MR SHEEHAN AT THE THAMES.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 901, 2 April 1878, Page 2

MR SHEEHAN AT THE THAMES.

On Thursday evening the Hon. John Shuehan receive deputations at she Pacific HoteJ, Grakamstown. The first deputation arose out of the recent public meating re Thames lands and gold duty, and the members were introduced by the chairman, Captain Power. The Mayor (Dr Kilgour), County Chairman (Mr A. Brodie), Messrs Comes, Speight, J. Brown, and Ally, with others, were m attendance. Mr Speight recapitulated the wrongs that the Thames people were enduring ; the action of the late Government m allowing Broomhall and Co. to obtain large tracts of land to the exclusion of the*tynd fide residents of the place, the f-tct which was apparent that there was no land opon for settlement, though it had been stated that there was plenty. He said that no confi lence existed iv a Board nominated like the present Waste Lands Board. Mr Speight wanted to know whether the Government would grant the same facilities to the Thames people that had been afforded to foreign capital, and at what time the lands now under negotiation would be thrown open to the public. The Hon. John Sheehan said tha*;, m this matter of the land, he personally might be like Pilate, and send for a basin of Water. This district had, without doabt, been treated very unfairly m regard to land purchases. For that he did not blame Mr Mackay, who had been called away from negotiations then pending at least twice by the Government, and further complications had arisen, owing to Europeans having stepped iv and offered higher prices. First, to take the Broomhall question, that was one with which they mast deal tenderly. They had th<? money-market at, home to consider, and if they threw up a bargain once made, their reputation would be stained. He certainly regarded the acquisition as illegal. The terms of the Act authorised the Governor to sell land m possession of the Government ; but as a matter of fact, not a rood of that land belonged to Government yet He certainly hid only recently become aware that there were five years of that agreement yet to run. If Government saw their way clear for its re-consideration, they wou;d be prepared to do so. Mr Brodie would like the Brobmlull agreement to coino before the Supreme Court. If it was, as it appered, a gross injustice, it was far better that it should be stopped. Dr Kilgour thought the Broomhall contract a most iniquitous matter, and shouldn't like to see a successor to it. He wanted the deferred payment system introduced under proper regulations, to facilitate the settlement of the man with small means, Mr Cornea said that m the opinion of many persons " Broomhall " meant Auckland speculators. After some further remarks by Messrs B,rodie and Speight, ! Mr Sheehaft said he would make it his business to go tp the Waste Lands Board on Saturday, and, see what lands could be at once thrqvyn open, and, had no hesitation m saying uhat the Thames should have a representative on the Board, He would endeavour to have pluns here of such land that selection might be made without a journey to Auck- i land. In regard to the Broomhall contract, they must endeavour so to act as to avoid injuring the credit of the colony.