MR STEWART OF THE KATIKATI

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1913, 8 December 1874, Page 3

MR STEWART OF THE KATIKATI

SPECIAL SETTLEMENT. On the evening of the 10th inst., George Y. Stewart, Rsq, arrived in Ballygawley, on his return from New Zealand, whither he hud gone nine months' ago; and he received a truly hearty Irish welcome from his friends, neighbours, and townsmen of all classes and denominations. Though there was no certain knowledge among the people of the time of his comiug home lill about four o'clock in the afternoon—at which time he reached Matry House, the residence of his father, Captain Mervyn Stewart—the news spread like wild fire, and when he and his amiable wife drove iuto 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 genuine cead mille failthe. Several of the Orange lodges of the neighbourhood had come into town with fifes and drums, playing stirring and cheering tunes of welcome, and these, united with all classes of the townsfolks, 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 >: tewart hating 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 Her. D. G. Symtb, where the procession halted, and Mr 'myth 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 bis 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. Ihe 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 c.mntrymen who might feel inclined to go out with him to that healthy and fertile couutry. Aftermuchtroubleandlongdelay he had entirely succeeded in his mission, having secured from the Government of the country 10,000 acres of the best land in the whole coluny free for ever for him self 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. He then gave a short account of his journeying, having travelled by sea and by land upwards ol 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 He thanked them from the bottom of bis heart for the manner in which his health and that of his family had been proposed by Mr Smyth and received by that assembly; and he assured them he would cherish to his dying day a grateful remembrance of the hearty reception and universal welcome accorded to him by his countrymen. The procession then reformed, aud with music and cheers, conducted bim again through town (still brilliantly illuminated) to his residence at Lisbeg House, which was lighted up from the basement to the topmost storey, and in front of which a largo bonfire blazed, annouucing for miles around the j lyful tidings of vir Stewart's return to his home. .Refreshment was liberally served out to all assembled in front of the mansion by the honoured host and worthy hostess. The 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 his undertaking. Mr Stewart ajjain returned thanks, aud 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 joyful reception iie met with from all classes of his countrymen who thus honoured him in his native place.—Belfast News,