The Hon. the Native Minister's Visit.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3090, 13 January 1879, Page 2

The Hon. the Native Minister's Visit.

The Hon. J. Sheehan, Native Minister, aocompanied by the Chairman of the Thames County Council, Meßirs Lewis (private secretary to Native Minister), Busden (Clerk to Yiotorian Parliament), W. H. Grace, 8.M., and others, arrived at Te Aroha, from Hamilton, on Saturday afternoon, having left Hamilton on Friday afternoon. At Te Aroha the Minister and party were met by the officers and members of the Thames County Council, Mr E. W. Puckey, and Mr J. E. Mao. Donald, who had arrived from the Thames in the Memsahib on Friday morning. Having embarked in the steamer the whole party proceeded down the river to Omahu, where Mr Sheehan had a short korero with Te Karauna, Pineha, and others relative to surveys, and Euro* pean settlement. Amongst other things the natives asked a sub-division of the proposed township, to meet the wishes of the various claimants, also the survey of a township on their reserves. At 4 p.m. they left Omahu, and on reaching the Pake the party were kindly invited by Mr P. Austin to visit his farm, where they were hospitality entertained, and after a short stay there the Memsahib was again boarded, and Grahamstown was reached at midnight. Yesterday the Native Minister, in company with His Worship the Mayor and other gentlemen, proceeded to visit the carved rununga house at Parawai, with which Mr Sheehan expressed himself pleased. Last evening Mr Sheehan and party left by the Te Aroha for Komata, where the obstructionist Tukukino was to be interviewed this morning, relative to, the Komata difficulty. The party are. expected to return to Kopu at 4 o'clock this afternoon. Mr Sheehan will be entertained at a banquet this evening at the Governor Bowen Hotel. '