BANQUET TO THE HON. MR. SHEEHAN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5521, 6 December 1878, Page 7

BANQUET TO THE HON. MR. SHEEHAN.

New Plymodtit, November 20.

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.R., proposed li The Premier,” which was responded to by Hoani Nahe.

The Mayor proposed tl The Health of the Native Minister,” referring to his success with regard to native matters and his obliging disposition in attending to the wants of the people. The Hou. Mr. Sheehan, in responding, said the meeting was to be considered •in no way political. Ho referred to Rewi, saying he had been in New Plymouth many years before, although since tho war he had not been in. Ho said Rowi was no common man, and speaking of hia bravery said ho was tho last man to leave a pa when it was stormed and taken. Rewi had fought against them, but he had fought honorably. Ho had now returned to his allegiance to tho Queen, and from a conversation he had that afternoon with the chief ho learned that nothing would please Rowi better than to go homo to England, that he might tender his allegiance to the Queen in person. Referring to tho railway to Waikato, ho 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 tho total cost.” He had organised an exploring party to search the country carefully and to ascertain which was the best route. With reference to tho Waimato ho urged patience in not pushing on tue sale. Colonel Trimble proposed Rewi’s health. Rewi, in reply, said on his first arrival here ho knew there were different races. Then war arose. This day he met them all, and hoped they would he one for the future. He hoped the Europeans would further the interests of the natives and the natives would 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 Taouui, the latter saying he hoped they would leave the district iu the hands of Rewi and Sheehan. After a few other toasts the meeting broke up.