universal welcome accorded to him by his countrymen. Tho procession thon re-formed, and with music and cheers, conducted him again through town (still brilliantly illuminated) to his residence at Lisbig House, which was lighted up from the basement to tho topmost storey, and in front of which a huge firo blazed, announcing for miles aroiind the joyful tidings of Mr. Stewart's return to his home. Refreshment was liberally served out to all assembled in front of the mansion by the honored host and worthy hostess. The Rev. Mr. Smyth then, in the name of all present, welcomed Mr. Stewart to his home, and thanked him for his successful efforts on behalf of his countrymen, and wished him all prosperity in hi»

undertaking. Mr. Stewart again returned thanks, and the meeting separated about -ten o'clock, well pleased with the proceedings of the evening. Mr. Stewart may well be indeed proud of the hearty and jeyful reception lie met with from all classes of his countrymen who thus honored Mm in his native place.