Mr Sheehan on the Warpath.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4349, 8 December 1882, Page 2

Mr Sheehan on the Warpath.

The New Zealand Herald a few days ago published some remarks from a Home paper made by a Mr Arthur Mills, criticising the treatment of the Maoris and referring to an ex-Cabinet Minister plying them with whisky. Mr Sheehan fits on the cap and writes a forcible, but

not altogether dignified letter to the Herald. The following is an extract:— Mr Arthur Mills, who, I believe, is a member of Parliament, but who at any rato is the son of his father, and has thus become a wealthy man, came out here on a tour to the Hot Lakes. If all that I hear be correct, he could afford to produce £10 for my one solitary shilling, with this difference, that I hare to earn my shilling and he has £10 by an accident of birtb. I had a vehicle chartered to take me to Rotomahana and back, and I had on board „ of that tr#p certain friends of mine, Eurepeans. This wealthy English capitalist,' * Mr Mills, was not too proud to try for and was successful in obtaining avcheap passage. His request to_ travel fa.^, my trap was agreed to by me, I paying the cost and he sharing fully in all the good thiDgs on board.- Thatsome natives,- bofc'i mole and female, had y whisky or other spirits is beyond all doubt true. It is a recognised rule on the part of those who pull the canoes from Wairoa landing to Tarawera, to receive, besides [ their money payment, consideration in : food and refreshment. I made my arrangements for my journey in the ordi- , nary way with the ordinary agents, and the bargain made by those agents on my behalf was carried out by me. When Mr Arthur Mills first came,to me, and askedme for a passage, I took him to be a corns mercial traveller, and I gladly confess to the large and respectable body of men who under that name are carrying on business - in this colony, that I am proud to find that I was mistaken. If Mr' Arthur Mills is to be taken as a sample ,of lihe political or private excellence of—the gentil/iomme of England, then I 1 will 'join those who believe that ifc will not.be loog } before the Old Country comes to grief. S Amongst gentlemen there- is orie,sacired \ rule—' The Arab with whom you have broken bread will spare your life'even if you kill his own son.' The law.of courtesy - and etiquette requires that the . gtfestshould respect the host's houpe. ; '~ _ Jttfc, "^ Arthur Mills was my gue»t,"-l*aSrelfin^;' * in my trap at my expense, eating,,, my victuals, and, as I believe, consuming vioderately some of my liquor.. J(f be had; possessed the instincts of a gentleman, he would not have reported what took place . in my trap, which was really my hoieefor all purposes whatsoever, be beingmy guest—all that he saw was sacred and confidential. But he begs a cheap passage, he eats my lunch, drinks my beer, and in violation of every rule of courtesy known to gentlemen, he goes forth from my place and slanders the man who had the courtesy to receive him and entertain him. If Ibe the person referred to by Mr Arthur' ■„ Mills as the ex Cabinet Minister whom he saw plying native women with whisky, then I say the statement is a lie puke and distinct. The refreshment given by me to the general body of natives was simply in accordance with the arrangement then being made and now being made by Europeans who visit the Lakes. My rule in travelling in a native country has been to treat the natives who travel with me the same as I would treat my European friends, and whatever is in my trap is offered to them'the same as it is offered to my European guests.