BANQUET TO THE HON. MR. SHEEHAN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5516, 30 November 1878, Page 2

BANQUET TO THE HON. MR. SHEEHAN.

BY IJSLEGJtAPB. (PER PRESS AGENCY.) New Plymouth, Friday. A banquet was given to the Hon. Mr. Sheehan this afternoon, which was attended by the leading settlers of the place. The chair was taken by the Mayor (Mr. Standish), the vice-chair by Colonel Trimble, Chairman of the County Council. There were about eighty present. Mr. Kelly, M.H.K., proposed te The Premier,” which was responded to by Hoani Nahe. The Mayor proposed “ The Health of the Native Minister,” referring to his success with regard to native matters and his cbliging disposition in attending to the wants of the people. The Hon. Mr. Sheehan, in responding, said the meeting was to be considered in no way political. He referred to Kewi, saying he -had been in New Plymouth many years before, although since the war he had not been in. He said Kewi was no common man, and speaking of bis bravery said he was the last man to leave a pa when it was stormed and taken. Kewi had fought against them, but he had fought honorably. He had now returned to his allegiance to the Queen, and from a conversation he had that afternoon with the chief he learned that nothing would please Kewi better than to go home to England, that he might tender his allegiance to the Queen in person. Referring to the railway to Waikato, he said before he left Taranaki he hoped to ensure that the Crown would have acquired so much land in that direction that the Government would be able to say to the colony, “ These are our assets to construct the railway that will go far to pay the total cost.” He had organised an exploring party to search the country carefully and to ascertain which was the best route. With reference to tbo Waimate Plains, he urged patience in not pushing on the sale. Colonel Trimble proposed Kewi’s health. Kewi, in reply, said on his first arrival here he knew there were different races. Then war arose. This day he met them all, and hoped they would bo one for the future. He hoped the Europeans would further the interests of the natives and the natives weuld further the interests of the Europeans. He hoped that old feuds were finished, and that for the future they would all work peaceably together. He hoped they would all live long and do good. Mr. Carrington proposed “ The Native Visitors,” which was responded to by Major Kemp and Taonui, the latter saying he hoped they would leave the district in the hands of Kewi and Sheehan. After a few other toasts tho meeting broke up.